I think there's way too much pressure on the average home dweller, while contemplating and executing a kitchen renovation, to bow to prevailing trends when it would require an utterly unnecessary expense. That is to say, cost or affordability, are valid determinants. But then, so too is getting what one really wants - I'm just questioning why a vast majority of people are demanding granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. I doubt they've given it much thought and are instead parroting what they've heard and seen for less than real or personal reasons. Back to your question - the ideal countertop: one that's clean and uncluttered. And anyone can afford it!

I just got some patina to my Carrera Marble counter top this morning, The glass plate from the microwave hit the edge of the sink broke and I got my first chip.. sigh. I guess now I have to embrace the patine and lived in look.

I really like the look of a well used marble countertop and I love butcher blocks for islands. I like things to look tidy but used. I don't mind granite. quartz or corian (sp?) but it drives me bonkers that granite seems to be the be-all and end-all for home buyers on HGTV.

There two camps of people: Those who believe there are two camps of people, and those who don't.

I am of the second group but will need to act as part of the first if I want to sell my home in the future. My kitchen needs remodeling now but if I want to sell in 5 -10 years, it will be this new counter that will remain. I doubt my patina will be much appreciated by the potential buyers.

I like the post. It makes a valid point. With the like-new camp people, they seem to be hyper neurotic when others are in the kitchen, watching over their back like a Nervous Nellie.
Also, I agree with HONEST DAY, why does everyone feel the need to buy the most expensive products available. Growing up, buying furniture or appliances only happened when they wore out and could be fixed. Things weren't but unless it could be afforded. Yes, all appliances were repaired, even toasters, not tossed out and new ones bought. They were more expensive in relation to todays toasters, but they were made better and in the USA. My mom was giving her grandmothers vacuum cleaner and she gave it to my sister when she moved out. It had a 40 year life.
But I digress. That said, I went the way of the upgraded granite and paid way too much for stainless steel. If I did it again, I would choose white appliances.. Not only are the SS appliances much more expensive, they are a beast to clean. I have water spots that sainted the metal because I have used every cleaner out there to get rid of them without results. And why isn’t it magnetic? The granite counters I would do again.

@HONEST DAY - if stainless steel appliances and granite are prevailing trends, what about butcher block, copper counters, and concrete? All are trends in their own right.

Some people just like stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. It's not necessary to assume they're "bowing to prevailing trends" if stainless steel countertops or concrete countertops are equally as trendy, and a person likes one trend over the other for wholly personal reasons.

I want simple black countertops..but unless I'm willing to pay $3,000 for quartz or corian, I'm going with granite, which is far less.

I prefer overall cohesiveness in a space. The countertop material doesn't matter so much as how it comes together. That said, granite will be my last resort as I don't really like the feel of it.

I do believe that in this instance, a chip, or the general wear and tear to a countertop would constitute patina

My kitchen has the original avocado green laminate countertops from the 70's and they are still in perfect condition. If it weren't for the poor lay out of the counters they would probably stay because they are very cool. But the layout and work space is awkward, so we are looking at remodeling the kitchen. Any suggestions on good laminates or are they all pretty much the same?

I've been condo shopping for the last month, and so many of the spaces just feel generic and stripped of character to me, we finally saw 2 places we liked because they maintained so much of the original architectural character. That said both of the kitchens are still very generic. Everything looks very nice, and is fine, but its frustrating that people are afraid to give their homes a unique character; I personally love to see touches that make a space warm, memorable, and lived in.

The place we're making an offer on needs a bathroom renovation, and I plan on creating a space that on want, regardless of the resale value in 10 years. Who knows what the trend will be in 10 years (look at a 1995 kitchen vs a 2005 kitchen) so why live in a generic space for 10 years because its someone else's idea of what sells better.

