Wood countertop - resale value - would it be a dealbreaker for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, again thanks everyone for the thoughtful replies. I've looked into all the options suggested (only on a style perspective for the moment not practicality), the black soapstone looks interesting it seems like it could work as a rustic look. Also saw some White Quartz that looked good. Both stones didn't give me the same 90s/early 00s impersonal condo feel as granite does (no clue why but the granite countertops I have seen for the moment convey a dated depressing era to me).

If anybody has an image of a granite or other stone countertop that doesn't have that classic granite grain/look I am very interested...

OP If you find a white granite buy it right away. It is very much in demand and a builder will buy it out from under you. So many of the new homes in the $1.5M range around here have this, so I do not think it is out of style. But it is hard to get.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to say I just redid my kitchen and have a wood countertop island only. I love the look, but I didn't want it by the sink or stove top. I love, love, love my wood top island!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would love them, but I know I'm a minority. Can you do soapstone instead?

Soapstone is the most beautiful -- very understated colors verde gris, grey, black tones -- that's it. Extremely tasteful, unobtrusive, not flashy at all.

I like the wood counters, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again, I found some stones that I think (but not convinced yet) look less dated. White and black quartz (the most pure versions) and black soapstone (version with the least amount of dots/grey, mostly black with one streak of white here and there.

Soapstone:

http://www.houzz.com/photos/879768/Saratoga-Soapstone-shabby-chic-traditional-kitchen-countertops-indianapolis

http://www.charlottecounters.com/products/soapstone/

http://eurostonecraft.com/portfolio/soapstone-kitchen-designs


White Quartz:


http://interiordesign.country/natural-white-quartz-kitchen-countertop-materials-396/white-quartz-kitchen-countertop-978/

http://blog.cliqstudios.com/quartz-new-kitchen-countertop-trend/ (the cut is a bit bathroomy though?)

http://www.newenglandgranite.net/?attachment_id=980 (more grey/closer to granit look in a way)


Or black quartz

http://fittedkitchendesign.com/black-quartz-kitchen-countertops/

http://goumin.co/black-quartz-countertops/black-quartz-countertops-with-white-kitchen-cabinets-with-black-quartz-countertops-striped-roman-on-other/

Forget soapstone, get quartz or granite.
Not a fan of soapstone, this person oiled it and it still stained and got marks everywhere.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2683491/life-with-soapstone-patina-pictures-galore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh - don't get granite. So ugly and dated. Unless maybe you do honed black...

soapstone
marble
quartzite

But use butcher block on an island or small section.

Sorry granite is not dated, patterns are dated but it is always an option, it's a material not a syle. Skip marble and soapstone BTDT terrible wear and tear, maintenance and looks like crap after a year. Get a quartize (silestone) or granite.

lol - please post one granite - aside from absolute black - that doesn't look dated

Weirdly, I think black counters look dated. Some of the lighter colors like Santa Cecelia, New Caledonia look fresher to my eye.

[Anonymous]

Love wood and love soapstone, they are not 0 maintenance and the passage of time shows but for me it is worth it, a beautifl ex here:
http://fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com/2014/03/soapstone.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again, I found some stones that I think (but not convinced yet) look less dated. White and black quartz (the most pure versions) and black soapstone (version with the least amount of dots/grey, mostly black with one streak of white here and there.

Soapstone:

http://www.houzz.com/photos/879768/Saratoga-Soapstone-shabby-chic-traditional-kitchen-countertops-indianapolis

http://www.charlottecounters.com/products/soapstone/

http://eurostonecraft.com/portfolio/soapstone-kitchen-designs


White Quartz:


http://interiordesign.country/natural-white-quartz-kitchen-countertop-materials-396/white-quartz-kitchen-countertop-978/

http://blog.cliqstudios.com/quartz-new-kitchen-countertop-trend/ (the cut is a bit bathroomy though?)

http://www.newenglandgranite.net/?attachment_id=980 (more grey/closer to granit look in a way)


Or black quartz

http://fittedkitchendesign.com/black-quartz-kitchen-countertops/

http://goumin.co/black-quartz-countertops/black-quartz-countertops-with-white-kitchen-cabinets-with-black-quartz-countertops-striped-roman-on-other/

Forget soapstone, get quartz or granite.
Not a fan of soapstone, this person oiled it and it still stained and got marks everywhere.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2683491/life-with-soapstone-patina-pictures-galore

OUch indeed are those your countertops? Just to know if you feel like you spend the time on maintenance and it really didn't work out anyway or you are not 100% sure that the person owning the countretops treated them properly?

