We wanted quartz but went with granite as the cost difference was significant and we needed to cut costs where we could so changing the countertop to a less expensive option made the most sense. We splurged and went with marble in the bathrooms for maximum impact in those smaller spaces. The marble, by the way, was more expensive per measure than the granite. I agree that marble countertops in the kitchen don't make sense and when I heard close friends were going to use it in their's I figuratively rolled my eyes. That changed when I saw them. They were custom carpenters and artists and had built their own cabinetry that was painted an untraditional color and also painted an unusual design on the drawer fronts. They had plain, low budget ceramic tile - mustard yellow! - for a number of years while they were saving their money and when they were ready to replace them with stone ones they pulled the trigger and went big with their dream marble. I was astonished when I first saw it and immediately regretted what I had thought about marble before and was a little envious of their choice. They selected a non-veined marble that was a warm off white (almost blending to a yellow/white) that seemed more akin to onyx than it did marble yet it retained marble's unique crystalline structure. The afternoon sun made their stone come alive in a way that I had not experienced before. The effect with their cabinetry was dazzling, unique, and totally them. Unforgettable.
I am very traditional... antiques etc. not into modern stuff really. But what I LOVE ABOUT YOUR reviews is your pure honesty and ability to present alternatives without being judgmental. Thank you . You made my day during this turbulent decade
I think my guardian angel pushed me to find your channel. I am in a process of early stage of building my house. You are a life saver. Thank you for all your videos - short, right to the point, very informative and professionally done - love it ❤.
As someone that worked in this industry, I would completely agree with everything Nick has said in this video. The one point I would add is the consistency of quartz. It's rare, but sometimes additions are made to existing kitchens, or someone really loves the way the kitchen looks and wants to duplicate the finishes in a washroom (or other area). With quartz, as long as the style (model) of quartz is still available, matching the countertops is pretty much a guarantee. Granite being a natural stone can vary immensely. Often two slabs of the same name can look completely different, which won't allow you to achieve the exact look (or match) you're going for.
Wholesaler here. Your advise is spot on regarding each stone. I have marble in my kitchen, and love it. My wife loves it more than the Cambria Quartz we had in our previous home that she picked out. With our marble, which is a hard marble, we can see the stains from the previous home owner, and there are some chips, that I may have caused. BUT, all that being said, it’s beautiful. What I usually ask clients when they’re looking at marble, like Shadow storm or any Calacatta, is “are you the type of person that wants it to look the same on day 1 as day 999? Or are you okay with patina, character, and possible stains?” That usually puts it into perspective for them. The other thing I mention is that I’ve had a little old lady who was adamant about marble in her kitchen, and I asked if she understood the care differences between marble and other stones. She said “there are bistros in Italy that have had marble for 300 years, I think I’ll be okay...” Made sense to me.
I would like my counter tops to look the same on day 1 as day 999. I love the look of granite. I have 5 kids and we spend 99 percent of our time in the kitchen. Could anyone advise me of which stone or quartz will give minimum marks, stains and chips.
@@emeraldno1 Quartz or granite. With Quartz it’s non-porous, so it’s super stain resistant. Never needs to be sealed. More dense than granite, so less likely to be crack or chip and super carefree. Just don’t put anything hot on it.
As someone who works for a kitchen company, there are other important differences. Granite is a natural product, it can very greatly throughout the original stone. So the sample piece in the showroom may end up looking quite different even though they came from same piece of rock. Also if you have joins the two pieces will not look identical and is especially important if there pattern in the rock. It is all cut the same direction and so two corner pieces are going to have mismatched ' grains'. If consistency of colour and pattern is more important to you choose quartz.
They are always being cut the same direction, for book matched slabs the interior of odd/even slabs get polished. If they just polish the top of every slab you get the same direction on each slab.
Depends on the quality of the countertop manufacturers. We always did our best to work with the natural pattern flows to hide seams. Same with when we made 4cm edging on 2cm slab tops.
