The latest design magazines show that there seems to be a pretty retro feel to the world of kitchen cabinet design right now with curves making a strong comeback: curved fronted chests of drawers, curved ends for peninsulas/islands, and an endless variety of handles. curves. For countertops to fit these new cabinet designs, it can be difficult to fabricate common laminate to follow the lines of curves, but since granite is solid, countertops can be cut to match these quite easily and will literally follow the curves. kitchen outlines. .
Then the retro theme continues in colors and textures, cabinets with bright fronts paired with heavy, dark-grained woods. Many rich, warm woods are now available, such as walnut, zebrano, or cherry; The novelty is that the grain of these is horizontal, which gives it a retro touch of fashion. Also mix and match dark and light, using woods with high gloss white doors. It may not be practical to have dark wood throughout the kitchen unless the room is very light and airy, but even in a large kitchen it’s best to keep the walls and floor a light color and pair them with lighter countertops. Darker woods can be beautifully contrasted with really light countertops like Kashmir White granite. At the other end of the scale, a smaller kitchen is good with bright white doors that reflect light and contrast them with a Tan Brown granite countertop that will add warmth and texture.
To make a bold contemporary statement, choosing a strong colored kitchen door, say red, black or aubergine, will do the trick and will look fabulous with steel appliances. Definitely a look that works well in a loft apartment or a large open plan living room. A smaller space would benefit from mixing in some high gloss white doors to add light.
There are a few things to consider when choosing granite countertops for these modern/retro kitchens:
- Nero Assoluto (smooth black granite) countertops look great in magazines, but in reality they can be difficult to care for on a daily basis, as they are much more likely to show dust, fingerprints or stains. A better option is to go for a slightly speckled black like Black Pearl or one that has a sheen to it like Black Galaxy.
- Kashmir White is a great choice if you have really dark cabinets, as it creates a fabulous contrast with the small reddish-brown flecks that go well with the look, especially with kitchens in burgundy tones and warm woods like cherry.
- Light pimples will need to be resealed more often, as spills from, say, curry can stain them. If this is a concern, choosing a mid-tone granite like steel gray might be a better option, which will also complement your stainless steel appliances.
- If there’s a lot of white in your kitchen, you may want to create a contrast with some of the brown granites (which are also very easy to maintain on a day-to-day basis) to add some warmth.
- If your kitchen countertops are likely to need a lot of joints, it’s best to avoid granites made with a heavily grooved pattern, as this can make the joints more noticeable.
So, as “natural” seems to be the buzzword when it comes to interior design right now, especially with the wide variety of natural wood doors, granite is a practical and very stylish option for your countertops.