Choosing your granite countertop is certainly not an easy decision. Whether it concerns the color, the surface, the thickness of the countertop, the type of sink and ceramic cooktop installation - these are all issues that need to be analyzed, evaluated according to your own ideas and then decided.

Your natural stone color of the granite countertop

Black or anthracite-colored natural stones such as Nero Assoluto, Mystic grey as well as brown natural stones are in trend. Coffee brown belongs to the brown natural stones. Which color is the right one for your kitchen? I would always pay attention to my own color preference. And this color should also be in harmony with the color of the kitchen front.

In our opinion, the effect that the chosen color has on people is also particularly important when deciding on the color. If you take the color theory to help you, each color conveys a certain feeling and sensation.

Black is directed inwards, black absorbs, black is silent and noiseless. Black stands for the end and the beginnings.

White includes all colors. White is purity and perfection and gives the feeling of cleanliness and purity.

Red is power, has something dynamic and persistent about it. Red is the color of enthusiasm and stimulates activity.

Orange is a warm, stimulating, cheerful color. Orange stimulates optimism and promotes emotional balance.

Yellow stimulates the intellect and communication. Yellow creates a feeling of well-being, especially in kitchens, as a meeting place for the family. Yellow stimulates optimism.

Green stimulates the feeling of harmony and balance. Green has an energizing effect.

Blue stimulates creativity and inspiration. Blue is associated with patience and serenity.

Grey has a calming effect.

Not to be ignored is also the natural lighting of the kitchen. If there is only little natural light in the kitchen, one is dependent on perfectly planned artificial lighting. All these are essential factors in deciding on the color selection of the natural stone slab.

Your surface of the granite countertop

Granite countertops are offered in the following surfaces:

- polished

- sanded / brushed (leather)

- flamed / brushed

Which is the right surface for your granite countertop?

Polished is the easiest surface to clean. If you like to make pizza or prepare cookies on the countertop, this is the preferred surface. Polished / brushed (leather), because when brushing the surface the soft stone parts are brushed out a light "profile". This means that the slab is not completely flat and therefore has a larger surface, which requires more cleaning.

With the flamed / brushed surface it is so that the flaming of the granite causes the stone to burst open. This means rather coarse unevenness, which is then smoothed out again somewhat by brushing. This surface requires even more care than the "leather" surface.

The right thickness of the granite countertop for you

The usual plate thickness for a granite countertop is 2 cm and 3 cm. The trend at the moment is thin stone slabs with a thickness of 2 cm. The stone slab thereby appears very filigree and light. It should be noted, however, that a flush-mounted ceramic hob, for example, requires a certain depth. If a drawer is planned under the ceramic hob, it may be necessary to omit this drawer in the installation height, as the drawer cannot otherwise be opened due to the depth of the ceramic hob. A cover can help here.

Your edge design of the visible edges

The following visible edge designs are available:

- Edge top and bottom 2 mm rounded off

- edge rounded at the top, radius ca 5 mm, chamfered at the bottom

- edge rounded at top and bottom, radius approx 5 mm

Most granite countertops are finished with a 2 mm chamfered top and bottom visible edge. In my opinion this fits best to the rather plain, angular kitchen fronts. In combination with stainless steel handle strips this results in a well-balanced appearance.

Your installation type of sink or ceramic hob

The installation types of sinks are as follows:

- Sink, installation from above - this requires a cut-out to be sawn

- Sink, undermount sink - we place the sink at the bottom of the stone slab; the stone visible edge is visible and is chamfered and polished like the front edge at the top and bottom

- Sink, flush installation - here the sink is placed in a slightly chamfered stone rabbet, sink surface and stone are almost flat. The transition from the sink edge to the stone is grouted with natural stone silicone.