One of the most important considerations when planning your kitchen remodel or renovation is the material which will be used for the counter tops. This decision should be made early in the design process as it can make a difference for the decisions made in different areas. For example, if you are going to use travertine tiles then you want to plan out which hue of tile you will use and which trims on the cabinets will look the best. It is very disheartening to install the cabinets and the counter top and realize they clash.
One of the nice aspects of travertine is the variety of color in which you can find the tiles. They are basically earthy tones, but within that category you can find colors ranging from bright reds to a lushes browns to a deep purple. It really is just a matter of your preference.
If you haven’t used tiles before you will want to think about the surface. Travertine is a sedimentary stone and thus it can have small voids and fissures within the tile itself. This does not work well for a work surface because liquids and even bits of food can get into these crevices and cause concerns. The best way to get around this is purchase filled tiles, the holes are sealed up to protect the tiles, and then seal the tile surface with a good sealant.
Another aspect to think about is the matching of the edge and the horizontal surface. You want this to look nice and you also want to have edges that will not chip, crack, or cause injury when bumped against. Installing a travertine bullnose trim piece along the edge can solve all these problems at one time. This rounded edge looks great, will deflect dropped items, and will is not sharp if bumped.
Even if you don’t decide on travertine, think about how the different aspects of your kitchen will work together as you plan your remodel.