As any designer will tell you, granite is one of the most popular materials used for kitchen or bathroom countertops, whether be it in a straight modular kitchen setup or another similar setup.
There are plenty of benefits to using granite in your home decor, especially if you have a small modular kitchen. Granite countertops have a rich visual appeal and gorgeously patterned surface designs that make them the focus of your room.
In fact, designers often choose uniquely coloured or patterned granite in high-end luxury kitchens and bathrooms and then work the rest of the room around this design choice!
Continue reading below for more information on the same!
What is Granite?
Granite is a naturally formed igneous rock that is formed when magma cools and hardens on the surface or depths of the earth.
Mostly composed of quartz and feldspar, granite also has small amounts of other minerals which contribute to its colour and appearance.
Pros and Cons of Granite Countertops
While there are a great many advantages to using granite as a countertop material, there are a few things you should watch out for, as well, as seen below:
Pros:
- The rich, natural beauty of granite can never be matched by any synthetic material.
- This lovely stone is available in a wide variety of colours, ranging from jewel-toned greens to gorgeous whites, deep fiery reds to stunning blacks, and almost every colour in between. This means you can find a shade that matches or complements your kitchen slab design décor palette.
- Granite is very hard and is not susceptible to scratches, making the kitchen granite design one of the most durable choices for your countertop.
- Granite is heat resistant, and does not get damaged or discoloured from the heat around the cooktop.
- It is available in a wide range of price points to suit your pocket, which makes it suitable for all styles of décor—from economy to luxury.
- Granite is completely resistant to water or moisture, making the kitchen granite design the best choice for constantly damp spaces, such as bathrooms or outdoor landscaping.
Cons:
- Truly unique, exotic varieties of granite could get a bit more expensive than you had bargained for! Again, if you have chosen a rare granite colour as part of the kitchen granite design and you need to install some more later, it might be very difficult to match the shade, such as in case of a u shaped modular kitchen.
- As granite is a natural stone, it could sometimes be hard to find additional bricks or slabs to match the existing granite kitchen slab design.
- If granite surfaces are continuously exposed to harsh chemicals, the sealer could wear off over time, causing the kitchen granite design polish to get degraded and the stone to stain.
- Polished kitchen granite design countertops can become very slippery when wet. We always recommend the use of rough, flamed granite for flooring.
How can You keep Your Granite Countertops Looking as Good as New?
Kitchen granite design countertops are a breeze to maintain, and they stay looking fabulous for years with just a little care.
Your daily routine should include a quick spray and wipe down with a mild organic cleaner, using a soft cloth.
Once a week, deep clean all the crevices, especially in a L shaped modular kitchen so that oil and grime do not accumulate over time.
And once in a couple of years, it might be a good idea to get the surface re-sealed.
A quick test to determine whether it needs resealing would be to notice whether the water darkens the colour of the stone.
Some granite varieties do not even need to be re-sealed, ever.
Your architect will be able to judge and advise you on this. In fact, black granite is usually so dense and dark that a kitchen granite design made from it is impossible to stain and does not require re-sealing to prevent stains.
Maintenance Tips and Dos and Don’ts for Kitchen Granite Design Countertops!
Here is a list of maintenance tips for the kitchen granite design countertops:
DOs
- Wipe up spills as quickly as possible, especially in the case of an l shaped kitchen platform as it could lead to unwanted incidents like slipping on the floor when working in the kitchen
- Use a soft and slightly damp microfiber cloth to wipe down your parallel modular kitchen counters every day owing to the heavy usage of the same. You can use liquid organic cleaners for a more thorough cleaning.
DON’Ts
- Use harsh chemical cleaning solutions such as bleach, ammonia, or acid-based substances (not even lemon) on the surface of the marble kitchen platform granite design countertop. Avoid using hard or abrasive scouring pads.
- Put a searingly hot pot right on the granite without using a trivet. Yes, we did say the surface is heat resistant, but why not be gentle anyway, especially if you have a low-budget modular kitchen?
- Cut vegetables right on the surface of the island modular kitchen countertop. Your knife will become blunt.
How much does Granite Cost?
The cost of granite varies based on its availability and colour. Prices of good quality granite slabs can range from ₹150 to ₹500 and upwards per square foot, with rare colours being more expensive.
Edging and nosing will be charged at an additional rate per running foot, in case you have a pvc modular kitchen owing to the cost of plating granite slabs on the material.
When you are shopping for granite for your kitchen, which could be an acrylic modular kitchen, always make sure that you source the material from a reputed and trustworthy company.
Always look at the entire slab and not just a small sample—since it is a natural stone, there could be a lot of deviations in the surface patterns!
Do not buy a slab that is less than 18 mm thick, as you will face a greater risk of breakage during transportation and laying.
It’s very important that you should hire an experienced granite stone cutter and layer, so that your stone kitchen platform granite design countertop is laid perfectly with minimal joints that are near-invisible.
And in the end, you should always choose the colour and variety for your semi modular kitchen that appeals to you.
Sounds overwhelming? It really isn’t, and if you’re still confused the HomeLane team is just a call away!
FAQs
1. Which Granite Colour Is Best for Kitchen?
When it comes to kitchen granite designs, here are the top-8 colours you can choose for your granite countertops and kitchen platform design:
- Neutral shades such as the tan colour along with shades of light pink, white, and black
- A pure white kitchen slab design works well with grey accents to give your kitchen an elegant and subtle touch
- A black granite kitchen design is also effective in adding a sense of magnificence and luxury
- Bright and bold colours such as a yellow kitchen granite design can add a pop of colour in an otherwise dull kitchen
- Pastel colours go extremely well with the Brazilian kitchen slab granite design
Irrespective of the colour you choose, make sure to think about intricate elements in your kitchen when pairing it with right kitchen granite design.
These elements include the kitchen cabinets, the woodwork within the kitchen, the decor accessories, and more. The idea is to play with different granite textures and patterns to add a layer of personality and character to your kitchen.
2. What Is the Most Popular Granite for a Kitchen?
Here are the most popular modular kitchen platform granite designs you can get inspired from:
- Imperial red kitchen granite design that comes with a deep red grain and has white, black, and grey colour undertones; this can be
- A black granite kitchen design is another trending kitchen granite design that doubles up as an effective countertop; to add more character to the kitchen granite design, complement your black granite with dull gold fittings
- White granite kitchen slab designs are also extremely in vogue, as they make the space look open and airy; along with white, you can use any colour or shade for your kitchen fitting and
- To replicate the power of Scandinavian minimalism, opt for neutral coloured kitchen granite designs such as warmer shades of white, cream, beige, brown, light blue, grey and gold
- Honed granite allows you to leverage the benefits of matte finish and low sheen (both of which are not available with polished granite); plus, you can get a softer, more natural look and feel
