Finding Keepers
over the counter
Countertops are a key ingredient for cooking up your dream kitchen. Measure your options carefully, and select the form and function that’s right for you.
This assortment of rock-solid choices includes, from top to bottom, recycled glass, Rainforest Green polished marble, honed soapstone, Red Dragon polished granite, Baltic Brown/Vecchio leather-finish granite, and Giallo Macaubus polished quartz.
Rocky Mountain Stone Co. 4741 Pan American Freeway NE, Albuquerque, NM, 505/345-8518, rockymountainstoneinc.com.
Above: These sparkling engineered granite, recycled glass, and Italian glass mosaic tiles make kitchens shine. Clockwise from top left: Perla Bianca granite, Sachi granite, Red Cristallino glass, Lago Ambra granite, and Excalibur glass mosaic.
Granite Transformations 8102 Menaul Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM, 505/872-3600, granitetransformations.com.
Above: The warmth of a wooden butcher-block countertop helps to create an inviting space. Clockwise from bottom left: maple, afrormosia, hickory, mahogany, alder, jatoba, ash, and cherry.
Stock Building Supply 5815 Edith Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM, 505/345-8135, stockbuildingsupply.com.
Above: Hand-painted Talavera tiles are a must-have for traditional Southwestern kitchens. These ornate pieces can be combined with glazed porcelain tiles. Four-by-four-inch hand-painted Talavera tiles on a Jupiter porcelain tile background.
Artesanos Imports Co. 1414 Maclovia Street, Santa Fe, NM, 505/471-8020, artesanos.com. Porcelain tiles are also available at Arizona Tile 5800 Venice Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM, 505/883-6076, arizonatile.com.
Southwest Metal Products 3142 Rufina Street, Santa Fe, NM, 505/473-4575, swmp.net.
In the kitchen, nothing gets more hands-on than the countertop. When you’re not rolling out pastry or assembling enchiladas, the surface continues working as an aesthetic element. You’ll find a broad selection of countertop materials available. Depending on the look and functionality you want, you might consider stone, a stone and recycled glass composite, wood, metal, or Talavera tiles from Mexico matched with sturdy glazed porcelain. Factors like durability, cost, and maintenance requirements can help guide your decision.
Countertop pricing requires detailed information and precise measurements, so many suppliers offer a free consultation, and others will work with your cabinetmaker to provide a quote.