These clients felt lucky to have a spacious primary bath. The problem, however, was that the space was not being utilized in the best ways. The immense tub and tub surround filled up most of the room, leaving the shower space cramped and dark. There was so much untapped potential, and I was beyond ready to help them create the serene and tranquil retreat they had always hoped for.

BEFORE

This was a great collaboration - my design concept gave the clients the tools and information needed for them to source the fixtures and materials, and allow them to play an important part in this transformation in their home. The images below are two of my design renderings for the space.

The existing jetted tub was removed, and the large surround completely demoed to allow for a larger shower. The updated shower was wrapped in a partial wall topped with glass, to allow more light to flow between the shower and main bath area. The reworking of this part of the bathroom, along with a new freestanding tub, made space for additional cabinetry storage.

AFTER

The vanity area kept the same footprint, and was revived with fresh cabinetry, natural stone countertops, a colorful backdrop, and unique sconces. The results are thrilling.

Design: Jaime Simpson of Creative + Curated

Contractor: Coradi Contracting

After Photos: Courtesy of Coradi Contracting

Granite, marble, and quartz … oh my!

When it comes to selecting countertops, there is certainly much to consider. There are several types of surfaces to choose from, and each has its own set of pros and cons. It is important to focus on how you will use the space and what pros and cons will fit into your lifestyle and daily routine. Not that a countertop choice is a permanent commitment, but countertops are a significant portion of a remodel budget, and the decision should be made thoughtfully.

On that note, let’s discuss those pros and cons shall we? Below I will list the most common surfaces used for countertops (for kitchens, bathrooms, wet bars, etc) and basic tidbits of information about them, and review what’s great and what’s not so great about each.

Photos from past projects. From left to right: quartz, granite, marble, solid surface.

GRANITE

I’m starting with granite because, based on my experience with clients, granite is still one of the most commonly used countertop materials. Granite is a natural stone material that is mined from quarries around the world. It is essentially made up of varying amounts of feldspar, quartz, mica, and minerals. Once it is harvested, it is cut into slabs and shipped to various distributors to then be purchased by fabricators.

Cons:

Porous, which means it can absorb liquids and possibly retain bacteria
Must be regularly re-sealed to prevent the absorption mentioned above
Potential issues with chipping along the edges (if a square edge profile is used)
Potential pitting issues with stones with high mica content
Higher level price point

Pros:

A large variety of unique colors and patterns
Multiple finish options (polished, honed, leathered)
Tough, scratch resistant surface
Heat resistant
Stain resistant, though coffee and citrus juices can still cause finish issues
Suited for all areas (kitchens, bathrooms, wet bars, outdoor kitchens)

QUARTZ

This name can be misleading … quartz in itself is a natural mineral. But when people say “quartz countertops,” they are not referring to a countertop made of solid mineral. Quartz countertop material is actually manufactured. It does contain small amounts of crushed quartz, along with other raw materials and resins to form slabs similar to granite in thickness and overall size. It is a bit of a mystery exactly what specific materials and proportions of quartz and resins, etc., are used in the different brands that manufacture it, but overall it is a composite and not a fully natural material.

Cons:

Patterns appear manufactured - this has improved dramatically but is still getting there
UV rays can affect the color - this has also improved in recent years
Higher level price point (often higher than some levels of granite)

Pros:

A fair amount of variety in color and pattern
Multiple finish options, depending on brand (polished, matte, textured)
Tough, scratch and chip resistant surface
Heat resistant
Stain resistant
Non-porous, therefore no sealing or re-sealing needed
Suited for all areas (though UV rays may affect tops in outdoor kitchens)

MARBLE

Marble is another natural stone that is mined and cut into slabs when it is to be used for countertops. It is a softer material than granite, and is often white or gray and contains veining. This material is created by the metamorphism of sedimentary carbonate rocks which results in a composition of interlocking carbonate crystals (thank you, Wikipedia!). Carrara Marble is likely the most widely recognized with its milky-white background and silvery-grey veining.

Cons:

Porous, which means it can absorb liquids and possibly retain bacteria
Potential staining issues (red wine and tomato sauce, for example)
Citrus, other acidic elements, and vinegar can etch the finish
Potential issues with scratching on the surface and chipping on edges - the honed finish helps minimize this issue
Higher level price point
Can be used in higher traffic work zones (kitchens, wet bars, etc.) but with the understanding that marble in those locations is more susceptible to the issues listed above and needs more TLC

Pros:

Classic and timeless - Carrara especially has been used prominently for decades in many applications
Multiple finish options (polished or honed)
Heat resistant
Best suited for bathrooms and lower traffic areas

SOLID SURFACE

By this I mean the manufactured material most commonly known by the brand Corian. (I’m not really here to discuss/promote/review brands in this post, but solid surface countertops tend to be called Corian the way tissues are called Kleenex). Solid surface countertops are composed of acrylics and polyesters, and do not contain natural stone materials. Because of this, solid surface tops can be molded into shape, and have seamless sinks and backsplashes.

Cons:

The material itself and the patterns definitely look manufactured
Potential issues with scratching
Potential issues with staining
Potential issues with scorching
Mid to high level price point
Can be used in higher traffic work zones (kitchens, wet bars, etc.) but with the understanding that solid surface in those locations is more susceptible to the issues listed above

Pros:

Fewer seams (as mentioned above)
Integrated sink and backsplash options
A wide array of color options and a fair amount of pattern options
Non-porous, therefore no sealing or re-sealing needed
Best suited for bathrooms and lower traffic areas

LAMINATE

Laminate tops also tend to be known by their brands; in this case, the prominent ones are Formica and Wilsonart. The laminate surface is a sheet of plastic fused to a printed paper on a thin backing, to create the actual laminate sheets. Laminate countertops are made two ways: the first is where the tops are custom built and seamed by the fabricator (called self-edge), by taking the laminate sheet and cutting it into the necessary shapes and then gluing them to a particle board or plywood base for sturdiness to then be installed; the second is where the laminate manufacturer forms the laminate sheets onto standard sized bases (of particle board or plywood) that already have the backsplash and edge in place, to create a seamless run of countertop (called Post-Form) that is then cut by the fabricator and installed.

Cons:

Though patterns that mimic stone, wood, etc. have improved, it is clearly a laminate
Potential issues with scratching
Potential issues with scorching
With self-edge, issues with liquid getting into the seams are likely, which leads to the base of particle board / plywood swelling up and the laminate peeling
Can be used in bathrooms but with the understanding that water tends to splash around a bit more in that area and could lead to higher probability of water getting in the seams

Pros:

A plethora of colors and patterns (including granite and wood patterns)
Multiple finish options (matte, glossy, textured)
With Post-Form, seamless backsplash and edge profiles
With self-edge, many shapes and angles can be accommodated
Non-porous, therefore no sealing or re-sealing needed
Lower price point
Best suited for kitchens, desk tops

So, there you have it! My basic assessment of the most commonly used countertop materials available, and what you should consider about each when deciding which direction to go. All have some positive characteristics, and all have some negative characteristics. I have used every one of these successfully in various projects over the years, and there is a place for each of them. It really comes down to which pros mean the most to you and which cons you can live with. I realize that this is just scratching the surface (pun intended) and is also not an exhaustive list of materials; there are others like soapstone, quartzite, slate, etc. that are also used, but as an introductory post, I wanted to focus on the highlights of the main players. Until next time!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Granite, marble, and quartz … oh my!

GRANITE

QUARTZ

MARBLE

SOLID SURFACE

LAMINATE

JS

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