Granite Countertops - Light Colors?
An email from Jay:
I know that honey oak is not the thing now, but our cabinets are new and the budget is really tight. Can you suggest granite colors that would work with natural oak in a small condo kitchen with no windows and very light challenged?
CambriaYou had me at "no windows" Jay! Take a look at quartzite in a white. It's the lightest stone that is also durable. Ask for that. OR, get the classic black and white granite. I cannot think of the name, but it looks fine and is very inexpensive and has a light appearance. Quite "busy" however. There are also many cream colored granites which might fit the bill.
All that said, I'd prefer that you look at engineered stone instead. Caeserstone, Cambria, Zodiaq, are engineered stones that are more solid in color and perform better than most granites. While you're looking, also consider IceStone, which is made from 100% recycled glass or ECO by Cosentino, another eco friendly engineered stone material made of 75% recycled content.
Some of these materials look very close to granite, but in your case, the visual consistency of this type of material will work to your benefit, helping your kitchen appear more spacious....and just easier on the eyes overall in my opinion. Granite may be a knee-jerk reaction, understandably for many, but please be open to other materials for the reasons stated above. I am not sure if you can get some of these materials in 3/4" thickness, but that would help the budget.
Find a kitchen design professional to help you with getting a quote for your countertop. He/she will handle all the details for you and make suggestions that will enhance the countertop design. Trust me on this. A kitchen design professional knows the little tips and tweaks that other sources for your product generally do not care about or know about. There will be a significant difference in the quality of the details and installation when the specifications are handled by a kitchen designer.
I almost forgot...whatever material you are seriously considering, please do yourself a favor and get as large a sample as you can get and proceed to put food substances on it and let it sit overnight. Give it a variety of tests...food, scratching, etc. to understand the properties of the material under stress.
This is Caeserstone, Champagne Limestone, which I love and have used before.
Susan Serra, CKD
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Reader Comments (8)
Thank you for the suggestions. Actually I like the new Caesarstone Organic White that is new for 2009. The granite that I think you were trying to recall might be Luna Pearl. We will also look at white quartzite. We have been to a design studio/showroom but they seemed kind of uninterested in our small project - we're just talking countertops and paint here. I've enjoyed reading your suggestions in other posts. Thanks again for the assistance.
I love the white countertops. I know many people shy away from them in favor of dark colors, but with the right cabinets light counters really make a statement.
When it comes to granite countertops, white granites are not the most durable surface. I love your white quartzite suggestion, it's beautiful and durable. If your interested in a viewing a large selection of stone colors vitit www.supremesurface.com
The granite hype never reached Europe (or at least not Germany) - granite counters are simply ONE option among many others. I personally opted against granite and chose 2" thick rosewood laminate counters with square edges (looks terrific!). Plus, when I have granite counters in a vacation home, I find it hard to keep them clean because, due to the vivid pattern, you hardly see any crumbs or spills.
Caesarstone is my favorite for our home in Florida. I have yet to determine the color, which depends on the overall color scheme, but I favor the Blizzard white. I love all things white. *sigh*
Could you please help me decide on a countertop. I would love quartz but have read that nail polish remover and bleach could alter the surface and some stonewear dishes could scratch it. Granite could emit radon,depending on the slab. Formica scratches easily and I find the seams tend to rise.
Color is not a big factor for me. Quality and low maintenance are what matters most.
Hi i wanted to see what color of countertop as far as Granite would look good for rosewood cabinet for the kitchen.. i need help
Peter, I'm not clear on exactly what you are looking for. Sorry!
I think uba tuba would work well.