I'm so glad I found this video. I'm having quartz put into my kitchen, and I've been reading a lot of negative things about it. It was making me nervous all these people saying to go with granite because it's much better. I like a solid, clean look. The movement and color in granite is not what I wanted. Good to know some people do prefer quartz.
What quartz did you select. I don't the contrast and movement of most granites. I do love Carrara marble....and I know all the pitfalls. Trying to make a decision.
So glad to hear some positive things about granite as many designers seem very disenchanted with using this material. Great content - balanced and insightful. Thank you!
Quartz Silestone brand at Home Depot hands down the best. No Sealing, can put hot pans on it, and I could go on. Very durable, looks good with many design options. just my two cents
Thank you for your input and advice. I had pre-sealed granite installed in 2010 in the kitchen and have never had to re-seal it. I love it, it is so durable, I no stains or any issues at all and would do it again.
We built our first home last year (in Queensland, Australia), we opted for caeserstone bench tops in our kitchen and bathroom. It’s a manufactured stone that’s heat and stain resistant. So many colour options too! We love it. My father in law has marble in his bathrooms in his gorgeous house but he regrets it so much! It damages so easily, even the soap dispenser has marked it 😭 Love your videos Nick
We are in the midst of a kitchen renovation right now. I love my granite so much, we paid a good bit to have it lifted and will reuse it with the new cabinetry. It is actually sitting on a robotic dolly right behind my head as I write! Traditional describes my style perfectly, and I love the idea granite has a history and is something that comes from the earth.
As someone who grew up with Formica type countertops and had this in my adult homes until the last 11 years, I am so used to putting down a trivet or hot pad before setting any hot pan onto a counter. I have had quartz for the last 11 years, and love how it looks and performs. One thing that appealed to me over the quartz is that I could get a homogenous look to my surface, instead of the streaking so common in granite. Just my personal aesthetic. love your channel!
Well, I like Soapstone. If I ever own my own home and have the funds, Soapstone it is. Just love the look. And those lovely flagstones on the floor with the varied tones in them.
Nick I appreciate how you approach your content. I like that you don't jump on the internet bandwagon, you form your own opinions without fear. That's probably why enjoy listening to you. Thanks Tina
We redid a minor remodel 2 years ago & chose quartz. Love it! Still looks brand new. Another advantage of quartz is there is a very wide color & veining/graining range, since it is a manufactured product.
Nick, you are beyond amazing my friend. I love interior design tips / home channels and you are quickly becoming my fav because you don't share your preferences as facts; you speak to the masses knowing not everyone has the same style taste. I'm about to do a small kitchen renovation and I need to hear that about marble! 🤣 My home is older for the neighborhood and has dated granite. My neighbors keep telling me to put in marble to up the value. I think I'm leaning to quartz now.
Nick is fabulous, definitely take his advice on the marble 👍. I have marble in the master bath, it’s beautiful but high maintenance. PS. I’m one of your subscribers as well 😉 Happy New Year
My parents have had granite since the late 80's and I never heard or see anyone seal that. We have spilled tomato sauce, red wine, sauces, cleaning products etc. and it still looks as beautiful as the day it was placed.
@@emeraldno1 I don’t know and I doubt they do but it is white with the occasional black dot. I googled it and something between polished grey and oyster white.
Same- we had presealed granite installed 10 years ago and and we’ve never sealed it, it’s never stained, and we put hot pans and cookie sheets right on it with no problems
I would love to hear what you think about polished concrete countertops! Thanks for the videos! I feel like I’m in a super fun design course while watching. You give the tools someone would need to make their own decisions based on their situation and preferences. Such a great approach. Most designers just push their preferences and don’t even recognize there are other viable options. You are awesome.
I have to say, we didn’t know we had to seal our granite when we built our first home, by the time we learned it was too late. That made us hate granite, you can see stain spots on it related to regular use, not much because of cooking though. For me stain resistance is more important that heat resistance since I’m not used to put hot pans in the counter directly anyways. Nice video, thanks for sharing!
