Granite color selection

9 years ago

Hello all,

We're waiting for our spec home to be built. The builder contacted us and said the bianco antico granite is out of stock. The design center suggested snow flakes, casa blanca or bianco typhoon. I have no idea which granite to choose. They start to look the same after awhile.

I'm attaching pictures of snow flakes (pic with granite left of tile) and casa blanca (pic with granite right of tile). These pictures include our cabinet and tile selections. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the bianco typhoon.

I would love to hear your opinions.

Thank you!

Featured Answer

Beth H. :

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

They look the same! Coloring-wise. I realize your builder only has these samples, but a lot of people in your shoes come back later w/dilemmas. once the countertop is installed, they say it isn't what they expected. You are allowed to see the slab that is going in your kitchen. you're paying for it so make sure you see it, sign off on it, before they cut it. The stone you get could look nothing like these samples.

for instance, this is Bianco Antico

and so is this

one reader had a similar issue and was very upset because the sample didn't look like this. You must see your slab before they cut.

Bianco Typhoon

Snowflake granite is also known as River White. that's the common name.

And honestly, the stone can look completely different from slab to slab. I would advise you to make sure you see the slab on this one. here are 3 different snowflakes

And don't even think about buying your backsplash until it's in. your coloring may be off on the white. take a door and the tile to the yard and see your slab. if they tell you no, tell them to install the cheapest laminate (obviously adjust your price you pay) in your kitchen. then after you move in, go to the stoneyard of your choice and get what you want.

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Comments (10)

Sunnysmom
9 years ago
I like the bottom selection better out of these 2
Lisa Thompson
9 years ago
I like the bottom choice.
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cpaul1
9 years ago
While it's true that every slab of granite is different, you're picking the overall style when you pick a granite name. So I would pick the second one because in general I prefer the larger movement, marble looking granite over the more tightly dott-ed look.
Beth H. :
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
well, that 'overall style' still varies from slab to slab. These are all Casablanca

Do they sufficiently look like your sample? What if you got number 2? would you be happy? They would tell you, "well its Casablanca and that's what you chose". Especially since builders are notorious for taking the worst picks and leftovers no one else wants. why? because they're super cheap to them but they charge you the premium price.

Go look at your slab!!
PRO
John McLean, Architect
9 years ago
Not only should you see the actual slabs that will be the candidates for the top, but you would be wise to determine which parts of the slab you want the various cuts to be from, particularly if the visible patterns in the stone are pronounced. You may not want a very visible steak with a color change at certain areas of your top. I generally use masking tape to tape off the section of stone I want cut, and if there is a backsplash of the same granite, I tend to use an adjacent section of stone to that for the top so that so the pattern continues vertically on the backsplash.

Keep in mind that you will be looking down on this top a lot, and will have things placed on it. I would err on the side of the granite slab with the more even appearance. Of the two pieces you have shown, that may be the top one, but my guess is that the larger slab will show a lot more variation than does your small sample piece..

(When a large slab of stone is displayed vertically, say, on a shower wall, a more strongly pronounced pattern in the stone can look striking. On a 2' deep countertop, not as much.)
Lisa G
9 years ago
Judging by only the samples, Casa Blanca wins by leaps and bounds in my opinion. If you can, definitely view the slabs before committing...but I realize that may not be possible. I like the linear lines of Casa Blanca much more than the speckled of the snowflake granite.
candy low
Original Author
9 years ago
Update:

This was my first post and didn't exoect such speedy responses. Wow! I heeded the advice and went to look at granite today.

I didn't like the snowflake. The casa blanca was pretty but not as pretty as the typhoon. The bianco typhoon truly caught my eye! It's the one we want in our new home.

We tentatively selected our slab. We'll speak with the builder next week to confirm.

Many thanks to each of you for your help!
katinparadise
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
It's great that you were able to view the slab. I would also go back and take a picture of the slab you choose and watch them mark it with your name. Be sure to go back when the counters are templated to view the templating and sign off on it. And definitely wait until the granite is installed to decide on a backsplash. It will look totally different in your kitchen than it does in the stone yard.
Richard Vander Meulen
3 years ago
Bottom granite nice flow, instead of dotted appearance.