a good counter counts

the difference between the usable and the exceptional is infinitesimal.

consider the kitchen countertop, a fundamental part of every house. most are functional, yet a great one is an expression of confidence. it’s the refusal to worry when a blistering hot cast-iron pan comes straight from the element, no need for a hot plate. the silent guarantee of resilience.

or when the surface becomes an impermeable barrier, shrugging off even the stubbonest stains, leaving no permanent ghost of an accident. or acting as a chopping board with no other necessary implements.

these are the micro-design decisions that mean everything. and, too often, the ones neglected the most.