Guide for choosing a countertop: what should you choose?

The countertop is a central part of your kitchen. Not only does it impact the look and feel of the kitchen, but also your daily routine depending on the level of required maintenance. The ideal countertop fits your kitchen style, your needs for features and your cleaning routines. 

Our collections have been developed by renowned architects and designers. For each of our design series, a countertop has been selected to match the design and make sure that the kitchen and countertop correspond in terms of look and feel. In some cases, the designers recommend more than one type of countertop with different qualities and features, allowing you to choose a material that suits your daily routine.

Read more about all our collections and see what countertop is recommended for each design. You are also welcome to contact us for more information on countertops and to hear about all the options.

The countertop should be chosen to fit the design and style of the kitchen and the kitchen space in general. Consider choosing a countertop that matches the material or color of the kitchen fronts or create a contrast with a different material or color.

The countertop can determine the overall look of the kitchen: a kitchen with wooden fronts can be completed with a countertop in solid wood – but it can also be completed with a countertop in stainless steel to add a different tactility. Get more inspiration for a countertop to match your kitchen style. 

When choosing a material for the countertop, you should not only consider the look and feel of the material, but also the features and the level of required maintenance are worth a thought. Each material comes with its own features. 

Countertops made from natural materials – like solid wood or linoleum – adds warmth and tactility to a kitchen. The materials change over time as you cook and live in your kitchen, and become more appealing and unique as you care for the material. 

A material like marble makes a solid and distinct countertop, with a unique appearance made from naturally compressed limestone. Being unable to withstand acidity, it’s important to clean and maintain after usage. 

Stainless steel is a very hygienic choice for a countertop, as it is easy to clean and maintain and requires no type of maintenance. The surface will get scratched over time and with time these scratches will add up to a more worn, industrial look and feel.  

If you’re looking for a durable countertop that stands virtually any form of wear or impact from the occasional stain to the hot skillet, you should look for a material like Dekton or Silestone. Made from a combination of quartz and resin, the countertops stand the test of durability and require no specific maintenance.  

There are many more materials to choose from. You can read more about all the materials and compare their features in our countertop overview. You are always welcome to contact us for more information on countertops and to hear about more variants.

Before you decide on the shape and size of your kitchen sink, you should consider how you use your sink in your daily life. In that way, you can be sure that the sink fits your needs.

 

Shape and size

Consider what size of sink is most suitable for your kitchen. The size should follow the width of the cabinet under the sink, if you want to be sure there is enough space. 

Many people underestimate the impact of the sink size: if the plan allows it, it can be useful to prioritize a large sink for daily usage in the kitchen. This is where you prepare your vegetables, cut your flowers and wash your pots and pans. It can be nice to have plenty of space in the sink – and as a bonus, it leaves room underneath for garbage assortment. 

Also the shape of the sink is worth considering: it can be a great advantage to choose a sink that is easy to clean and maintain. Most sinks have a built-in drop in the bottom allowing the water to float naturally to the drain. It can also be an advantage with rounded corners in the sink to make sure it is possible to clean the sink easily. 

 

What material should you choose for your sink? 

Just like the material of the countertop, the sink material impacts the final look of the kitchen, but also the level of maintenance. Maybe you prefer a material to fit other details in the kitchen such as the handles, faucet or color of the kitchen. Also the level of maintenance should be part of your considerations. Read more about the different sink materials here. 

Depending on the material you choose for the countertop, there are different options for the type of sink mounting. In most cases, the material of the countertop will determine the most suitable type. 

There are three types of common mounting installations for a kitchen sink: undermount, flush mount or top mount. It’s only possible to weld the sink to the countertop in stainless steel. 

An undermount sink is installed from underneath the countertop into a pre-milled groove to create a seamless appearance – it’s the preferred method for mounting sinks in natural stone, solid surfaces and quartz countertops due to the clean look and feel.  

A flush mount sink is placed from above into a pre-milled groove. In that way, the countertop and sink edge will be almost completely flushed. This is the prefered method for materials like linoleum or Fenix NTM laminate, leaving a clean finish. 

A topmount sink – or a drop-in sink – is installed on top of the countertop into a pre-cut opening. This will leave the edge of the sink visible on top of the countertop. This method will be the only option if you source your sink from somewhere else from us. 

When you order your countertop through us, you can have your countertop delivered including the sink mounted into the countertop. If you choose to get a sink from another supplier, we can also make the cut-out for the sink on your specific measurements. Read more about the different types of sinks here. 

Faucets are available in many different shapes and sizes. Sometimes a specific design or function determines the type and model. The faucet should be chosen in a material and color that fits details in the kitchen such as the color or material of the sink, appliances or handles. 

No matter what faucet you decide on, we will make sure to cut-out a hole in your countertop with the required size. Just tell us the exact measurements of your faucet when you order your countertop.

Be aware of the possibilities of mounting a faucet in wooden materials: countertops in solid oak, linoleum, and Fenix NTM laminate need to be protected from steam and condensation from the faucet. In that case, you will need to choose a sink that includes a panel for the faucet. This will secure that the water doesn’t damage the countertop. 

It is important that your countertop fits your kitchen perfectly. To ensure the countertop fits your kitchen, we recommend you to order your countertop based on a professional measuring. The measuring should be done when the base of your kitchen has been installed, and can include assemblies or cut-outs for hob or sink.

In most cases, you will need some on-site fittings to make sure the countertop follows the shape – and perhaps irregularities – of your room. Your kitchen installer should be able to help you with this part and make sure the countertop is a perfect fit.

You are welcome to contact us if you have any questions or need help ordering your countertop. You are also welcome to visit your nearest showroom if you want to see all the options for materials and colors.