How to Choose the Right Countertop
Each day we stroll through the warehouse at Colonial Marble & Granite and marvel at the gorgeous options of natural stone, quartz, and now wood.
The options for a consumer seem endless but the truth is that there are many issues to consider before making that final decision.
Finding the Choice
It’s tempting to choose the most beautiful stone base on natural beauty, but it’s important to consider durability, maintenance, color and cost when going headfirst into a kitchen remodeling project.
Starting Point
The best place to start is the warehouse. Do a walk through – take notes and photos and then go home and take a real look at what you have to work with. You may start ruling out beautiful but overpowering stone designs and settling on something more subtle depending upon the factors of the kitchen. Cabinet colors, lighting, exterior lighting – all effect the color of the countertop.
Lifestyle
Homeowners need to consider their lifestyle when making a final choice. Parents with young children at home might consider an easy to clean, and maintenance free countertop like quartz. They may also shy away from all white or super light colors that will require constant cleaning. It’s just something to consider when making the final choice.
Room Dynamics
Another consideration is room dynamics. The size of the kitchen, the type of light, and color selection can play a role in the final stone choice. A dark kitchen would probably benefit a light countertop and vice versa. A very bright kitchen with a super bright and shiny surface can result in glare and must also be considered.
Stone Options
Granite, the top choice in countertops, is available in a variety of shades such as blacks, whites, greens, corals and beiges, and no two pieces are exactly the same. Granite is available in multiple finishes. A polished finish results in a shiny look and often darkens the appearance of the stone, while honing is soft and matte. Leathered finish that gives the stone a textured feel. Costs for granite depend on many variables, including color, finish and origin of the stone.
Other natural stone materials, like marble, limestone and soapstone, are softer than granite and require delicate use and greater care plus all stone countertops should be sealed periodically.
Engineered stone countertops come in a wider variety of colors than natural stone countertops, are more durable and easy maintain. Our Quartz countertops are 96% crushed natural quartz with eco-friendly polymers that give the countertops the color and additional design features. Easy to clean, durable, and variety of colors make quartz a great choice.
Can’t Decide? Mix it up!
Can’t decide on just one material – mix it up. Obviously, the size of the kitchen will may reduce your options, but finding complementary stones is unique and fun. Many of our medium to large size kitchens utilize multiple colors in stone to offset the primary field of color – like the island and or perimeter stone.