Two years ago I invited two designer friends--both were kitchen designers--to a holiday party in my home. One of my good clients (who was about to renovate her kitchen) also attended with her husband and during the course of the evening, they individually asked each designer which countertop material they preferred. The first one (who worked with clients in a high end residential neighborhood) said Quartz was the most current material to use. The second designer (who lived 1/2 an hour away in a suburb of Vancouver) said Granite was the countertop of choice. So which one is better (or sexier) for your home? Read on to find out:
1. What are your neighbors doing? This is the one time where it’s okay to try to keep up with the ‘Jones’. If everyone is installing quartz countertops, then you should consider doing the same because it means potential buyers are looking for quartz as it is generally a higher end look because it’s cleaner looking – some people think clean is sexy.
2. Quartz will also give your kitchen or bath a more contemporary feel which is a look I prefer:
3. Do you like pattern and texture? Some adore the look of granite because they love the multi-coloured, textured look. While others think it just looks blotchy. In general a more countrified kitchen works with granite. I prefer quartz because I like a cleaner more consistent look, however texture can be sexy too. After all, great design is in the eye of the beholder!
4. Granite is also a good choice for wood stained cabinetry because you can pick up the colour of the wood by choosing a granite with similar warm tones like these images below:
For a great article on more countertop choices and an analysis of each one,
click here.
Which one do you prefer and why, I would love to hear your opinion!
If you would like your home to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact me for on-line or in-person consultations.
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I wish I was at the point of actually making this decision, but I am far from it. However, I am tired of granite. I would either go with quartz or wood/butcher block.
ReplyDeleteI do like the white Quartz in the first picture, however, I do like granite better, if I were to do my own kitchen again. I live in the suburbs so maybe that has something to do with it. : )
ReplyDeleteIt's such a hard choice...really a matter of preference..don't you think? .. I have granite in my kitchen...and love the earthy, natural tones..it looks different throughout the day when the light changes... quartz is also so beautiful and natural.... I am glad the granite was already here when I bought this house!! :)
ReplyDeleteactually.... marble!!! ohhhh la la... I love marble!
ReplyDeleteI have to say both!! There are a few stones that are stunning with beautiful movement and vains that you can not get in quartz.
ReplyDeleteI use both materials but I find my traditional clients go to the granite side where my younger more modern clients go straight to the quartz samples I have. Maybe it is just an age thing. ;)
We have quartz countertops and I LOVE them. We started out looking at granite, but like you said, the patterns are so bold and I wanted a more sleek look. And it doesn't need to be sealed which is a bonus!
ReplyDeleteWe have quartz and we love it! Of course, I do have to agree with the previous post and say that I actually love the look of marble. I hear that marble is tougher to maintain, though.
ReplyDeleteMaria, I didn't even have to bat an eye..I knew exactly what my choice would be and you probably know it too...Granite of course! Gosh, I adore texture! That's why I quilt and weave and knit...I love to 'feel' my art.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm not at all surprised that you like the quartz! :o) I feel like we are the country mouse and city mouse every time we visit-Ha!
By the way, that was another superb link to a great website about the different kinds of counter tops. What a lesson on good options! I never would have known there were so many choices!
I like a lot of them, including the butcher block...but I don't want high maintenance. I have too much to do to spend time worrying about a surface. The same goes for concrete. I knew you could do floors with it, and several friends are doing that to their new homes as we speak, but I cannot fathom doing it on a counter top. Every day you teach us something new..and I am again, amazed!
Maria, I have to add that I had to giggle about the certain kind of carpet the lady mentioned in your last post that made her want to..well..you know what I mean... :o)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great idea for a dark wood, English/ Victorian style bedroom.. I know someone who would like that very much! Tee-hee!
I recently built my own home and the countertop choice was one of the hardest. I really wanted limestone, but in the end the maintenance issue won out. I looked at both quartz and granite and found a beautiful granite that worked with everything else I was doing the best. I will be posting pictures soon.
ReplyDeleteMarble!
