help picking my countertop

6 years ago

I'm trying to pull the trigger on these slabs of nuage quartzite. I'd hoped to get something less busy but I've decided marble is out for so many reasons, and am putting my money on quartzite. I've been down the super white, sea pearl, calacatta, Macauba, Mont Blanc road and either the color or design pattern just doesn't hit me. I found a sea pearl that was my first pick but it had bad cracks in it. They can't get anymore and I've yet to see another one like it. This is about as close as I've come.

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Beth H. :

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

quartzite is actually harder than granite. depending on any calcite deposits in the slab, will determine if yours will have a tendency to etch or stain (or chip and crack) if there is a little sample piece or a part of a corner they can break off, you can test it w/lemon juice. you can also get a glass tile and run it across the sharp edge of the quartzite. does it scratch the glass? then you're good.

I have Super White in my bathroom and it's held up beautifully. Super White is actually a dolomite, so it's more fragile than the quartzite.

I like that piece. it's a nice change. If you're doing wood floors, I'd go w/ a neutral medium brown tone or a French Oak type of flooring.

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Comments (19)

Regina Work
Original Author
6 years ago
Sorry these photos are better....and here's my kitchen inspiration (I know Tom Howley would never use these counters but still would you?)
jewelisfabulous
6 years ago
I think they're gorgeous, but when I admired the quartzite slabs at the warehouse I visited to choose my tops, the rep stated that quartzite's main issue is the softness (hence cracks and chips).
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for the handles, may I suggest something to pick up on the hues in the flooring? A little more copper toned. you have light cabs, light floors. I think throwing in a dark ORB w/o actual copper highlights would be too much of a contrast. IMO. cypress park Sandra, I like the porcelain one better than the other one. Does the backsplash have to be done immediately? If the tones in the porcelain tile you picked clash w/the ivory tones in the counter, it could be a problem. However, I did find some copper toned ones that should be avail. these are porcelain/SS, and treated so as not to stain or tarnish. I LOVE these for your kitchen. timeless and gorgeous. They are probably not super cheap, but it would be worth it for me. http://www.miusartmosaics.com/arabesque-lantern-beacon-copper-tile-in these would also work. the site is here: maybe they have them in stock.http://www.westsidetile.com/arabesque-tiles/ i like this one too. notice the copper faucet. beautiful w/the glass mosaic. if you got the cream countertop, this would look amazing w/your floors. this last one is a copper colored slate/quartzite.
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hatethecold_gw
6 years ago
If it is a true quartzite it should not be soft. There is a great thread about this on the Kitchens forum with lots of great insight from Karin the resident geologist (https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2692150/countertop-geology-part-six-lets-talk-about-rocks-some-more?n=603)

Having said that ,I think that slab is beautiful!
Regina Work
Original Author
6 years ago
Ah Beth H! I so appreciate your advice. My decorator friend likes them too. The warehouse owner is totally good with lemon juice test, in fact he keeps a jar on hand but it was empty so I’ll bring my own. They took a knife and tried to scratch it and it did not, but I will bring a glass tile as well. Yes my floors are getting refinished and my cabinets will be white dove, custom shaker with an inset bead, kinda crazy for the inset bead. Also my cabinets are going up to the ceiling.
What part of the slab do you like best for the island? Btw, I’m doing all countertops with this quartzite called Nuage. Next up backsplash. Thinking a simple, less is more, white doveish looking subway tile.
Regina Work
Original Author
6 years ago
Hatethecold_gw thanks for the thumbs up. Yeah I’ve read all the quartzite articles and blogs. I think it’s going to be a good choice. For what it’s worth, wanna weigh in on what part of the slab you’d use for the island?
hatethecold_gw
6 years ago
I would say it depends on your idea for the island. If you want it to be noticed, that upper right corner section (the first pic in your second post) is very striking and dramatic- I love it. If you want it to be more subtle, use another part. Bear in mind I am no professional!!!!
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Beth H. :
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I love the dramatic corner in pic 1, upper right, but pic two, on the far left is nice too. I would try and keep both of those portions intact. I don't like the middle blob on pic 2, so maybe use that for the sink cutout.

wait until everything is in, walls painted, floors done, before going to a backsplash. I have a few nice selections I can show you (no, you don't need a white subway either), but want to see the final coloring.

for instance, encore ceramics,,,look at the two colors in the front

I love this color combo. no so much the shape, but in a larger format, a nice contrast against the white.

they have this silver crackle glaze that would be awesome over that black ceramic
chispa
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Inquiring minds want to know ... why do you have a "sample" of a turquoise whale next to the slab? ;-)
Regina Work
Original Author
6 years ago
Chispa! Can you stand it?! Running out of the house I had my color chart from Farrow & Ball and a pillow that is going due to wear and tear but does have some colors in it that I've use. I was so late and couldn't think of where my decorating bag was with all my fabrics and inspiration pieces. Grabbed that darn $3.99 whale out of a little nook in my cabinet just to see how it goes with that color. The stone people were like 'I've seen it all now'
Regina Work
Original Author
6 years ago
Beth H, great of you to weigh in with backsplash advice. And you see your photo with that gorgeous marble or light colored quartzite. That was how I initially wanted to go. But alas, I just don't think I'd take proper care of my marble, I'm too big a cook, and plus it's very pricey. I kinda wanted Danby Marble as it's just up the road from me in Vermont, but again, not to be. May use it in a bathroom though.
Regina Work
Original Author
6 years ago
Beth H also there are 5 slabs so when I go back with my fabricator we are going to get all 5 slabs out to pick the best 3, I already did this with the stone guy, but my fabricator can help advise. I think the one with the middle blob will get pushed aside
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Beth H. :
6 years ago
regina, I was just showing you the tiles, not the marble. Encore Ceramics make these gorgeous tiles in different glazes. (matte, crackle, glossy, and all sorts of colors) plus, they have different size subways, as well as other shapes. if you're having white cabinets, then I think doing something w/a bit of color contrast would like nice against those dark veins of the quartzite. that's why I posted the black and white one, just to show you the color options. the last one w/the silvery gray glaze would be very pretty w/your stone.
User
6 years ago
Very pretty. Going to beautiful
Pj
5 years ago
Love some advice too. Came across this slab and found it stunning, but just worried maybe too much with my chosen backsplash?
Regina Work
Original Author
5 years ago
Pj....I am beyond happy it’s how beautiful this nuage quartzite is in my kitchen
Pj
5 years ago
Do you mind sharing photos? I’d love to see. This stone made me dance in the slab yard!
Marguerite Mastromatto
3 years ago
Does anyone have photos of the Nuage on their countertops? I just saw this stone - called Nuage at one stone yard, Naida at another. I believe Daltile may have it named Tahitian Cream, so I am going to look at that one. The lighting is so bad at some of the warehouses, I can't really distinguish the color. It seems to be taupe/grey and gives off a little green. I have a brick porcelain floor and this seems to work. Many other neutral stones like Taj Mahal are just too white or grey.
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Beth H. :
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
that's a gorgeous stone. you'll have to test it to make sure it's either quartzite or a marble or dolomite.

Lemon juice test is one, and the glass test is another (take a glass tile w/you. use the sharp edge of the slab. if it scratches the glass it's quartzite (or a granite), but if it turns to powder and doesn't put a gouge in the glass, it's marble