awe schist:

Dethroning granite as the reining kitchen counter king, quartzite is having it’s era, and I am here for it.😍  There is so much to see in this material group. Vibrant colors or muted tones, and a multitude of veining patterns. 😐 One caution is the very popular trend of certain colors. I feel it may lead to it feeling less unique for the amount of your investment. That said, it’s a stretch to have much to critique other than it’s price level.

Still in the game! While some granites are losing their appeal, there are many others that deserve your attention. Do not let the words you hear persuade you more than what your eyes see. If you are sourcing natrual materials, be as open as your price range allows.

I can’t quit you. I am a sucker for the elegance and timeless enchantment that marble brings to the party. It’s like your friend who is always well dressed. Always in style. 😍 Marble may be delicate in some ways yet powerful in others. It requires a forgiving partner in the kitchen. Yet, it’s been installed in homes for centuries. 😐 If you want surfaces to look as new as possible for as long as possible, marble might not meet your needs. If you accept that this material will change along with you then it’s worthy of your consideration. 🔥 Fireplace surrounds and other vertical installations are an ideal place to allow marble to do it’s thing.

Often overlooked these categories are stunning in a subtle way compared to other natural materials.

DOLOMITE: This material is less absorbent and more dense than limestone, but not the density of quartzite or granite. If you find material labeled Dolomite and you love it…. simply make sure it’s sealed properly and inquire about a bi-annual visit to clean and reaseal.

LIMESTONE: I first feel in love with limestone around 1999 and my love has not waivered. It feels ancient and modern. It can fill a room without taking over. The more you look the more you see. Limestone will react to you and what you do. Like marble, limestone is more absorbent than granite or quartzite, or any engineered material.

Travertine flows. It has a water energy to me and I love it in beachy environments.

Over the years as slabs are sliced in different ways, travertine can look like a whole new category because it was cut in a specific direction. The long waves I see in travertine can be captivating. Educating yourself on the various qualites of travertine will allow you to find material with less holes, and therefore less “fill”.

Soapstone: I find this dark stone makes a strong substantial statement. It has an “I’m more solid than stone” vibe. It feels very grounding and safe to me. I read it as Nordic or Northern in style.

Sandstone: My experience has been limited and a bit challenging. I found the material to be cut into rather small slabs (more seams) and would require so much unnatural protection to function well that it’s better installed outdoors.  Or near the fire pit instead of the food prep, or toothpaste squeeze.

Onyx: It’s a bold choice. This material begs to steal the show! When you find an onyx slab that you cannot look away from, consider it! Be creative lighting it.  Be intentional with its pattern placement. Onyx makes me smile because it looks like Mother Nature was dancing when she cooked this up. It’s a great choice for a bar installation. 🥂

Once upon a short time, there was a store called THE GREAT INDOORS. As I was strolling through one 90’s day, I felt like I had mined a new material called Silestone. In the late 90’s era of plastic laminate with a wood edge countertops this was thrilling! All of these years later there are many name brands of engineered material out there. It can be overwhelming. Quartz (there I said it) composites, porcelains, terrazzos, on and on and on, on and on, the beat don’t stop until the break of dawn. 😎

To me, manmade material is all about control. I love control!

I can know the specific color, exact size and thickness, how to best care and maintain the material without visiting a slab yard or investing time to select a natural slab. There are set price groups that don’t exactly align with natural material costs. Be sure to understand what price group your top selections fall into for comparison.

My favorites come mostly from the Cambria product line. For a clean modern white, I like a few of Silestone’s bright whites.  I am always open to helping my clients select from whatever choices their builder is offering them.

Here is Portrush from Cambria:

And check out this wild ride from Vertrazzo:

Laminate deserves to be included in the conversation when durability in relation to the cost is a consideration. Not every countertop needs to be a solid surface. A cut-to-size, or shop built laminate top can be a great option. Laminate can be a valuable solution.

Make it fun with a Boomerang design. Or keep it simple with 949 White. Lean away from the patterns that try to hard to mimic nature. This is a case of less is more, or more should be fun.

While these other materials are less common they can be the right choice for you.

BUTCHER BLOCK: The very best I can offer is the very best, and that’s Grotehouse. This is the pinnacle source of wood countertops. I feel that lower end wood tops can have a bowling alley feeling. I suggest investing in the best quality finished wood that you can. 

CONCRETE: Ahh, I remember when this became popular, around 2000. There were a limited number of professionals and a whole gaggle of DIYers. Like wood, the lower cost concrete installation can read “driveway”, or art project gone wrong. Meanwhile a shop made, custom shape and colored concrete top can be a solid choice. If you feel that concrete might be right for you, then get it right with Sonoma Cast Stone. You may spend as much shipping it, as buying it, but there is hardly a comparable concrete product.

METAL: News flash – Metal is not just for flashing!  If you are interested in metal counters, or really any super cool metalwork, you will love Brandner Design.