I'm not proud of it, but the truth is that when stories surfaced a year or so ago that granite countertops were a major source of radon, I may have mumbled a mild "Yeeesss!" It's not that I wished ill upon owners of homes with granite-topped kitchen cabinets. No, it was really the confidence the news gave me to ignore all the advice I was getting about installing granite in my own kitchen.
I just don't like the stuff. It's heavy, often requiring that the base cabinets be reinforced to support them. It's also very expensive, and it's not a DIY-friendly material, and it has to be sealed regularly to maintain its stain-resistance. And, to me, it just looks too precious; too un-kitchen-like. I'm not alone in this.
Writing on "10 Interior Design Trends for 2010" in the San Francisco Chronicle, Anh-Minh Le includes granite countertops on her "trends we'd love to see go" list. She's of the opinion that granite and stainless steel have become too commonplace. There are just too many good options available to have to keep cranking out the same look.
Fine Homebuilding editor Justin Fink blogged a few days ago that "granite countertops are so last decade." He predicts that laminate and solid surface countertops will be more popular choices in the coming decade.
I'm lousy at design predictions, so I won't jump on this bandwagon. Granite is a natural product. For some people, that's enough of a recommendation. But there are quarrying and transportation costs, in addition to the installation and maintenance issues that detract from the "natural" appeal. Even though the hoopla about radon-emitting countertops was probably overblown, I'm sticking to my guns--no granite in my house.
With any luck, when 2020 rolls around, I'll be able to brag about how smart I was to anticipate the shifting fashion.
See also: Shopping for Green Kitchen Cabinets
Photo courtesy flickr/Creative Commons
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