If your budget can afford it, go with a granite or quartz island and co-ordinating counters in laminate.

Either your budget is unrealistic or you have gone over on other things. We did quartz on our countertops and island and laminate on our bar area that we installed to replace our kitchen table.

Depending on the laminate, it could look okay. What does your heart say? What does your head say about spending ~$1300 dollars only to throw it away in a few years?

You're going to have an intimate relationship with this decision every morning when you make your coffee; not so with your roof or window treatments.

We haven't gone over on Anything! I think our builder estimated poorly. :(

If this is a new build, remember whatever you choose, you will be paying for it for 30 years. Do you want to pay for something you do not even have if you choose laminate and replace them after a few years? Also, for every $10,000 on your mortgage, you pay $60 per month in house payment. Is it worth $60 per month for quartz countertops?

I am sorry about the builder. When we did our remodel, I spent a solid year researching materials and costs, so I had no surprises when we gutted our kitchen.

If you haven't gone over on anything, then you should have plenty left in the contingency fund to have a couple of splurges. Better to spend that on Quartz, than to throw away money on replacing laminate later.

If you all have a menards near by, you might want to check with them. We are planning on doing laminate, however she quoted me an extra $650 for quartz, for that I could afford to splurge. We have 57 sq. ft and she quoted me 22xx.xx plus install for quartz, laminate was approximately 16xx plus install.

The Menard's quartz is actually name brand quartz, just sold under their Riverstone name. I got my quartz (actually an LG quartz) there, but it was more than BK Iowa - but I did get the highest cost one and figuring in the rebate did well - it is also 3cm thick and my neighbor got hers at Home Depot - also saved too, but hers is 2cm.

I also did butcher block on the island years ago and kept that.

Just curious--what is the price difference between the laminate you would use and the quartz you want? Do you have contingency funds left? If not, how many birthday and Christmas gifts would you forego to make up the difference? Are there some items you could sell on Craigslist to make up the difference? (a kidney? a child?)

I found big differences in the installation cost at different places. A small shop with excellent reviews has now done 2 kitchens for us. Each time their price was about 30% less than the big name fabricators.

The soapstone in our kitchen was a huge splurge, but I feel happy every morning when I walk in and see it. Five years now, and still in love with it. I came in under budget on appliances--as long as they're reliable I don't need bells and whistles--but for me the soapstone countertops were worth every unbudgeted penny of the $1500 difference. Happy I didn't need to sell a kidney or them, but it would have been worth it!

If you planning to stay in this home I would defiantly do quartz as there is NO prob down the road and you will not have to save for it over time to change it like you have mentioned here. Why worry yourself latter when it can be done the way YOU want it and done right, for you and resale value! Price might be a little higher but worth it in the end! No worries over time!

Ken

Get what you love now. try making up the cost on something else, perhaps bathroom counters?