I have a couple of questions about granite I hope you can help me

16 years ago

I normally hang out in the Home Dec forum. I want to change our countertops - remove the laminate and put in granite. DH and I love the blue pearl granite and I was surprised that a search here brought up very little on this granite.

1)Is that because it's not popular?

2)Is it a problem granite either to install or maintain?

3)Is it because it seems to be a lot more expensive than most granites (I always see it in the D group of most expensive granites).

AND 4) what is the most popular granites these days - what are people installing in their homes?

BTW, I have natural maple shaker style cabinets and maple floors so I'm looking for a contrast with all that maple wood.

Thanks in advance Sky

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Comments (18)

weissman
16 years ago
That's funny that you didn't find many posts - blue pearl is extremely popular on this forum and there used to be a lot of posts - check the finished kitchens blog and I think you'll find a lot of pictures of kitchens with blue pearl. I have blue pearl and I love it. I think it's gorgeous and it's very low maintenance. It doesn't require sealing and cleans up very easily.

I liked it so much when I saw it in a friends kitchen that I knew it was the granite I wanted. I also have matching blue pearl tiles for my backsplash. You can see pictures on my home page or on the finished kitchens blog.

It's a little higher priced than some of the other granites but not nearly as high as some of the more exotic granites like azul bahia.
skypathway
Original Author
16 years ago
weissman, thanks for your suggestion - I have perused the finished kitchen blogs but there are so many gorgeous kitchens that it takes a long to time to go through all of them.

I'm glad to hear you find it low maintenance - that's the information I was hoping to hear. I'll look through for your kitchen to see it with your backsplash as I haven't figured out what I'm going to do there yet. As for expensive granites, someone here has Van Gogh granite that I absolutely adore but suspect it's probably astronomical and probably hard to find the right slab.

Thanks, sky
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weissman
16 years ago
The finished kitchens blog is set up so you can easily search. Here's a link to four kitchens that have blue pearl.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blue Pearl kitchens
skypathway
Original Author
16 years ago
weissman, thanks so much. Dummy me, I didn't realize I could search for blue pearl kitchens - I was looking alphabetically. I love you kitchen - all that gorgeous blue pearl granite. Thanks,

sky
Buehl
16 years ago
I cannot answer specific questions about this granite, but I did find at least 4 kitchens in the Finished Kitchens Blog (FKB) that have Blue Pearl granite. They all have pictures but Rice_Rocket's Kitchen & Weissman's Kitchen seem to have the most/best pictures. I've linked the FKB Countertops category page below.

As to the most popular, for awhile I saw a lot of Absolute Black and Verde Butterfly on the forum, but I haven't seen as many discussions about them in the past month or so.

Here is a link that might be useful: Finished Kitchens Blog...Countertops Category
grannysmith18
16 years ago
I know loads of people who have blue pearl - they all love it, and it looks great with maple. Depending on how long your run of backsplash is, it might be a little overwhelming, but it's a great look.

Also, some undercounter lighting ( I've seen halogen do this - maybe others too) really make the "pearl" sparkle.

I've also seen it used as floor tiles in an entranceway. Also gorgeous, but that can get price-y, and I'd be nervous about the floor gtting very slippery when the floor gets when from people coming in from the rain.
skypathway
Original Author
16 years ago
buehl, thanks for the link. Weissman already sent me there and I was in awe of all those kitchen. I must say that I'd love to visit Rice_Rocket's house - what a neat and personalized house. thanks for the info on absolute black and verde butterfly, we had looked at those too but love the blue pearl.

Helou I agree, I think it will look great with my maple cabinets. I have a lot of backsplash area so I'm not sure if I'll do blue pearl backsplash or stick with something lighter. I love the sparkle and I do have undercounter lighting - can't wait to what that looks like. I would love it in flooring, I knew someone who did a checkerboard floor with that and white marble - gorgeous but serious upkeep. Thanks for you're reply.

Sky
abmatt
16 years ago
Watch out for too popular becoming too predictable (blue pearl exempt from this comment). If my contractor had any value, he steered me away from a very popular granite choice because he said it would make my house look like a tract house.

I will not i.d. this granite because I would not insult the fine folks on this forum who know what they want and what is best for them. They may have this very stone in their beautiful well-planned kitchens.

