Choosing the Best Stone for Your Kitchen Counters

by Allie Racette | Mar 16, 2023 | Kitchen Renovations

You’re finally remodeling your kitchen, meticulously selecting every last detail. You’ve chosen your cabinets, your flooring, your plumbing and hardware finishes, your light fixtures – but one decision is harder than the rest. What type of stone should you choose for your countertops?

From marble to granite to quartz, there are many types of stone to choose from, and they each have their pros and cons. While we could compare and contrast every type of stone there is, it’s better to stick to the popular choices. (They’re popular for a reason, after all.)

So, when you’re choosing your countertops, how do you decide – marble or quartz?

MARBLE

When picking a kitchen countertop, it’s important to keep in mind how you’ll be using your kitchen. Are you building a chef’s kitchen because you love to cook and entertain, or are you more interested in aesthetic over function? Marble countertops are a popular choice for their luxurious, elegant look, and honed marble can be a good choice for homeowners looking for a more natural, matte stone finish. There’s no question that marble is a durable stone, but maintaining that durability requires time, attention, and money. If your marble countertops aren’t resealed every three to six months, they can be prone to staining and scratching, and have even been known to crack under high heat. If you’re the type of chef that takes a hot pan out of the oven and sets it directly on the counter, marble might not be the right choice for you.

QUARTZ & QUARTZITE

Quartz and quartzite countertops are popular alternatives to marble – but what’s the difference? While quartzite is natural stone, quartz countertops are man-made, consisting of natural quartz crystals, resin, and pigments. Quartz and quartzite are similar in durability and are scratch and stain resistant, but the resin in quartz countertops can burn under high heat. Quartzite, however, is natural stone, meaning it’s more porous – which also means your quartzite countertops will require resealing at least once a year to prevent staining.

Because quartz countertops are manufactured, they have an advantage when it comes to customization. Quartz countertops can be pigmented and molded to fit almost any kitchen design you can dream up, whereas quartzite countertops leave you reliant on their naturally occurring hue and beauty.

Marble, quartzite, quartz? There are benefits to whatever countertop you choose, from the natural beauty of marble to the low-maintenance durability of quartz. Whatever you decide, you’ll want a countertop that fits both your aesthetic and your lifestyle. Talk to your interior design team – we can help you make the choice that’s right for you and your home!

Want even more information on stone options for your countertops? Download our cheat sheet comparing the most common stone choices!

Quartz (top), honed marble (middle), and quartzite (bottom) are all popular choices for kitchen countertops.

Full Kitchen Reno: Before & After at Lakeside

by Allie Racette | May 2, 2022 | Kitchen Renovations

Not all homebuyers can see the potential in an outdated space, but Matt and Mary purchased their home knowing they would eventually want to update the kitchen. The original layout of Matt and Mary’s kitchen was claustrophobic, the workflow funky. The fridge was adjacent to the side door off the driveway — their primary entrance to their home — the oven was in a cramped corner, they lacked counter space, and the peninsula made the room feel closed off. Along with the awkward layout, everything was old, musty, sagging, and in desperate need of replacement.

At Spotted, we start every project by sitting down with the client to discuss the current state of their space, digging deep to pinpoint what’s working and what needs to change, and then we put together a preliminary quote and budget. There are plenty of options for financing home projects, from personal loans to HELOCs — but Matt and Mary wanted to pay for their kitchen remodel without a loan, so we set their project aside while they saved up. A few months later, we circled back and got started on their new kitchen. Matt and Mary didn’t mind waiting a bit longer; the anticipation is half the fun of a big project.

We had a few main goals with this remodel:

Improve the workflow of the kitchen
Create more open space to enlarge the room
Optimize the kitchen for a homeowner who loves to cook and bake!

A design board and renderings help us visualize the finished product.

A huge thank you to Wayfair for sponsoring the beautiful hardware in this space.

Serene Lily 7 9/16″ Center to Center Bar Pull

1 1/4″ Diameter Mushroom Knob Multipack

With Matt and Mary’s needs and wants in mind, we started preparing design renderings, revising until we’d found the perfect solution for the kitchen’s odd layout. At the same time, we pulled design inspiration from Matt and Mary’s Pinterest boards, and started sourcing everything we needed — tile, plumbing, countertops, and more — from local suppliers.

A few weeks later, after plenty of revisions and lots of fine-tuning, we were ready to start ordering materials. Behind the scenes, our design team was busy creating construction plans, meeting with our contractors, tracking our sourced items, and double-checking everything to ensure it arrived on site — on time and intact.

With everything reviewed, approved, and accounted for, construction finally began. The Spotted team conducted regular site visits to ensure everything was being installed to spec, and we handled any issues that arose during construction, acting as the liaison between the clients and the construction team. Our goal is to make the renovation process as easy and stress-free as possible for every client. As is the nature of construction, things will go wrong and issues will arise – but we stay on top of things with a solutions-first approach.

Take a look at the before and after of this gorgeous kitchen remodel! We optimized aesthetic and function to create a beautiful, livable space, perfect for cooking, baking, and gathering. Maybe these results can even provide some ideas and inspiration for your own future kitchen remodel, or help you see the potential in an outdated space during your homebuying journey.