skip to main content

Design Dilemma Kitchens

Superwhite Quartzite: Leathered vs. Polished

3 years ago

I am rehabbing an entire 1965 house on the water and I have spent an agonizing amount of time over my kitchen design, mainly because price is a huge factor, hate it when that happens! 😅 I have decided on standard white paneled cabinets and superwhite quartzite countertops but I CANNOT DECIDE between leathered or polished!!! I’m going mad over it lol! I was thinking about maybe leathered for the perimeter and polished for the island? To get the best of both worlds?! Has anyone done a mixture of both??? I know the quartzite vs marble discussion out there too, and I don’t want to be a crazy person when entertaining over the “polished island” possibly showing more scratches than leathered. Just don’t want to make the wrong decision!! Please help!!!!

Featured Answer

Jules M

3 years ago

This shows a better view of the perimeter counter edge.

Comments (10)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
IMO leathered or honed surafces just open the surface to more chance of staining and with white no way would I risk it. IMO a polished granite would be the best of all worlds
megs1030
3 years ago
I would do honed, not leathered. But no matter what you choose, I’d choose one and one only for your entire kitchen.
Related Discussions
polished vs honed and light vs dark granite/quartzite
Q
Comments (38)
I have honed dark granite right now and it stains like crazy esp anything remotely oily. Tried everything to seal it and nothing worked. It was in the house when we bought it and we are now remodeling the kitchen and it it will be gone. Replacing with polished Sea Pearl quartzite if the quote is right (fingers crossed). It's been a process because this kitchen has extremely high end (previous owner installed) cabinets with a high gloss finish in teal blue - gorgeous but challenging and way to expensive to replace. Very sleek and modern. Thanks to the oven forum we chose the Miele Master Chef oven (wanted that rotisserie) and warming drawer and after reading on the Refrigerator Forum we chose the Thermador Freedom Towers for the fridge and freezer. LOL we inquired about getting panels for them to match the cabinets and yikes, the cost was more than the appliances cost. So stainless fronts it is. Everyone here is so helpful - certainly appreciate this site and the forums.
...See More
superwhite quartzite question
Q
Comments (3)
If your super white is actually quartzite it will not etch. If it's marble mis-labelled as quartzite it will etch. Homed or polished will make no difference. Be sure you get a sample of your actual slabs and test them for etching, staining and scratching to be sure you're getting quartzite and not marble. Don't trust what the stone yard tells you.
...See More
Fantasy brown aka brown fantasy honed leather or polished
Q
Comments (27)
We have it in polished with SW Thunder Gray on the bottom cabinets and we get tons of compliments on it. I was so scared but once it was installed I fell in love with it. It is beautiful!! So, so happy we went with it.
...See More
Mont Blanc Leathered Quartzite
Q
Comments (12)
Imcutnup: Oddly, the only thing that has stained my leathered quartzite has been strawberries. Red wine, red vinegar, hibiscus tea, turmeric, paprika—nothing has stained it—except the strawbwrries. Quartzite doesn’t etch from acids such as pickle juice, vinegar or lemon juice because unlike marble, there’s no calcium in quartzite.
...See More
Jules M
3 years ago
My Superwhite is leathered and we love it! The veins are very slightly raised and everyone that sees it reaches out to touch it, it’s really beautiful. It has made no difference at all in cleaning. The leathered is on the island and the perimeter.
HU-393016513
Original Author
3 years ago
Jules that looks beautiful, thanks for sharing!! Did you do pencil bullnose around perimeter and that is the bullnose on your island?

Same cleaning but have you found the leathered ”hides” any damages better?
Jules M
3 years ago
I believe it is an ogee edge on the island and an eased edge on perimeter. I’ll see if I can find a better pic of the perimeter edge. I don’t know if the leathered hides flaws better since I don’t have experience with the polished, but the veining and slight color variations in this color definitely hides damages. And I really like the matte sheen better than the polished. I went with a shinier backsplash to make up for it.
Gordon Sinclair
3 years ago
Very nice Jules ,I'm considering this option I've noticed some warehouses call this hard marble or dormite ,this has become so popular their is a price increase and its hard to find the prem designs. But its worth the wait.
HU-393016513
Original Author
3 years ago
Jules it’s gorgeous, I love your kitchen. I am considering running the stone up the backsplash too but still haven’t decided. As someone with the counters in your kitchen, what do you think???
C Y
2 years ago
Love the look up the backsplash but definitely adds to the cost.
stiley
2 years ago
I just finished shopping for quartzite. We're doing a honed Taj Mahal because I fell in love with the slabs, but I also really loved the leathered. They feel so nice. In general, the honed/leathered look is more up-to-date than polished right now. One consideration is that the leathered does have that gorgeous texture, but that means writing on it is difficult. I have young kids who do homework in the kitchen so the honed will work better for us. Is the superwhite as hard as Taj or is it more like marble? @Jules M your kitchen is beautiful!

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS What’s the Difference Between Quartzite and Quartz Countertops?

By Marie Flanigan Interiors

Weigh the pros and cons of these popular kitchen countertop materials

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS Kitchen Counters: Quartzite Offers Strength and Beauty

By Jeannie Matteucci

Eye-catching patterns and a natural pedigree make durable quartzite a popular alternative to granite and marble

COLOR 10 Pair-Ups for Black in the Kitchen

By Laura Gaskill

Combine black with other colors to add drama, polish and modernity. It also can make a kitchen look more spacious

DECORATING GUIDES The 12 Best Design Tips From the Week

By Mitchell Parker

Up your design game by getting to know leathered finishes, mini subway tiles, storage-savvy furniture and a faucet trick

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS 7 Low-Maintenance Countertops for Your Dream Kitchen

By Christine Tusher

Fingerprints, stains, resealing requirements ... who needs ’em? These countertop materials look great with little effort

WHITE KITCHENS Durable Materials Anchor a White-and-Gray Family Kitchen

By Kelly LaPlante LLC

A concrete floor and a stone-topped island handle daily wear and tear with ease

HOUSEKEEPING How to Clean Marble Countertops and Tile

By Bonnie McCarthy

Acidic solutions can damage your marble surfaces. Here’s how to keep marble looking clean and amazing

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS Quartz vs. Granite: The Battle of the Countertops

Read about the pros and cons — and see great examples — of these popular kitchen countertop materials

MOST POPULAR Your Guide to 15 Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials

By Vanessa Brunner

Get details and costs on top counter materials to help you narrow down the choices for your kitchen

KITCHEN DESIGN Using White Marble: Hot Debate Over a Classic Beauty

By Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ

Do you love perfection or patina? Here's how to see if marble's right for you

Sponsored

More Discussions

Formal living room

142

Reliable, high quality furniture brands - Arhaus, RH, Ethan Allen?

4

front of house square landscape design

13

what grey roof shingles go with white paint

7

Honed/matte quartz countertops

1