[?] Subscribe To This Site

Countertop Edges to Match
Every Design Style

Your countertop edges are the finishing touch that adds personal flair to your overall design theme.

With many countertop edge profiles to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect style for your kitchen counter tops, kitchen island, outdoor kitchen, bathroom counter tops, wet bar or wine cellar. Or for something completely original, combine two different styles to create your own!

Get Some Edgy Ideas

Straight edges or bevel edges will best complement an urban contemporary or traditional American kitchen design.

Rounded profiles in the bullnose styles can work with almost any design, although it is a more modern style

Decorative edges like the Ogee, Dupont or French Cove look best with a French country or old-world motif. Also, the more decorative edges tend to be preferred for marble and granite vanity tops in the bathroom.

Size Does Matter!

Thickness of your countertop slab is also a consideration, so keep the following points in mind.

A 3cm slab provides a substantial profile that looks good with a variety of edge styles and is the preferred size to use.

A 2cm slab is sometimes used, but the countertop can look rather thin. Because of this it is common to laminate the edge of a 2cm slab.

This additional strip glued underneath the edge makes the countertop look thicker.

However, it results in a seam that runs horizontally around the edge.

In most cases this is not a problem and virtually unnoticeable, but the seam may be visible depending on the color and pattern of the granite, marble, travertine, limestone, etc.

Darker countertop colors with more consistent patterns will "hide" a seam better than lighter countertops colors with lots of "movement" in their pattern.

Unless your on a very tight budget, skip the 2cm and go with the 3cm slab. It's stronger and simply looks better.

(Note: The wholesale discounters and backyard fabricators that advertise and quote ridiculously low 'per square foot' prices are selling you low grade 2cm slabs)

Get An Edge

To start, narrow down your choices to those edge styles that you instinctively like keeping in mind your theme.

Remember it's important that all design elements resonate or create harmony. Even a seemingly small element like your countertop edges can make the space just "not feel right" if it doesn't match the look of everything else.

Next, get some finished edge samples from your contractor or granite fabrication company--preferably of the same material your installing, but it isn't crucial. You just want to get a feel for what the actual edge will look like in 3-D. Good Luck!