ReplyDeleteThere is no other choice for me.
I have chosen white "glassos" quartz, which I know I will love. I think granite has it's place but I love the sleek look of quartz.
ReplyDeletepve
Well, you know what we chose - quartz! The maintenance was a huge factor, but the biggest factor was the neutrality of the quartz over the granite. The granite just seemed too busy for my taste, and I really wanted a white, or "light" kitchen feel.
ReplyDeleteI am totally team quartz!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely quartz for the reasons you already listed. It has a cleaner look. Also, to me it seems fresher and more modern. Granite has been popular for at least 10 years, and I think it's time to go. It makes a kitchen look too dated to me.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, as usual!
Quartz for its low maintenance and clean look. For my own home, I would choose marble - know it's not the most practical but love the look.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing. I find a lot of clients have never heard of quartz and once I explain the benefits and show some samples, they are definitely sold.
ReplyDeleteI like the finer grain look of quartz, however having lived with both granite and quartz, I do prefer the granite. Despite what people say, white quartz DOES stain, and it stains very easily. I know, I lived with it, tried very hard to be careful with it, but some stains can be permanent, and that looks way worse than blotchy stone.
ReplyDeleteI want quartz!! I love the way it looks and the easy maintenance!
ReplyDeleteI had granite way back when and loved it then but my tastes have changed and I can't imagine going back. Granite looks either dated and busy, or too formal and sparkly. So I have to say I'm lovin' the quartz! We just put in a beautiful Silastone in my sister's kitchen that I am in love with. If I could put in any counter I wanted I might choose concrete. I've been looking at some concrete counters online and some are really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving all these comments with everyone's personal experience! Thank you!!
ReplyDeletex
Maria
I am in the middle of a renovation (some pics on my blog but we aren't quite at the cabinet installation stage yet). I chose "Cambria Whitehall 0120" QUARTZ and I know I will love it. I wanted white, white, white! I wanted a really clean look and went looking for the whitest quartz I could find. I'm not a fan of granite myself but I've seen some beautiful granite installations. I think it's all about preference.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, I really loathe most granites. Quartz, however, is lovely in so many different situations and doesn't tend to dominate the design as granite almost always does. At least, to me.
ReplyDeleteI think that granite is becoming dated. When I see granite it immediately takes me back to the late 90s. When I remodel my 1950s ranch home in the near future I am thinking either quartz or concrete. Both offer a sleek contemporary look that I want.
ReplyDelete...I must say, sometimes looking at the weft and weave of our granite, I just stop...and am amazed that this is a piece of the earth millions of years in the making...and while each movement waves and swirls across the counter...something happened somewhere.
ReplyDeleteBut. I can be weird that way.
I love solid black granite with no flecks. The patterns in lighter granite are too busy for me. I have not idea if I like polished or honed better. On the one hand, I like the beauty of the polished granite. On the other hand, the honed granite is less noticeable and will probably be less dated in a few decades.
ReplyDeleteI hope to install large (like 18"x24") granite tiles myself to save money.
I don't like the sparkly flecks in quartz. They seem kind of not natural.
Quartz! Though, to be honest, I wish I could afford either one...... I have to settle for laminex. In saying that, obviously I can't afford a colour consultant either but I REALLY wish I could..... do you know how many whites there are? My head's spinning! lol. :)
ReplyDeleteAfter looking at various granites for a few years now while planning our kitchen reno, I thought maybe a black absolute honed granite in one area and a carrera marble on the island. But with all the beautiful quartz materials available now, I am reconsidering quartz as the material of choice. I want a cleaner, more contemporary/traditional look and I think quartz fills the bill on that note. The granites were always too busy and I could never find one I truly liked as much as I like quartz.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of granite (with the exception of honed black granite). It has too much going on.I have seen quartz countertops I love. They, also, have honed choices. I really like the idea of mixing materials, tho, like carrera marble and concrete or quartz. I'm trying to decide between these for my own kitchen.Loved hearing the different opinions on this.
