Granite countertops don’t burn, and that’s part of why they’re today’s hot choice among consumers. The NPD Group, an independent polling firm, reports that 56 percent of counter sales this past year went to consumers choosing granite.

According to Yahoo Finance, quartz and Formica are the leaders among the also-rans, each earning 13 percent of the market,. Quartz remains the preferred countertop among 75 percent of certified kitchen designers.

Even so, quartz lags behind the consumer choice for granite, a surface material that proves more economical for many homeowners. I’m sure that the cost factors prominently in granite’s appeal as it currently runs between $45 and $200 per square foot. The National Kitchen & Bath Association’s “2010 Kitchen & Bath Style Report” says that granite’s “good looks and durability” add to its popularity.

When properly installed and sealed, granite has a great track record in resisting stains, scratches, and discoloration from burns. In contrast, marble counters can chip or scratch under duress, and limestone can stain easily.

Even if you have your heart set on Vermont slate or Travertine counters, they may be more expensive than you can afford. Granite certainly seems an acceptable substitute today, as more consumers than ever seem to be turning toward granite.

Homeowners are also attracted by granite’s mirror finish and trouble-free maintenance. Even so, granite countertops require precision installation, so you shouldn’t try putting them in on your own unless you have experience. Kitchen Cabinets Design can link you up with qualified installers in your area as well as help you with determining pricing.

Formica or plastic countertops are often a prudent financial choice for homeowners. But what do you do when the counters are stained in ordinary, daily use? Once the stain is set, it may be impossible to remove it completely from a plastic counter. At his blog, Mr. Fix It recommends the use of Gel-Gloss cleaner polish to remove all but the most-resistant stains and to add a protective coating.

It can be helpful to identify the substance that caused the stain. Tea and coffee stains are the most difficult to remove once they’re fully embedded in the counter. Above all else, don’t use a wire scrubber or abrasive; you only scratch the surface and then it is stained and scratched. Baking soda works well with fresh stains and you may have good luck in using it on older ones.

Treating Stubborn Counter Stains

You may also want to try dishwasher detergent or acetone (nail polish remover) on the most desperate cases. But make sure to remove all the residue of whatever you use for cleaning before you put anything down on your counters. Undiluted bleach can work, but try it on a tiny, inconspicuous section of counter to see if it only adds additional staining.

Family Handiman prefers the baking soda technique, applying it as a thick paste and laying wet paper towels over it while it does its work. It may work well on liquid stains, especially from fruit juices.

If you resort to using acetone or solvents like paint thinner, be sure to work in a well-ventilated kitchen or you can pay a price. If you know the brand of laminate, contact the manufacturer for details on the kind of protective coatings to use after you remove the stains.

If you can’t find a kitchen cabinet trend to follow, combine designs that you already know and love. Hybrid kitchens are a big part of the trend, according to HGTV. If people are doing it, it’s a trend.

In Arizona, homeowners are blending Asian styles with large armoire-style pieces. On the east coast, homeowners are finishing kitchen cabinets in—you guessed it—whatever they want. That means cabinets are painted chiffon yellow, earth greens, reds, and black! It means people are buying exotic hard woods on one end of the scale, or wheatboard and strawboard on the “green” side of trends. Actually, The Trend seems to be “whatever you like”.

Fashionably Extreme Kitchen Cabinets

Ask Hangzhou Huierbang Kitchen Company about trends, and you’ll hear that Tuscany or distressed effects are hot. Then ask HGTV’s designers, and they say “heavy distressing” is definitely out, in favor of painted finishes.

Old European frills in the patterns in molding, door panels, or drawer fronts and heavy hardware work just fine in a kitchen with bright colors and hanging woks. Exotic trends are always freeing and you know the correction is coming. But for now, play!

If antiques or era styles are your thing, you can bring Victorian influences into your kitchen cabinets and countertops. You’ll pay on the higher end of the scale for mahogany, alder, maple or, on the green front, sustainable softwoods.

As for paint, don’t be surprised when seeing bright reds or contrast colors on cabinets, doors, and drawer fronts. There’s one rule: homeowners should match the kitchen design scheme with the organizing style of the home. Please, no gargoyles in my ranch kitchen!

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gasses released from chemicals during routine use in American homes. Concentrations of VOCs in your home can be as high as a hundred times stronger than the level of toxic gasses in the outdoors. They’re present in paints, paint strippers, lacquer, solvents, and cleaning supplies.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VOCs are known to cause internal organ damage, nausea and headaches, dizziness, and irritation to eyes, nose, and throat. After a paint stripping project, your home may have 1,000 times the levels of VOCs indoors than in the outside air.

Minimize VOC Exposure with Green Counters

Get With Green reports that solid-surface countertops have few or no issues when it comes to VOCs. You can also use ceramic tile, as long as you install it with a low-VOC adhesive. Even some binders in elegant Terrazzo countertops may emit VOCs.

Composite countertop materials made from recycled products are typically bound together with resins. If you plan on using a composite, ask to see the manufacturer’s certifications for use of low-VOC resins in the binder.

Paints and stains—as well as the adhesives—all can contribute to the levels of off-gassed VOCs in the home. Laminates made of recycled plastic and held together with non-toxic glues are a good choice. But you should make sure they’re glued to a formaldehyde-free substrate. For people who are considering wood butcher block counters, be sure to inspect the materials information for the use of toxic formaldehyde.

Fortunately, if you’re concerned about VOCs, there are plenty of options for you in counters and cabinet laminates.