Looking for non-traditional counter-top ideas

[antss]

Nat, it doesn't for most people.  But everyone is different for sure.

Besides, one doesn't cut or prep directly on the tops that are backlit. The material isn't suitable or it dulls knives something terrible.  Cutting boards are used for the actual work and those block out the light, which is used as an accent or ambiance light rather than task lighting on all of the ones I've had a hand in.

 

[Nat X]

I'm well aware of the fact that one does not cut directly on a countertop. That has nothing to do with the fact that the backlighting is going to adversely affect your vision as your pupils constrict to compensate for it and the pronounced green cast will make everything but kale look even more revolting than fluorescent tubes. There's a very good reason you see this stuff in movies about coke dealers from 1982 more frequently than anywhere anybody does any real work.

But you're right, many people can't cook anything that doesn't involve a crock pot and won't care until it comes time to sell the place and the buyers want a discount for all the midlife crisis accoutrements they're going to have to pay someone to rip out and redo.

 

[antss]

Nat - you're obviously fixated on backlit glass.

Non of the tops we've backlit have any hint off green. They aren't glass !

You can also ditch the green hue by ordering Starfire or low iron glass if that bothers you.  You can also vary the hue/color temp by careful selection of the lighting.

I can also assure you we do real work for real people that aren't coke dealers, don't want to be anywhere close to a tv/movie camera, and won't stand for their food looking like puke , or their kitchen a set from Miami Vice or Scarface. I respect your opinion that this type of countertop is not for you, and can have pitfall like every other choice.  But, please don't tell me or the folks around here that backlighting countertops is a bad idea or will not work until you actually done few , ok.

I'll also assume the kitchens you frequent don't have professional lighting plans by people that actually know what they're doing and not just sales people.

 

[miclee15]

Soapstone can be fabricated using woodworking tools.  I had it installed in my kitchen and think it's a great material for the kitchen, some kitchen designers absolutely hate it as it's soft. Definitely pros/cons to the material and its common in some circles and "never even heard of it" in others. 

 

[hawkeyestoob]

Thanks for all the great ideas. After many long consultations with the boss at home we have decided to go with concrete for our counter tops. We both really liked the look and were happy with how they held up at out previous place.

 

[WastedP]

Soapstone can be fabricated using woodworking tools.  I had it installed in my kitchen and think it's a great material for the kitchen, some kitchen designers absolutely hate it as it's soft. Definitely pros/cons to the material and its common in some circles and "never even heard of it" in others.

That softness and inherent matte finish can be big pluses to some designers.  I personally really like the look and texture.  If you choose to work it yourself, go to a pawnshop and buy a used Skilsaw and router to work it.  Unless you are working it wet, dry cutting will load the tools with rock dust.  Consider the tools disposable.  Even then it's magnitudes cheaper than buying a stone machining center.

I have clients that used soapstone for one kitchen, but chose jet black Paperstone for the second kitchen I did for them.  It was a lot like working soapstone, but much easier on the tools.  I used a chestnut color of the material for my office.  I sanded it to give it a tortoise shell look.  Price-wise it's comparable to soapstone.

I used to have a rep that brought samples of a polyester solid surface top that was fairly transparent and had aluminum drill shavings cast into it.  It looked cool, but it needed to be sealed or else any exposed aluminum would oxidize.  That totally negates the prime benefit of solid surface for me.

Since the original poster has had concrete tops before, I will let him be the judge of whether or not they are a good fit for him.  For me, for the kitchen, never.  That's a non-porous zone.