ReplyDeletemarcie
you know... i’m not 100% sure i get the complete differences between quartz and granite, or even marble. but, if i get the gist of it, it’s mostly in the texture.
ReplyDeletepersonally i ‘visually’ love both textured and non-textured counter tops, depending on the kitchen and its other elements.
however i cannot tell you how many times i have leaned on someone’s textured counter (probably granite) and got myself stuck with some food residuals — an absolute annoyance!
so the bottom line, being a rather clean-freak, is that i would never want a textured counter. i simply like to see the dirt when it’s there.
ps. those first two kitchens simply make me weak at the knees...
ReplyDeleteI really don't like sticking to trends and prefer to go with classics when talking about my kitchen. So my first thought was granite all the way. But your comment about it being blotchy hit home - granite can be so busy looking. So I guess it's quartz - sleeker, more modern, simpler looking.
ReplyDeleteQuartz was a for sure on my instant reaction...but the person who posted that it stains badly...makes me wonder!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. We have marble tiles..and I would say DONT DO TILE! Grout is SOO annoying. I would do solid Carrera Marble when I redo it...
I, like others above, wish that I were making this decision now! But it'll be another couple of years for me... Anyway, I am all about the rustic and countrified - my dream kitchen would definitely have to have granite worktops, a big range oven and dogs to trip over while carrying heavy Le Creuset casseroles. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteNo brainer. Quartz is maintenance free. Granite is supposed to be sealed regularly, which most people don't realize (or do). Quartz doesn't stain, scratch or scorch. Some brands are even anti-microbial. I can't wait to use it (my personal fav is Raven from Caesarstone). xoxo
ReplyDeleteQUARTZ
ReplyDeleteno brainer
I love granite but usually prefer less patterned types unless the kitchen is very earthy/rustic. It's hard to beat Mother Nature when it comes to beauty.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing both for so many years that it is hard for me to have a preference. I've never personally had quartz or marble, only granite. I love how easy and maintenance free granite is but I'm getting a little bored of it. But most clients that I work with don't see and work with it everyday so it is a luxury, and exciting to get it.
ReplyDeleteI have to go with Quartz, if I were picking between the two.....but white/light grey marble would be my first choice. I've appraised about 8000 homes and a lot of those had granite countertops....and honestly, I'm just plain sick of seeing it! It just feels very dated these days. A few years ago, every single new "cookie-cutter" home had granite counters, and they became so mainstream. I'm not trying to sound all snobby here, but I think granite really dates your kitchen in a way. I can see how people that love texture would love granite, and in that case, I say go for it :) It's not worth not having a kitchen that you love simply because it might not be "in style". But if you're thinking of it as a selling feature, I wouldn't go with granite.
ReplyDeleteps....granite is known to grow mold, which scares me.
ReplyDeleteQuartz gets my vote everytime. I love it. I have it in my kitchen and recommend it in all of my projects.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I find granite to be a little cheesy and very much the status quo these days...and you can never tell when it's dirty! A friend recently did her countertops in quartz (Zodiaq in Antique Pearl) and I am absolutely in love! They are so crisp and clean.
ReplyDeleteI like my granite in the kitchen, even though it came with the house. But... I'm going to use quartz in my bathroom renovations. And if I was re-doing the kitchen right now I would pick quartz again. I think it's the next big thing along with re-cycled glass. But my home is too traditional to pull off recycled glass.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great question!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what we would've gone with. When we did our countertops a couple months ago, we couldn't afford anything besides laminate. But we didn't really like the look of laminate. So we DIY black granite tiles. We LOVE the granite - we like it much better than laminate countertops. It's not textured or splotchy (like most granites, I think), and is very easy to keep clean (we have tiny grout lines). Apparently it also doesn't need to be sealed regularly? Not sure (it depends on who you ask, apparently), but the grout does either way.
