With any residence renovation, determination fatigue is a really actual factor. In a kitchen reno alone, you’ll seemingly must make upwards of 150 particular person selections: {hardware} kind, the place to place the {hardware}, format, cabinetry, home equipment, fixture model and end, lighting placement, countertop materials, and, for the sake of as we speak’s publish, even how the sting is completed on that countertop. (Should you missed our superb countertop materials information from just a few years again, return and bookmark it right here for if you’ll want it!)
Should you’re working with a designer, they are going to information you on this course of, making their suggestions for what they imagine to be greatest. However in case you’re going at it alone, take into account this your edge profile buddy, serving to you to get to the end line with out an excessive amount of sweat.
Similar to with anything, there is usually a lot to think about, and the choices may really feel limitless, however let’s discuss by what you’re fabricator or GC may have the ability to give you, what issues price, what’s cool and customized you possibly can ask for, and what works greatest for what kitchen model and countertop kind.
What Are The Widespread Counter Edge Profiles?
With regards to deciding on your countertop edge, there are just a few choices mainly each fabricator goes to supply: eased, bullnose, bevel. (Consider chances are you’ll by no means truly communicate on to your fabricator as your basic contractor and even stone yard retailer usually talk your must them.) These are customary and sometimes don’t include any further cost. From there, there are premium profiles which are an improve, akin to miter, ogee, dupont, and cove (plus all their variations). And even past which are customized edges which are extra specialty and require particular instruments. Not all fabricators provide each edge varieties, and there are a number of components that go into why they might or might not have the ability to offer you what you’re asking for, together with:
- Their gear and instruments: Extra complicated edges like specialty ogees and waterfall want specialised instruments and equipment that not each fabricator might have readily available.
- Your countertop materials: Some stone varieties have limitations, relying on how laborious or smooth stated stone is. One thing actually intricate like a double ogee or cove dupont won’t be supported as a consequence of danger of chipping or cracking, and a few fabricators don’t wish to take that sort of danger. ($$$)
- Experience and expertise: Should you’re specing an intricate edge profile, be sure that your fabricator has achieved it earlier than, as a result of they do require a excessive stage of ability and precision. Some fabricators concentrate on a sure model; for example, your fabricator may provide extra trendy designs which are easier, like eased or bevel. Others may concentrate on conventional types. Discover somebody who has an experience in what you’re in search of.
I like to recommend you seek the advice of together with your fabricator (or GC) to see what edges can be found earlier than hiring them. Discover out about their very own restrictions. Should you’re after a extra customized design, ask for diagrams or a sketch to be sure to’re each on the identical web page with what you’re asking for as a result of not all fabricators use the identical names for a similar finishes. They’ll be comparable, however the actual names can fluctuate.
Let’s check out some profiles:
I broke these up into what they’re generally known as, by way of customary, premium or customized. Each fabricator is completely different and won’t take into account, say, a mitered edge customized, however quite customary or premium. I spoke with designer Alexandra Azat of Plaster & Patina (who did that attractive main suite within the Pasadena Showcase Home of Design) about this and he or she agreed: “Pricing is so depending on the fabricator. Some fabricators are really easy about it and others actually push again and cost loads for customized designs. In the event that they’re already laminating the sting (extra on that in a bit), it won’t be an enormous up cost. All of it really relies upon.” I do know that’s sort of like saying “right here’s what this may cost a little…or in no way…everyone seems to be completely different,” however sadly, it’s fairly true.
I’m glad Alexandra talked about lamination. So, chances are you’ll right here “laminate” with counter tops and instantly consider a Formica-like materials. Certain, that’s right, however by a “d” on the finish, and it turns into one thing very completely different. Laminated counter tops imply your strong stone or wooden is stacked on high of itself on the entrance edge to create a thicker look than the usual 2-3 cm.
Right here’s an instance I discovered on Instagram (be sure you scroll to the second picture, as nicely).
As you possibly can see, a number of items of stone are adhered to one another, however solely on the overhang. Which means, the countertop isn’t double the thickness, however quite simply seems it. Lamination makes creating thick or actually distinctive edging doable (like within the first slide above).
Countertop Profile Want-To-Is aware of (Together with Prices)
Beneath, I put collectively yet one more chart to interrupt down every edge profile by vary of price and what materials kind they work greatest on, however with the caveat that your particular fabricator may simply do their very own factor:
It needs to be fairly clear however the important thing for the markings on the suitable are as follows:
✓ = good selection | ! = warning, however doable | X = not suggested
Be suggested that simply since you see a test mark doesn’t imply your particular fabricator will provide it or conform to do it on the marble or quartzite you selected, but it surely’s a great information to go off of. And as I discussed, the identical goes for the value proven right here. It’s helpful to know {that a} double ogee is greater than twice the price of say, a bullnose. Additionally take word that the associated fee is by linear foot, so you probably have a big kitchen, that may add up in a short time. (Facet word: most customized, intricate or ornamental edge finishes are sometimes saved for use in bogs or small bar areas the place there’s a small piece of counter quite than in kitchens, each to protect funds but in addition for performance; crumbs and spills aren’t current in bogs the best way they’re in kitchens.)
