Kitchen Countertop Choice Making Me Crazy

11 years ago

I initiated this discussion in the comments section of the article "5 Favorite Granites For Gorgeous Kitchen Countertops" but figure that it actually belongs here, particularly because I'm considering materials besides granite.

I received several wise and helpful comments, so check the end of the comment section of the the article if you're interested. Here's the original post with a couple of changes reflecting my thoughts over the last two days.

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I am selecting my countertop material in the next day or two and have it down to three options. I eliminated both concrete and soapstone due to cost.

My remaining choices are Honed Impala Black granite, LG Quartz Columbia Gray and New Sunset Gold granite. The kitchen and house style is modern, and the cabinets are unstained Douglas fir which ages golden, regardless of stain or sealant.

In addition to a normal-sized counter on one side of the kitchen, the opposite side is an extra long island/room divider with maximum dimensions of about 18 feet by 8 feet that includes built-in shelves on the side that faces open plan living and dining areas. There is an enormous amount of natural light throughout.

My cabinetmaker loves the New Sunset Gold granite while my architect/contractor thinks the flecks are too noticeable and prefers the Impala Black.

I am tearing my hair out trying to decide! The quartz most resembles concrete which was my original choice and looks elegant with the fir. The light colored granite goes best with the colors and overall lightness of the living room. One more detail: there will be a 12 inch shelf running down the middle of island and I have yet to choose the vertical surface for it. None of my countertop choices go with the lightness of the living room. I need to select a surface that doesn't clash with the countertop while remaining neutral in the living area.

Attached is a plan view of the area.

What to do? Am I missing an obvious consideration?

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New post on Friday:
I totally blew the boat out of the water today by visiting a kitchen design store. I wanted to see Silestone's "suede" finish. As it turns out, the stores carries many of the quartz lines and a porcelain product named Neolith, for which I'd seen ads but not the material in person.

I was drawn again to medium grays, including several of the Neolith colors (Basalt Gray, Limestone Lava, and Humo) providing a clear indicator that Is my favorite color. Thus, New Sunset Gold and any other light-colored surface is definitely out of my selection space. I've added Silestone Cemento Spa in suede finish and Cambrian Devon quartz, and now have 7 choices. My criteria are now 1) how do the sample look in the light inside my house and in proximity to the cabinetry? And 2) Cost.

The woman who assisted me is the "countertop expert" and daughter of the store's owner. She will check costs of my newest choices.

My question is essentially the same as it was 2 days ago: ho

Featured Answer

donnaslay

11 years ago

My favorite is the Basalt Grey! I think it would work the best with the rest of your house which sounds beautiful. Be sure to post a picture of the finished product. Good Luck!

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Comments (23)

PRO
Maltby Design
11 years ago
Pictures of the stone samples and millwork would be useful...
sfskies
Original Author
11 years ago
First photo is unstained and unfinished Douglas fir. Second photo is Neolith Humo. Third photo Silestone Cemento Spa suede finish and Cambria Devon.
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klukacz
11 years ago
Best questions would be: do you cook? If so what is your favorite thing to cook. How do you use your kitchen?
sfskies
Original Author
11 years ago
Oops. First photo here is Neolith Humo. Second photo is Neolith Limestone Lava. Third photo is Neolith Basalt Grey.
sfskies
Original Author
11 years ago
More photos: Impala Black granite, Samsung Columbia Gray. Third photo shows the 3 Neolith samples against a finished board of the Douglas fir (Humo, limestone Lava, & basalt Grey).
sfskies
Original Author
11 years ago
In answer to Klukacz:

Yes, I cook, but don't bake much. If I'm making something complicated, I'll prepare a mise en place. Usually, I tend to throw things together, create sauces on the fly, and make an awful mess! And no, I'm not going to change.

I had concrete before everything was demolished due to water damage. I put hot cast iron on the concrete, spilled stuff, splattered all kind of foodstuffs on it, etc. Over 14 years, there was not a single scratch or dent or serious stain.
marjie1059
11 years ago
Personal preference of mine is the impala black granite. If you don't want to have "rattled brains", I understand not wanting something crazy, but the granite has a little bit of variation without getting wild. It also has more contrast with the fir.
In many places, quartz is a bit more pricey than granite. I see that your research shows the granite to be more expensive. Hmmm.
Both are quite able to take heavy use, so there's not a lot of difference there.
marjie1059
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
How about this one to make your brain rattle?
Second and third are my cosmic gold.
Along with considering how you use your kitchen is considering where you want your eyes to rest; that is, what do you want the focus to be? Faucet? Lighting? Counter? Floor? The granite I chose means that the rest of the kitchen needs to pull back, and let the counters get the attention, and not compete.
sfskies
Original Author
11 years ago
@marjie1059

The Samsung Columbia Gray is about as inexpensive a quartz as one can find. Impala Black granite is less before adding $15/ft.^2 for honing. We may find a fabricator who charges less, which is my contractor's job for next week. I tend to like the lower category granites because I prefer small uniform grain size (lucky me!)

The closest authorized distributor for Neolith is in Denver although the local store sells it. The salesperson who helped me said she drives up to Denver weekly. We'll have prices for those products next week too. Unfortunately, my photos don't show the rivulet-like texture in the Basalt Grey sample. It adds a little more interest.

When I first starting looking at countertops on Houzz, I was drawn to the high contrast gray over light wood. It allows the materials to be the design, instead of adding unnecessary detail (my opinion).

The next step is finding a material for the vertical sides of the shelf. I like both stainless steel and zinc, but have no idea if either would go with other materials.
sfskies
Original Author
11 years ago
@marjie1059

The first slab looks an abstract painting. :-) I like your Cosmic Gold very much, but not every day!
sfskies
Original Author
11 years ago
Part of the attraction of modern design is that the materials and the the shapes (usually geometric) of objects are the design. I like the uncluttered look of the style. I don't want my kitchen to be decorative.

