Please help me on my kitchen counters

8 years ago

Hi Friends, Would love your advice! I need to make a decision about kitchen counters shortly for our 1940's Georgian colonial house. Doing a full kitchen re-do with updates but trying to maintain a sense of the character of the house. So, I fell in love with Imperial Danby marble from Vermont for its warmer tones and the lustrous glow that only marble can give (and the fact that we are in New England). Pricing was higher than I anticipated and I have been getting lots of feedback from pros that quartz is the way to go in terms of maintenance. Fewer worries than marble and pricing lower than the Danby for sure. I don't mind the patina that comes with well-loved marble, but we are a busy and not fastidious family (three teenage boys...) Red wine, lemons, tomatoes, vinegar, etc get used nearly daily.

So, do I go for what I love-- the marble-- or can you all help me find a lovely quartz that will still fit the character of the house? Two that I've seen: one called Bianco Luna (more of a Carrara look) and one called Viatera LG (Minuet seems to be their Carrara look; Soprano seems to mimic a warmer, Calacutta/Danby look). I don't want to get too cool with all grays/whites-- but a softer white that might have some grey and gold/beige tones running through it. I'm looking for soft and subtle veining, versus a more dramatic look (which is lovely too, just not what I am looking for...)

Any pics, advice, feedback would be most welcome. Thank you so much! Sorry this is so long(cheaper than therapy- ha!)

Featured Answer

Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real

8 years ago

Without a doubt, I would go for the Danby (in fact I am in my current project.) I am prepared to live with etching and spalling. My Danby will be sealed, so staining is not an issue and chipping occurs in both natural stone and engineered stone.

If you have doubts about your willingness to have marble, then I would suggest a plain solid surface Corian. Corian does not stain, chip, etch or spall. It scratches a bit, but not in an ugly way. Corian can be repaired better than engineered quartz/stone.

People will tell you Corian is dated. DOn't listen to them. They want to upset you. Corian in a 1980s country kitchen is dated. Glacier white Corian is never dated- and often used in the highest end European kitchens.

You may want to add quartzite- the natural stone- not to be confused with quartz, the engineered product. Taj Mahal is creamy and lovely- Calacatta quartzite is white and gray. Just be sure you check to ensure the quartzite is truly quartzite (check out Karin_mt's advice here about how to test for yourself.)

Good luck.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

PRO
Barnes Custom Builders
8 years ago
I was thinking the LG Soprano as I was reading this because it does have some of the warm tones. Quartz can still be pricey, I'm not sure the difference between the Danby. I guess you have to question if you will still love the danby as much once it has developed that patina, to justify the price increase.
jmccleery thanked Barnes Custom Builders
SJ McCarthy
8 years ago
There have been some complaints about white or off-white quartz products (man-made) and their staining/etching issues. And some have problems with discolouration which is very upsetting.

Because of these concerns, a natural stone might be a better bet. Although marble can be picky to live with, if you can live with patina then you are well on your way to loving your counters.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/issue-with-viatera-quartz-countertops-dsvw-vd~903377?m_refid=olm_google_176596187_40886363923_aud-492774337352%253Adsa-56476355141

You will find one of the Houzz dilemmas with Viatera LG. You can find others if you look for them.
jmccleery thanked SJ McCarthy
Related Professionals
Springfield Interior Designers & Decorators · Toms River Architects & Building Designers · Grand Forks Architects & Building Designers · College Station Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Wausau Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Boise Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · New London Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Florence Kitchen Remodelers · Georgetown Kitchen Remodelers · San Marcos Kitchen Remodelers · Cedar Rapids Kitchen Remodelers · Greenfield Kitchen Remodelers · Manhattan Kitchen Remodelers · Fredericksburg Custom Countertops · Honolulu Custom Countertops
diyher
8 years ago
We had Soprano installed in March and love it.
Quartz doesn't etch. It cleans well. My husband splashed some tomato sauce on the counter near the stove one night. I never noticed it until 10 am the next morning. It cleaned up perfectly, no stain and no extra rubbing.
This is the 1st quartz countertop I've ever owned. All previous houses in my life have had laminate.
Best decision we made when completing our kitchen.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
8 years ago
"Quartz doesn't etch."

Not in the sense that marble does, but it's 35% plastic resin and more delicate than granite.
PRO
Aqua Kitchen & Stone Gallery
8 years ago
The most beautiful soft white quartz stones I've seen are, without a doubt, Caesarstone Calacatta Nuvo Quartz and Caesarstone Cosmopolitan White Quartz. Calacatta features wide, elegant, gray veins on a white base while delicate white tones while Cosmopolitan quart has white tones and lines coupled with the textured depth of diagonal lines and veining. I believe one of these two might be just what you are looking for.