Favorite Countertop Material
Grace O' Malley
4 years ago
Granite
Quartz
Concrete
Tile
Marble
Wood
Steel
Laminate
Other
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (24)
sushipup1
4 years agoRelated Discussions
OK, how 'bout slate countertops?
Comments (12)Hi Sherri, thanks for the input. I too read slate is non porous. However I have a rust stain from a cast iron pan that was dry but unused for a very long time, the counter was dry as well, I was moving back into my kitchen and the rust from that pan definitely stained. So did my hisbiscus rose hip tea. So I have slightly porous slate. I have bunny rabbits that eat what the books say they shouldn't too! Lol, at least I can use fine steel wool to get rid of them. I'm currently debating between hoping they weather darker and I get a scratch patina or using a sealer which I really didn't want to use. I loved simplicity of the mineral oil. But found out it wasn't so simple! Lol. I knew it was softer than granite etc. But didn't expect it to scratch by someone moving the butter dish, or a plate. There's not a ton on the web in regards to slate in particular. Just a bunch of copied and pasted articles from one site to the other....See MoreWhat Material is YOUR counter top?
Comments (58)Pllog, Well, we are in both in CA, as some would say! ;) I do agree with your comment about granite being the standard because of its perception as being a luxury item. FrmrsDghtr, WOW!!! Love what you were able to do!!! RosySunnyGal, Our counters are Floating Blue which is a mostly turquoise in white cement matrix color. We were able to pick our slabs at the factory when it was still here in the Bay Area years ago. We have several KDs in our area that had samples of Vetrazzo, Icestone and Fuez to look over. IF you are looking for the wow factor, these will do it. With that in mind, I do recommend that you really like your countertop color because it is a very prominent part of your kitchen. They also aren't cheap and I highly recommend that your installer be someone who knows how to work with this material. Our installation fabricators claimed they did and we had multiple problems with them that we finally had to hire a second company to fix. We looked at all of the green countertop materials, and this was the one that my DH and I were able to agree on despite the price. BTW, I don't include quartz or C-stone in this category. I do recommend that you do an online search for recycled glass companies because there are several others besides the three I mention above. The ones that I have ran across are: Gilasi in the Chicago area, Urbanslabs in SoCal, Vetrazzo is now in the Atlanta area, and more that I have seen around the US. I do recommend if you can using one that is near you because of the weight and shipping cost of the slabs. If you are interested in knowing more or seeing some pictures of my counters, please, PM me....See MorePlease vote for cabs, countertops
Comments (12)I love stainless, in fact DH is one of the largest fabrictors on the east coast, but I don't think it melds well in many kitchens. Perhaps, if you are planning a stainless sink, you could have a large drainboard surround with runnels fabricated consistent with that period look. I also vote for #3. Have you considered adding texture to the island base? White beadboard would be fabulous! Are you planning hardwood floors? Another suggestion would be have the island base stained a tone just a tad darker than the floor - it will ground the space nicely and your marble will really pop....See MoreGranite countertops - would you do it again? Why or why not?
Comments (60)For those who asked, my granite was called "New Golden Beach". After choosing it I googled the name hoping to see images of it used on finished countertops. What I kept getting were pictures of "Golden Beach" which is far more golden and tan than mine. Mine's a cream base with taupe striations and flecks of black. It is much cooler in tone than Golden Beach which to me has a yellowy cast. When I went looking for granite at the huge stone yard outside of Boston that my KD recommended, I was surprised to find very few slabs in white & cream that had muted patterning. They told me that those like mine flew out the door as soon as they got them in. They said it was because most who wanted that look were going with marble or quartzite, of which they had plenty. They tried to persuade me to consider one of those but I said I didn't know anyone personally who'd had a great track record using it the way I knew it would be used in my kitchen. The rep said that was the reason the light granite stones were taken so quickly. Customers like me who wanted the light stone but felt more secure with granite chose them over marble and quartz/quartzite. I selected my stone 2 years ago. Since then I have seen a number of people here install quartzite and/or quartz countertops and give positive reviews about their performance with regard to being stain and heat resistant. I still think granite was the best look for me in this kitchen, and it sure has stood up to all manner of things like lemon juice, red wine, ketchup, blueberry jam, etc, that might have been bad news with other more porous stones and choices. That said, I think there's a lot to choose from other than granite & laminate....See MoreJoseph Corlett, LLC
4 years agosahmmy_gw
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoMorningstar Stone & Tile
4 years agocpartist
4 years agojemimabean
4 years agobeesneeds
4 years agoJoseph Corlett, LLC
4 years agodarbuka
4 years agoc9pilot
4 years agoM
4 years agoJoseph Corlett, LLC
4 years agoMorningstar Stone & Tile
4 years agoessentials inside
4 years agotabes
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoloobab
4 years agoMissi (4b IA)
4 years agoJeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor
4 years agokarin_mt
4 years agojemimabean
4 years agobeesneeds
4 years agoM
4 years agoTHOR, Son of ODIN
4 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN DESIGN5 Favorite Granites for Gorgeous Kitchen Countertops
See granite types from white to black in action, and learn which cabinet finishes and fixture materials pair best with each
Full StoryMATERIALSAre You a Maker? Show Us Your Favorite Tool or Material
Houzz Call: A tool or material can be a maker’s best friend. We’d like to see your favorite — and what it helps you achieve
Full StoryMOST POPULARYour Guide to 15 Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials
Get details and costs on top counter materials to help you narrow down the choices for your kitchen
Full StoryKITCHEN COUNTERTOPSKitchen Countertop Materials: 5 More Great Alternatives to Granite
Get a delightfully different look for your kitchen counters with lesser-known materials for a wide range of budgets
Full StoryKITCHEN COUNTERTOPSDesigners Dish on Their Top Materials for Kitchen Countertops
Find out which countertop materials and styles these pros are favoring in their kitchen designs
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Countertops 101: Choosing a Surface Material
Explore the pros and cons of 11 kitchen countertop materials. The options may surprise you
Full StoryKITCHEN COUNTERTOPS5 Tips for Mixing Kitchen Countertop Materials
Tired of the same old kitchen look? Follow these tips to create a kitchen with more personality and punch
Full StoryMATERIALS5 Sustainable Kitchen Countertop Materials to Consider
These materials are manufactured with sustainability and health in mind
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNBathroom Countertops 101: The Top Surface Materials
Explore the pros and cons of 7 popular bathroom countertop materials
Full Story
JAN MOYER