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Most kitchen shoppers consider material and color and pay little or no attention to one of the biggest kitchen design issues – countertop finish. Your countertop finish affects not only what it looks and feels like, but also what it can and cannot do and how you care for it. At Xiamen Nishi Group Co., Ltd, drawing on 10 years of experience in the stone industry, we guide our clients through the different available stone countertops and finishes that can suit their style and use.
Polished Finish: Classic Gloss and Reflection
The polished surface is probably the most frequently used and classic surface of kitchen countertops. In the polishing process the surface of stone is ground down and buffed with ever-smaller abrasives until smooth, high shine develops that reflects ambient light to amplify the colors and designs of the stone.
These natural materials-granite, marble, and engineered stone-are all excellent options for polished countertop because the surface enhances the stone’s depth and richness while giving it luxe finish. Polished kitchen surface actually reflects light around the room. This can also make even dark kitchen or smaller kitchen feel brighter and larger than it is.
That being said, they also highlight any fingerprints, water marks, or smudges. While etching will only show up as matte haze on the majority of surfaces, etching is more noticeable on marble, and scratches are more visible on polished surfaces in general. Still it is popular finish for very good reason:
Honed Finish: Subtle Matte Sophistication
The smooth matte finish called honed does not have the shiny reflection you normally see on polished stone. This type is produced by eliminating the last buffing step during polishing, thus resulting in soft glow without reflections.
A softer, more natural look of honing is perfect for those interested in more minimalist modern, or rustic look. Honed finish feel more rounded on the hands. Honed finish are better when it comes to protecting against fingerprints and water stains in the kitchen as there's frequent cleanup needed.
They are also prone to stains and need routine sealing if natural stone like marble or granite is specified. They also show scratches and etch marks very easily and they have to be protected more than with high polish. Marble is often specified honed because designers love the luxury of marble but hate high polish.
Leathered Finish: Textured Durability
Textured or brushed finish is brush finish where diamond-tip brushes are used to create soft textured stone surface that resembles leather. This finish can be applied to both granite as well as engineered stones.
The leather finish is fantastic textural treatment; the finish is little bumpy or even slightly pitted to give the stone different textural feel. Leather looks especially good on darker colored granites, as the pitted texture is great on coloring and vein pattern variation.
Another perk of leathered finishes, is that the finish masks smudges, water stains, and fingerprints as the surface is much less slick. The textured nature of leathered finishes is much better at deterring scrapes, unlike polished surfaces. If you’re concerned about the appearance and care of kitchen countertops, leathered countertops are less prone to etching, staining is often less evident and generally more wear-and-tear resistant than polished.
Flamed and Brushed Finishes: Textured Outdoor-Inspired Surfaces
Flamed and brushed are not the most typical for countertops inside kitchen, but they could be used in industrial looking interior spaces, patio areas or outdoor kitchens. This type of finish uses high amounts of heat on countertop to make existing crystals in the material burst, which gives it its raw and rustic look.
Flamed finish is commonly found in granite and basalt and is non-slip texture that is excellent for outdoor spaces, adding an organic, rugged touch that can be beautiful addition to any modern and industrial spaces. Brushed finishes, like leather finish, can provide less dramatic feel and more gentle surface with non-slipping properties.
The surface finishes are very user friendly, since scratches, stains, and daily wear and tear are less evident on this finish. The surface is even not susceptible to finger or water marks so if it is used in high-traffic area. If you want to stand out from the crowd or if you desire an artistic and outdoorsy appeal in your kitchen or your exterior space then this flamed brushed finish might be the right option.
Summary
To buy the kitchen worktops you must understand the various surface finishes available. Whether the classic glossy effect with polishing or matte appearance of honed stone, textured touch of the leather finish, outdoorsy vibe of flamed stone, or tough brush finishes, these all provide with varied options. Each is distinctive. In the natural and manufactured stones, we Xiamen Nishi Group Co., Ltd can offer you every kind of surface you’d like. Visit us so we can discuss all your options and come to an agreement on which works best.