Fantasy Brown Granite is a popular choice for today’s kitchens and baths. Its beautiful veining, and color palette of cream, grey and light browns complement a wide variety of decor styles. But, what do you really know about this natural stone?
What is Fantasy Brown Granite?
Fantasy Brown is often called a marble, a granite, or a quartzite. So, which is it? It’s really none of those.
This stone contains enough quartz that it can have the qualities of a quartzite, but it doesn’t have enough quartz to be considered a true quartzite. It also contains a substantial amount of calcium carbonate, one of the prime minerals in marble, so it can have some of the qualities of marble. But because of the quartz content, it’s not a true marble. Finally, it’s not a granite because granite is igneous (made from lava) and Fantasy Brown is made of layers of the metamorphic rocks marble and quartzite. Are you confused yet?
Fantasy Brown really is a unique stone that falls somewhere between marble and granite. Depending on the minerals in the slab, it can be labelled a “soft quartzite”, marble, or granite. Its qualities of hardness, durability and resistance to staining and etching will really depend on the minerals in the individual slab.
What is the Difference Between Granite and Quartzite?
Remember back in science class when you learned about the three different kinds of rocks? Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic? Well, here’s your chance to finally put that knowledge to work.
Granite is an igneous stone, which means that it was formed when molten lava cooled. That’s why granite is so hard and durable. Sedimentary stone, on the other hand, was formed when bits of minerals and organic materials – sediment – settled to the bottom of bodies of water. Over time, the sediment was compressed into a hard stone. Lastly, metamorphic stones, like quartzite, were formed when existing stones (either igneous or sedimentary) were subjected to heat and pressure inside the earth. These influences changed the structure and strength of the original stone into something much stronger.
Now that you know how the different stones are formed, it’s easier to understand the difference between granite and quartzite. Granite is made from molten lava, while quartzite is a sedimentary stone that went through metamorphosis.
Is Fantasy Brown Durable?
Overall, due to its quartz content Fantasy Brown will be fairly durable. It will not be as durable as an actual granite countertop, but it won’t be as susceptible to etching and damage as marble counters.
Durability will also depend on the individual slab. Those slabs with a high amount of calcium carbonate are going to perform more similarly to marble, while those with higher amounts of quartz will be more similar to quartzite.
Selecting a Fantasy Brown Slab
Selecting a slab will be a balancing act of aesthetics and the composition of the slab. If you’re a messy cook and want a slab that will look pristine, a slab with a high marble content will probably not be a good choice for you. On the other hand, if you don’t mind a countertop with a patina of use, then you’ll have more choices in your slab.
With that in mind, a slab with lots of marble probably isn’t a good kitchen counter choice for a busy family, unless they don’t mind the patina.
It’s always a good idea to visit the stone yard and select your individual slab. This allows you to pick the slab that appeals to you aesthetically. More importantly, you can test the stone for scratching and etching to see if it is closer to a marble or a quartzite.
Where is Fantasy Brown Granite From?
Fantasy Brown is quarried in India.
Designing with Fantasy Brown Granite
Fantasy Brown is a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms, and both new construction or a remodel. It adds a level of luxury to your home, because nothing really compares to the beauty of natural stone.
Don’t forget that you can get different looks depending on the surface treatment. The three most popular surface treatments of Fantasy Brown are polished, honed, and leathered. A polished finish will make it look more like granite, while a honed finish gives a luxurious matte look. Leathered Fantasy Brown is a great option because it has the potential to hide any etching or staining, as well as fingerprints.
Kitchens with Fantasy Brown Granite Countertops
Fantasy Brown granite kitchen countertops are real show stoppers. The waves and swirls of muted colors are absolutely gorgeous. It would be perfect for a kitchen island countertop.
Fantasy Brown granite countertops are a great neutral choice to build your kitchen’s color palette around. It offers so many options in the overall design. Choose colors that match those found in the slab, or choose something complementary like blues or greens.
Because of its various colors, Fantasy Brown can used with several different cabinets colors. Pairing Fantasy Brown granite with white cabinets is a classic look. While the always popular white Shaker cabinets are a good choice, grey, cream and even blue kitchen cabinets can also be a great alternative.
Backsplash Ideas for Fantasy Brown Granite Countertops
Finding the perfect combination of Fantasy Brown granite with a tile backsplash is not too hard. Choose a simple subway tile (with matching grout!) that lets the countertop be the star. Avoid busy patterns, mosaics, or contrasting grout, because they will pull attention away from the star.
The neat thing about subway tiles is that there are so many options in size, color, material, texture, and finish. There are also options as to how to lay the tile – chevron, stacked, running bond, etc. So, while “subway tile” may sound boring, there really are a lot of options to make it interesting.
A final piece of advice – design pros suggest waiting on a final backsplash selection until the countertops, lighting, and cabinets have been installed. This will allow for a more accurate selection.
Caring For Fantasy Brown Granite
Due to its marble like qualities, Fantasy Brown does need some special care. It can etch and stain, so seal the surfaces at least twice per year. Clean spills and splatters promptly. Use cutting boards and trivets to protect the surface. Finally, dragging heavy items across the surface can leave scratches, so avoid doing that.
Although the name is misleading, Fantasy Brown Granite really is a beautiful natural stone that is perfect for a kitchen or bath. With proper care, it will continue to look lovely for years to come.
Have you decided to get new countertops, but a bit lost as to where to start? Our Free Countertop Costs Calculator can help narrow down your choices before you go shopping. Once you’ve picked the new countertop material, the process of getting new countertops is pretty straightforward.
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