Choosing The Perfect Countertop

When it comes to designing a functional and stylish space, countertops play a pivotal role in both kitchens and bathrooms. While kitchen countertops are well-known for their importance, bathroom countertops are equally crucial in creating a beautiful and practical environment. Whether you prefer a sleek and modern aesthetic or a warm and inviting ambiance, the right countertop can elevate your design.

The biggest question we get is what type of countertop to use and the answer truly depends on what each of our home owners in the Charlotte, NC area want both aesthetically and functionally. Do they prefer the durability of quartz, or the timeless beauty of quartzite? Perhaps they prefer the elegance of marble, or maybe even the rustic charm of butcher block? We believe in the importance of factors such as durability, maintenance and aesthetic appeal when making a selection. At the end of the day, it is all about loving the space you are living in.

There are so many choices when it comes to countertops, but we primarily use the following when designing spaces: quartzite, quartz and marble. We love the durability of quartzite, the no-fuss, ease of quartz and the charm of marble. We are going to highlight some of our favorite applications of each of these materials and how they bring their unique characteristics to spaces, as well as the pitfalls that may come. We hope that it will help you make the right decision when you decide to update your kitchen or bathroom!

Quartzite

Quartzite is a fan favorite because it's a natural stone which means it’s one-of-a-kind, and bonus, it’s family friendly! If you’ve ever had a granite countertop and it thrived, then you should be safe living with quartzite. Quartzite is very hard, durable, and boasts a high heat resistance, making it a great option for kitchens. That being said, we’ll always recommend that you use a trivet when cooking and avoid placing hot pans directly on your countertop. Quartzite can take on the wear and tear of daily life making it a great option for active families. We love the look of quartzite because it has natural movement, unique vein patterns and is available in a wide array of color options. We used a dark variation in our Beaver Dam project, a medium shade in the Dansing On Providence kitchen and a lighter selection in the White Christmas kitchen. It’s important to note that quartzite does require a sealing once a year, but it is a fairly painless process.

Quartz

Quartz (not to be confused with quartzite) is one of the most popular and beloved countertop materials because of its easy care, accessible price point and wide array of styles. This man-made stone is not porous (oil and wine have met their match!), durable, and is nearly indestructible, making it a great option for families with young kids or even adults that want a low maintenance countertop. However, quartz is less heat resistant than its natural stone counterparts as it’s made of resin, so a trivet must be used at all times. It’s readily available and easy to match if you find you need additional slabs. Quartz also comes in a variety of color options and styles as you can see from our Firethorne Kitchen, Asheford Green, and Greenside kitchen projects.

Marble

Marble is timeless, elegant and naturally beautiful! Although it is often hard to replicate in terms of sophistication and luxury, it requires a lot of maintenance. Marble is susceptible to staining and etching, which makes it hard to care for in high traffic areas such as kitchens. Most of our clients prefer to use marble in bathrooms because they only have to worry about soap and water instead of spaghetti sauce, wine and other stain prone ingredients in the kitchen. That’s not to say we wouldn’t use marble in a kitchen, you’d just have to be up for the challenge and stay on top of sealing it annually! This stunning stone has lived through all the elements such as pressure, weather and heat to form what it is today. We chose to include gorgeous marble countertops in both our Dansing on Providence and Stonecrest primary bathrooms.