I love patina on almost everything. In our new kitchen we installed stainless steel counter top on each side of the cooktop...great for hot pans! The island has stainless on one side and 2 foot wide butcher block on the other. We went with maple but my friend did cherry and I like the look of hers much better. My butcher block is starting to gain patina...nice. Then for the rest of the kitchen we used square 12" marble tiles. I will have to admit that it is hard to watch the marble patina. I'm sure after we get everything done (we built our house ourselves) the patina look will come together and I would choose it again, but it is at this point, a work in progress. Forgot to mention that the counter edging is ceramic chair rail tile. It all presents as an antique look and considering we only spent a thousand dollars for a 20 x 12 kitchen, I am quite happy. Now just to be patient for the patina to age....sigh

When my granite (and btw it was a durability choice, not trend-driven, as concrete was the big thing at the time) counter was new I obsessed over keeping it perfect. Over time, I got a few chips and surface fissures here and there, and some water etching around the faucet and sink edges. I am hard on a kitchen. I notice now that the once shiny surface has softened, which gives the quartz crystals a new depth. I like the look of age. But the stone has retained its translucent quality.

Marble, on the other hand, ages too much for my liking. Any impact on the stone changes the crystalline structure, and you get an opaque blotch. Those monolith, carrara sink-and-drain-board pieces you see in old Italian farmhouses have achieved their patina by hard use, which usually includes caustic cleaners like Comet. The stone is largely opaque, the surface somewhat cottony. It's a beautiful look, and I would buy a house just for the sink if it had one of those. However, I don't want that for a cooking work surface.

If you chip the edge of your marble counter or table, you can soften and blend in the chip using decreasing grades of sandpaper. Be patient. If you go down low enough, you can get a honed effect and a mild divot where once there was a ragged chip (also works well for limestone).

The "patina" that bothers me a great deal is the scratching on the stainless steel edge of my professional stove. It looks -- I don't know -- abused.

When I was shopping for a home, I can't tell you the number of "designer" kitchens I saw with road-rash granite, fake "cherry" builders grade cabinets and stainless appliances. Blech - too ugly to live with, too new to justify tearing out.

The kitchen in the house I ended up with hadn't been touched in 40 years (not in a good way) so I didn't feel remotely bad about gutting it. I went with black walnut butcherblock that I finished myself and I love it for its warmth. Plus it didn't break the bank.

one that you don't have to take a loan out on (in my opinion). in our case we purchased butcherblock from ikea and will be installing it over the next few weeks. also, from a neighborhood perspective what is expected? we live in the city and most homes near ours would have laminate. so butcherblock will be an upgrade.

I think it has a lot to do with the house and what you plan to do with it. Mine is 30 years old, in a not quite suburbian not quite downtown neighbourhood. And I'm keeping an open mind about selling. Which are all points that I consider when installing countertops. I don't want the "lived in look" because I don't believe the ppl who will come to buy this house 10 years down the road are going to be looking for this.

And while I am making many changes to the house others might not like, I'm sticking with at least some more common elements. Granite is not bad. The bad part is that it is popular. And many ppl choose to run the other way when things get popular. Which is a valid reason for not liking something. But does not detract from granite's qualities.

PS. I'm also putting butcher block on the island to mix it up a bit. And because I honestly don't think my nerves can handle that much granite. Here's to hoping things will look good, and not TOO trendy! :)

Got white laminate from 1970's - in great condition - very Mad Men. Just changed the hinges on cupboards to polished nickel, cleaned the wood and over-all effect is extremely cool.

Kitchen textiles can very much effect the look . . . so here'e a vote for keeping the laminate.

If I wanted a simple, black or dark colored countertop I can tell you exactly what I'd get: soapstone. Not granite. But I'm one of those irrational granite haters. And I love soapstone -- it's so classic.

Like Zoecat, when we were looking at houses I almost NEVER liked the kitchens that had been remodeled in the last few years. The kitchen in the house we bought was super ugly, and we're right in the middle of the process of tearing it out. But I actually love that, because it means that I can redo the kitchen in exactly the way I want and not feel badly about tearing out something that is new but not what I like at all.

For those concerned about resale, keep in mind that most buyers will eventually want to remodel to their own taste, or lack of thereof. So what you want to aim for is keeping whatever you've installed in presentable condition. You want people to say, "I'm not crazy about the (fill in the blank), but it's in good enough shape I can live with it for a while."

