Tony..I don't think that's fair to say. Some people tire of their cars after two years, even though they are driving a Mercedes or a Cadillac where others will love to drive it for years.

Does granite withstand heat?

@Joseph Corlett Oh please...do! Lol. Would granite have stood up to the heat?

Always someone who loves to go after people for their honest opinions :-)

The reason busier granite, though naturally beautiful, could be seen by *some* as dated is in the post Y2K era (2000-2010 or 2015?) there was a strong trend toward very visibly natural, authentic materials. It was a cultural reaction to the technology era really rooting. River stone, reclaimed barn wood, variegated granite, it goes on. While natural materials will always be classic and always have a place in a home, they got very very dominant for a while.

As millennials (digital natives) have come of age and started designing their own homes they are drawn to scientifically enhanced/created materials like quartz, particularly in materials that are very clean and plain. Hence the massive trend toward white. Clean, plain, tech-ish design. It's why MCM is so popular. Sleek and futuristic while being cool retro.

I still think if you love granite you should have granite, and many people will love it with you. But I'm guessing most will be over age 45 who like the highly patterned variety.

My personal favorite is honed black granite, nice and matte and solid colored.

Someone asked about soapstone. It's a beautiful blackish stone that can be left unsealed to develop a chalky patina or oiled (I think) to be a deeper black. It features a veining in most slabs. I love the look but not the veining as much.

I just replaced my "dated" tropic brown granite with another lighter granite. (Mostly, because I was having to replace it on half my kitchen anyway, so decided to do a different color in all the kitchen) not that I really disliked the brown. I looked and looked at the slabs till I was blue in the face until I found the "one". I also was almost convinced to go the way of quartz, but just couldn't find the perfect one for me. I agree with others.. do what you love and can afford. And above all it depends if you will be living with it or if you might move in a couple years. Some home buyers look at replacing granite so monumental it could be a deal breaker on a house sale.

I have both, black / charcoal granite and white w/ grey veins Quartz...love them ! Both are low maintenance.

My head is spinning!!! (It's probably the over-45 granite lovers who will recognize this pic!)

@rebscrap, those aren't quality. LMAO. 80% of the price tag of a mercedes, Cadillac, or BMW is because of the emblem. Those cars have a dreadful depreciation value and are filled with a bunch of junk you don't need.

True funny story like 10 years ago, I was at my buddies shop after hours and he was changing his ABS sensor on his BMW. Just so happens I was changing the ABS sensor on my honda. I finished replacing mine and my friend walks by and sees my old sensor. Hes like "what the hell?" "where did you get this?" I said its my old one. He takes it to his car and it is identical made by denso, wire harness, everything. He asked how much I paid. I said $48 at the honda dealer. His was $130. LMAO!!!! There you go, theres your luxury prices. I know not all parts are like that but most parts for cars like that are jacked up just because of the name of the car.

Later he bought the sensor from honda, put it in his BMW and it worked LOL. Then we raced and I beat him lol.

Anyway, cars are a whole different world then houses.

Pamela and Heather: can you please provide the make and name of the quartz or granite in your photos. Also Heather -- love the black granite and was thinking of doing the reverse of yours -- quartz on perimeter and polished or honed black granite on island but was told that lemon will etch it and water will stain it. What has been your experience since you have it around your sink. Thank you.

The granite you are considering is not dated. The corny granites with an overall pattern are.

I chose what I loved. I'll let the next owner decide if it's dated.

@Tony Montana...I drive a Lincoln and hunny drives an F-150...never a foreign car in my family! @Pool Habit--was your comment directed at me (the poster?)

"@Joseph Corlett Oh please...do! Lol. Would granite have stood up to the heat?"

In all fairness, granite is much more heat resistant than estone or Corian, however, this resistance works against it. Because so much granite is heat resistant, people think it all is. It is not and there is only one way to tell and that's pictured above.

When you pop the particulates (turn them white) as in the picture, it's the same as hydochloric acid toilet bowl cleaner; the piece is ruined, with the exception of gluing a tile over the burn, there is no cost effective repair, only replacement.

We did African Ivory granite in our kitchen remodel in November 2015, and I look at it every day and think "Wow, this was one of the best decisions we made - it's absolutely gorgeous". It's truly a focal point of the room since I'm not a fancy backsplash person (in the kitchen anyway, not so in my powder room!), and the counters are just perfect for accent. As always, you need to do what speaks to you, and no one else!

My opinion...Natural stone is a work of art. Like all Art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I have a huge slab of granite cladding the wall behind my cooktop and I love looking at it several times each day.

It is time to toss the work "dated" and embrace individuality, creativity and a little environmentalism. "Keeping up with the Jones" used to be something that only "snooty" people worried about.

