Would you/have you put stainless steel counters in your kitchen?

Question

Within the next couple of years, we are probably going to downsize and buy an antique (18th century) fixer-upper house. We have owned antique houses before and have renovated a kitchen, twice in one house. That time, we used granite. It looked great and was easy to use and very low maintenance.

I'd go with granite again, except for this: over the past few years, I got to experience the joys of stainless steel when I cooked for various functions in my kids' school kitchen. It seems like the best surface in the world for food preparation. (Don't get me started on the Hobart dishwasher--I know that's not a realistic appliance for a residence--but it was awesome!)

Is there any reason why I shouldn't use stainless counters in my next house? Would it look horrible in an antique house? (A kitchen with anything but a fireplace is an anachronism anyway in an old house, so I just want the kitchen to complement what's there.)

What are some of the drawbacks to stainless? Is there any particular brand I should look for?

Answer

I wouldn't use stainless or granite. The only reason to use stainless steel is in an industrial settiing where ease of disinfection is a consideration. Granite is equally hard and cold, just more interesting visually.

Consider soapstone. That's what my daughter chose for a new kitchen in an old house after thinking about it long ang hard, and I rspect her judgment.

I'm about to update my kitchen and I'll go with a paper composite, believe it or not. I have stainless surfaces on my appliances and that's enough of that.

Answer

We rented an older home on vacation and they had stainless counters. It was a large kitchen and ended up looking a little institutional. Obviously you're going to put thought into so you can exert some design control. As far as brands go, you're probably better off going with a local sheetmetal fabricator. It's a custom job because you want to minimize seams and it's generally cheaper to go with someone in your area.

As an aside, we had a Hobart LX30 undercounter dishwasher in our old house. I wish we had moved it to our new house (bought it slightly used for about 75% off from a restaurant supply dealer). Simply the best.

Answer

The drawback I see is scratches . The first big one you get you will probably always be staring at it . No way to get rid of it . It is there forever .

Answer

Of course, as you implied, most modern kitchen materials will be out of place in an 18th century kitchen. As you mentioned, you aren't going to put a fireplace, worktable, and other elements of an "original kitchen". That said, stainless tends to be used in contemporary kitchens (or another shiny metal, monel, in the 1930s-50s). Is this going to be a forever home? Can you live with the patina? (scratches, dents, rust spots -- things that are less apparent when you are working rather than living, in a space?) If you intend to resell, it may put off potential buyers. Soapstone, marble, butcher block, zinc/pewter, etc may all be later period materials that may be more expected.

Answer

Tile or butchers block look great in old houses. Stainless is hard to pull off and I think its a case by case decision. Granite is hideous regardless of the age of the house.

Answer

Yes! Love it. You can roll out dough and such on it. Then when you're done just wipe the whole thing down. If you need to disinfect use rubbing alcohol. easy easy.

Answer

Use stainless only where the major food prep is going to happen.

Answer

I have stainless steel counters on each side of my stove. Had it for 11 years.....no rust, big scratches etc...like it because I put hot pots on it without any worries.

Answer

Historical and architectural context count for something. SS counters in an 18th Century house? Why not add 1950s yellow glass relight panels and a huge RV garage?

I'm with GH1618 here--soapstone would be ideal. Slate would be OK, as would butcher block. If you must have metal, zinc or copper.

Answer

Would I? No. But I nearly put copper in our cabin kitchen so you probably shouldn't give any weight to my opinion.

A friend's parent's house has stainless counters. It is an old brownstone and the kitchen is circa 1950. Those counters survived a couple of large families that used the kitchen hard.

Answer

I'm opting for sheet lead countertops in my next remodel. It deadens sound, blocks harmful gamma radiation, and has stood the test of time.

Answer

If you want to go totally period, make sure you install a turnspit by the fireplace. I have no idea where you're gonna get a dog for it, though!

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Another option would be the rubber surfaces installed in chemistry classrooms and labs.

Answer

I've seen it in a semi-modern kitchen and it looked great. It was a working kitchen, the owner loves to bake and it is ideal. 

That aside, what you choose depends on if you are a form or function person. From a form stand point it will not likely fit in very well in an 18th century home, especially if ones intent is to keep the remainder of the home period. You would be better off with soapstone, butcher block, or some other period correct surface. From a purely functional point of view, it would work just fine as long as you can deal with the inherent issues of dents and dings and the relatively high initial price. The philosophy of form follows function is well established, but if it's a period home in all other respects, it will look out of place. It would be great in a mid 19ty century home, with chrome legged dining table and chairs, etc.

Answer

I have a 115 year old house and put in concrete. Love it. Considered soapstone and love that too. One of my neighbors has the lovely old vanished cabinets and a large butlers's pantry with the old farmhouse sink. She has the original stainless countertops and they are gorgeous. Soft with patina, glowing, a little dented up. Just lovely. I get such a kick out of her bringing in an armload of peonies or something and just throwing them on the stainless steel drainer that slants into the sink. I hate granite; so overused. Surfaces with a little patina and use are so much more interesting. Except worn out looking granite! I am going to put stainless steel into my Florida house which is just a common ranch.

Answer

We have stainless steel countertops. Functionally, they are superb. Visually, it depends on how much one values the polished appearance of new stainless steel, where the grain remains uniform. Although stainless steel can be polished to different finishes, the most common one for kitchen countertops and appliances has a fine but visible grain or uniform direction in which it was polished.

In the normal course of countertop use, as things like cutting boards get pushed around on the countertop, the grain wears away. In other words, microscopic (and sometimes not-so-microscopic) scratches and abrasions detract from the uniform-grained polish effect.

If that does not bother you, then go for it. I have learned to not let it bother me. In a renovated 18th C. house, I would think it might work well. In my ultramodern loft condo, I have to say I preferred the way the countertops looked when they were new.

Answer

NO!!!!! I had to work in a test kitchen with stainless counters. They were dark, scratched easily (stainless steel is fairly soft)and never looked good unless they were freshly polished.

Answer

I just read about these "volcanic stainless steel" countertops. Thoughts? http://www.milosmetal.com/countertops.html

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Would you/have you put stainless steel counters in your kitchen?

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