Bought my granite 15 years ago. I sealed it with a spray from Home Depot that said 20 year seal. You just spray it, wait 5 minutes and wipe it off. 15 years later with many parties spills of wine and tomato sauce and children there is not one stain on my granite. I also put hot pot on the granite all the time. Granite all the way!
I agree with all your videos!!! So far I watched about 10 though :)))) But, I have marble countertops for 9 years and I cook 3 times a day, every day for family of 4, and I love love love them. It can be done. :))) They are gorgeous!
I've had a light color granite island for around 20 years; it's used extensively for cooking, baking, prep work, etc. with no staining and no burn marks (I DO use trivets ...mostly, but have been known to put a hot pot or dish from the oven right on the granite!) & still love it after all this time! I must say I'm not very good at sealing it on a regular basis either lol. I have a darker granite where I have my cabinets & have never had a problem with them either. I'm going to be renovating part of my kitchen & I'll stick with the Granite 😉 Thanks for the video!
Thanks, good info. I have stainless steel, have had it for 20 years, one piece custom made including sink and backdrop...its perfect! Looks as good as the first day.
I love my granite which is dark colored with silver and blueish speckles. I love it because it is natural and no two stones are exactly alike. I don't have alot of counter space so I can put my hot pots on it and I bake a lot and it is great for rolling out my dough. But I think quartz is gorgeous as well.
Sounds like Blue Pearl, actually (technically, by petrographic definition) not a granite, but a type of gabbro called anorthosite. It's beautiful and I have chosen it for my countertops, planning a light-color gneiss (the home center calls this a granite as well) called Jasmine White for the backsplashes up to the wall cabinets. Like you, I have a smallish kitchen (a galley), and I think the dark horizontal countertops will accent the light-color vertical surfaces (cabinets and stainless appliances), and will also go nicely with the heavy gauge hammered copper sink I found in eBay for less than the same size lightweight stainless sink, and the bronze faucet. It will also make the red small appliances I already have pop in contrast. The natural stone is, for me, a more interesting choice. Quartz just looks bland and soulless.
@@5610winston Wow! You are so knowledgeable. What you are choosing sounds gorgeous. I just feel like everyone is getting the same shaker cabinets and white quartz. My husband actually picked alot of the colors and finishes. He is very artistic. Sound like you are too.
@@jacksmom5233 I studied geology in college, so the word 'granite' has a specific definition to me. I've been planning my kitchen remodel for some months and have looked at a lot of concepts and models. I had thought about the Blue Pearl, but had reservations about it until I saw a display at the home center with almost precisely the color scheme of cabinets and countertops, even an oiled bronze sink, but I want contrasting stone backsplashes for ease of cleaning, and to brighten things. I'm preparing a kitchen to my liking because I plan to age in place. I want to have all my cabinets and appliances here in the house before I start demolition. Shaker cabinets are a nice look, but I'm going with flat slab doors and drawer fronts for ease of cleaning. I have splurged on upper-mid-range Bosch appliances, including oven and cooktop, and a stainless warming drawer and matching stainless storage drawer.
And, true, no two slabs of any natural stone are exactly alike. The 'granites' are more resistant to heat than other surfaces, but that is not to say they can't crack. Please use a trivet or a pad of some sort to protect your investment from hot pots and pans. I hope you enjoy your kitchen for many years to come, and that it brings joy to your family and friends.
Just finished my kitchen remodel recently, went with shaker cabinets, open uppers and quartz countertops in white with a grey veining. Love love love it. I did a charcoal hexagon backsplash behind the floating shelves. Thanks for all of your inspiration.
@@lahawk2931 Hi, I used Corian Quartz in Versilis Grigio, if you google it and look at images it will show you many photos. It has been very durable, non staining, heat resistant and basically no maintenance, which I love. Good luck to you.