It's just something to think about.
vrjames
16 years ago
Blue Pearl has been around a lonnnng time It could be classified as a Classic Granite.

It has never been low priced, but is not anywhere the top priced.

And to emphasize what Abmatt said, pick your stone because it fits you, not because it might be "common"
skypathway
Original Author
16 years ago
abmatt, thanks for your response. Actually I was wondering what was popular for the very reason you mentioned - I wanted to avoid it because I already had the all too popular shaker maple cabinets and floor.

Vrjames, yes I'm picking it because DH and I both love the look - I like your idea of thinking of it as a classic granite. LOL

Sky
beware
16 years ago
I am giggling to myself about "tract house" granite choices. Stone is pretty new to my midwestern, smallish town part of the woods that even tropic brown and Uba Tuba are kind of "wow" countertop materials and anything even approaching Blue Pearl would be really "out there." I gravitate toward stones like St. cecilia and I think most people where I live would find that stone oh-so-busy.

Just interesting to gauge regional variations....
azstoneconsulting
16 years ago
Blue Pearl has been around a long time, and will be around
a lot longer...

When I first started in the "slab side" of this Trade, some
23 years ago, Blue Pearl was one of the first kinds of Granite
that I had ever worked with - still love it today,
except there's a whole lot more choices now -
then there was 23 years ago...

I think the "regional" thingy has some validity, but in the
end, it's strictly a personal choice issue - I saw alot more
of Blue Pearl in the Mid-West than out here in Phoenix...

But I'm just a Fabrimicator - not an Inferior Desicrator!!!
HA!!!!

my .02 cents worth

kevin

Kevin M. Padden MIA SFA
Fabricator, Trainer & Consultant to the Natural Stone Industry
www.azschoolofrock.com
janwad
16 years ago
I think there is a slowly growing trend away from the shiny granites to the matte finishes. I have Black Galaxy and love it, but I can foresee the day when it's as popular as a shiny polyester pant suit from the 80s. I think the new matte trend will have more a bit more staying power.

Everything changes.
kitchenkelly
16 years ago
skypathway, Welcome to the darkside (aka the kitchen forum.) Warning....coming to this forum will make you want to spend so much money on your kitchen. Lots of great ideas and great people.

On your first question, I think that there are so many countertop choices out there and then so many granite choices on top of that. That just seems to lead to not many repeats. Especially in remodels. I think where you see "popular" granites are in new homes where the counters were chosen by the builder and will be more neutral for buyers.

I think Blue Pearl is gorgeous. Good luck!
skypathway
Original Author
16 years ago
azstoneconsulting LOL that's so funny "But I'm just a Fabrimicator - not an Inferior Desicrator!!!HA!!!! "

janwad, you're probably right about less shiny but I'm mesmerized by the mica (I think it's mica) in the blue pearl. I wanted something that didn't have a lot of movement but did have something interesting that I wouldn't tire of seeing. I will check out what blue pearl looks like honed too - if that's an option.

Sky
skypathway
Original Author
16 years ago
kitchenkelly, thanks for the warm welcome and the LOL warning. I'm very aware you TKO people are dangerous - hope I don't go overboard. Kitchens can be very expensive sink holes. LOL

I was wondering then what are the granites builders use?

Sky
azstoneconsulting
16 years ago
Sky-

Seriously - Many of the builders are using "neutrals" -
colors that will go with many styles and color schemes..
Like:
St Cecilia
Giallo Veneziano Classico
Giallo Veneziano Fiorito
Giallo Vincenza
Tropic Brown
Tan Brown
Saphire Brown
Mocha Juparana
Juparana Bordeaux
theres ton's more I just can't think of any more cuz it's
late and I gotta go to bed....(yawn)

But check out Arizona Tile's Website, and Dal Tile's
website - they will have some good suggestions too

I'll think of some more tomorrow

kevin

Kevin M. Padden MIA SFA
Fabricator, Trainer & Consultant to the Natural Stone Industry
www.azschoolofrock.com
mcps
15 years ago
Hi Skypathway -

I was wondering if you have completed your kitchen? Did you use the blue pearl? I am about to get started on mine - and I am planning on using blue pearl with cream colored tumbled stone backsplash with a 3 inch band of blue glass tile running through. Wondering what kind of backsplash you went with.
Thanks!

I have a couple of questions about granite I hope you can help me

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