Whether you are designing a brand new kitchen or remodeling an existing kitchen you should be commended on your fine choice. A French country kitchen looks great in any home and maple countertops are the perfect choice.
Wood has long been used for countertops and rightly so. After all it is durable, easy to maintain, easy to refurbish with just a light sanding and coat of stain, and affordable. More importantly they look great! And in a country kitchen they look more than great, they look fantastic!
Modern wood countertops are coated with an acrylic finish which makes then non porous. This means no more worries about absorbing bacteria and they are much easier to maintain and keep clean. Now repelling household solvents is no longer a problem, stain can be easily lifted, and little hurts the finish.
If you are going to cut directly on your maple counter it would be a good idea to reseal regularly. Use mineral oil, Tung oil, or vegetable oil on the area that you cut. It’s always better if you have a matching cutting block designed strictly for cutting.
You can purchase maple countertops in any size you need from stock sizing to custom sizing. And of course you can choose the wood color too. From light blonde to rich dark tones. You pick what will look right in your kitchen.
Consider a classic island countertop that looks modern and contemporary. It’s a great choice and it’s durable. Perfect for slicing and dicing and getting those veggies all chopped up, perfect for rolling your pastry dough, and perfect for the kids to grab a stool and enjoy a glass of milk and snack.
And you might be surprised at just how affordable maple is. You can expect to pay $50 to $75 a lineal foot. In fact a 25 inch wide maple countertop will cost you have of what a synthetic countertop measuring the same would cost. That’s pretty impressive!
Butcher block has also become very popular as a choice for counters and islands. A four inch thick butcher block looks great on an island.
No matter what type of wood countertop you decide on maintenance is a breeze. If your counter has the new acrylic finish your maintenance is zero. If it doesn’t have the finish use mineral oil, Tung oil, or vegetable oil.
To finish off that French country kitchen consider adding a beautiful wood table and chairs with cushions. Consider replacing your flooring with hardwood and then using accent area rugs. The wonderful thing about a country kitchen is that there are so many choices. Display your favorite collection, get a little rustic and add that wagon wheel, or consider a blue and white china display on your wall.
Consider window dressings that fit your décor. Soft lace or wood Venetians. Use the light to your advantage. And speaking of lighting track lighting looks great and a chandelier or hanging fixture over the table can really add the finishing touches.
There is no kitchen that’s quite as warm and inviting as a French country kitchen and maple countertops are the perfect finishing touch. So are you ready to get started?