Thank you for being truthful about quartz. Granite sealer has come a long way and has a 15 year sealer now. We get so many more chips and problems with cutting quartz and some discoloration with quartz especially with a lot of windows. Don’t get white white quartz with a lot of windows. At the end of the day, pick what you like. At the end of the day granite and quartz are basically even with plus and negatives. Also quartz is sky rocketing in price
We went with quartz for our kitchen and absolutely love it. We also have granite outdoors and love it as well. We built and outdoor 'shed'...okay, really an entertaining bar and shed combined (bar in the spring, summer, fall then converts to a shed in the winter to store our patio furniture). We were told we needed to go with granite since it's more durable and the sun will not fade the design. Honestly, I like the look of quartz best but was concerned with fading over time. So, if you have an outdoor living space you'd like to spruce up, granite is your friend!
I saw this now - maybe a month after making our choice on our future counter tops. We decided to go with granite since granite has more shiny finish, has more variety/randomness in the pattern and - most importantly - we found a granite manufacturer (cosentino) that sells granite that has undergone molecular treatment that makes the surface stain resistant and no re-sealing is needed during the lifetime of the kitchen. The price of course was more than same stone without the treatment, but we are happy with our choice.
Of the two, I usually prefer quartz just from a durability standpoint. However, my fave of faves is soapstone and always will be. It’s got a certain degree of maintenance, yes, but I love the way it ages and the character it develops over time. Truly a timeless material. The fact that it’s inert and doesn’t react to acids and is essentially heatproof is also a big selling point. If it stands up to a chem lab, it will stand up to anything we do in the kitchen!
I love the look of soapstone and Carrara marble. A friend of ours has soapstone in her kitchen and some lovely butcher block that came from an old bakery and "seasoned" to perfection. I have a small 8 x 10 kitchen that I'm trying to decide counters for. I worry that soapstone would appear too dark in time for a tiny space and hubby might have a melt down when Carrara etches or stains. Still at square one weeks later.
We are going with quartzite for our kitchen renovation. I can’t get into the man made look of quartz and most granite is dated. Quartzite is porous similar to marble though, so you do need to be cautious. New to your channel within the past week or so Nick, and love it!
I like the unique look of a natural stone and I want the bold look of strong colors and iridescence on the horizontal surfaces, but a contrasting black and white backsplash. For me, granite is the only way to go.
Beauty wise......there is nothing comparable to exotic level granite slabs. Super expensive and unaffordable to the majority of people, but they are utterly amazing to look at.....almost like a giant gemstone. My favorite is Lumerian Blue.
Hi Nick, Thank you so much for the video. From what we heard from our customers, most of them prefer granite over quartz, mainly because of its durability.
Granite is porous which will stain and harbor germs . You need to have resealed every year or two. It also shows the seams. I had it for 23 years. When we bought and remodeled another home I decided to go with Cambria Quartz. I love it, no seams, no sealing, non porous, so it’s next to impossible to stain and doesn’t harbor germs! If you were to chip it , which is also next to impossible it can be repaired flawlessly. I also had them run it up my backsplash instead of using tile. It creates a seamless , clean and elegant look. I did a lot of research beforehand. Where I live the new homes are using it because it’s become so popular among homebuyers because of all the reasons I previously stated. I know that everyone has their own reasons for choosing whatever type of stone or material. I just enjoy the beauty, durability and easy clean up and not freaking out if someone knocks over a glass of red wine…no biggie…lol
Yay! I am so excited! I see other designers who post a lot of scandi, traditional or country room decor and redesigns. So I am super excited to see what you come up with !!!
Great video. Well explained. As an architect and interior designer, I also love looking at marble, materials and tiles in my spare time. That and traditional Japanese tattoos 🤣
Just had dark honed gray granite countertops installed in my kitchen. I love the natural stone color variation and the fact that they will last the rest of my life
I really like granite for a kitchen because it comes in an infinite number of colors and patterns depending on your budget, and best of all, as you said, you can set a hot pot right on it and it won’t hurt it.
Just note that if you require more than one slab, you'll need to get extremely picky about the slabs themselves, as granite of the same name can vary drastically, especially if they've come from different areas within the quarry.
