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age old ?: I need to deside...quartz or marble vanity top!!

P M
5 years ago

Shower tile is honed marble and porcelain. I love marble and am considering using it for our vanity top. But also thinking white quartz might be a nice clean look and easier to keep clean. I would appreciate design opinions (I know all about the marble staining and etching concerns) for the vanity top. Shower will be 3 sided. Vanity will be stained a neutral , rustic color.





Comments (22)

  • Najeebah
    5 years ago

    3 different tiles in the shower, running & stack bond, then a 4th on the floor. Its easy to overdo tile choices and the result looks busy

    Where will the vanity be? You don't need a busy counter here

    P M thanked Najeebah
  • P M
    Original Author
    5 years ago

    Hi Najeebah-thanks for responding. The shower floor and lower part of the shower are the same tile. The sunlight may make it seem that the shower floor is different. The bathroom floor is the same line of tile just a slightly darker color and 24x24 size.


    The vanity will be spanning the wall with the small window and two water lines rising from the floor.

  • PRO
    Skippack Tile & Stone
    5 years ago

    Use the same as the ledge in the shower area; repeat the same materials, don't add another type.

    P M thanked Skippack Tile & Stone
  • P M
    Original Author
    5 years ago

    Hi Skippack tile! The ledge is honed marble.Thanks for your suggestion.

  • P M
    Original Author
    5 years ago

    Hi Karen Rose! Thanks for the comment. Definitely if I did white quartz I would be careful to have it be the same color as the solid white on the marble . Thanks for your suggestion.

  • PRO
    Precision Granite & Marble
    5 years ago

    Between your two options, I would vote for a Honed Marble on a medium-darker Cabinet - But I would also consider a white cabinet with darker countertop - with some sparkle in it. https://www.cambriausa.com/designs/design-palette/#!/designDetails/minera

    The Minera could add a little whimsical bling without fighting anything.

    P M thanked Precision Granite & Marble
  • Laura Mac
    5 years ago

    HI PM, beautiful bathroom! For your vanity top, I'd DEFINITELY use the same Carerra marble as the bigger pieces on the wall of your shower. It would tie in beautifully...!!!


    Do a thick counter edge detail. Then, you could even do a tall backsplash with the smaller tile from your shower as well and finish with gorgeous edging. Have you thought of a wall-mount faucet? Definitely don't bring in new color stones/tiles (white quartz) there. Keep the flow going with the same marbles.


    No worries about marble on your counters. You'll be fine. Zillions of people around the world have marble in their bathrooms....


    Be sure to post pics when you are done! Love the dramatic feel, so cool!

    P M thanked Laura Mac
  • P M
    Original Author
    5 years ago

    HI Prestige! I plan to visit your showroom soon!! The cabinet will be stained-choosing exact color in next couple days. Thanks for the comment!!

  • P M
    Original Author
    5 years ago

    HI Laura Mac! Thanks for commenting and the compliment!!! I also like the dramatic feel. The vanity will have undermount sinks but no wall-mount faucet. It is on an outside wall and we didn't want to build another false wall (had to for the shower) or worry about freezing.

  • P M
    Original Author
    5 years ago

    Laura Mac-how thick of a counter edge are you suggesting? I love thick counter edges I have seen on Houzz. I haven't asked at any of the marble suppliers I have visited but when I sourced the shelf the only options were 3/4 in or 1 1/4 in. Thank you!

  • Laura Mac
    5 years ago

    HI PM,

    You can search around to find the style you like, but I'd probably go with the same edge detail as your shower base (perhaps a standard eased edge, but thick). The fabricator builds the thickness for you They attach a piece to the bottom and make it seamless.


    Something like here....

    https://www.houzz.com/photos/copper-crest-transitional-bathroom-phvw-vp~134009612







  • Laura Mac
    5 years ago


    It only let's me post 1 photo at a time...but like this above....

  • P M
    Original Author
    5 years ago
    Laura Mac- yes I agree. I am planning on the same edge as on the black leathered granite curb. I didn’t realize they put the granite pieces together seamlessly to create the thickness. Thanks for explaining. Have you seen anyone use black matte u-channel on black granite curb and shiny polished metal on the rest of the shower glass?
  • Laura Mac
    5 years ago

    Or this, but I prefer the thick block look:

    https://www.houzz.com/photos/lorraine-mediterranean-bathroom-dallas-phvw-vp~99103698


    This is the wall mount I was thinking. can you image this with thick edge detail in all carerra? So beautiful!

    https://www.houzz.com/photos/powder-room-beach-style-bathroom-miami-phvw-vp~109840334


    Another with thick edge detail:

    https://www.houzz.com/photos/41st-transitional-bathroom-phoenix-phvw-vp~53690026


    You can search Houzz for thick counter edge detail on vanities.


    Then, I'd do your pretty patterned carerra to the ceiling, around the window and on sides of your mirror so the entire wall is filled with mirror and carerra backsplash. A mirror company can come and install mirror, and then you do backsplash surround (and even can use a thin pencil (like you have in your shower) to frame out the mirror.




  • Laura Mac
    5 years ago

    Here are a few more. Having trouble posting photos since Houzz has been wonky...




  • Laura Mac
    5 years ago

    HI PM,

    On Houzz there are a lot of photos in black bathrooms and it seems most are using chrome. Are you doing chrome/stainless faucets and lighting?

    https://www.houzz.com/photos/bathroom/color--Black/query/shower/nqrw


    Here are more....

    https://www.houzz.com/photos/query/black-shower-doors/nqrwns


    You can ask questions to those that have used and it read comments and see what you think....

    P M thanked Laura Mac
  • P M
    Original Author
    5 years ago
    Laura Mac: thanks so much for your ideas!! Love them but my H is not as enamored with marble as I am so I have to scale it back a bit. The mirrors will have wood trim matching the vanity. The stain will be a neutral ( not reddish, not yellowish) color to give a bit of a rustic feel. If I have enough room between the window and the top of the vanity I might put the mosaic with pencil trim to cap it off or just marble backsplash with pencil trim.
    Any comment on my idea for black u- channel for the shower glass?
  • P M
    Original Author
    5 years ago
    Laura Mac- sorry didn’t see your post regarding black u- channel!! Ha...I am on my phone not computer... I am doing polished nickel fixtures. I posted a question yesterday regarding black u- channel but no one has responded
  • Laura Mac
    5 years ago

    LOVE POLISHED NICKEL!!

    P M thanked Laura Mac
  • P M
    Original Author
    5 years ago
    Shower glass installer said black shows soap scum more easily than others.
  • Laura Mac
    5 years ago

    Yes, anything black will show spots and soap scum. I'd do a chrome/stainless finish that matches your polished nickel faucets. (Or perhaps they have polished nickel u-channels now).


    Have you considered a mirror with no brown wood trim? I think you'll find it looks out of place around the mirror. Many now look like polished nickel.

    https://www.zgallerie.com/c-63-mirrors.aspx


    OR do custom cut, but all depends on what you are doing for vanity and if you are having a backpslash or not, or going up the wall that shows with tile, etc....

    P M thanked Laura Mac