Kitchen Design Decisions

Natural Stone vs. Composite Countertops

Natural Stone

Pros:

• Hefty and heat resistant
• Lasts a lifetime
• Looks beautiful

Cons:

• Needs to be resealed periodically
• Some materials need regular applications of mineral oil
• Marble is expensive, porous and vulnerable to staining

Composite

Pros:

• Quartz is scratch and stain-resistant and needs no sealing
• Paperstone and Richlite are eco-friendly
• Solid surfaces like Corian are seamless

Cons:

• Hot pans can permanently mark some solid-surface countertops
• Can be expensive

Open Shelves vs. Upper Cabinets

Open Shelves

Pros:

• Space to display art, beautiful cookware and dishes
• Opens up the room
• Can be restyled easily for a fresh look

Cons:

• Requires regular dusting
• Can become cluttered and look messy
• Not as much practical storage space

Upper Cabinets

Pros:

• Hides unorganized storage
• Creates a seamless, unified look and uses all vertical space
• Prevents dust and grease from settling on food and dishes

Cons:

• More expensive to buy and install
• Can make a room feel closed in
• May result in unused space as it is difficult to reach top cabinets

Tile vs. Wood Floors

Tile

Pros:

• Hard-wearing and easy to clean
• Many inexpensive options
• Endless patterns and colours for any style of room

Cons:

• Can be cold underfoot
• Easily shatters dishes dropped on it
• Grout requires regular scrubbing and sealing

Wood

Pros:

• Maintains flow in an open-concept space
• Warm and comfortable underfoot
• Adds an organic element

Cons:

• Scratches and dents easily
• Can be expensive
• Spills need to cleaned up immediately to prevent moisture from affecting wood