How I wish I had seen this video a few months ago! When I bought my two year old house, the seller told me the bathroom granite wasn’t sealed, but that just means it gets spots when it gets wet, but the spots disappear when it dries. I thought, no big deal, I can handle wet spots for a few hours, as long as they disappear eventually! What they didn’t tell me is that when granite is not sealed, it stains super easily! So like, if I got soap on it and didn’t wipe it up right away, it left a stain forever. With about 5 stains after a few months, now I’m going to have to pay to get it restored, but this time I’m definitely sealing it! And I’m going to seal the kitchen granite again too, just to be safe!
You could have put soap everywhere, and you'd not be able to see the stains!😊 My mom dropped oil on unsealed slate and she decided to put oil everywhere so we can't notice any stains, and it looks beautiful!
Yeah I think I'll do an in-depth panel moulding video soon with all the details of how I did it. If you're in a rush, it's the Very Square mouldings from Metrie.
I'm so glad you pointed out the problems with marble countertops. Not only is it very porous but it is also soft and can be damaged by a knife. HGTV has been promoting marble countertops of late, and it makes me cringe. Unless you like the old, distressed look, marble is a bad choice.
thanks for the video. i had in my previous house installed carrara marble on my counter tops 20cm thick. never had any issues with staining or burning and no maintenance . chef by profession. also like the idea of cutting on the marble without blunting knife like granite and no cutting marks like quartz . def prefer the natural material
I have loved the look of Carrara for years, but have only had it on accessories. Redoing a small kitchen and despite all the drawbacks, I'm still considering it. Did you purchase a presealed marble? Polished or honed?
Doing a kitchen Reno right now. We already made our choice, quartz, and this video reassured me so thank you! I too tried every way to justify marble but could not. It’s just so beautiful! I’ve got some in my bathroom so I’ll enjoy it there for now.
Awesome video, Nick! Thank you for your help. My wife wants quartz, but I'm a granite kind of guy. There's just something about knowing I'm looking at a product mother nature produced.
I love old houses and apartment buildings and so have been thinking a lot about the best counters for vintage kitchens. Ceramic or porcelain tile or butcher-block countertops seem to be the most durable and least likely to look dated.
The 1935-ish house my parents bought in 1959 had porcelain tile countertops that looked really ratty at that time and my Mom changed things out for (ugh) laminate in the mid-seventies. I had suggested granite at that time, but she said granite looks like a tombstone and went with laminate instead. The laminate began to fray and ravel the first time she ran the dishwasher. It has now fallen to me to keep this hovel livable, and while a new kitchen is a substantial expense, needed structural repairs dictate it. Trying to get all my appliances and materials together before I pull the trigger on the project is a major job in itself, but I don't want to start anything before I have everything I'll need to finish it.
I love your channel! Just wanted to add that it might be good to clarify that not all granite countertops have to be resealed every year, I believe it depends on the manufacturer. We've had our granite countertop for 25 years and nothing seeps into it; it has held up exceptionally through the years!