Should you love the look of a double bullnose however not the value, don’t neglect you can decide a customized edge like that for simply your island so as to add some drama, however preserve the perimeter extra basic in a typical bullnose, eased or half spherical. I wouldn’t advocate mixing two specialty finishes in a single kitchen as it should seemingly come off trying overdesigned. Do you have to be pairing up edges, simply ensure their types are suitable. A brilliant thick trendy miter simply received’t work nicely with a conventional ogee.
Actual Kitchen Examples Of Counter Edges In Motion
A chart can solely get you thus far in envisioning what these edge profiles appear like. I dug by the archive to seek out some kitchens to indicate you, and full disclosure: many of the kitchens we’ve shot have a typical eased counter profile, like this one:
We love an eased profile. There may be nothing fallacious with deciding on one thing customary like this, particularly contemplating it doesn’t add any prices to the fabrication of your stone. It really works nicely in trendy kitchens, transitional kitchens, and yup, even conventional kitchens.
Should you can’t assist however need one thing slightly extra ornamental, an ogee (or any of its variations like a flat ogee, bullnose ogee or double ogee), is a brilliant common and exquisite end. It’s not overly sharp in any spot—apart from the double ogee that does have a crisp transition—is comparatively simple to scrub and preserve and works nicely in each conventional and heat trendy kitchens. The ridge may catch crumbs, however they need to wipe away with out getting trapped.
Above are two examples of ogee finishes. The left shot is from Emily’s earlier kitchen in LA. She famous within the reveal publish that she chosen an ogee bullnose, which is actually a wedding of an ogee with extra of a bullnose on the backside. Sara’s kitchen has a extra customary ogee, the place the counter doesn’t curve across the backside, however quite falls straight down.
The mountain home kitchen has extra of a straight edge that I imagine was mitered to seem thicker than customary. You’ll be able to see the sides are sharp and crisp, which speaks to the extra trendy model of the kitchen. Designers love utilizing this edge profile with dramatically veined marble to actually showcase the stone.
I dug round Instagram to seek out just a few extra examples of each widespread and stylish profiles.
Beneath are visuals of bullnose counter tops. Whereas bullnose is pretty customary from a fabricator’s perspective, we don’t see it as a lot anymore. It was very talked-about within the early 2000s and has pulled again a bit, however you possibly can see it’s nonetheless pretty and provides some good dimension and motion to charming areas. Utilized in a contemporary kitchen, it would really feel dated shortly.
Taking the pretty primary bullnose and laminating it to be double and even triple may be very thrilling proper now. I’ve been seeing it all over the place. And whereas stunning and dramatic, proceed with warning as it could expire stylistically as a result of it’s so area of interest. (Although in case you find it irresistible, onward!)
Whereas an ogee is nice as-is, an eased or flat ogee just like the beneath from Mayfair Worktops is a good center floor for anybody who desires a contact of element, however doesn’t wish to make their area seem overly basic. One phrase of warning: something with an extended slope, akin to this longe ogee or a dupont won’t be proper for kitchens with restricted counter area because it renders the usable floor smaller.
As you might have picked up with a number of the naming conventions, you possibly can create an edge that’s the lovechild of two profiles, such because the one beneath that appears to me to be a cove bullnose. It {couples} a pointy cove with a softened bullnose. The transition and slope of a cove is way more extreme then an ogee, in case you have been questioning.
Now, I admit that don’t discover myself drawn to bevel cuts as they learn extra trendy than I like for kitchens, however on the butcher block end-grain island beneath, it’s marvelous because the wooden warms it up and retains it from feeling chilly and modern. That’s a testomony to how the fabric you’re utilizing can actually change the look of the profile. The perimeter edge seems like a waterfall.
The 2 pictures that comply with are from the identical kitchen, which additionally contains some stunning wooden counter tops. Whereas I’m not sure, it seems just like the wooden portion has a laminated (keep in mind, which means stacked, not fake), ogee edge and the marble island sports activities extra of an ogee bullnose. I wouldn’t have thought to combine these however (re) work Structure & Design pulls it off.
And eventually, this magnificence from deVol, as a result of no kitchen roundup could be full with out one. Each the black and white stones function a dupont, which cuts in deeper than an ogee and has an extended slope on the sting. This edge profile is pretty conventional and high-end trying, however similar to a flat ogee, it occupies extra floor area so it’s greatest left to giant counter-rich kitchens.
That brings us to the top of as we speak’s information. I hope that was useful and insightful. Should you’re in the course of planning for or dwelling by a kitchen renovation, tell us what questions you’ve gotten that may make your life simpler. We might have already got a useful resource for it, or keen to construct some ( I’m at all times sport for that). In case you have something so as to add, the feedback are open.
Till the subsequent time…