Actually not true, quality is quality regardless of age. We just returned from our favorite boutique inn in Palm Springs, MCM architecture furnished solely with quality furniture & accessories from the 40', 50's ,60's, some are museum quality (Eames, etc). All of the furnishings "jive" well today, actually most are nicer than the junk sold now. I agree with jhmarie...

Beth - My comment was in response to the OP's question "Is granite dated?" not in response to your comment. If I direct a comment to a person, I note that by addressing them as I did right here:)

whew, ok. after tony's snide remark I though it was my turn in the hot seat. ;). I'll delete my tirade.

@beth, Formica was never quality. Just a cheap alternative. Projector tv's? Never had one, but now I do have three SUHD HDR 65" 4k TV's. But your comparing electronics to building materials. Thats like comparing peas and carrots. Some things were just done right the first time. You should reinvent the wheel if your so bored. LOL.

I totally agree with jhmarie and Bailey R.

Yes, because we are getting way off track talking about cars. Were supposed to be talking about granite. lol I'm not one to brag. but I showed you, made my point. now its done. Lets get back to granite. Its not dated, its beautiful in my opinion.

Never, it is a classic and it's pricey

My goodness - I went off to paint some roses and start dinner....

Tony - be nice. No one will listen if you are not respectful.

Beth - I tell this to my daughter when she has been razzed at school - They ruined 10 minutes of your day, don't give them the power to ruin anymore of it.

rebscrap - Granite is lovely and not dated:)

Granite will never be outdated. You may get tired of the look but the movement and character in natural stone is timeless. If you've ever been to Europe, you can appreciate the enduring value of a natural material over a man made product. Besides, this is the new granite for my own kitchen. It better not be outdated! LOL

Rebscrap, I think that's a beautiful granite you posted a picture of. I do think that kind of granite starts looking too busy when paired with a busy backsplash, but that's my personal opinion. I prefer a lot of contrast, I think it brings a nice balance to a space. I think any natural material (stone, wood, natural fibers...) is gorgeous in the right setting and there is always a way to make them work so they look classic and more timeless. I can appreciate the current trend for the more uniform appearance of man made materials, they can be beautiful as well... but again, I prefer contrast, so when I see them I always want something near it that has movement or more texture. Again, I think that can create a timeless look with something that could be considered more trendy right now.
I think it's too limiting to say "granite is always timeless," or "quartz is the way to go," either one can look beautiful for a long time and survive passing trends if an overall balance in the room and home is taken into consideration. And at the end of the day... go with what you love! (I have a combination of brushed, steel grey granite, a walnut topped island with a lot of movement, simple painted cabinetry, and a shiny white backsplash that has some waviness and a lot of shine to it. It makes me feel calm and happy, and I appreciate the natural materials being at the level where I physically touch the most. It has a lot of contrast, and it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I adore it! Some of it is very trendy right now, like a very full wall of tile up to the ceiling, and some of it is very classic and goes with many styles like my simple shaker style cabinetry.)

My worry (I have posted on another string here) is that the counter may be too grey for my cabinets. Thoughts?

Meanwhile, Tony and Beth...I sure am glad I just asked for thoughts on granite and not on Trump...!

I actually went to a theatre matinee today but it seems I missed a whole lot of entertainment right here on my Houzz post!

Thanks, Beth! My matineé was very entertaining but I could have saved the $200 and just logged onto my Houzz account!

Thanks for your opinion. I have actually done a 180* and have decided on Titanium. Here are 2 pics of the slab. Of course, my decision isn't etched in stone (excuse the pun!). I am having a hard time with this decision cuz it's more than a can of paint or a new rug or curtain. I made a mistake with my flooring years back and was greeted by my ugly hallway for 7 years before I finally changed it!

rebscrap, hah! yes you could have.

Titanium is nice looking! I've seen that with another name.

Honestly, there are so many beautiful slabs of stone, I don't know how anyone can decide. So you want to go w/a darker stone? or looking for some tan for your cabinets? what color is your kitchen flooring? did you post a pic of that?

this coloring is close to yours.

are you familiar w/ 'leathering'? that would amazing on Titanium.

Beth...I thought I had posted a pic of my kitchen but that was in another string, I guess. Here are two pics of my existing kitchen. (The water cooler is no longer there--that was temporary). I'll be pulling up my backsplash and will consider what to do with it after my titanium counter is in.

What is leathering?

PS... I could have tidied up but, no--I just left the mustard on the counter and the clothes strewn across the chair. Lol

It may be dated. Or not. I don't care.

The thing about granite counter tops is that they are not really all granite, but are other kinds of stone.

My multicolor red granite is actually gneiss. My geologist father even showed me where there are garnets in the stone.

