Kitchen Countertops

I have been looking at countertops for quite awhile now.  Countertops are a big decision.  They are a focal point of the kitchen so you want to make sure you get it right.

If I had an island I would have done two different color countertops.  I would have done black on the cabinets along the walls and marble on the island.  But I don't have an island, so I needed to pick one color.  I knew I wanted a lighter countertop.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the look of marble, but it is just not practical in the kitchen of 4 children.  It's a softer stone and tends to etch and stain.  I don't need that stress.  Of course there is solid surfaces like Corian, but that can crack with heat and stain as well, and then there is Formica, but that is not a look I want.  That left me with a choice between granite and quartz.

I went to a granite store and saw a slab I loved immediately.  It was beautiful.  It had moderate movement with tans, grays, whites, greens, and even hints of pink.  So beautiful, but in my heart I knew it wasn't right for what I was going for.  It wouldn't look good with blue base cabinets.

Here is what it looked like (the picture doesn't do it justice).  A friend of mine has it in her kitchen and it's gorgeous.  It's called Fantasy Brown.

I looked at several other pieces that were OK, but they just weren't speaking to me.  Here they are:

I was a bit discouraged after looking at the granite.  I just wasn't seeing anything.  I left and went to some other stores and looked at their quartz products.  I was drawn to Silesone in a Helix pattern.  It looks like marble and is basically indestructible.  It has a hefty price tag.  About $90 a square foot.  I was ready to splurge though for the look I wanted.  

A few days later I took Greg back to the granite store.  While there I saw a piece and on second look, realized it might work.  The more I looked at it, the more I realized it would work.  It was the right price, a hard stone, and the closest I found in a stone that looked like marble.  I introduce you to our new countertops in the color of "Colonial White" -

My cute kidlets make anything look good!

In terms of granite, it's fairly boring, but I didn't want my countertops to be the main event.  Certain granites demand to be the main event and in the right kitchen that's great, but this is not that kitchen.  I want them to enhance the overall design, but go away in general.  Does that make sense?  

I went this past Saturday and chose the layout of the cuts.  They cut them yesterday and will install in a few days!  It's coming, it's coming!!  So fun!!

As a side note, if I ever owned a granite store, I would not have fluorescent lights in my showrooms!  Who has fluorescent lights in their kitchen?!?!  If you do, be gone with it!  You won't be sorry!