I love your knowledgeable content and delivery! You rock! 🤗 You are spot on with what I’ve experienced or had the instinct for with this subject! I’ve had a few episodes of sheer panic and alarm involving flushed cheeks, saucer eyes, and a dewy forehead over this very subject. 🙄 🤣 I’ve seen my granite turn colors from wine or dark juices (it always comes out w liquid Barkeepers so it doesn’t scratch)and I’ve never been able to let myself set a super hot pan on the quartz. 😂 Just never felt right. So I’ve thrifted some awesome vintage trivets. 😁 So...HERES THE STORY! It’s sweet n good ❤️ 🏡 I inherited our family home and my mom rocked the design, legit! It’s gorgeous! Amish made custom cabinets in a creamy white w light taupe colored “aging” in crevices and along design lines. There are deep drawers and pull out skillet and pan drawers. Soft close drawers. Vertical stacking for cookie sheets and trays above fridge. The talent and vision my mama possesses! Bless her sweet classy beautiful kind intelligent funny lovely soul, she didn’t live to see her home finished. 💔 I say this because I can’t take credit for the design or execution. Heehee. SO! The MULTI GRANITE ISLAND (tans, browns, whites) houses stove top and oven, pull out 2 can trash drawer and 3 huge drawers (bread toaster etc) w an overhang opposite the oven side for 3 stools so she could stare into her grandchildren’s faces while she cooked for them ❤️ Behind you if facing the stove is the CREAMY WHITE QUARTZ COUNTERTOP that runs from fridge -micro - dishwasher- farm sink then turns into an L bar FILLED w storage 3 HUGE deep drawers (soup pots etc) and more. Bar also has an overhang w 5 stools on the DR side for more babies to look at ☺️❤️) 10 grandkids. 8 of them were stairstep in age 🥰 About 3 ft away from the end of the bar is a built in pantry with 7 MASSIVE pull out shelves and directly above it (as a separate space) is another huge storage (crock pots blender etc). The island cabinets are actually a walnut finish and the rest are the creamy white.. shes a bada** for sure. So I moved my 3 babes into the home we had been so loved in and we have tried our best to make it ours and it is just dreamy really. 2 acres. Country. Many many mature trees. River is 2 minute Gator ride away. Pool. Chicken coop sits across the lane on our other little piece of land. 🐓 🐣 🍳 But here’s what I know to be the truest...I’d burn it down today if it meant mom and dad would be back. Down to the ground. Hug your people, PEOPLE! ❤️ much love to all!
I thought I was going to go with GRANITE, but now I am rethinking everything. I am NOT a fan of needing to do maintenance. I only once put a hot pan on a butcher block and it was really stupid of me, I don't know what I was thinking... well obviously I wasn't, and it burnt a nice ring. A nice looking marble hot pad could solve the heat issue if I decide to go with QUARTZ now. THANK YOU NICK!
I have had builder-installed granite for 10 years and never had an issue with it staining BUT, it never really looks good and shiny, it's always a bit dull and dingy looking, with lots of imperfections, and has a lot of sunken rough "raw" pockets in it that catch on a microfiber towel. Really a totally different look and feel than something like Silestone quartz.
I had granite counter tops in my condo and never sealed them. I didn't know and was never told about "sealing" them. I kept them clean and polished. What I loved most was that they were the perfect cutting board, no scratches or stains. I lived there for ten years and never had issues with staining, etc. Just an FYI and my personal history with granite counter tops. Thank you for the video and wasn't aware about the pitfalls of quartz. Wish list butcher block counter tops - sigh.
Go down to the stone yard and pick out your granite. I found a fabulous slab of Alaskan white (least expensive group) with huge crystals and garnets the size of peas. It was spectacular and not very traditional. It was eye opening to see what was available and buy direct from the stoneyard.
@@Nick_Lewis great!! I bought a house, a house& land package. I guess i dont have many choices picking backsplash, my new house will be built 6 to 8 months starting now. Hope i can show you once it's done😁
Lived in my house with granite kitchen counters for 13 years and have never sealed it. Use a granite cleaner, sometimes windex and even a rubbing alcohol based disinfectant. Never a problem. It has however chipped around the sink where I’ve banged it up w pots and pans. I dunno 🤷♀️ just my experience.
I have black granite and only have used the spray sealer. I love not having to worry about scorching because I use my kitchen to cook, not only for looks.
I love marble too. I did put it in my powder room as a countertop. I figured that was far enough away from red wine and tomatoes. I try to use that bathroom often so I can enjoy my marble. 😅
Thank you for making this so simple to understand, I'm going for granite as I love the fact it's a natural stone and I'm having a country kitchen here in the UK. I like a rustic look as apposed to a modern look. It's very exciting to be doing a kitchen, so many different styles, it's just down to personal taste I guess.
