Tile countertops: love them or leave them in the past? While some designers like New York City-based Emma Beryl think they bring "the '70s and '80s back into the kitchen," others believe they should stay in the time capsule. Tile countertops were quite popular up until the '90s, a unique and cost-saving alternative to a marble or granite slab, plus a tile countertop is somewhat straightforward to DIY.