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Complete Guide to Kitchen Countertops

The countertops in your kitchen are a vital component to the overall kitchen design. They affect both the function of your kitchen space and the overall aesthetic. Countertops take up a lot of visual space, after all. To create harmony in your kitchen, you need to select the right countertops. 

At Kingswood Designs, we are kitchen countertop experts. We fabricate all of our countertops in our shop located directly below our showroom. Since our countertop fabricators are full-time employees, we welcome our customers to visit our shop prior to cutting to identify areas of their granite or quartz to highlight or avoid.

From design, to installation, we make sure our customers are completely satisfied with their Kingswood counters. If you’re thinking about replacing your countertops – or completely remodeling your kitchen – here are some things you should know about how we do things at Kingswood.

complete guide to kitchen countertops

Selecting Your Countertops

When a customer comes to us looking for new kitchen countertops, we usually start out by helping our customers understand the types of materials we use.

Granite Countertops

Granite has been one of the go-to kitchen countertop materials for homeowners for a long time now, and for good reason. Granite is a natural stone that boasts a look that is unique. Not only are there many different types of colors available, but each granite slab has its own unique hue, pattern and shade that won’t be replicated anywhere else.

The look isn’t the only thing granite has going for it. Granite is extremely durable, making it difficult to scratch. It’s heat-resistant, which means you can place hot pans on the surface without damaging it. It’s also stain-resistant once you seal it, which is a big advantage in the kitchen.

You can read more about the advantages of granite kitchen countertops here.

Quartz Countertops

Quartz is another kitchen countertop material that we highly recommend. Quartz kitchen countertops contain 93 percent quartz and 7 percent binder and color.

Engineered quartz is available in a variety of different colors and styles. Additionally, the look of quartz is unique because of the small pieces of glass or metallic flakes that can be added. Quartz is also incredibly durable and unlike granite, does not need to be sealed, which makes it ideal for the kitchen work space. On top of that, quartz is resistant to scratches and is easy to clean.

You can read more about quartz countertops here.

Planning Your Kitchen Countertop Project

Customers usually come to Kingswood for one of two kitchen countertop needs: they are either fully renovating their kitchen, or looking to just replace their existing kitchen countertops. Our designers and installers are experts at managing and completing either type of project.

Full Renovation

If you are fully renovating your kitchen, you will have the opportunity to work with one of our experienced designers to choose the kitchen countertop that will coordinate with your overall kitchen design. Our designers will also help you decide the layout of your countertops, including islands, bar tops and other features.

The biggest frustration that homeowners run into when trying to handle a full kitchen renovation is timing. When you work with Kingswood, we ensure that we complete your project. Your dedicated designer will provide you with a detailed timeline of your renovation project, so you know what to expect. And because we fabricate our kitchen countertops in our facility, we are completely in control of that timeline – not an outside vendor. No middleman for you to deal with!

Replacement Kitchen Countertops

If you do not require a full kitchen renovation, but still want to refresh the design, replacing your countertops is a great start. Here’s how we help our clients with replacement countertops:

  1. First, we ask that you measure your current countertop and make note of the location of your sink, stove and dishwasher, plus the walls and finished edges in your kitchen.
  2. Then, bring that information into our showroom. At this point, we will show you samples of granite and quartz. We’ll make sure you understand the benefits and drawbacks of each material, so you can make an informed decision that’s best for your lifestyle and your budget. Then we will go over our process with you, including the services we offer such as tearing out and disposing of your existing countertops.
  3. Finally, you get to select your countertop and we will start planning your entire project!

Incorporating Kitchen Countertops into Design

One of the advantages of using Kingswood Designs for your kitchen countertop project is the opportunity to work with one of our designers. From the very beginning, we pair you with a designer that will assist you through the entire renovation process.

Your designer will make recommendations for every inch of your kitchen. They are experts in space planning, and know how to make your kitchen a functional space that’s perfect for cooking, entertaining – and living.

A big part of this design process is your kitchen countertops. Not only will your designer help you choose the material that’s right for you, they will also help decide where your countertops should go and additional features you might want to include in your kitchen or home. For example, your designer might suggest ordering granite to finish the living room fireplace that can be seen from the open kitchen, to really tie your space together!

When you work with Kingswood Designs for your kitchen countertop project, know that you are working with the very best. We ensure a stress-free experience that ends with your ideal kitchen!