Just wanted to say that you’ve done so well and come so far within one year! As someone who’s come on board within the last 2 months and has mainly watched more recent content of yours I find myself going back in time to some of your earlier vids such as this one. You’ve grown into your own skin with this channel which is really captivating, if you compare this vids aspects of visual, spoken tone and background music to some of your newer vids you can really notice a massive improvement. Or you were just sick 😂 or both 🙃 I’m usually a wordsmith but I’m not sure my words are as cohesive as I’d like them to be but my brain isn’t cohesive as I’d like right now 😂 (that’s such a great word! Thanks for teaching me vocabulary too 😂)
Thank you so much for this video. We are planning a kitchen reno and your videos have been a great help. I’m a tad stressed about the countertops and was wondering what you think of porcelain.
Love your decor intelligence! Always had black granite in all the homes I've lived in.. no complaints. Learnt about sealing in this vid, not sure if I should seal.. dont see a need
Thank you so much for this Nick! In the process of a complete kitchen reno and was definitely considering marble since I cannot find granite that is the color I want. I will now go with quartz thanks to you! You are amazing!! One last thing...any suggestions on a high quality quartz that looks most like marble?
Great video! I learned so much from watching it! I have granite countertops in my kitchen and bathrooms and I genuinely had no idea they need to be re-sealed. Oops!
Great segment on counter tops. Obviously I'm a big fan. However, I'm in need of advice for kitchen/bathroom floors: color, patterns and materials. I'm strongly considering vinyl plank floor. What's your advice?
Hope the two tone cabinets are still in for 2021 as that's what I'm considering to freshen up my kitchen. Renovated in '98 and its currently light wood, I want to say Maple and thinking about painting the bottom cabinets and changing out the hardware. Love your videos by the way. Helping me figure out what I want to do with my living room. Maybe Scandi/Mid-Century. Scandi/Boho might be a bit of a stretch. LOL
Hi Nick, you have helped me in many videos. We moved into our house 2 years ago. I always hear “ live with in a bit” before you change it. Well, the time has come to change our kitchen. We have a big kitchen, but it is not an open concept, so to me, it can be a bit dark. We are going to change the door and drawer faces. The style is too formal for us. The surrounding cabinets are white, which we like. The island is grey with black granite, which I don’t like at all. The granite on the surround is lighter, but with a lot of grey veining. I don’t like this, either. We lean toward a modern kitchen. Our design style is MCM with some Art Deco for accent pieces. Please help us figure our a good color scheme!
Blue granite going into my kitchen next year.... Quite rare color and will cost me 3k for a 10ft counter top finished. 4k for the island,and the bar for 2k. Cabinets are 5k Appliances are 8k. Epoxy flooring. So just for the kitchen will be 22k.
That's so interesting to see how granite is perceived in other cultures. I'm from Brazil and granite is sooo common, it's like people's traditional choice (in the past); now it seems dated and old. Quartz and marble can be very expensive (like double or more the price), but nowadays they're so fashionable and quartz is the first choice of most people. I decided to use granite in my latest renew, even though it is considered tacky here. I fell in love with it completely! I chose one that is white with black dots, it looks like ice cream, I just wanna eat it ehehhe. In Brazil we don't normally seal granite, and it's fine. It will survive as long as you try to clean on the spot. On the other hand, marble it's only for those who don't drink coffee nor wine and also don't cook (it's beautiful, but the stains are REAL and not cute).
I have no use for the idea of choosing a material based on "fashion". My (sealed) granite looks gorgeous, and I couldn't care less what the "fashion" is five years from now.