I fell in love with my slab at the stone yard and went back three times and looked at every slab in the stone yard. That was in 2010.

Would I choose the same stone again, who knows... But it will be here as long as I am.

What I think is dated is back splashes.

leathering is a finishing process similar to honing, w/texture. it's great for dark stone because it won't show all of the spots and marks that a polished finished would.

I think this coloring would look perfect w/your kitchen.

I think the word "dated" is dated. So 2016. Really, it has been played out. HGTV House Hunters - this is dated, that is dated.

That Titanium is gorgeous! It would be so fine in your kitchen. Decision made in my book. Wonderful combo. Do make sure you get with the fabricator so you lay out the cuts to take advantage of the lighter veining and get good seams. That is key. Don't "assume" anything. Doesn't work well. lol

I'll chime in to say two thumbs up with your choice on the Titanium granite! It will be a wonderful contrast with your cabinets (as opposed to your first choice). Plus, the lighter tones included will look great with the cabinets. In 2003 I chose Zodiac Quartz Black Galaxy counter (although I do love granite). The quartz does not need an annual sealant and hubby puts hot, hot pans on the quartz with no damage. It looks the same as it was installed years ago. I personally wanted a uniform look (as I can barely wear pattern print clothes either!) but I do think granite is beautiful and isn't "dated" per se. I think some of the overly colorful and lots of movement granite slabs may look so "90s". Plus, I have seen "builder grade" granite that is not pretty, at all. But, it was installed because it was a "buyer's must have".

Your granite choice is beautiful! I can't wait to see it installed.

I am with dovetonsils (great name, a singer?) I don't think we are as tired of granite as we are of hearing every "House Hunter" episode buyer get up on their kitchen soapbox and declare that they "want, need, should have, will have to put in"granite. Beauty is beauty, and you are asking the right questions about function so your being wise as well!

People talk about quartz not needing to be sealed, but, from what I understand, the sealing process is simple. It takes about 15 minutes once a year. Lol. I am more worried about the heat sensitivity of granite.

rebscap- I had my old granite for 17 years and I put hot pans from the oven on it all the time. If it wasn't for reading on Houzz about granite, I would have done it on my new one as well, but I did ask the installer and he said not to do it.. and to not use any cleaning products with ammonia (which I also did on my old one). So, I'd ask the company selling the slab what they suggest for care. I don't know if there is one rule for all granite. Maybe someone else can enlighten us.

I don't get any of these "rules". I have corian tops and put super hot stuff on it all the time. Nothing ever happens. My uncle has granite and same thing. Both are about 10 years old and still look like new. I dont know, maybe one day something will happen.

It is science. Solid material has closely packed molecules. Add heat and those molecules want to move away from each other. If the bonds are not strong enough between the molecules, they can break apart. The hotter the heat, the more stress on the molecular bonds. Most of the time, granite and Corian can handle the temp change - the bonds are strong enough - but hit a spot with a minor flaw (Corian) or with minor fissure (granite) or with enough heat, you can break the bonds enough to cause a crack.

I was raised to use a hot pad - no big deal. I don't have thousands of $ laying around to replace my counters or pay Joe to come fix them:)

rebscrap, quartz does not need to be sealed. Any sealing product used on it can ruin the finish. Granite and marble are both porous stones with tiny capillary channels between the minerals. If you spill wine on unsealed granite or marble, the wine can sink into these channels and potentially permanently stain the stone. Quartz has no channels and it never requires sealing. Quartz is very stain resistant.

Thanks, Kathi, but I have finally made my choice and I'm going with the Titanium granite! I know I have to seal it but, once or twice a year I think I can deal with!

rebscrap, you might not even have to do it that often. You can tell when water no longer sits on top but gets absorbed. I've only done mine 2-3 times in 10 years. never have had one stain or issue. I wouldn't worry too much about the sealing part.

good choice!

Beautiful choice. Beth and I are in the same camp on sealing granite. I have had granite several different types in several homes and I have "sealed" it about once every other year. I also was given a tip a while ago by a fabricator that the paste type Turtle Car Wax is the best sealer!! Yes, and it is wonderful. Takes a bit of elbow grease but not bad. You do it just like a car. Apply with the sponge included in the package. Let it dry to a white chalky look and then buff it off. Great stuff.

Which is a better option considering the cost to the environment?

@ marcus I don't think it really matters but I would think corian tops would be the best for the environment because of the way it is produced and manufactured.

Marcus...can you please explain the environmental issues to which you refer?

I know this is an old post but TONY - I've driven a Honda and I've driven a Mercedes, Porsche, Range Rover, Ferrari and BMW and ALL of those cars outperform any Honda.