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Remodeling Design Dilemma Kitchens

Need Advice with Choosing Kitchen Counter tops to Compliment Island

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Hi everyone!

I am having to do a forced remodel thanks to a water leak in my condo. The new cabinets will be white, and the kitchen is on the smaller side but connects with the dining area. I wanted to go with natural stone for the island (so I could also use it to roll out pastry) and quartz for the L-shaped, perimeter counters. The general aim is a bright area, French-Provencal, clean-lined influence. The island countertop will be about 58"x36", part of which is an 8" overhang.

Since I wanted to keep things airy, I do not want to have dark and light contrasting colors such as a dark grey on the perimeter and a white-tone on the island.

I found a marble that I really like, and am including a photo. The lighting is off, as my tablet does not do well in low-lights. What suggestions do you have for a light-colored quartz that would compliment the marble? Or do you think I should just go with matching quart on both the island and the perimiter counters...?

My own thoughts were to something on the perimeter counters that had a complimentary color and design, rather than going with a stark solid. On one of the uploaded images is a small sample of Viatera Minuet that I had with me on top of a showroom sample of the marble to show an example of what I was thinking of.

Right now I was considering some of the Vadara quartz, such as Laneve or Blanco Venato. (There are some blue lines in the marble though you cannot tell from the low-light photos and the base color is a lovely cool, bright white-the pictures look greyer). I am also including the slab that is on hold for me of the marble.

Thank you so much in advance for all your feedback and advice!!!

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Comments (4)

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Beth H. :
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I just saw this quartzite the other day at the stone yard. Looks like this is the same one. If you get this for the island, then do the perimeter as well.
I think if you try and do something different, but still white, it's going to look off. (unless you do a plain white quartz) . Do a quartz that looks like marble, is not going to work, IMO. They are just two different looks. Do them all the same, or do a dark, solid contrast.

Now, if you wanted to do a soapstone, I'd say fine. that would actually look nice. look at this pic to get an idea (different island, but same premise). it's not going to make things look dark if you went w/a soapstone or even a honed Jet Mist granite.

Cielo is a quartzite that you may want to consider as well. this one is leathered.
Gabrielle V. thanked Beth H. :
Susie .
4 years ago
Hi,
I have found that my quartz behaves much like natural marble (temperature wise), and rolling out pastry is fine on it. It’s also much more durable than natural marble. I agree that I wouldn’t mix patterns if you do choose marble for part and quartz for another. Just get white quartz in that case. That being said, no quartz looks as good as marble.
Gabrielle V. thanked Susie .
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Okay For whatever reason, you're afraid to stand back and get a shot of the entire kitchen from several angles. Thus all advice is based on what we can see. Not much : ) Cherry is quite red, so I'd avoid a navy island. White will shout against the cherry cabinetry too. We can't SEE the island. That would make me say a warm gray could look pretty, a deep green could. What is the style in your family room. What are the colors? I'm sure there is an adjacency. I'd change the tops, do a quartz, even a quartzite such as Taj Mahal could be pretty. But you want to consider ALL these elements together. Lights, counter, tops, etc. I would keep ALL the tops the same, island and perimeter to whatever you select. A color on island cabinetry change is more than enough. To say the least, before ANY change, make certain the layout is one you like. That includes appliances, and their placement. The island size and ITS placement. ......never throw money at the wrong change : )
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debbieralton
3 years ago
Hi Gabrielle. What did you end up going with? I’m thinking of doing the Vadara in Blanco Venato instead of marble myself.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and maybe see an installed photo if that’s what you chose!
Marnae Nguyen
2 years ago
Did you go with this and if so do you have a picture? I’m considering the Vadara Blanco

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