When I was growing up, enjoying the “luxury” of military housing, Formica or poorly maintained tile countertops seemed the norm. Now, decades later, the choices abound. From honed or polished granite, to cement, limestone, quartz, stainless steel or marble, all the way to beautifully grained woods, the options are endless.

Wooden countertops seem so daringly extravagant in a kitchen, when I think about potential issues with heat and moisture. Yet, even these obstacles are being met with wood sealants and as you see in the photo, stainless ball bearings set into the wood counter to create a built in trivet. Imaginations are on fire, no pun intended, when it comes to today’s kitchen design!