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Countertop Geology: Marble and quartzite and granite, Part 4.

10 years ago

The last thread on granite counter tops is full so I am starting this one. Finally made a decision on the granite. Working with the existing cabinets made it challenging. They are European, probably Italian, and were installed by the previous home owner and are gorgeous and the interiors are beautifully outfitted. After looking at dozens of slabs finally we came across Golden Lightening and it's absolutely perfect.

See attached picture with the cabinet door leaning against the granite.

That was the last decision we had to make - thank goodness.

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Comments (4)

ginny20
10 years ago
I love, love, love that slab. It reminds me of a different colorway of Verde Borgogna, which I also love. It's well named, too. What BS will you use, or are you waiting to choose one?

I have no reason to go stone shopping any more, so I live vicariously through all of you and your beautiful finds. Keep 'em coming!
Texas29
Original Author
10 years ago
We are staying with the existing back splash if the install goes okay. I will have to post some pics at the end of the process. The former owners painted the back splash wall soft yellow with a blue green undertone and then installed clear glass tiles 4x4 over it. Trying to describe it is as hard as trying to describe the cabinets, a sample of which is in the previous post. But we love yellow and it really works. We think when the Golden Lightening is installed with the existing cabinets and back splash it's going to be striking. We also chose a Houzer Granite under mount sink in a soft grey. Now that all our selections are made from new appliances to this granite we fell in love with we are so ready to have it all done!
If we find we have to change the back splash it was good to know that the Golden Lightening comes in subway tiles and 12x12 tiles.
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@karin_mt So let me ask you a few more questions then: Does genuine quartzite scratch and chip in that kind of fashion? Would it be reasonable to assume that I would have at least 100 little chips (not natural pits... chips that expose white) and scratches ranging in size from consolidated micro scratches to big gashes several cm long two months after we moved in if this was actual quartzite? Would it be reasonable to expect that to happen all over the stone, even in extremely low traffic areas, on a genuine quartzite slab? Is there any reliable way to test the stone that is installed on my counter to see what it is? ie whether it is actual quartzite or a marble? If so, how would I do that or who could I contact? I just find this to be extremely simple: I paid a small fortune for this stone because I thought it was beautiful and dynamic and all of the research I did on Quartzite as well as the info I was given from the slab yard indicated that it was harder than granite (which I have had in 3 other houses and NEVER seen anything like this on) and beautiful like marble. Thus the cost. So I am not a geologist, but it really seems as simple, at least to me, as it has scratched and chipped in a random, ridiculous fashion so it must not be the quartzite that we paid thousands of dollars for because quartzite does not do that. Where am I wrong?
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karen_ohio
10 years ago
A beautiful piece of stone. cant't wait to see finished kitchen.

There is another thread for Rocks #4 that is a continuation of the other threads. I am sure they would be thrilled if you posted your slab on that thread, too!

Karen
PS your title is a good one.
karen_ohio
10 years ago
A beautiful piece of stone. cant't wait to see finished kitchen.

There is another thread for Rocks #4 that is a continuation of the other threads. I am sure they would be thrilled if you posted your slab on that thread, too!

Karen
PS your title is a good one.

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