[Anonymous]

PP, sorry followed the link and figured it wasn't your countertop. A very good blog to understand the pros and cons of soapstone though

[Anonymous]

I just put in a walnut counter island with granite on the counters surrounding. The walnut was far more expensive than the granite. Knowing this, if I saw a wood counter I would think it positive.

As for maintenance, the new treatments for them make them less of a hassle and should preserve over time albeit not like granite or stone though.

[Anonymous]

OP, I love the materials you posted. But I do think wood is great too. Get it if you would love it.

We have had soapstone for 3 years now and haven't had the issues like PP posted. We don't mind a little "patina" though. But no major discoloring like the photos above. We did a craftsman style kitchen in our 1920s bungalow. Oak cabinets and all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I love the materials you posted. But I do think wood is great too. Get it if you would love it.

We have had soapstone for 3 years now and haven't had the issues like PP posted. We don't mind a little "patina" though. But no major discoloring like the photos above. We did a craftsman style kitchen in our 1920s bungalow. Oak cabinets and all.

OP here: do you have a picture of your craftsman style kitchen ?

[Anonymous]

For those of you worried about bacteria in wooden countertops, read this:

http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/docliver/Research/cuttingboard.htm

It it a scientific study of bacteria retention in wood vs. plastic cutting boards, not wood vs. stone countertops, but they conclude that bacteria are much less likely to adhere to wood surfaces than the supposedly non-porous plastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you worried about bacteria in wooden countertops, read this:

http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/docliver/Research/cuttingboard.htm

It it a scientific study of bacteria retention in wood vs. plastic cutting boards, not wood vs. stone countertops, but they conclude that bacteria are much less likely to adhere to wood surfaces than the supposedly non-porous plastic.

Yes, I've read about this years ago in Europe. Bacteria concerns over wood countertops are preposterous, but maintenance and longevity surely is something to consider. I would do it though if that's what I liked and I planned to stay in the house for a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again, I found some stones that I think (but not convinced yet) look less dated. White and black quartz (the most pure versions) and black soapstone (version with the least amount of dots/grey, mostly black with one streak of white here and there.

Soapstone:

http://www.houzz.com/photos/879768/Saratoga-Soapstone-shabby-chic-traditional-kitchen-countertops-indianapolis

http://www.charlottecounters.com/products/soapstone/

http://eurostonecraft.com/portfolio/soapstone-kitchen-designs


White Quartz:


http://interiordesign.country/natural-white-quartz-kitchen-countertop-materials-396/white-quartz-kitchen-countertop-978/

http://blog.cliqstudios.com/quartz-new-kitchen-countertop-trend/ (the cut is a bit bathroomy though?)

http://www.newenglandgranite.net/?attachment_id=980 (more grey/closer to granit look in a way)


Or black quartz

http://fittedkitchendesign.com/black-quartz-kitchen-countertops/

http://goumin.co/black-quartz-countertops/black-quartz-countertops-with-white-kitchen-cabinets-with-black-quartz-countertops-striped-roman-on-other/

I have very dark gray quartz counters in a kitchen that looks a lot like that one above. I loooooove the way it looks. And it is virtually maintenance free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I love the materials you posted. But I do think wood is great too. Get it if you would love it.

We have had soapstone for 3 years now and haven't had the issues like PP posted. We don't mind a little "patina" though. But no major discoloring like the photos above. We did a craftsman style kitchen in our 1920s bungalow. Oak cabinets and all.

OP here: do you have a picture of your craftsman style kitchen ?

Very similar to this. We are fortunate to have lots of windows so it isn't too dark.
http://newwayhomedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Graceful-Oak-Cabinets-home-interior-design-Traditional-Kitchen-New-York.jpg

It isn't for everyone, but it definitely fits the house.