Alternative to Carrera Marble- Quartz options

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Hello- We are doing a big remodel of our kitchen. I love the look of carrera marble, but do not want the downsides of the material. I want to do a quartz island, but I find all the carrera look-alikes look very fake. I have come across the quartz LG Viatera Everest and although it does not look like marble, it has the right colors (primarily white and gray) and does not look fake. I am looking to see if anyone has any other suggestions of alternatives for me that fit the bill of being primarily white and gray and non-fake looking! Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Featured Answer

Judy Mishkin

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

i think quartz looks less good as an island than a perimeter... but honestly i think marble looks less good as an island also, unless either is a giant pattern that is very unrepetitive or there are cut outs for a sink or cooktop. its just too much of the same kind of pattern (even tho there arent actual repeats, of course).

we solved the 'problem' by a honed absolute black granite island and quartz for the perimeters.

the quartz is LG rococo.

you absolutely need to see an actual slab of anything you plan to use as an island. its impossible to judge by a photo or a sample.

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Comments (17)

User
9 years ago
Do you have a photo of the quartz?
Anne and Phil Hasegawa
Original Author
9 years ago
Hi Nova- just posted the picture. See above!
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User
9 years ago
I like it. I am in the same boat where we will be redoing our horrible kitchen and I love the look of that classic marble. Everything I've seen looked "cheap" but based on that sample, it doesn't look that way at all!
User
9 years ago
Some other ideas

http://cityfarmhouse.com/2016/02/6-great-alternatives-to-carrara-marble.html
mark1993
9 years ago
The photo looks more like granite (to me) than quartz.
Anne and Phil Hasegawa
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes, I know. I cannot find a quartz marble that looks good. This is what I found that is in the right colors and looks real.
mark1993
9 years ago
I understand what you are saying. Are you concerned about how busy it will look when it is on a much bigger area in your kitchen?
Andrea Cedfeldt
9 years ago
We were looking for same thing after planning on carrera but advised against by friend who chipped and stained hers... we went with pental quartz in avenza and it looks great. I'd send a photo but it is covered up as we are painting!
Anne and Phil Hasegawa
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes mark, I am a bit concerned. It is going to be on a big island, 10 feet by 5 feet
Anne and Phil Hasegawa
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you Andrea, I will check it out!
simstress
9 years ago
Keep in mind your island size could require a jumbo slab which may limit your color choices.
User
9 years ago
We just had a little discussion on quartz here
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/am-i-the-only-one-who-really-dislikes-quartz-dsvw-vd~4823410
I'm just about positive I will be going with marble, but I was looking at quartz samples just the other day and noticed that part of what makes them look fake is that you can see little dots (hard to explain) across the surface on the polished styles (at certain angles). Not sure how many companies make honed, but I remember seeing a honed quartz that looks a lot more like genuine marble. Many fabricators will hone the material, but it voids any warranty from the quartz manufacturer. Anyway, you might want to check out those that make honed styles.
User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
While picking out my marble slabs today, I saw some sample pieces of quartz. One half was polished and the other side was honed. HUGE difference in realism. Not sure if that would translate to an entire slab, but it's certainly worth investigating. They also told me that if they honed it, the warranty remains, but if honed by the fabricators, the warranty is void.
PRO
Presidio Tile & Stone
9 years ago
I'm currently liking LG's new colors. The Soprano I think is the most realistic by LG. Everest doesn't look terrible in sample size, but it looks very digital to me in full slab.
User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Another shot ....notice the ugly dots disappear and it loses that plastic look.
Angela Smith
9 years ago
LG Viatera Minuet (quartz)