What are the materials of Nakajima countertops? 5 types of big appraisal, clearly understand which one is right for you!

Looking at the exquisite island kitchens in magazines, one always feels envious and wishes their own kitchen could be both beautiful and practical. However, the kitchen is an area prone to grease and smoke, and if the material for the island countertop is not chosen carefully, subsequent cleaning issues can become a major headache. Therefore, before deciding to renovate your home kitchen into an island design, you must first understand the differences between countertop materials to ensure you buy the right island and enjoy the charm of a blissful kitchen space!

What are the types of island countertop materials?

The open kitchen space favored by modern people can generally be divided into 4 common design types: I-shape, U-shape, L-shape, and Island-type. Among these, the island-type design best fulfills the public’s imagination of a kitchen. Whether it’s the cooking area or the island countertop material, a customized space can be planned based on the overall kitchen layout. With so many island countertop materials on the market, how should you choose? Let’s take a look!

Simple and Stylish: Stainless Steel Island

With the rise of industrial style in recent years, more and more families favor island kitchens with a minimalist design. For the countertop material, stainless steel is chosen by many because of its bright, smooth, aesthetically pleasing, fashionable, and easy-to-clean characteristics. If you think stainless steel is only what you see on the surface, you are wrong! It can be further categorized based on different surface treatments, such as embossed, hairline, and mirror finishes. The faucet and sink can also be made into an integrated island, giving the kitchen a simple and stylish look.

2.High-Temperature Resistant: Fireproof Material

There are also specially-made high-temperature resistant and fireproof countertop materials on the market. Their abrasion resistance and high-temperature resistance have made them a popular choice for island countertops recently. You can choose different styles based on different needs; in addition to being fireproof and heat-resistant, pairing it with the overall kitchen color scheme will further enhance the modern feel of the kitchen.

3.Environmental Mainstream: Economical and Practical

With rising environmental awareness around the world, eco-friendly artificial stone is gradually becoming a primary material for island countertop design. Although its hardness is not as high as natural stone, its characteristic of not easily harboring dirt and its reasonable price have made it one of the mainstream countertop materials for island kitchens recently. Common eco-friendly stone materials on the market include quartz stone and composite acrylic.

4.Unique Stone Texture: Premium Presentation

High-quality European kitchens often featured in magazines mostly use natural stone countertop materials as examples. Since natural stone is processed and cut, it can be made into unique and special patterns, with a refined and beautiful appearance that gives a sense of nobility. The textures of different stones (such as marble and granite) can be used to make the overall three-dimensional effect more prominent, presenting a more layered design for the kitchen island.

5.Solid Wood Warmth: Heartwarming Creation

Kitchens with a woody design always make people feel warm and secure. They can create a cozy Nordic style, allowing you to feel the warmth of home from your front door to the kitchen. Choosing a solid wood island countertop material can also be consistent with the overall design style of your home. However, as the climate in Taiwan is relatively humid, if you choose solid wood materials like walnut, teak, or oak for your island countertop, you must pay special attention to maintenance!

How to choose an island countertop?

After reading the above introduction, you’ve realized that there are so many styles of island countertop materials alone. How can you choose the one that is most suitable for your home kitchen? Now, follow the editor’s selection steps!

➡️ STEP 1. Matching Style: Comfortable Cooking

The primary consideration when choosing an island countertop is matching the kitchen style. If the kitchen design style is metallic industrial, but you pair it with a solid wood island countertop, the overall style will be ruined by the island. Therefore, when selecting an island countertop, you must first consider the overall kitchen design style.

➡️ STEP 2. Understand Features: Select Material

Every island countertop material is different. You should first define your needs (e.g., prep space, serving as a dining table, sink use, etc.) and then confirm which material’s characteristics are more appropriate. As mentioned above, there are 5 common island countertop materials: stainless steel, fireproof, eco-friendly, natural stone, and solid wood. Each material has its own characteristics, and it’s more appropriate to choose based on your specific needs.

➡️ STEP 3. Cleaning Consideration: Clean and Tidy

Since the island countertop is placed in the kitchen, if the surface is difficult to clean, the long-term accumulation of grease can be astonishing. When choosing an island countertop material, you must also consider subsequent cleaning issues. For a stainless steel island countertop, you only need to clean it with items already available in the kitchen, such as flour or baking soda. (Further reading: “How to Clean Stainless Steel Kitchenware? 5 Cleaning Tips Revealed”)

Island Countertop Material Recommendation | Jenyen Stainless Steel: Quality Guaranteed

Jenyen Stainless Steel Co., Ltd. has nearly 40 years of experience in manufacturing stainless steel products, and its quality has been highly praised by domestic and international clients. They offer professional customization services, providing you with the most reliable quality through the strictest quality control. They produce the highest quality island countertops with meticulous and demanding craftsmanship. Based on the customer’s intended use and needs, they can provide you with the most sturdy and durable island product in terms of overall structure.