Planning the kitchen is not always an easy task, and the sink and countertop are often the most doubtful elements: which material to choose? What is the ideal color to make my kitchen beautiful? Can you bet on the light tones or do they mess a lot?
Today in the market we have a wide variety of materials to choose from a countertop or kitchen sink, the most popular and cost effective is granite, a rock formation of Quartz, Mica and Feldspar that guarantees strength and durability. ?, highlight the architects Alessandra Rodrigues and Philippe Veras, from Mangô Arquitetura.
Ideal for environments that require such attention (strength and durability), the granite, besides its impermeability and practicality, has the best cost / benefit in the market, according to the architects.
Architects add that granite can be applied to sink, table, floor, threshold, sill, stairs, niches and other surfaces. Learn more about granite and choose the one that has the most to do with your home!
The architects explain that the colors most commonly used in granites are dark tones (such as São Gabriel Black, Absolute Black and Imperial Coffee) and also the lighter shades (such as Siena White, Polar White, Itaunas and Swallow Gray). Below you know a little more about each of these granite types:
1. Black Saint Gabriel
Commonly used, it can be combined with various other furniture colors and finishes (such as shades of beige, light and dark woody), but is usually next to white, forming a classic and elegant composition in the kitchen.
2. Absolute Black
The homogeneous color enchants and can meet different goals! This granite blends in perfectly with a more traditional kitchen if the counters are white, for example, and also with more modern kitchens, especially metallic (with stainless steel). Provides elegant and distinctive finish.
3. Imperial Coffee
Is it a color that? Warms the decor? and conveys sophistication and status. Combines very well with dark woods and metal parts.
4. Siena White
Versatile, it combines with varied colors of furniture and coverings. A great option for those who want a light kitchen? But it is good to know that cleaning care is redoubled, because this kind of light granite stains more easily than those in dark tones.
5. Polar White
Although it has a whiter background, it has spaced black spots that appear along the stone. This type of granite enhances the countertop or floor and ensures a clean and / or minimalist effect on projects. Remember that the care with cleaning is also great in this case!
6. Itaunas
Widely used, it blends perfectly with white and woody furniture, but can also be used with stronger shades. It is especially suitable for small kitchens, as it allows the feeling of space enlargement. As a downside, as well as other light shades, requires special care with cleanliness.
7. Swallow Gray
In this type of granite, the gray tone is predominant with black pigments evenly spread on its surface. Good choice for those who want a classic kitchen, with a neutral and discreet look.
Remember that there are many other granite options on the market, but these are the most commonly used in the kitchen environment.
Granite x Marble
When it comes to ornamental stones, one of the first doubts is certainly: marble or granite?
According to Alessandra and Philippe, the difference in material choice is simple: marble is porous and granite is much more waterproof. ? For example, you should never use any type of marble in home combat areas such as kitchens and service areas? Because it is porous, it will stain in the first weeks of use ?, they explain.
? Marbles are beautiful stones in the veins, colors, pores, so they are suitable for interior cladding (hall, living room, living room, fireplaces), any kind of area that is not specifically work area (kitchen, service area, garage) ?, the architects point out.
Granite, with its subtler beauty, is the ideal stone for these? Rough? Environments. (kitchen, laundry area, garage), the experts add.
5 tips for choosing the ideal granite for your kitchen
Below you will find the main points that should be taken into consideration when choosing the granite to use in your kitchen.
1. Think about cleanliness: Alessandra and Philippe point out that one of the few pathological problems, especially in the case of light granites, is that in the medium term they tend to be stained and grimy.? In most cases the situation is reversible, as it is a natural product and maintenance from time to time ensures the aesthetic issue of the material (such as polishing, waterproofing, acrylic crack closing etc.). For these granites, we generally choose environments such as bathrooms, toilets, because they make the space lighter and cleaner ?, comment.
2. Consider the advantages of dark colors for your kitchen: Of course your personal taste should be taken into account. If you are willing to use a light granite in your kitchen, although you know it will get dirty more easily, that's fine. But remember that dark-colored granites do not suffer from the same problem, being great options.
"In addition to the dark color being a joker in the decoration to match any type of environment, it does not appear stains and wear even in a long time," comment Alessandra and Philippe. "That's why they are the most used for kitchens and places where we use hot, greasy materials, besides making the environment look more modern and practical," they add.
3. Don't overdo it: Architects point out that an important caution is not to abuse the granite, especially if it is dark. "A kitchen with black granite at the sink and floor can get heavy and bring weariness over time," they explain.
4. Think about safety: Also be careful when choosing these floor tiles for places that may have water. Because the risk of being slippery is high? Warn Alessandra and Philippe.
5. Take samples home: When choosing granite, visit marble shops and, if possible, ask for samples of the materials that interest you. So you can take it home and compare it to existing furniture and coverings, or go to a building supply store and compare it to the tiles and decorative strips you plan to use. After all, looking side by side makes it easier to see the harmony and beauty of the combination.
Always talk to an architect and set your expectations for the kitchen to help you make the best choices.
11 kitchens with granite to inspire you
Get inspired by beautiful granite kitchens to choose the best option for your home:
Other options for your kitchen
Alessandra and Philippe point out that, in recent years, the market of quartz surface materials has been growing and dictating trends in the middle of decoration. We have already advanced that it is a material equivalent to granite in aspects of strength, durability and practicality. The great advantage of this industrialized material is the huge color variation: ranging from solid colors such as red, white, black, brown, among others, to more refined with different textures and pigments. It is a very wide range of color options, models, do not show variation of tone between lots and, therefore, this market has been growing so much ?, explain.
Unlike marble and granite, the quartz surface is not restricted for its use, it can be in work areas, as well as in other common and intimate areas.
Another industrialized material that has become popular in recent years, according to the architects, is glass surfaces: a mixture of resin and glass particles that form an extremely white material, resembling a sheet of sulfite paper.
? This clean look and aesthetic parameters please those looking for an alternative to countertops and kitchen sinks, but its pathological problems are huge: it is a very delicate material that easily scratches, cracks and breaks in sharp corners. We do not recommend the use of glass-based surfaces such as Marmo glass and Nano glass for home work areas (kitchen and service area), as compared to granite and quartz surface for strength, durability and practicality. , turns out not to be advantageous?, highlight Alessandra and Philippe.
It is also noteworthy that these new stone options please the eyes, but may not please the pocket. According to the architects, they are still far above the price of natural stones, showing a difference in budgets compared to granite and / or marble.
Thus, reinforce the architects, among the options, natural stones (granite and marble) have, without doubt, the best cost / benefit. And granite remains one of the most beneficial choices for a stylish kitchen!
KITCHEN DESIGN TIPS: Choosing Your Countertop & Backsplash Materials (April 2024)
- Kitchen, Decoration
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