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Where different countertop materials meet: any pictures, ideas?

15 years ago

Hi,

I want to use wood countertops everywhere except on the wall the sink will be on. (I think it's best to avoid wood around the sink.) I'll probably use marble for that countertop. The problem is that on the right end of this run there's an L-turn, and the perpendicular run of cabinets (which has the range in the middle of it) will have wood counters.

But I have a few concerns. First of all, I'm afraid it just might not look good! Also, wood counters are usually thicker than marble ones, so I think it might also look funny from the front where they butt up against each other. Other concerns are that it might be hard to get the two to meet at a perfect angle (to form a straight seam), and that the seam will tend to collect dirt.

The only idea I can think of to avoid this is to make one counter higher than the other, the height difference being the thickness of the countertop. (Since I'm building the cabinets I can make them any height.) If I were to do this, which counter (around sink, or around stove) should be higher? Because of the kitchen's layout, I think it would LOOK better for the sink wall's to be higher, but I don't know if one makes more sense than the other functionally.

What do you think? Is it better to keep the heights the same, or have one higher, both from a functional and aesthetic point of view?

Are there any other ways to address this that I haven't thought of? Lastly, do any of you have pictures you could post of this situation?

I'd appreciate any help -- Thank you!

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Comments (10)

remodelfla
15 years ago
Would you consider doing the stone run to the corner of the wall, no L. Then the other counters backsplash would start 2' in. There are a couple of issues though. If you are planning an L cab for the corner it won't work since obviously teh cab would be the consistent height as it rounds the corner. If you use a blind cab then it would work. Also... as to height of the run. For me, I'd put the cooktop/prep part of the L lower if I had to choose since I"m short. In that case you could have the fabricator do a granite/marble return down to the lower counter to give it a finished look.
remodelfla
15 years ago
Would you consider doing the stone run to the corner of the wall, no L. Then the other counters backsplash would start 2' in. There are a couple of issues though. If you are planning an L cab for the corner it won't work since obviously teh cab would be the consistent height as it rounds the corner. If you use a blind cab then it would work. Also... as to height of the run. For me, I'd put the cooktop/prep part of the L lower if I had to choose since I"m short. In that case you could have the fabricator do a granite/marble return down to the lower counter to give it a finished look.
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tetrazzini
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks! I am putting a blind cabinet there, so that works. I hadn't even thought about the backsplash. I think I understand what you mean by a marble return: do you mean a marble backsplash that ends its horizontal run at the end of the marble counter, then turns downward until it meets the lower counter?
remodelfla
15 years ago
I just re-read what I typed egganddart and I have no clue why I kept saying backsplash except I must have been tired! I meant the countertop. If you did the higher one marble straight to the corner, then the wood one would meet up against it but since it would be lower; you'd do a marble return down the side of the higher cabinet to where it met up with the wood. I'm assuming there could be some kind of think molding to where the two met to give a finished look.

Anyone have any pics of what I'm lamely trying to describe?
alku05
15 years ago
I have this picture saved from years ago when I was considering doing a bit of butcherblock next to my range. It won't solve your what-to-do-about-the-corner problem, but maybe it'll help with how the marble to wood transition might be:
sergeantcuff
15 years ago
I've been wondering about this too! I've been saving threads with pics of kitchens I love. See this thread with pictures of vjrnts kitchen with the soapstone right next to the butcherblock and it looks great. I would love to see more of this kitchen. (scroll down to larger picture at bottom)
sergeantcuff
15 years ago
oops, forgot to add the link

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0817495218205.html
tetrazzini
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks. I'm encouraged to do it. Not sure why I'm dragging my feel on the decision, I guess I'm not 100% confident in using marble, but I never will be unless I try, so....
rosie
15 years ago
Dear Egganddart (BTW, I've always loved that name), the water counter is lower, for obvious reasons. I'd do the wood to the corner for no better reason than that it seems right to me not to have the water running back there, visually or otherwise.
tetrazzini
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi Rosie, years ago when I was in Italy I saw some gorgeous ancient columns and friezes lying around, and one particular one really got to me because it was so beautiful. It had an egg and dart motif carved into it. I have a picture of it somewhere....

I don't think I get what you're saying, tho. The counter is long (12') and the sink is in the middle, so whatever water gets on it won't travel to the ends of it. Is that what you're getting at about that counter being lower?

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