Which Countertop Material Is Best for You?
The choice of countertop can be overwhelming when undergoing a kitchen renovation or bathroom renovation. Finding which countertop material is best for you is one of our specialties. As we start your design, we will get to know your lifestyle, your style, how you like to function in these spaces and talk about any other demanding challenges your countertops will need to meet. Our design team can walk you through the options and the pros and cons of each. But if you’re just starting to try and figure it out, take a look at this post to see which countertop material is best for you.
Quartz Countertops
Currently, quartz is one of the most popular options our clients opt for in kitchen remodeling. Quartz is an engineered (i.e. man-made) product, not to be confused with quartzite, which is a natural stone. The great thing about quartz is that it is incredibly hard, durable waterproof and heat-resistant. And you can choose from an almost endless variety of patterns and colors that resemble everything from marble veining patterns to poured-in-place concrete. Quartz is a great option if you hate the thought of a stain or chip marring your countertops. And it’s especially good for those with young kids around.
Please note: With more durable and heat-resistant countertops like quartz, manufacturers often tout that you can put a hot pot or pan directly on it. But we recommend against this as it can affect the sealant and possibly discolor your countertops. We recommend using a potholder or trivet for your hot pots and pans on every type of countertop for longer lasting color and finishes.
Quartz is also a great option when remodeling your bathroom, especially kids’ bathrooms. This is because it can look like marble but is more waterproof — frustrating water spots are easy to clean up and make disappear.
In this warm contemporary bathroom, the homeowners opted for Pietre gray quartz. This product has the more modern look of a dark-stained concrete.
Granite Countertops
Granite CountertopsGranite is one of the hardest and hardest working natural stones. It is hard and dense and therefore very durable. What you see here is a dark granite with a polished finish. The color is very forgiving and can hide a lot when you are in between cleaning it. For cleaning, a natural stone cleaner is recommended. Using soap and water is also a good way to avoid damaging your countertops. Avoid bleach, windex or vinegar, as these will wear down the sealant.
While granite is heat resistant, we do NOT recommend placing a hot pot or pan directly on your granite countertops. It can discolor it over time. Throw down that potholder or a trivet to make your granite last longer.
A common misconception about granite is that it only comes in dark color palettes. This is not true — another great thing about granite is that it comes in a wide range of colors and patterms. The countertops seen here have a color palette that resembles marble. But it has the harder, more waterproof and durable qualities that come with choosing granite.
Granite patterns can also come with lots of dramatic movement. In this neutral kitchen, these patterns make the countertops the star of the room.
You can also choose from different finishes. The most popular finishes among our home renovation clients are polished and honed. Honed has a matte finish.
Marble Countertops
Marble is one of the most beautiful natural stones. But it is softer than the other options we’ve mentioned. There are two types of homeowners when it comes to marble. The first group are those who appreciate patina. Patina means stains and chips that appear with use and age. Think a wonderful outdoor cafe table in Italy that has taken on a lot of wear and tear over time. If you appreciate this kind of “living finish,” you can probably handle marble.
However, group two are those who will freak out over the red ring a wine bottle will leave on the counter, or a dent or chip that is part of making you kitchen work hard for you. If you are in this group, marble is not for you, and that is OK! If you still want natural stone, consider quartzite with a honed or leathered finish. Many quartzites look very similar to marble. Or if you want to go as low-maintenance as possible, explore all the possibilities that quartz has to offer.
If you still want marble in your home but your kitchen can’t take it, consider putting it in an adult bathroom. This is polished Statuario marble. Note how the natural veining pattern waterfalls down the side and continues on the next level of countertop. This countertop has taken on some water spots that the homeowner has decided to live with (and she is not more particular about immediately sopping up droplets with a handy microfiber cloth). Some of the brass finishes in the room are patinaed as well, so there is a bit of a living finish theme happening here.
Wood Countertops
Another option is wood countertops. The counters in this butler’s pantry are a rich and beautiful walnut wood, sealed for durability. Wood countertops are less durable and more appropriate for a space like a butler’s pantry or a space you use less. Butler’s pantries, laundry rooms and desks are good spots to work in some wood.
Of course butcher block is a different story. In this home, we installed a pull-out butcher block counter within a hardworking pantry cabinet. Or you can integrate butcher block onto a prep area of your countertops for chopping. For example, often our clients like a butcher block section on a kitchen island. Of course, this will create more of a patina but allowing a kitchen to show how you use it can be beautiful.
Two-Tone Countertops
Two-Tone CountertopsAnother thing to consider is mixing up your countertops. In this kitchen, the islands have a light-colored quartz with marble-like veining. But around the perimeter of the kitchen, they have a dark coloring that sits quietly beneath the attention-grabbing patterned backsplash tile.
Some Notes on Countertop Cleaning
For all types of countertops, we recommend using warm water and dish soap. For quartz and natural stone, you can also use a specialty quartz and stone cleaner like this one from Wieman. The key is to make sure the project you are using is PH neutral.
We hope this post helped you figure out which countertop material is best for you. But if not, we will help you go through all the options and check out samples of each. Please feel free to schedule a free consultation to let us know more about your project.
