skip to main content

Kitchens Design Dilemma

Help choosing a small counter for cabinet in the kitchen

last month

We are adding a custom cabinet to our existing kitchen. (Where the small table sits to the left of pantry door) The kitchen has 20 year old IKEA cabinets with a very busy granite top. What would you recommend we put on the new counter which sits on the wall opposite the main part of the kitchen? I like warm solids… there will be a microwave on a shelf above the base cabinet so we would like a heat resistant material.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Fori
last month
What a nice kitchen. I don't think you have to have a heat proof counter for a microwave--and if I read you right, the microwave won't even be ON the counter? I have a microwave sitting on a wood shelf in a wood cabinet and it's fine.

I'd be looking at butcherblock. Like a cherry face grain...
cjscharf06
Original Author
last month
Thanks! I’m adding wood cabinets to match the existing ones and want a counter that can stand up to heat and water.

You’re correct, the microwave/convection will sit on a shelf above that counter. I can put wood on the counter but thought a durable granite or quartz would be more durable. Maybe a solid cream color?
Related Discussions
help choose kitchen look: left cabinet, bb or marble countertop?
Q
Comments (19)
Look at your inspiration photo (the last one) again. It is not wall to wall windows. There is breathing room and wall space around the windows. While a wall of glass might be different, I don't like a wall of windows, especially without breathing room. Go back to three windows or even one larger and two narrower ones. I like the C-shaped idea, but I would make the cabinets stained like your main ones. Your hood is more like that one above, the barrel shape, right? You are using the chimney style in the drawings and that just doesn't look right with panels around it. I don't think a hood looks sad and lonely if not connected to cabinets -- I think it looks clean and functional, but I wonder where my oils and things, my serving pieces, etc. will go. LOL (You could look into putting in some niche space in your backsplash or to the side.) If you do uppers, I do like the idea of stained better, and I do think the same height is better. Or just put one on the window wall to the counter to balance the one at the other end and forget the other one. (be brave -- the copper is beautiful and can shine on it's own). Make the island less of a cabinet that turns the corner and treat it more like a piece of furniture added to the rest of the kitchen. Give it a different color, different counter, different trim, hardware and even a different (but related - not too different) door style. Maybe put it on feet. My thoughts, anyway. ;-)
...See More
Need help choosing granite counter top and back splash
Q
Comments (3)
If you have trouble visualizing what you'd like but "know it when you see it", then at this stage you should probably just look at as many stainless / dark cherry kitchens as you can and see which countertops and flooring "grab" you. In my case I knew I wanted simple, natural cherry cabinets and stainless appliances and probably a wood floor, but that was it. Looking at lots of pictures helped me narrow things down, so now I can at least have intelligent conversations with kitchen designers. I'd suggest going over to houzz.com and entering "stainless steel dark cherry kitchen" into their search box and looking through some of the hundreds of results you get. It's a great source of ideas. After you see some you like, you can probably come up with more words to add to the search box to narrow things down. You can also go to google and enter "site:gardenweb.com dark cherry stainless" and you'll find lots of threads on this site too. I don't know of a way to limit it to threads with photos, unfortunately. Laura
...See More
Help with kitchen counter-tops is really needed...
Q
Comments (42)
for the handles, may I suggest something to pick up on the hues in the flooring? A little more copper toned. you have light cabs, light floors. I think throwing in a dark ORB w/o actual copper highlights would be too much of a contrast. IMO. cypress park Sandra, I like the porcelain one better than the other one. Does the backsplash have to be done immediately? If the tones in the porcelain tile you picked clash w/the ivory tones in the counter, it could be a problem. However, I did find some copper toned ones that should be avail. these are porcelain/SS, and treated so as not to stain or tarnish. I LOVE these for your kitchen. timeless and gorgeous. They are probably not super cheap, but it would be worth it for me. http://www.miusartmosaics.com/arabesque-lantern-beacon-copper-tile-in these would also work. the site is here: maybe they have them in stock.http://www.westsidetile.com/arabesque-tiles/ i like this one too. notice the copper faucet. beautiful w/the glass mosaic. if you got the cream countertop, this would look amazing w/your floors. this last one is a copper colored slate/quartzite.
...See More
Need help choosing floor to compliment counter tops
Q
Comments (12)
I think your floor and countertops complement each other--a bit busy, but really not worth changing. A plain ivory subway tile with a bit of warm gold--golden biscuit but closer to white with light gray grout--to echo the cabinets and some of the gold and gray flecks of the countertop would work for the backsplash. Think about changing out your cabinet hardware to straight, modern nickel handles and pulls.
...See More
Krista Deng
last month
For the new counter in your kitchen, since you prefer warm solid colors, you might consider using materials like natural stone, quartz, or solid surface such as Corian. These materials can withstand heat and provide a durable surface for everyday use.