The idea that anyone would avoid a building material because it's "popular" is silly. But to each his own.

AUOTE: Who knows what the trend will be in 10 years (look at a 1995 kitchen vs a 2005 kitchen) so why live in a generic space for 10 years because its someone else's idea of what sells better.

Ahh....common sense...how REFRESHING

Patina, patina, patina, patina. I have concrete counters and knotty pine ceiling with cherry and oak open shelves in my kitchen......My opinion is that the concrete and wood get better with more use. My only regret is not using cork on the floor.

I finished a kitchen remodel last year and installed a beautiful marble. I knew I didn't want granite and that if I went with manmade I'd have settled rather than get something that would make me happy to walk into my kitchen every day.

So I guess I am in the 'patina' camp and have learned to let go of my neurosis. It is very well sealed (beet juice didn't stain it!) but I've already got some etching (vodka tonics anyone?)

Pyrexmaniac, what's the issue with cork? I've considered using that, so I'd like to hear...

I have a really pretty black with multicolor speck laminate countertop. I have absolutely no regrets on passing up granite, concrete or marble.

I like about anything but granite. Granite can be pretty, but it is just too overused by people with no taste.

Ditto Cearuilin on Soapstone. I also love the fact that it can be refreshed to restore the darkness or buff out some small scratches.

I'm definitely in the aging naturally camp -- both with respect to countertop materials and actresses. We have soapstone and terrazzo (concrete) in our kitchen.

What bothers me about granite and other similar counters is that when they get a chip or scratch, there is no way around it -- they look damaged, and are lessened. But when stainless counters get those little scratches, zinc gets some dents, butcher block starts to develop some hollows from continuous wear, well, it becomes an even more beautiful, a valuable patina.

@Highlander43 -- try Stainless Steel Magic on your appliances. Works like a charm.

We had beautiful, matte grey marble counters installed, thinking they would be as durable as the granite we ripped out. We have no choice now but to get used to the lived in look, stains, scratches and all.

It also depends on the style of your home. Butcher's blocks, marble and other country-style looks would look so out of place in my modern bungalow, built just 13 years ago. The builder's standard range we had to choose from wasn't exactly known for it's longevity. The laminate is lifting around the sink (especially where the joins are), and while the rest of it is in near-pristine condition (because I'm a stickler for not cutting directly on it or putting hot dishes on it), it has to go. We're renovating right now - so we're going with stain-proof, heat-proof, scratch-proof, chip-proof Corian. Mostly because I don't ever want to have to renovate this kitchen again!

We're going with slate - reclaimed from two pool tables, inspired by this couple:
http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2009/01/two_foodies_wait_to_stumble_ov.html

We also have a "gets better with age" esthetic, so that made slate a good choice for us.

Those who love patina or age should see the counters in my '70s' house. White ceramic tile with old grout.

Personally, I think a lot of "granite" counters are starting to look dated already. I've stayed in two different, rather upscale, hotels lately, both of which had "granite" counters in their bathrooms. While the granite is definitely an "upscale" touch, and I could appreciate the fact that it felt clean and pristine, all those little flecks in the granite just screamed "10 years ago" to me. I know there are people who will disagree and say that granite is a timeless surface material. Those people are right in a sense. However, the ovewhelming amount of insane 21 year old couples on HGTV who expect to buy a McMansion complete with "granite countertops and stainless steel appliance" and can't "work" in anything else have given me an icky feeling when I see granite. I just somehow associate it with lemmings or something, and it is the LAST thing I would ever put in a kitchen remodel (unless I was selling a cookie-cutter house marketed toward said lemmings, of course...) ANYTHING can be a trend, and ANYTHING can be overdone by the lemings on House Hunters...so i think it's really important to go with something that you like NOW, and something you're pretty sure you're going to like 20 years from now. I think the test of a true classic is something that can look phenomenal even AFTER 20 or 40 or 60 years of age.