Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the process of buying a house with silestone counters... and I did not even KNOW what they were. They looked cheaper than granite to me, and my realtor kept insisting "No, no, these are a step up from granite!" and she's ESL so I had no idea what that meant. So I think most buyers are still looking for granite.

Silestone is fake granite.
The agent was trying to make the sale.

It is more expensive than granite because it is ground up stone mixed with resin and doesn't need sealing. I wanted to get Sillestone, but didn't want to pay $700 more for something that didn't look as nice as granite. I like the fact it doesn't need sealing.

Isn't resin another word for plastic? So ground up stone mixed with plastic is better than a natural material?

Let me up the ante to the bat shit crazy level: granite emits radon! Discuss.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The gnashing of teeth in this thread illustrates the "get a life" thought ...

I think there is one poster on this forum that has some serious issues with granite. I don't know, maybe he/she got ripped off in some granite installation or has some personal business to grind with some local granite supplier. Or maybe she/he trying to justify spending extra $$$ on trendier surfaces and wondering if this will pay off, when majority of people are quite happy with good old granite and are not ready to get it ripped out any time soon. Actually I don't know anyone who had ripped out and thrown away their granite countertops in the kitchen remodel. It is still considered an acceptable surface that doesn't require replacement as opposed to formica, tile and corian.

There's more than one poster who thinks granite is getting dated. If someone was in the midst of remodeling their kitchen right now, I'd definitely suggest they consider other surfaces (although I agree with PPs that some selected granite types/colors are still OK). With that said, I certainly wouldn't advocate ripping out perfectly good granite countertops just for the purposes of resale, or to have "the latest and greatest".

I agree with you and we did do a recent kitchen remodel and considered other materials. I was adamant to stay away from granite, but after considering our options and realizing we will be paying on avg 4K more for our countertops, we decided to go with the granite. We chose the color that was fairly easy to incorporate into the modern kitchen design based on multiple professional designer photos. If you browse Houzz.com, for example, you will see granite is still widely used. I also loved the natural pattern of the granite we chose, IMHO, natural stone will not get dated in an of itself, it's whatever the rest of your design is. I saw an example of the kitchen with older dated brown splotchy granite everyone here hates so much, but the cabinets were white and backsplash was gray subway tile, which offset the brown countertop and drew attention from it. It tied together nicely and could be a good example, of how someone inheriting a dated 2005 kitchen with brown granite and maple cabinets could paint the cabinets, change the backsplash and have an updated modern look with the same old countertops.

At the end of the day it's about the price for many people, especially in the price range under 1 mil. I understand if I have money to buy a 2 mil home or want to build one, I want all the top of the line most modern surfaces and upgrades, but for most fixer upper jobs under 1 mil, good old granite is ok as long as it is tastefully executed. Actually, a 2 mil home that went for sale near us had mixed countertops. They had a combination of white marble and white/gray granite, plus butcher block. Apparently the designer decided granite was still good and appropriate for certain use.

I love honed granite and acid washed Bianco Carrara marble.

We are doing a kitchen remodel next year and probably will go with the honed granite. I like the etched marble, but despite the treatment it is still a bit too delicate for my heavy kitchen use. I do much more than mac-n-cheese.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The gnashing of teeth in this thread illustrates the "get a life" thought ...

I think there is one poster on this forum that has some serious issues with granite. I don't know, maybe he/she got ripped off in some granite installation or has some personal business to grind with some local granite supplier. Or maybe she/he trying to justify spending extra $$$ on trendier surfaces and wondering if this will pay off, when majority of people are quite happy with good old granite and are not ready to get it ripped out any time soon. Actually I don't know anyone who had ripped out and thrown away their granite countertops in the kitchen remodel. It is still considered an acceptable surface that doesn't require replacement as opposed to formica, tile and corian.

