Kitchen countertop help

[Anonymous]

Can anyone share their countertop, brand and color, and why they love it?

We're renovating our kitchen and I'm stuck on countertops. White shaker cabinets, a couple of rift oak floating shelves, rift oak beverage center, mid-tone brown hardwood floors, paint and fixtures are undecided. We have a teak dining table with black metal legs and acorn color leather dining chairs. There will be a breakfast nook with warm gray banquette seating. I'm leaning towards warmer marble subway tiles for backsplash. I like the mid-century modern look and trying to go away from farmhouse or all white modern looks.

I've gone from white, marble look quartz to black honed granite to soapstone look quartz and now considering concrete slate gray solid colors. I prefer quartz for it's easy maintenance but open to other suggestions.

Thank you for any suggestions.

[Anonymous]

That sounds like too many different colors and ideas for the space. Choose one wood color and go with it don’t mix them up.

[Anonymous]

I think if you go with the dark countertops your kitchen will lean modern farmhouse. Maybe go with a lighter stone to move away from the look you are trying to avoid.

[Anonymous]

I think I gave too much info, and I can have the beverage center and shelves stained to coordinate with the floors and dining table.

The kitchen is basically white shaker cabinets with wood accents, floors and shelves.

Any advice on direction for countertops?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if you go with the dark countertops your kitchen will lean modern farmhouse. Maybe go with a lighter stone to move away from the look you are trying to avoid.

Ah, thank you. I didn't think of it that way. I'll head to some stone warehouses today to take a look.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, engineered stone (like quartz, caesarstone) is apparently very hazardous to workers who install it: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-09-24/silicosis-countertop-workers-engineered-stone

It's not clear to me how much ordinary safety measures like masks can reduce the risk, given the higher silica content of engineered stone. Seemingly some of the men who developed silicosis reported wearing masks and using wet saws.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s the creation and cutting not the installation per se.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if you go with the dark countertops your kitchen will lean modern farmhouse. Maybe go with a lighter stone to move away from the look you are trying to avoid.

Ah, thank you. I didn't think of it that way. I'll head to some stone warehouses today to take a look.

You’re welcome. I struggled with this exact problem during my remodel. I went with quartzite. I have had marble. It’s a pain in the kitchen. My own opinion but real stone is better than quartz. If you are wanting a darker top but not a black top then look at Jurassic Grey. It’s pretty and economical.

[Anonymous]

Check out Taj Mahal, it is a quartzite material.

[Anonymous]

We love quartzite in our kitchen. It’s similar to granite in terms of durability but it just looks a bit different. A nice alternative. I strongly prefer natural stone to quartz. It is definitely much more interesting. Go visit Neka granite or another store like that and you can decide for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if you go with the dark countertops your kitchen will lean modern farmhouse. Maybe go with a lighter stone to move away from the look you are trying to avoid.

Ah, thank you. I didn't think of it that way. I'll head to some stone warehouses today to take a look.

You’re welcome. I struggled with this exact problem during my remodel. I went with quartzite. I have had marble. It’s a pain in the kitchen. My own opinion but real stone is better than quartz. If you are wanting a darker top but not a black top then look at Jurassic Grey. It’s pretty and economical.

Which color quartzite did you go with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if you go with the dark countertops your kitchen will lean modern farmhouse. Maybe go with a lighter stone to move away from the look you are trying to avoid.

Ah, thank you. I didn't think of it that way. I'll head to some stone warehouses today to take a look.

You’re welcome. I struggled with this exact problem during my remodel. I went with quartzite. I have had marble. It’s a pain in the kitchen. My own opinion but real stone is better than quartz. If you are wanting a darker top but not a black top then look at Jurassic Grey. It’s pretty and economical.

Which color quartzite did you go with?

I am embarrassed that I can’t remember. I googled quartzite. I would say it’s closest to Gray Canyon.

[Anonymous]

I love Cambria. Made in the USA, food safe, no sealing, low maintenance and wipes clean most of time with just water.

[Anonymous]

If we don't want marble or marble look or a counter with veins/movement, then is the only choice plain colored quartz?

We had granite in a house 10+ years ago, and then lived in rentals abroad. Now we're setting up a permanent home here.

I spent a couple hours researching marble and quartzite, and I don't think it's our style.