It can seem like there a million decisions that have to be made when building a new home or remodeling an existing one. For kitchens and bathrooms, choosing the right countertop can be tough. Today, we’ve rounded up some of the most popular types of stone countertops, in order to help you quickly narrow your choices.
Types of Stone Countertops
While engineered countertops, such as quartz or solid surface, are gaining in popularity, natural stone is still king. And, for good reason. You can’t beat the natural beauty of stone countertops. There is just a natural warmth and personality to them. Add in some exciting movement across a slab, and you can imagine how the stone was formed millions of years ago. It’s easy to see why they are perennial favorites.
Here’s a quick roundup of the five most popular types of stone countertops.
Granite
Poor granite. At one point, it was the one of the most popular types of stone countertops. People wouldn’t even think of looking at anything else. And then, tastes changed. It became…. gasp ……”dated”.
Granite is not dated. Sure, the fleck-y, high contrast, Tuscan colored granite is not as popular as it used to be. But, take a second look at granite. It really doesn’t look like that anymore. Especially the slabs that are vein cut. They can be absolutely stunning. In fact, I found five granite slabs at a local stone yard that would look amazing in a kitchen. Check out our Quick Guide to Granite for a deeper dive into this classic countertop.
Marble
Marble has been used as a building product for thousands of years. But it’s only recently that it has become more commonly used as a countertop in the kitchen or bath. It really is a beautiful and timeless choice. While Carrara is probably the most popular choice, marble does come in a range of prices and colors. Our Quick Guide to Marble has more information.
Quartzite
Quartzite is my current design crush. It has it all: beauty and durability. Plus I just love the colors. The natural colors of Fantasy Brown and Taj Mahal are gorgeous. It even comes in blues and greens! Serious swooning over here. If I were building a new house, I’d have a quartzite kitchen island countertop in a heartbeat. Read more about this lovely stone in our Quick Guide to Quartzite.
Soapstone
Soapstone is another classic with its quintessential grey field and white veining. Plus it’s anti-microbial, as well as heat and stain resistant. You can’t beat that.
Soapstone is an excellent complement to many design styles. It’s perfect in a Craftsman style kitchen, or as a quiet backdrop to other elements, like a fancy backsplash. Check out our Quick Guide to Soapstone for a deeper look at this durable countertop choice.
Travertine
Travertine, with its cream, white and tan palette, is a classic. It’s a great alternative for those who are tired of the all-white or grey kitchen trend. Travertine is great for low traffic areas or outdoor kitchen countertops where a patina is expected. Many homeowners choose travertine because it looks high-end, while actually being relatively economical. However it is prone to staining, so it needs to be periodically sealed.
If you’re more into grays and not the cream/white/tan color palette of traditional travertine, check out Vein Cut Silver Travertine. So pretty!
Be sure to grab our FREE Countertop Cost Calculator, if you’re planning on getting new countertops. It will help you determine which types of countertops will fit your budget.
We’d love to hear from you – what type of countertops do you like? Are you planning on using one of these in your next project? What’s your favorite? Drop us a comment!
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