Hi newkitchen..

I like the neutral color in the Ferndale...but I don't have any personal experience with quartz.

Just wanted to provide a link to your choice.

KA:)

Here is a link that might be useful: cambria ferndale

Thank you! :)

If you've moved up to being OK with a more expensive choice then it's time to put the two top contenders in the ring together in a death match. I personally see Costa Esmerelda winning that one. It's a gorgeous stone. Especially side by side with any quartz. Quartz is OK for what it is, but it just doesn't have the depth and "touchability" that granite does. Side by side it's like having your homecoming queen sister stand next to Miss America. IMHO, of course.

Thank you - I appreciate the opinion! That's what I'm looking for, different perspectives. Certainly something to consider!

Have you picked out the other elements (backsplash, wall color, etc) that would go with each choice? Sometimes looking at the whole package makes the decision easier. I wouldn't worry about the quartz vs granite debate - just go with what you want.

Disclaimer - I have Cambria and love it.

I am having my Cambria Aragon counter installed tomorrow. Did you know that Benjamin Moore and Cambria work together on colors that go best with your quartz. I did go with their suggestions for my kitchen and breakfast nook, and I love it. If you go to the Cambria website look for Benjamin Moore link for paint matches.

The Cambria would be going on a new island that will be cherry cabinets in a Java finish (very dark). The tough part of choosing the countertop is that we want it to coordinate with the existing Corian on the perimeter cabinets (Mont Blanc), at least temporarily. We actually do not like this particular color of Corian but it is still in great shape from when the previous owners of our house had it installed, so we can't bring ourselves to replace it just yet. We will be painting the perimeter cabinets a shade of white (formerly a honey oak) and installing a backsplash that will be a mix of Venatino polished marble subway tiles and a Venatino glass/polished marble mosaic linear tile as an accent. The colors show up as more muted in the attached links but they take on more of a blue/green in person.

That is great to know about the Benjamin Moore colors! We loved the sample of this quartz when we saw it in person but it's hard to know what it will look like in a 21 square foot slab.

Thank you again for all of the help!

Here is a link that might be useful: Backsplash accent tile

Forgot to add - the appliances are all stainless, the walls are currently "Perfect Taupe" by Behr, and we are installing 4" plank cork floors from the Almada "New Traditions" line in the Fila Cinza finish (a dark grey color). We knocked down a wall during the renovation so the kitchen is now open to the family room, which has a brick fireplace that we recently tiled over using the same linear glass mosaic tiles that we plan to use as an accent in our kitchen backsplash.

We are feeling very overwhelmed trying to ensure that all of these colors and finishes work well together, so any thoughts are much appreciated!

I too am considering Ferndale for my new counters, going with white cabinets. I'm a bit worried that I'll find Ferndale too 'busy' -- some of the Cambria colors are too speckly (!) for my taste.

I agree that it is rather overwhelming to make all of the choices needed for a kitchen reno....

If anyone has a good Ferndale photo, I'd love to see it.

/j

jw34, it's so nice to hear of someone else who is considering this choice! I have the same concerns that you do, however I just keep reminding myself that in the showroom, it was the one color out of all of the quartz or granite that we both loved. That being said, I'm praying that it's not too busy! I will post pictures for you when it is installed (won't be for a few weeks).

My DH preferred Ferndale to the others we considered and the 12x12 sample piece looked good in the room. Haven't made a final decision yet (just ordered cabinets this week) but am looking forward to your photos...hope you find it wonderful once installed.

I wish I had more images, it looks like such a pretty color.

This came from the Cambria website.

And this was a google image but I am not postive it is
Ferndale.

I am a big fan of stone counters, so I like the
suggestion of Costa Esmeralda. Can't help myself I have
to post an image.
~boxer

Just wanted to update - I received the 12 x 12 sample of Ferndale the other day, and we love it. We were worried about it being too speckly but seeing it in person I am no longer worried! We went ahead and ordered our slab and will post pictures once it's in. We love the Costa Esmarelda as well, but unfortunately the slab we were considering was a bit too "bright green", and since it is a remnant we wouldn't have our choice of slabs. The regular (non-remnant) price of the Costa was more than the Ferndale.

I'll be anxiously awaiting your photos.....I found this unidentified surface online....do you think it might be Ferndale?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1583918}}

Hmmm...I think it's very similar, but not Ferndale. That looks like granite to me. I think the google image that boxerpups posted above may very well be Ferndale though. Did you see the 12" sample when you were looking, or the 4"? If you only saw the small 4" sample, you should definitely either order a 12" from the Cambria website, or ask the store you were going through to get one for you. It gives you a much better sense of what it will look like in the 12" sample.

Newkitchen, the materials you've chosen for your kitchen sound beautiful. I haven't seen Ferndale in person but it looks like it will go great with the cherry java cabs. As I've posted before, my friend in TX redid her kitchen about 10 years ago with quartz (Silestone) and it still looks like new--no problems whatsoever--and she doesn't baby it. Her's is a medium tone beige and brown tones.

Could you please tell me how you refaced your brick fireplace? We have the same in our FR that covers most of the biggest wall (has built-in bookshelves). I've started wondering if we could reface it since the color of the brick restricts what colors I can use in the FR and kitchen (kitchen is open to FR). Did you DIY or have it done? Any info on what's involved in doing this would be greatly appreciated. TIA!

newkitchen2011: You're right, the 12" samples are much better at helping one envision the final result and, yes, I have seen Ferndale in a 12" sample.

Just to muddy the waters, today I got my sample of Darlington, which I like very much. Not as green as the Cambria site suggests, with a bit of subtle sparkle.

Decisions, decisions...

Here is a link that might be useful: Darlington sample (w/Waverton & little Lincolnshire)

The Cambria Ferndale is a really beautiful color.

Thing thing I like most about Cambria as opposed to other Quartz surfacing companies is that Cambria's materials seem to have the most depth and movement...and look the least like granite!

If for some reason you decide to go back to the Costa Esmeralda, I have 36 slabs in stock which I could send you pictures of, and send you to look at depending on where you're located. Where are you located?

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Cambria Countertops

flwrs_n_co- the fireplace remodel was 100% DIY. We simply covered over the existing brick with thin set and applied the mosaic tiles that I linked to above (they come on the mesh sheets). Then we applied the grout. The most challenging part was cutting the tile; really, it was a very easy project and made a world of difference!

jw34- we have very similar taste! I LOVE Darlington and we almost went with it. Ultimately my husband favored the Ferndale though and since I was happy with either choice, we went with the Ferndale.

kitchendesigntips- thank you for the offer, we have already paid our deposit however. We are in the Boston area and will eventually be looking to replace our perimeter countertops, are you in our same region?

I like the Ferndale.

Thanks for the fireplace facelift info! I'm going to start looking at tile!

How CRAZY is this -- I'm redoing my kitchen countertops (plain cream colored corian) and adding an island and trying to decide between granite and quartz and fell in love with Ferndale for both!! The price diff is $50 vs $75 sq ft! I have maple cabinets, but the island will be portabello -- have backsplash picked out too - trying to justify spending extra $$ on the quartz! so funny to find this post!! I need to see larger slabs vs the sample I have.