Like many SWLA homeowners, we are renovating and replacing damages to our home caused by the 2020 Hurricanes. One of the hardest decisions when selecting new counters is whether to go with a granite or quartz surface.
I have learned a lot about how important the right choice is during my journey of picking out a new stone surface. We had decided that if we were going to upgrade we would go ahead and do so with a quartz surface. The stone distributors can help guide you and give you the pros and cons of choosing a natural stone. I had my heart set on a beautiful slab of quartz with a vein running through it. Once the installer came to measure our kitchen we were informed that our quartz selection would not be a good choice because the veining would be too hard to match up. Unlike many of the new construction homes we do not have a kitchen island; instead we have a “step-up” corner bar, so we have some seams in our existing granite. The installer suggested that we select a different design that had more of a pattern that would be easier blending in on the surfaces. My design idea was built around a specific color and most of the quartz selections are white or grey so I shifted back to granite and found a beautiful piece of “leathered granite”
The next decision when you select your counters is how do you want the edges to be finished. There are bull nose, beveled and square corners to choose from. Also you need to keep in mind the type of sink you will be installing.
Sinks have come a long way and there is more to choose from than just stainless finish. New Construction trends have been the “farm house” sink. There are also full sinks, 50/50 and 60/40 divided sinks. You will have to choose whether you want an under mount also.
Once you have the counters and sink you still have to select your faucet. There is a wide variety of faucets to choose from and they come in all types of color finishes. The brushed gold is becoming a popular trend and many of the faucets will mix the gold and black finishes together. You can choose from the fancy house smart designs where you turn the water on/off with the wave of your hand. The counter installer will need to know how many holes to cut in the stone when they make the template. So you have to decide if you will have a soap dispenser or need extra holes for the on/off to your faucet, and/or a spray nozzle.
Kitchens have come a long way and if you did not build your home in the beginning some of these decisions will catch you off guard if you are not prepared. Do your homework ahead of time and rely on your installer to make suggestions of what will work best in your home.
