Shadow Storm marble vs. white quartz

6 years ago

My husband and I are in the process of designing our semi-custom home. At this point in time we are trying to decide on kitchen countertops, and I'm stuck. Our builder has presented us with our options, and out of all of them only 2 stand out to me: a white quartz and Shadow Storm marble. I was really hoping for more quartz options, as I know there are many out there that are beautiful! I like the look of the marble, but am worried about the upkeep of the marble. I cook and bake a lot and I have a small child, with plans for one more in the next year or two. This has lead me to believe I should select the white quartz. However, I think the white quartz is very stark and lacks dimension and movement. Therefore, I will be asking my builder if I can select the Shadow Storm marble for our waterfall island and use white quartz every where else (they typically only allow one stone selection which is used throughout the home, so this will be an up-charge, I'm sure.).

Based on the builder's picture (attached, very similar layout to our kitchen) do you agree that the white quartz everywhere is too stark? I'm attaching a photo of the shadow storm marble as well, which I think would add dimension to the kitchen and serve as a focal point. I tend to think that I selected the shadow storm marble it would also be too similar to our backsplash (Emser Winter Frost tile). I would love feedback from anyone who has experience with marble countertops and/or regarding our design choices.

Poll included-- would love votes to help me make a decision!

White quartz throughout (including island)

Shadow storm island with white quartz elsewhere

Shadow storm throughout (including island)

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Debbi Washburn

6 years ago

Is there any way to get a credit and go and do your own thing?? Even if the credit isn't the full cost of a new top , it may be worth it to get what you really want.

I do have to say, that marble is beautiful!!!!

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Comments (11)

ewozobski
Original Author
6 years ago
Debbi: unfortunately I don't think we could get a credit. I am quite surprised we have so few options, honestly. I was hoping at our price point we could select from more stones (or at least have more than one quartz option!). The Shadow Storm is definitely beautiful, but I do worry about the upkeep as well as it being too overwhelming if I select it for the whole house!
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Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
I am not a kitchen marble fan. Too much etching funk for me.
chiefy
6 years ago
If you’re concerned about upkeep, I don’t think the island is the best place for the marble. Won’t it get more “action” than your perimeter?
ewozobski
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Chief— you’re most likely correct in that. We will have a dining nook where most family meals will occur, but our sink is in the island so lots of prep work will be happening there.
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Julia & Elizabeth
6 years ago
I had marble just on my island and it worked well. I added marble in the rest of the kitchen and I regret it. Maybe I am too picky but I wouldn't do it again. Good luck!
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
IMO a nice white granite would be my choice for ease of care and none of the ssues with quartz or marble so see if you can get a credit and get your own.
ewozobski thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
anna_682
6 years ago
Can you get the Shadow Storm in a honed finish? That would be my choice.
ewozobski
Original Author
6 years ago
@Patricia Colwell Consulting do you have any recommendations for specific stones to look at? Pretty sure the builder won’t give us a credit (spec builder who is pretty rigid in their process), but I’d like to ask the supplier if they have anything that might fit our allotted budget.
eld6161
6 years ago
I have been living with Silestone quartz in Calcutta Gold for 7 months now. No issues with staining for scratching.

I actually dropped a stoneware bowl directly on it so hard that there was a spark! No damage.

Marble lovers get marble and they don’t mind the patina. It would dry me crazy.

Are there ways to seal it?

Anna, won’t honed be harder to maintain?
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Debbi Washburn
6 years ago
I would ask about the maintenance of the marble. That is one of those stones that's not quite a quartzite, but more of a hard marble with some quartz-like properties...