There's more than one poster who thinks granite is getting dated. If someone was in the midst of remodeling their kitchen right now, I'd definitely suggest they consider other surfaces (although I agree with PPs that some selected granite types/colors are still OK). With that said, I certainly wouldn't advocate ripping out perfectly good granite countertops just for the purposes of resale, or to have "the latest and greatest".

NP: I also loathe granite. It screams 2005 flipper to me. But if you like it, great it's your kitchen. I will be replacing the granite in my new house for something I like better.

Such as what?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The gnashing of teeth in this thread illustrates the "get a life" thought ...

I think there is one poster on this forum that has some serious issues with granite. I don't know, maybe he/she got ripped off in some granite installation or has some personal business to grind with some local granite supplier. Or maybe she/he trying to justify spending extra $$$ on trendier surfaces and wondering if this will pay off, when majority of people are quite happy with good old granite and are not ready to get it ripped out any time soon. Actually I don't know anyone who had ripped out and thrown away their granite countertops in the kitchen remodel. It is still considered an acceptable surface that doesn't require replacement as opposed to formica, tile and corian.

There's more than one poster who thinks granite is getting dated. If someone was in the midst of remodeling their kitchen right now, I'd definitely suggest they consider other surfaces (although I agree with PPs that some selected granite types/colors are still OK). With that said, I certainly wouldn't advocate ripping out perfectly good granite countertops just for the purposes of resale, or to have "the latest and greatest".

NP: I also loathe granite. It screams 2005 flipper to me. But if you like it, great it's your kitchen. I will be replacing the granite in my new house for something I like better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The gnashing of teeth in this thread illustrates the "get a life" thought ...

I think there is one poster on this forum that has some serious issues with granite. I don't know, maybe he/she got ripped off in some granite installation or has some personal business to grind with some local granite supplier. Or maybe she/he trying to justify spending extra $$$ on trendier surfaces and wondering if this will pay off, when majority of people are quite happy with good old granite and are not ready to get it ripped out any time soon. Actually I don't know anyone who had ripped out and thrown away their granite countertops in the kitchen remodel. It is still considered an acceptable surface that doesn't require replacement as opposed to formica, tile and corian.

There's more than one poster who thinks granite is getting dated. If someone was in the midst of remodeling their kitchen right now, I'd definitely suggest they consider other surfaces (although I agree with PPs that some selected granite types/colors are still OK). With that said, I certainly wouldn't advocate ripping out perfectly good granite countertops just for the purposes of resale, or to have "the latest and greatest".

Silly conversation. Most people don't have money to be replacing kitchens every 10 years and don't consider perfectly functioning kitchen that was considered an upgrade 10 years ago to be dated especially when the material is not damaged. When we think dated and in need of being remodeled, we think of kitchens from the 70s and 80s or the cabinets that are made out of cheap MDF that are falling apart, plastic dingy countertops or nasty high maintenance tile countertops with grout falling out. Non-millionaire people buying homes now especially given crazy prices are happy keeping their 10 years ago updated granite kitchens as is.

Anonymous wrote:The gnashing of teeth in this thread illustrates the "get a life" thought ...

I think there is one poster on this forum that has some serious issues with granite. I don't know, maybe he/she got ripped off in some granite installation or has some personal business to grind with some local granite supplier. Or maybe she/he trying to justify spending extra $$$ on trendier surfaces and wondering if this will pay off, when majority of people are quite happy with good old granite and are not ready to get it ripped out any time soon. Actually I don't know anyone who had ripped out and thrown away their granite countertops in the kitchen remodel. It is still considered an acceptable surface that doesn't require replacement as opposed to formica, tile and corian.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Granite is definitely dated. As I said in the other thread, it screams 2002.

And as several of us said in the other thread, you are a moron!

+1, the other counters people want are silstone or quartz which do their best to look like granite but are less maintenance. concrete or glass are fads that will die out soon.

Granite is a fad and done.

