Pam Beam

"The wood needs time to acclimate to your kitchen's atmosphere," says Pam Beam, a national sales manager for John Boos & Co., the Effingham, Illinois-based butcher-block company.

While some people do all their counters in butcher block, it's more commonly used for an island counter. ''You also see a mix of surfaces-marble or granite with a butcher-block island,'' says Pam Beam, national sales manager of the countertop division for John Boos and Co. in Effingham, Illinois. Butcher block runs about $40 to $50 per linear foot installed, Beam says.

Pam Beam, national sales manager for the countertop division of John Boos & Co., in Effingham, IL, notes that butcher block is a time-honored classic that works well with many design applications."It really stands the test of time," she says.Hard rock maple is hand-sanded and detailed; maintenance includes natural mineral oil, and gentle washing with soap and water.Butcher block is also a renewable surface that can be sanded down in case it gets burned or otherwise damaged."Nothing warms the look of a kitchen like butcher block," adds Beam."It adds a lot of depth and warmth."

The professional-look stainless steel countertop was a hot item when stainless steel was overtaking kitchen design, but seems to be declining of late."That gets to be a very cold [look]," says Beam."It's okay for certain applications."The advantage is sterility, she notes – you can use bleach on it.The all-steel look with integrated welded steel sink also makes for a very contemporary, minimalist design choice.Its major disadvantage is stainless steel's tendency to scratch, which has led to an increase in textured or brushed steel countertops, since these don't show scratches as readily.

Pam Beam , national sales manager for the countertop division of John Boos & Co. , in Effingham , IL , notes that butcher block is a time-honored classic that works well with many design applications.It really stands the test of time , she says.Hard rock maple is hand-sanded and detailed ; maintenance includes natural mineral oil , and gentle washing with soap and water.Butcher block is also a renewable surface that can be sanded down in case it gets burned or otherwise damaged.Nothing warms the look of a kitchen like butcher block , adds Beam.It adds a lot of depth and warmth..

The professional-look stainless steel countertop was a hot item when stainless steel was overtaking kitchen design , but seems to be declining of late.That gets to be a very cold [ look ] , says Beam.It's okay for certain applications..The advantage is sterility , she notes – you can use bleach on it.The all-steel look with integrated welded steel sink also makes for a very contemporary , minimalist design choice.Its major disadvantage is stainless steel's tendency to scratch , which has led to an increase in textured or brushed steel countertops , since these don't show scratches as readily.

Pam Beam from John Boos and Co.