WHY do you want to do this to yourself??? Stainless steel is the most awful surface to keep clean in the entire world of finishes.

They use them in restaurants BECAUSE you can see the dirt and they get wiped down with rags all the time to keep clean.

The cleaners used for stainless steel at home are chemicals you breathe in.

Ummm, thats why I'm asking.......I have no idea.

Which is why it is the standard for restaurant kitchens around the world.

Thats what I'm trying to understand, why would restaurants keep something hard to clean? I dunno

It’s not polished. It’s fine. And once the additional patina happens, nothing really shows. It’s only people who want it shiny polished and new that have issues. And those people are going to be severely disappointed by life.

Read this:

https://countertopinvestigator.com/stainless-countertops/

Definitely high maintenance. Unless you're going for a really industrial look, I'd avoid it. And even then, you could find a faux concrete quartz slab that would achieve a similar vibe.

If you're concerned about smudges or fingerprints, choose a brushed finish rather than polished.

I wanted to go stainless but Dh vetoed them because he didn’t like the look. I was thinking I would try to find a fabricator that would do a brushed finish.

https://www.remodelista.com/posts/remodeling-101-stainless-steel-countertops/

A search of the forum finds quite a few threads:

Stainless steel counters - how do they look after use?

stainless steel counters

Stainless Steel Counters

We put stainless steel counters in the kitchen in our whole house remodel completed a year ago. I love them!! They are so easy to clean with a slightly damp microfiber cloth or paper towel. Sure, sometimes they have streaks if I just use a sponge but even then streaks don’t show up as much as they do on vertical surfaces.

We have an integrated sink and two almost invisible welded seams in a long u shaped counter. Obviously a great metal worker is a must but when I read about all the problems people have with their stone and quartz counters I am so glad we got stainless. We have cherry on our island.

So perfectly easy to care for! Completely different from frig front. Love so much we are putting it on our new island.

I have to add that our kitchen is not industrial at all. We are in a rural setting with lots of views and trees. Our perimeter cabinets are white shaker, the island is medium green shaker and we have a maple floor and cherry island top and window trim. It all works together beautifully.

i will have to figure out how to post a picture. I spent years reading gardenweb and learned so much but while we were actually doing the remodel I didn’t have time. It’s only now that it is over that I am back.

My only caution would be if you have lots of sun shining through single pane windows the counters can get hot. Most of our windows are double pane low e glass and that is fine but we have a mitered corner window that isn’t. The heat was a problem until we got shades controlled by a timer.

Just based on what I've read here on different threads, ss counters seem like they're worthwhile.

This is all very encouraging. I appreciate it. Makes me feel more confident to make the choice. My house is more of craftsman style but I think it can fit into a variety settings and look appropriate. Certainly won't be a modern style at my place.

Thanks everyone!

FYI, my first house with SS was a 1920s Tudor Revival exterior with a Craftsman feel interior. I went with stainless after being inspired by a few local mansion period kitchens with German silver counters. Zinc was used in older homes as well, and stainless steel can be used as a more sensible call back to those kitchens.

I am reading this with interest as I begin the process of kitchen reno planning.

I know that specifics will be more helpful, but wondering if, in general, 2 different countertops could work. I will have a long L-shaped kitchen reno with all appliances and prep area. There will be an area that is likely to be more about food service/beverage area for entertaining. Would it be wrong/weird to have SS for the cook/prep area The majority of counter, and some other product on the other side? The areas will not be contiguous and will be 2 separate sides as you walk through the kitchen. Just thinking how I might use this SS idea!

In the hospital we used to wipe down all the SS counters with alcohol.

When I was in college I worked in various commercial kitchens. Ss counters? No thanks. I really can't explain it. But I wish you good luck!

Mixing countertops is pretty common. No reason not to do it with stainless (I hope).

Oh, and wondering about cost relative to other options?

I'm heavily considering mixing my counter tops. I want SS for the majority, but I will have an island with seating. I'd like to elevate the area where people will sit and do butcher block.

Considering how often stainless steel is used in veterinarians' clinic rooms, it might be good for keeping the cat off the counter ;-)

If money were no object it would be my counter of choice, especially with an integrated sink and a marine edge... anyone remember Igloochic's kitchen?

ETA: Found photos of Igloochic's kitchen
Stainles counter tops went in today!

I have an elevated counter for seating (but really more to set the kitchen apart fro the room to which it is open). It is not stainless because I wanted something a bit warmer facing the family room. It's...uh...plywood because I haven't picked anything out yet. Hey, it's only been a few years! I've considered butcherblock for it (even got a section of cherry that is now in my baking area) but will probably go with tile to tie in with the also-not-done-yet backsplash.

Gotta get the integrated sink. Gotta!

Not counter, but my stove is SS and with a sponge and mild dish detergent solution it cleans right up without streaks and spots -- when heavily soiled (using more detergent) it takes an extra wipe & rinse, that is all.

For a counter I would think I would want it pre-patina'd. Someone here years ago posted about how she rubbed her SS sink with oil and very fine sandpaper to blend in scratches and give it a soft glow -- I am thinking in those terms.

I have matte stainless in my coffee bar area and it's perfect. No smudges but it does scratch.

Commercial kitchens have no standards for aesthetics in the kitchen - they are function, function, function. Yes, stainless steel is functional. It's up to you to say if you like the appearance including the appearance of a properly cleaned stainless steel counter of any particular finish.

I made a trip to Lowes today just to check out the paint counter........=)