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/10599/prediction-2010-granite-countertops-are-so-last-decade

http://hookedonhouses.net/2010/06/09/are-granite-countertops-on-their-way-out/

http://homerenovations.about.com/od/legalsafetyissues/ss/renotrends.htm

I realize DC tends to lag behind in trends and tastes, but come ON.

Um, those links don't really support the point. The first one is a "prediction" that concludes, "don't rule out laminates." Really, you're going to follow that advice?

The second one comes from someone who also thinks that walk-in tubs were a trend, based on what he sees in late-night infomercials. Really? Walk in tubs are in vogue for the olds who also need chair lifts. Personally I'm not taking design advice from this guy: .

The third one just links to the guy recommending laminates and to an article that says, "I just got granite countertops in my kitchen this year and while other more trendy countertop choices may become even more popular than granite, I sure don’t see these being ripped out anytime soon from homes all over the country. I’m thoroughly enjoying my granite and feel quite blessed to have it."

So if you're so insecure that any suggestion that you might be out of style makes you run out and follow the next trend, by all means go for it -- I hear crushed glass is the next big trend in crib materials.

"Lee holds a Master's Degree in English"

fail at home design, also failed at life

The gnashing of teeth in this thread illustrates the "get a life" thought ...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Granite is definitely dated. As I said in the other thread, it screams 2002.

And as several of us said in the other thread, you are a moron!

+1, the other counters people want are silstone or quartz which do their best to look like granite but are less maintenance. concrete or glass are fads that will die out soon.

Granite is a fad and done.

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/10599/prediction-2010-granite-countertops-are-so-last-decade

http://hookedonhouses.net/2010/06/09/are-granite-countertops-on-their-way-out/

http://homerenovations.about.com/od/legalsafetyissues/ss/renotrends.htm

I realize DC tends to lag behind in trends and tastes, but come ON.

Um, those links don't really support the point. The first one is a "prediction" that concludes, "don't rule out laminates." Really, you're going to follow that advice?

The second one comes from someone who also thinks that walk-in tubs were a trend, based on what he sees in late-night infomercials. Really? Walk in tubs are in vogue for the olds who also need chair lifts. Personally I'm not taking design advice from this guy: .

The third one just links to the guy recommending laminates and to an article that says, "I just got granite countertops in my kitchen this year and while other more trendy countertop choices may become even more popular than granite, I sure don’t see these being ripped out anytime soon from homes all over the country. I’m thoroughly enjoying my granite and feel quite blessed to have it."

So if you're so insecure that any suggestion that you might be out of style makes you run out and follow the next trend, by all means go for it -- I hear crushed glass is the next big trend in crib materials.

Whatevs. Enjoy you outdated granite countertops. It's ok. You can always swap it out when you list your house.

We have white granite and modern espresso cabinets and our kitchen looks gorgeous. Why don't you go to houzz.com or some other website to see examples of modern tastefully executed granite installations. If you like the material, go for it. Corian, is so tacky IMO, call it whatever you want, it just a notch better than formica and looks plastic and cheap to me. Silestone looks like polished asphalt or commercial grade cafe or bar counters. Soapstone has very limited color choices and some of them honestly look like cultured marble! Marble looks beautiful, but it's too high maintenance, so we went with white granite instead.

OMG, there has been endless posts on this again and again. It all depends how your countertops tie with the rest of your kitchen. All these materials come in different colors and patterns, you can create a tacky or a classy combination with either of these materials. Choose what works with your budget. Whatever is considered trendy will be more expensive, so you have to be ready to pay 2-5K extra if this is important to you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Granite is definitely dated. As I said in the other thread, it screams 2002.

And as several of us said in the other thread, you are a moron!

+1, the other counters people want are silstone or quartz which do their best to look like granite but are less maintenance. concrete or glass are fads that will die out soon.

Silestone and Quartz with patterns that try to replicate natural stone look terrible and tacky IMO. Better to settle for uniform solid colors when choosing these materials.