The countertop itself is seen and touched many times a day, so it is important that you consider the impact that the edging treatment will have on the aesthetics of your bathroom or kitchen. From the simple square edge to the fancier DuPont custom edge, from practical and soft bullnose edge to a clean beveled edge, the right edging treatment shows off the beauty of your stone, finishes your overall room style, and provides extra decorative value. The edging treatment should be considered when choosing any stone or engineered stone (quartz) countertop, of course, but it shouldn’t be overlooked when using solid-surface materials or even custom laminates. There are edging options to consider with virtually every countertop material. Here’s a rundown of popular countertop edge treatments to help you select the right look for your kitchen or bathroom.
Why Choose a Square Edge?
A square edge works well with nearly every design style, and is a particularly good choice when you don’t want to draw attention away from other details, such as a decorative tile backsplash or a dramatic faucet.
Variations
Eased edge: This edging treatment features a square flat face with a slightly rounded top edge.Square edge with waterfall: This is a square-edge countertop that takes a little dip before descending over the edge.
The degree of bevel can be customized to your preference. Common bevels include 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch, and 3/4-inch.
Why Choose a Beveled Edge?
A beveled edge transmits tasteful elegance and until recently was a reliable indicator that the countertop was hewn from real stone. But recent advances in laminate technology have made it possible to get a much less expensive granite look-alike countertop with a soft chamfered edge—a far cry from the telltale “laminate lines” so common in the square Formica tops of a generation ago.
Variations
Extreme beveled edge: Here, the top half of the bevel features a very slanted pitch rather than the standard 45 degrees.
Why Choose a Mitered Edge?
When you want a weighty-looking countertop without the extra heft and expense of a solid slab, this is the way to go. It’s a great option for making the countertop the focal point of the room, and it works well with both traditional and modern designs.
Variations
Eased and mitered edge: This is a mitered top with a slightly eased (rounded) edge and rounded corners. This small detail can really change the look of a stone countertop.
Why Choose a Bullnose Edge?
Aside from its attractive contemporary look, a bullnose edge is a wise choice in a bathroom used by young children, since the countertop edges will not have any sharp edges.
Variations
Demi-bullnose: This combines the curve of the bullnose with some angling along the bottom corner of the edge.Half-bullnose: Here, only the top edge is rounded, which allows for showing a larger cross-section of the stone.
Ogee: The elegant ogee consists of two gracefully sweeping arches that form an “S”-shaped curve when the edge is viewed in profile. It’s a classic edge treatment that evokes the elegance of another era. Victorian, Colonial, and other classic architectural styles are good settings for ogee profiles on countertops. Waterfall: As its name implies, the waterfall counter rounded top “falls” over the top to the front vertical edge. This is used with extra-thick countertop slabs. DuPont: As regal-looking as its name, this design features a sharp, straight drop that flows into a bullnose-like curve. It is even more formal in appearance than an ogee edge. Cove: The cove has a bowl-shaped recess on the top edge that creates a grooved edging treatment. It is sometimes combined with an ogee profile. This edging treatment, while still formal, is somewhat more relaxed than an ogee or DuPont. Quirk: An L-shaped step is cut in the edge of the countertop. This edging treatment is used to provide a truly unique look. It is used more often in engineered stone (quartz) countertops than in natural stone. Chiseled: Also called broken edge or rock face, this rustic edge resembles rough stone or wood in its natural state. It is available in natural stone and quartz countertops and lends a rustic, informal look to a room.
