white cabinets, countertop suggestions, marble?

14 years ago

These are the choices I am currently considering for a countertop with white cabinets. Would love to hear suggestions.

Black granite or even ceasarstone. I love the contrast with the white and have seen it in pictures of finished kitchens, but am not sure black is the way I want to go. I like soapstone in pictures, but do not think I want the texture or green of soapstone.

Grey or dark grey. Just like the color. No specifics here.

Marble. Love the feel of marble. Love the look... blakey's and cosmomilkshake's kitchens, as beautiful examples. But, I am not sure if they are practical enough for me. I do not have a future budget for any countertop changes if there are problems with staining or cracking for example. And every kitchen place and stone/granite place tells me that they do not recommend or guarantee marble. I have priced out granite. Is marble comparable? And they also ask "Do you cook?" Ha! Yes, I would say I cook, and I use lemon juice to cook with fairly often too.

Finally, there is a 2 seat peninsula at the end of a U shape to my layout. And it seems even less practical at the peninsula. Not sure I can see spending the money on marble, then telling DH we have to be very careful not to spill anything on it! Can anyone share their experience with having marble for a long time?

Dark wood. Well, I am one of those that likes to consider all of the options.

Sandy colored something...

Also would like to know why you chose honed over not.... preference for look, maintenance, or does it read more casual or formal and that was the reason?

Thanks.

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Comments (5)

lascatx
14 years ago
Haven't seen your layout, but the peninsula with seating sounds like a nice place for that dark wood, but that doesn't mean you have to have it all dark wood.

I love the look of black counters with white cabinets too, but like you, I wasn't sure that was what I wanted. I looked for soapstone, but I couldn't find slabs that were right for my kitchen. I considered a couple of grey granites, but the one I liked best (very soft, not too speckly and had little blue inclusions) stained badly. I sealed it some more -- still stained after a number of coats of penetrating sealer. That killed that idea.

And that left me facing marble when I was hearing mostly not to use marble in a kitchen and before so many folks here had done it. I did find some experience here though, and the guy my KD suggested for our counters began his stone work in Europe and said he fell in love with stone over there. He told me about the beautiful, well-used and well-loved counters a chef friend of his had in his apartment. He said even the stains were beautiful, but I did seal mine. ;-)

Having stone people who are comfortable with marble makes a difference. The voices of those who had experience with marble here helped too, but I felt a lot better having the work done by someone who knew and loved marble too. the guy who actually installed it was buffing out an uneven spot in the honing that showed up when it came in and was laid in front of the window. He handed me the sandpaper and let me get a feel for it. That did a lot to ease my fears -- the rest just came with living with it for a while. I love the marble and can't imagine not making that choice now. My island has a Cambrian black granite top though -- I didn't go 100% marble.
Stacey Collins
14 years ago
Don't rule out marble strictly because of price. My Carrara ended up being quite a bit less expensive than the honed granites I'd been looking at, and waaaaaay cheaper than Caesarstone!
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fleur222
Original Author
14 years ago
Lascatx, I heard some marble is less soft than others . I will ask around, but what marble did you (or others) choose? I think I would be comfortable with the used look and etching of marble, even think I would love that part of it. I think that whatever I put on the perimeter, I probably have to use on the island, since they are connected.
boxerpups
14 years ago
Go for the marble. If you really like the look and feel
You will be surprised to learn it is similar in price to
many granites. And in this economy you can find a deal.

I have Jet mist honed granite with white cabinets. I love
it. It is a black grey color. I was too afraid of Marble.
And to this day I always wonder if I should have gotten it.
Now, after learning so much from those on GW with marble,
I realize my fears were unfounded. Many have marble and
love it.

Marble is very popular in Italy. It has been around
for thousands of years. And Italians eat lemon, olive oil,
red wine, red sauce and foods that stain or etch marble.
But, the culture is a cooking, eating and enjoying life.
The emphasis is not on perfectly white counters but the
celebration of cooking. Perhaps this idea could help you
to fear Marble less.

Best of luck on your stone journey.
fleur222
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks. I did read through some old threads on the marble countertops. I am getting more brave. I also looked up jet mist and liked it too. I will go to another stone company and revisit marble and maybe a dark grey granite. Thanks again for the input.