If we had had the money, we might've gone with the quartz, because I like the more steamlined contemporary look, and if the maintenance is easier than granite then that's even better. But I love our new granite - so I'm not complaining. :)
~Chelsea
I saw a kitchen once that looked like the counters were concrete it was a clean beautiful look that I loved.
ReplyDeleteI'd do Quartz or concrete. Granite is too busy for my taste these days. My dream options would be a mix. A cool wood on the island (zebra-tiger) and the solid surface on the other counter areas.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I LOVE talking about countertops!
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I'm in the stone industry and I have to look at this stuff everyday. My vote? Marble or limestone!
Though I do have granite in my kitchen. :)
It's funny to hear people say all granite is one thing or another. And that all quartz is one thing or another.
There are SO MANY granite & quartz colors out there! There are definitely modern/ contemporary looking granites....some look surprisingly like marble!
A lot of times quartz mimics granite. So there are a a lot of blotchy quartz colors that don't look contemporary at all.
Anyway, it's fun to read about people's experiences and opinions.
Thanks for the fun post today! As always, I adore your blog.
-Steph
www.granitegurus.com
Funny this was posted today :0
ReplyDeleteI spent the weekend obsessing over which color of quartz I'm going to select for my countertops! So glad I'm hip to the current vibe!
Seriously, we have been livng in a home with granite that does not match the stone tile work. Its blotchy and very Home Depot ugly. Here in the Southwest everybody has granite.. So over it.
I feel the need for cool and clean.
Granite has been so overdone, I'm tired of it unless it's something really unique!
ReplyDelete"Quartz" is not natural quartz. It is a synthetic material: quartz granules in a resin matrix.
ReplyDeleteGranite can be dramatic or very plain, a stainable PITA to care for or durable enough for laboratory countertops. It depends what variety you pick.
I'm going to have mesquite butcherblock and stained mesquite wood cabinets. (cover your eyes, Maria, it's going to have enough wood to qualify as a man-cave/Eddy Bauer lodge)
I have been looking at both of these surfaces for the past few months...redoing the kitchen in the fall. I have chosen quartz for the clean lines. Most of the granite I have found it too busy for my eye.
ReplyDeleteJane (Artfully graced)
I think it's true that the suburbanites are loving the granite and the urbanites are leaning more towards the quartz these days. As a designer I love both but I have to admit that I am in awe of the natural beauty of granite. This came from the earth..shockingly beautiful!
ReplyDeleteQUARTZ!!!
ReplyDeletewhen granite was everywhere at home depot (big box super DIY center) i thought ugghhh.
and never cared for that really shiny look.
at home....honed limestone
debra
Yes, Yes. Deal with this question all the time. What is interesting to me is that I work in a wealthy suburb just outside Philadelphia and it seems people are holding tightly onto granite.
ReplyDeleteI prefer clean restraint, but once my clients see colorful, pretty patterns of granite, they don't seem to appreciate clean design.
I really dislike all of that pattern that granite puts into a kitchen. I like form to follow function in what is to me a very functional room: I prefer stainless, butcher block and soapstone. But to answer the question I prefer quartz to granite; subtle texture over wild and crazy; honed to shiny.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am tired of granite and the speckled look. That being said, I have quartz that looks like granite (not my choosing). If I were redoing my kitchen, I would choose a solid-colored quartz.
ReplyDeleteWow, 56 comments? Guess you hit a nerve! I figure there is so much other stuff to warm up/mess up a kitchen, that the counters should be as sleek as possible. Toasters, coffee pots, towels, knife blocks you name it. Granite can be beautiful stone, but adds a lot of eye distraction. Wood + granite = 90s. Paint + white marble = 2000s. But is also from older, grand houses in 10s, 20, 30s, 40s. Timeless.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Quartz, more so for its durability and maintenance. Also because it is man made it can be duplicated and matched if desired.
ReplyDeleteNot to insult those who have Granite as I totally agree it is one of Natures most beautiful products; but somehow I just relate it to Headstones.
