Granite colors range from speckled taupe and gold tones, greens, blue, rose and pink hues, as well as blacks and charcoals. Mixing not only will minimize the high price tag, but also will reduce surface shine and noise, which can be a problem when granite is used all over a kitchen. Tile Ceramic tile can cost one-third or less the price of granite. Made by combining and shaping clay, shale, gypsum and other materials and firing in a kiln, tile comes in various grades, as does grout. But it can crack and edges may chip.
Unsealed grout is a maintenance nightmare.
Choose larger tiles with narrow grout lines. Combining a plain white tile and random hand-painted tiles on the countertop to coordinate with an intricate tile back splash is one option. The economy-minded can install tile on the back splash and use a coordinating laminate for the countertops. Laminates Plastic laminates are popular. The material is relatively easy to install.