Andy Rodker

Boy, you could make a lot of countertops with all that granite ;P Seriously, nice perspective =)

You know.... In the kitchen? The top of the kitchen counter? Usually topped with some type of stone or formica?

It's true, Sonja. I have only ever come across it (and very rarely too) in referring to the counter that separates shop-keeper and customer! I can't think of a common British expression but 'kitchen work-surface' is heard. I doubt if granite is used (too heavy?) but I could be wrong!

Kitchen counter, countertop, for me it's an 'aanrecht' or 'werkblad' and granite is often used for it. And Andy , the picture is 'solid as a rock'!

Remmelt -- that is why just interpreting dutch for germans and vice versa is so dangerous, as the languages are just somewhat more appart than british and american english.... yes, we can say "Anrichte" to denote the part of the kitchen surfaces where you would prepare goods for cooking or cold serving, however whilst "richten "still can mean a lot of things like prepare or repair all sorts of stuff and "rechts" is right as in opposite of left, "Recht" is limited to justice. An "Anrecht" means lawful entitlement to something, and never anything to do with furniture. Die "Anrichte" is sometimes used for the thing the Americans call the counter, especially when it is free standing and facing the dining area, but more typical for some oldfashioned symetric piece of kitchen or diningroom furniture with a free space between the upper shelves or cabinet and the solid chest below, toped by a board that can be of hardwood or even marble in more expensive ones. Austrians, Sudets and some Bavarians however alsways called this cupboard-topped chests a "Kredenz", so that is how I call them in regular conversation.

The sealed durable worktops of modern build in lower kitchen furniture are are marketet as the "Arbeitsplatte".

And yes, Andy, polished granite of all colours is a possibility and even more fashionable of late than anything -- if you are well off. People not willing to pay more for their kitchen worksurface than a simpler new car generally can choose from a wide range of different qualities of other materials, marble or sealed stones, pressed board or plywood with resin or ceramic covers, cast artificial stone, thick natural boards or edge-glued laminated woods of all types, the later including fast growing bamboo. But it is true, in some circumstances even the rich just can't have a slab of granite, as in upper floors of nice historic buildings the weight can be indeed a static issue, but most regular bottom chests of good brandname kitchens are supposed to hold granite tops without any problems as long the whole kitchen assembly sits on a state of the art evenly cast screet floor. We redid the kitchen not that long ago, trust me, I know all about standards and prices for extras here in 2016.

Marvin, you got no kitchen top? But I thought you grow veggies and cook a lot... surely you mean you had no choice of materials in a home that came loaded, or you live with free standing appliances and a big regular table??

Of course the kitchen I got for my 50th birthday is nice and exactly as I deem it best in every detail -- LOL!
Using the bones of the earth for a surface that will outlast any building and contemporary floorplans but never regrow in nature is nothing I would ever consider, and that was not only a price question. I would also rule it out if I was disgustingly rich!!!
I do love natural solid rocks of course, but prefer them staying in situ looking just like in the pic here! :o)

Recycled composite is not the cheapest solution there is either, but they claim it is ecologically sound, and for sure it is warm to the touch, durable, hygienic and flexible in style to suit anyones taste. My new top looks not much different from polished sealed slate but feels more like hardwood and at all this can bear regular use of vinegar-based cleaners, but ask me in a few years if it is really as withstanding as they claim. For now I am very happy and got still a warranty.

What did I start here???? :o)