The Kitchen Counter Design That Radiates Retro Diner Vibes

Diner décor is one of our favorite underrated kitchen design ideas. Some pops of high-contrast color, a checkerboard floor, and a bit of Coke merch — we totally rock with the vibes. One aspect of the diner aesthetic that's always a welcome addition in a serious foodie's kitchen is a stainless steel countertop. When the American diner was climbing to prominence in the 1930s, stainless steel was a sexy new material that not only evoked a "modern" feel, but called to mind the train cars that were the original inspo for stationary diners. Almost 100 years later, home cooks still love stainless steel, and not just because it gives that Steak 'n Shake je ne sais quoi.

You need not have an old-school red, black, and white kitchen to appreciate the simple elegance and functionality of stainless steel in your modern cooking space. Done up in the drag of a '50s greasy spoon, it radiates Americana. With more subdued fixtures, however, stainless steel is amazingly versatile, to say nothing of how user-friendly it is. While certain countertops should be a skip in your kitchen design due to poor durability, stainless steel lasts and lasts, asking for only an occasional buff and polish to remove fingerprints and appear good as new. Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond of cookbook, blogging, and TV fame even bragged about the stainless steel island in her home kitchen, which she dubbed cheap and simple to clean.

We can imagine that a countertop that was easy-peasy to disinfect was a major selling point in a restaurant where fast turnover and greasy food were hallmarks of the experience. You probably aren't serving cheeseburgers and milkshakes 'round the clock in your kitchen, but that doesn't mean you can't appreciate a non-porous surface that is ready to use again after a quick swipe with some soap and water. Stainless steel offers effortless cleanup on a weeknight when you are tired and want to plop on the couch just as easily as it does after a birthday get-together or holiday meal where scrubbing well-used countertops is the last thing you want to think about.

Let's not overlook the fact, either, that stainless steel objectively looks cool. With tile and terrazzo, it evokes a certain industrial feeling that is more "quick service" than warm and cozy, but taming stainless steel's sterile aura is easy enough. Next to more natural elements like wood or stone, you don't necessarily get that institutional feeling. Stainless steel becomes less clinical and quite sophisticated, the mark of an amateur chef who wants to prep food like the pros.

You also need not cover every surface in your kitchen with stainless steel, as it can pack an outsized visual punch that may not be what you're going for... although, if you like a statement, embrace it fully! Perhaps you'll choose to limit yourself to one stainless steel counter in your area of heaviest activity, or, like Ree Drummond, maybe just your island or workspace.