-Brenda-
Between granite and quartz, I prefer the look of Quartz, but when replacing my countertops last year I chose a custom concrete and recycled glass product (http://dexindustries.com/materials/dexterra). While I was motivated to make the most environmentally friendly choice possible (since I was replacing laminate that was in excellent condition, just old and ugly), I must say that I've really fallen in love with these countertops!
ReplyDeletethis is the funniest thing... i first heard of quartz in the kitchen two days ago, and now this... there is a revolution in the making
ReplyDeleteI prefer quartz for range of color ad consistency.
ReplyDeleteSusan S
We live in Argentina where granite is the countertop of choice. Period. Back in the mid 20th century formica was popular but by the 70s, granite was back in its rightful place as king of the countertops. My husband swears he could play hide and seek on the kitchen counter and nobody would find him. LOL It's a mottled black/white/gray and we do lose stuff on it all the time. When we buy or build our own place, I'll go for a more subtle color combo.
ReplyDeleteNot sure quartz is even available except to the really, really wealthy. Definitely not an option in our area.
My own kitchen (done 7.5 years ago) has granite, and I still love it - although I still wish I could have had it honed instead of polished (too expensive at the time). I just did Calacatta Gold marble countertops in a client's home and they are *exquisite*!!
ReplyDeleteMaria,
ReplyDeleteVariety is the spice of life! When working with clients I want them to know all the facts and decide accordingly. Cost, durability, maintenence personality of material, temperature of environment, color variations with lighting and cabinetry, and personal preference of feel in the room.
It's all good and there's something to love about all of it!
Bette
Maria Thank You for your comments you are so right Mom's should live forever and they do. Their wings are white while they're here and become gold when they cross over.
I remodeled my smallish kitchen in my very traditional 1909 crafstman home. None of the historically accurate countertop materials (wood, linoleum, tile) were easy care enough for me, but granite felt too of a certain time (not 1909) and too busy for the size of my space. So I went with a manufactured stone that is very solid colored - in my case, almost black, with creamy white cabinets - and I've been very happy with it. It doesn't call attention to itself as granite would, but it's hard wearing and doesn't look in the least out of place.
ReplyDeleteQuartz is sexier than granite. And recycled countertops are sexier than tearing down mountains in India, China, Africa, S. America, etc. with the later two continents importing some granites containing uranium which emit hundreds of times normal background levels of radiation. There's nothing sexy about cancer. Microban in some quartz countertops contains carcinogenic chemicals. Not to mention, what is really in your stone countertop sealer? Choose your esthetic elements wisely.
ReplyDeleteQuartz...It has a cleaner look. :-)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.genuineelegance.blogspot.com
They're both great materials as far as durability and maintenance is concerned. I make the choice based on the job, what works better in a particular style, with other colors and materials.
ReplyDeleteI'm so torn between granite and quartz. I too find granite busy but i heard that quartz does stain and scratch. That is the only thing holding me back. Has anyone noticed this problem.
ReplyDeleteWould you be able to tell me what colour the cabinets are in the second kitchen photo? Thanks
ReplyDeleteHI Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI would say probably something like BM Ivory White.
Maria
It's ALL ABOUT QUARTZ. We (DIY) just put quartz (Rushmore by MSI {*) photo doesn't do it justice!)countertops in our boathouse and it is gorgeous, durable and did I say gorgeous?!?! franki
ReplyDeleteI prefer quartz because you can have some fun with the backsplash with less risk of ending up with a kitchen that is too busy.
ReplyDeleteGranite seems dated and old ladyish. I think one day it'll be like harvest gold laminate. People will see it and say, "What were they thinking??" Sure, my quartz will be dated one day, but I think it'll seem dated long after granite has run its course.
Here in North Carolina a house must pass a radon inspection before it may sell. Our last house had to have $1500 remediation device installed in the basement. When i asked the installer what caused the radon, his answer was the granite in the ground. After some research, I learned that there is some radon emitted from granite countertops. Much of it is dissapated by opening & closing exterior doors etc. But for me, no more granite, thanks!
ReplyDelete