For a warm and inviting feel, you could look for stones with natural warm tones such as beige, taupe, or even a soft grey. Alternatively, you might consider solid surface materials that can be customized to the color you prefer, and can even be fabricated with integrated sinks, coved backsplashes, and other unique features.
PRO
Skippack Tile & Stone
last month
Black Absolute granite is the easiest thing to add to the mix.
herbflavor
last month
last modified: last month
soapstone or butcherblock/ once you do the initial oiling of your block/ and repeat every so often , in that spot.....[no sink] .... water will be no issue. Since its a small area / keeping it oiled becomes sort of a labour of love and not a hassle.

Wood is a complement:

Tradional Luxury · More Info

COFFEE/WINE BAR · More Info
Kendrah
last month
Get butch block in the same stain as the new cabinet you are building. The cabinets will need to look good with whatever is already in the space and keeping the top the same as the bottom will make it one cohesive unit. I think a different color top is just going to look too busy, even if it is a solid color. If not that, then get corian that matches your wall color.

You don't need to worry about heat from a microwave. Water is only a problem on wood counters if it has a sink in it. The amount of water on a counter like this won't be problematic. I have a wood counter in my kitchen that doesn't suffer from average water or heat.

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN Choose Your Kitchen Cabinet Glass

By Lisa Frederick

Textured? Frosted? Seeded? Find the cabinet glass style that will set off your kitchen to its best advantage

KITCHEN CABINETS Your Guide to Choosing Kitchen Cabinets

By Vanessa Brunner

Updating your kitchen? See designers' top choices for kitchen cabinet styles, hardware choices, colors, finishes and more

KITCHEN CABINETS 7 Reasons to Choose Dark Kitchen Cabinets

By Amanda Pollard

A deep color on your kitchen cabinetry can offer coziness, elegance, drama and more

KITCHEN CABINETS Get More Kitchen Storage With Counter-Depth Upper Cabinets

By Toronto Interior Design Group

We give you the lowdown on expanding your upper-storage capacity

KITCHEN CABINETS 7 Ways to Pair Dark Kitchen Cabinets With Dark Counters

By Amanda Pollard

Dare to dive into the deep for a sophisticated look in your cooking space

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Small, Creatively Used Kitchen

By Vanessa Brunner

A food blogger whips up recipes out of a tiny Oklahoma kitchen — and sometimes spills over to the dining room table

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: A Cooking Maven's Small Kitchen

By Vanessa Brunner

A food blogger shows that an amazing meal can be whipped up in any size kitchen with the right tools, storage and attitude

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Design Fix: How to Fit an Island Into a Small Kitchen

By The Sky is the Limit Design

Maximize your cooking prep area and storage even if your kitchen isn't huge with an island sized and styled to fit

INSIDE HOUZZ Top Kitchen and Cabinet Styles in Kitchen Remodels

By Erin Carlyle

Transitional is the No. 1 kitchen style and Shaker leads for cabinets, the 2019 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study finds

KITCHEN MAKEOVERS Before and After: Glass-Front Cabinets Set This Kitchen’s Style

By Erin Carlyle

Beautiful cabinetry, mullioned windows and richly refinished floors refresh the kitchen in an 1879 Pennsylvania home

More Discussions

What color should I use for storms, window and trim?

8

Bathroom tile placement

11

I would love your input

13

Need to replace the blue.

3

kitchen calculations not even close to available illuminaires.

0