The great room has two walls of 7 foot windows with spectacular views and plenty of artwork on the remaining wall space. My furniture includes a couple of vintage mid-century modern pieces and a sleek semi-circular leather couch. Except for the graphic fabric on the vintage dining chairs, it is otherwise pretty harmonious. Decoration is provided by silhouettes, quality materials, views of nature and artwork.
marjie1059
11 years ago
You mentioned stainless steel or zinc for the shelf vertical supports. If your counter is honed, would zinc blend better than ss, which I think of as shiny?

My granite photos: It's ironic you mentioned the first one as similar to abstract art. I found myself drawn to many, many very different kinds, and many of them would be great as wall art, and not so pleasing as a counter. I had trouble choosing because I plan on living here as long as possible, so will I get tired of my choice in 30 years? If I do, too bad--it's not being changed. But so far, the third photo is a rarity, as the kids' computer and various art/other projects usually cover the counter and I don't even see that one! :)

You make an excellent point about the views. I understand about harmony and not being decorative. And that correlates with what I had said about determining what the focus is. Seems that 7-foot windows are a definite focus! (I'm a wee bit--no, a lot--envious!And it sounds like your home is beautiful!
PRO
Maltby Design
11 years ago
Personally, I'd pick one of the sued looking quartz samples. To me the fir of the cabinets will be the highlight. Also, based on your description of the way you cook and quartz being lower maintenance and stain resistant... My eye keeps going to the humo or limestone lava. I like the even consistency to the look of these.
feeny
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I love the fact that you are keeping it dark and simple. Listen to your architect about avoiding distracting flecks (and certainly avoid the busy granites!). The suede finish quartzes in the charcoal grays look lovely, dark, and simple too.
Susanne Nissen
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
sfskies, I'm dying to know what you ended up selecting? Seems I'm in very much the same situation as you were, looking at the same Neolith colours, Silestone cemento spa , and granite - probably not due to maintenace needs. Any advice most welcome!
sfskies thanked Susanne Nissen
jeannette10
11 years ago
Sfskies, did you finish your project ? I'd love to see photos. I am seriously considering Neolith basalt gray for my mid-century home.
sfskies thanked jeannette10
sfskies
Original Author
11 years ago
I chose Sllestone Cemento with a suede finish.

Sorry for the delay in posting these photos. These were taken the evening after the countertops were installed. More work has been done since then: the room-dividing island continues into the living/dining area and those cabinets are now finished as is the shelf that divides the two rooms. I'll take and post another photo when I clean up the kitchen!
marjie1059
11 years ago
Looks great!
sfskies thanked marjie1059
jeannette10
11 years ago
sfskies, the Silestone suede cemento is what I have selected. Neolith was too expensive. I love the look of the cemento. Let me know how it holds up.

The photo shows it to be a lot lighter than the sample I have seen. Is it the lighting ? I would prefer it to be a little darker like the sample.

What did you use on the floor ? tiles ? and I am also trying to decide on a sink ? what did you select ?
sfskies thanked jeannette10
sfskies
Original Author
11 years ago
@jeannette10

My house is as modern as a faux adobe house with a 2 inch book of covenants can be! I grew up in a mid-century modern house in southern California. I loved the design elements then and I love them now after studying the style further. If you'd like to discuss that topic, we should probably take it elsewhere. ;-)

The countertops look lighter because of the 11 4" LED recessed pot lights throughout the kitchen. They are on dimmers but full-on is very bright. Without them, the countertops look like dark gray flannel. I love the contrast between the cabinets and the countertops. if you want real black, you'll have to find a real black product. I think this look - tooting my own horn here - is elegant. ;-)

The Neolith basalt is too thin for a single thickness and adding an edge made it too expensive. The company will have to figure out how to manufacture a thicker product to use as countertops.

The sink is Kraus 36" stainless steel, single basin, apron front. I love it! I keep the protective wire rack in it and lift it to soak house plants or to scrub the sink itself.

The open space on the window side is awaiting a custom handmade cutting board that will slot into the countertop. The last time I checked, it's still stuck on the east coast! (I am now snowed in as well, although my 4 WD truck could probably get me out. Snow in the desert is always welcome.)

Floor tiles are the original porcelain. Insurance didn't pay to replace the floor, and I couldn't afford another upgrade. They look gray despite mottled colors in them. Not my first choice but not horrible either, and I'll eventually replace them. I can live with the floor until my finances recover.

Feel free to ask other questions. I am totally satisfied with the project.
jeannette10
11 years ago
Sfskies, thank you for all the information. I also live in a mid-century home but in Northern California. I have another post about on this site about a kitchen sink.

I have posted photos of 3 samples for a Blanco sink next to the suede cemento sample. Could you look at them and help me choose ? We seem to have the same taste.

Still have to decide on the floor. I have engineered wood in the living room next to the kitchen and I could extend it but I am worried about wood in te kitchen. I love the look of tiles but I find it too hard on my feet.

Decisions...decisions ...but I did find a really neat Hansgrohe kitchen faucet LOL
marjie1059
11 years ago
jeannette, I have solid hardwood in my kitchen, and grew up with a hardwood kitchen floor. Not a problem, and I totally love my wood floor. I don't have experience with engineered wood, so I don't know if that would be any different regarding things such as spills.
I do know that tile is murder on feet, legs, backs, knees. I also know that no matter your age, none of us is getting any younger, and tile is HARD!! There is no way I would have tile on any floor where I am spending much time. Wood is much more kind to the human body.