Nothing beats the look of a natural stone countertop in the modern kitchen. Countertops featuring quartzite, marble, and granite look absolutely stunning. But here’s the thing: not paying attention to slab layout could lead to a noisy visual flow. That’s not something most people want when investing in stone.
So how do you achieve the perfect flow with your layout? It’s not easy. But with a few extra steps and the help of your fabricator, it can be done. And it is well worth doing.
It Starts With the Template
Everything about achieving the perfect flow starts with a template. Today’s templates are digital, whereas the templates of 25 years ago were paper. Nonetheless, templates are a crucial tool for fabricating stone countertops for the simple fact that stone is very unforgiving. Fabricators have only one shot at making perfect cuts.
The template needs to be accurate in each and every measurement. It should correctly account for all corners, curves, etc. Even overhang measurements are critical at the template stage. Remember that the accuracy of the template will determine whether each of the slabs fits perfectly.
Be Deliberate About Slab Choice
Next up is being deliberate about your choice of slabs. Pay close attention to veining patterns and colors. Choose a slab that most accurately reflects the vision you have for your kitchen. And whatever you do, make sure you choose your slab in-person rather than online.
Online viewing is great for getting a general idea of your choices. But every granite, marble, and quartzite slab is different. The pictures you see online will not exactly match the slabs in the showroom. We strongly urge every customer considering stone countertops to visit one of our Utah showrooms before making a purchase.
Map Out the Flow
With the slab or slabs chosen, it is time to work with the fabricator to map out the layout. The goal here is to align veining patterns for a more consistent and cohesive look across the entire countertop surface. A horizontal veining emphasizes length, while vertical veining gives the illusion of height and movement.
Part of this process involves understanding the lighting in your kitchen. How light reflects off the countertops will influence what your eyes see when you look at the countertops. Your fabricator will know what to think about with both vertical and horizontal layouts.
Consider Seam Placement
Dealing with seams could be the most troublesome aspect of achieving a perfect layout with natural stone. Seams are unavoidable in most homes because of countertop sizes. So here is the main point: consider seam placement and how it affects your desired flow.
It is best to strategically place seams to minimize their visual impact. You want them to blend naturally, at least as much as possible. To that end, avoid abrupt breaks in veining. And if you are working with an L-shaped space, consider using multiple slabs that maintain veining continuity at the corners.
It’s a Job for Professionals
Achieving the perfect flow with a countertop layout is one of several reasons we say that installing stone is a job best left to professionals. Unless managing countertop layouts is something you do every day, getting it right can be a bit of a challenge.
When you choose Bedrock Quartz as your provider, installation is never a worry. We install everything we sell. Not only that, but we take immense pride in the quality of our work. So stop by one of our showrooms and pick out the perfect slab. Our installers will work with you to achieve an equally perfect flow.
