Choosing a kitchen or bathroom countertop can be nerve-wracking, and we understand why—they can be one of the most expensive aspects of a renovation, with the added responsibility of impacting the aesthetics of a space. Read on as we work our way through the pros and cons of seven of the most common countertop materials.

A departure from the mod-meets-baroque dining room, Turin’s breakfast area is far more sedate. She and her daughter, Helena, have a chat at a Progetto 1 table by Monica Armani for B&B Italia surrounded by four Lia chairs by Roberto Barbieri for Zanotta. The painting behind Helena is by Ricci Albenda.

The juxtaposition of black and white is perhaps the most notable detail of the home’s interiors. In the guest bathroom, black and white tiles provide visual interest.

An Egg vase.

The entrance. Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!

In paring back the home's aesthetic, Chris kept the color palette as simple as possible. Limiting the surfaces to either painted white or stained black allows colorful art, objects, furniture, and people to really pop.

In the dining area a vintage table from a shop in Barcelona is surrounded by Giandomenico Belotti Spaghetti chairs. The space, which also includes the kitchen, occupies a 1970s addition.

Architect Abigail Turin added a dose of color to her black-and-white bedroom with a Rainbow chair by Patrick Norguet for Cappellini.

In the bathroom, a chrome waterfall faucet by LightInTheBox tops a 12.6-inch-square Mini Nova basin by Barclay; a retractable Ikea mirror is the only concession to vanity.

This kitchen in Austin, Texas, was designed by Royce Flournoy and expertly combines black, Shaker-style cabinets, white subway tiles, Carrera marble countertops, and wooden floors to create a balance between rustic warmth and industrial simplicity.

In the master bath, a dowdy tub was replaced with a standing shower designed by Di Ioia and Bédard and manufactured by Linea P International. The wall and floor tiles are by Ceragres, and the sink, tub, and towel rack are by Aqua Mobilier de Bain.

An illuminated brick wall makes a lovely backdrop when juxtaposed against this kitchen's glossy black cabinets.

Smitten Kitchen's Baked Eggs with Spinach and Mushrooms: A last minute Easter Brunch solution and gorgeous food photography.

Grey Matter pillow by Nathalie Du Pasquier for Wrong for HAY. Sebastian Wrong’s new collection for the Danish design giant includes textiles from the archives of one of the Memphis group’s founding members.

Martí Guixé's Ghost rug for Nanimarguina plays with shadows in black and white, as pictorial motifs of birds, flowers, horses, and deep appear and disappear in it like ghosts. "I worked on a small part each day, sometimes painting during the day and sometimes at night," Guixé says. "The graphic arrhythmias reflect my different moods over a period of three months of work and give Ghost a touch of mysticism."

Davor and August check out the yard from the living room. “The bifold Vistalite doors allow us to open the house up completely and enjoy the fresh, warm air,” Davor says.

The team from the interdisciplinary firm Commune Design joins us to talk about their role in revitalizing the city of L.A., from their work on the city’s major residential multiuse projects to the recently opened Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Spencer Lowell.

Black and white kitchen floor tiles by Granada Tile are the focal point of this airy, whimsical kitchen. A sizable island of white and stainless steel coordinates nicely with Thermador appliances and white cabinets.

Entrance By moving the foot of the stairway away from the front door, Bischoff and his team carved out a transition point from the stoop and sidewalk below, providing a welcome measure of privacy. (Visitors must scale the steps and stand at the door before they can peer in.) The concrete floor tiles were left over from an earlier MADE project. “We didn’t have an equal balance of black and white or even the right sizes,” Bischoff says, “so we made a design moment out of what we had.” Saving on the floor tiles meant that Casale and Crofton could spring for hand-finished wallpaper by Swedish company Sandberg.

The grid pattern ebbs and flows in popularity in art and fashion as well as in design. Artist Jean-Pierre Raynaud is famous for his home in Paris, La Maison in La Celle-Saint-Cloud, which sported an interior composed almost entirely of 15-centimeter-square white tiles, evenly spaced out with black grout.

These Shape Mirrors by Brooklyn's Bower are made from a variety of tinted mirrors arranged to give the illusion of three dimensional shapes.

The Eames bird makes an appearance on the cover of a 1952 issue of Architectural Record.

Washable Keyboard K310 by Logitech, $59 This is exactly what it sounds like—and it means no more crumbs underneath your keys. Drainage holes help it dry quickly, and laser-etched letters are UV-coated so they won’t fade.

Richard Lampert Milla bar table in the "Art of Living" exhibition at La Triennale di Milano.

Orgone chaise longue by Marc Newson for Cappellini

A dramatic black island is expertly balanced by a wall of white cabinetry and a refrigerator that blends perfectly. The kitchen’s black countertops were cut from Nero Assoluto granite. The sink and faucet are from Quebec-based company Rubi. Appliances are from Wolf.

Exbury Egg, PAD Studio and Stephen Turner, 2013 Constructed with traditional yacht-building techniques, this 20-foot-long floating oval on an inlet in southern England functions as a self-sufficient studio and home for artist Stephen Turner. His work, which is inspired by water, relies on data he collects here on the rising and ebbing tides.

A small country road borders the property to the west.

Homeowner Simon Doonan stands next to the front door. "We have flamboyance, and we’re not inhibited about anything. [Architect] Gray Organschi gave [the house] that intellectual rigor needed to make it beautiful. We were well matched."

Located off of the kitchen, Vivi’s office disappears behind sliding walls covered in black chalkboard paint from Behr. This is one of the best home office setup ideas if you're short on space or if you're going for a minimalist look.

A side view of the house and of Salmela’s signature architectural feature: the “unchimney.” All windows are from Loewen.

A cluster of black and white houses gives a view of the possible origami creations from the Archifold Architectural Origami Set.

MMF-11.1 by Music Hall, $4,500 Compare the aural quality of a record to iTunes or Spotify, and let the fullness of sound win you over. Opposing magnets in the feet of the turntable virtually isolate it from its environment, dramatically improving the sound.

Balboa Outdoor Pillow from Crate and Barrel: Clean, graphic lines work inside and out on this versatile pillow. $35

A slightly roomier umbrella opening with a bold and masculine print, the Karakola AOC MAX Umbrella from Marimekko is as stylish as it is functional. The lightweight umbrella features a windproof aluminum frame.