We wanted quartz but went with granite as the cost difference was significant and we needed to cut costs where we could so changing the countertop to a less expensive option made the most sense. We splurged and went with marble in the bathrooms for maximum impact in those smaller spaces. The marble, by the way, was more expensive per measure than the granite. I agree that marble countertops in the kitchen don't make sense and when I heard close friends were going to use it in their's I figuratively rolled my eyes. That changed when I saw them. They were custom carpenters and artists and had built their own cabinetry that was painted an untraditional color and also painted an unusual design on the drawer fronts. They had plain, low budget ceramic tile - mustard yellow! - for a number of years while they were saving their money and when they were ready to replace them with stone ones they pulled the trigger and went big with their dream marble. I was astonished when I first saw it and immediately regretted what I had thought about marble before and was a little envious of their choice. They selected a non-veined marble that was a warm off white (almost blending to a yellow/white) that seemed more akin to onyx than it did marble yet it retained marble's unique crystalline structure. The afternoon sun made their stone come alive in a way that I had not experienced before. The effect with their cabinetry was dazzling, unique, and totally them. Unforgettable.
I am very traditional... antiques etc. not into modern stuff really. But what I LOVE ABOUT YOUR reviews is your pure honesty and ability to present alternatives without being judgmental. Thank you . You made my day during this turbulent decade
I think my guardian angel pushed me to find your channel. I am in a process of early stage of building my house. You are a life saver. Thank you for all your videos - short, right to the point, very informative and professionally done - love it ❤.
We’re building as well. Went with granite. It’s beautiful. Installing a Pot Filler behind the gas top stove as well. Can’t wait to use that thing lol.
I moved into a newly built house a few months ago - I had some input in material choices but in essence it’s decorating from scratch.
As someone that worked in this industry, I would completely agree with everything Nick has said in this video. The one point I would add is the consistency of quartz. It's rare, but sometimes additions are made to existing kitchens, or someone really loves the way the kitchen looks and wants to duplicate the finishes in a washroom (or other area). With quartz, as long as the style (model) of quartz is still available, matching the countertops is pretty much a guarantee. Granite being a natural stone can vary immensely. Often two slabs of the same name can look completely different, which won't allow you to achieve the exact look (or match) you're going for.
We went with quartz when re-doing our kitchen. Absolutely love the durability and low maintenance.
Love my new quartz too. Absolutely no maintenance! I wipe it down with soapy water and I’m done. I love it!
What quartz did you instal?
@@emeraldno1 I don’t remember the brand but we got it at Lowe’s.
@@emeraldno1 We have Cambria.
Love my Quartz. My kids have cut pomegranates on it-no stains. It is also cool for when I’m working pastry.
Wholesaler here. Your advise is spot on regarding each stone. I have marble in my kitchen, and love it. My wife loves it more than the Cambria Quartz we had in our previous home that she picked out. With our marble, which is a hard marble, we can see the stains from the previous home owner, and there are some chips, that I may have caused. BUT, all that being said, it’s beautiful.
What I usually ask clients when they’re looking at marble, like Shadow storm or any Calacatta, is “are you the type of person that wants it to look the same on day 1 as day 999? Or are you okay with patina, character, and possible stains?” That usually puts it into perspective for them.
The other thing I mention is that I’ve had a little old lady who was adamant about marble in her kitchen, and I asked if she understood the care differences between marble and other stones. She said “there are bistros in Italy that have had marble for 300 years, I think I’ll be okay...” Made sense to me.
I would like my counter tops to look the same on day 1 as day 999. I love the look of granite. I have 5 kids and we spend 99 percent of our time in the kitchen. Could anyone advise me of which stone or quartz will give minimum marks, stains and chips.
@@emeraldno1 Quartz or granite. With Quartz it’s non-porous, so it’s super stain resistant. Never needs to be sealed. More dense than granite, so less likely to be crack or chip and super carefree. Just don’t put anything hot on it.
As someone who works for a kitchen company, there are other important differences. Granite is a natural product, it can very greatly throughout the original stone. So the sample piece in the showroom may end up looking quite different even though they came from same piece of rock. Also if you have joins the two pieces will not look identical and is especially important if there pattern in the rock. It is all cut the same direction and so two corner pieces are going to have mismatched ' grains'.
If consistency of colour and pattern is more important to you choose quartz.
They are always being cut the same direction, for book matched slabs the interior of odd/even slabs get polished. If they just polish the top of every slab you get the same direction on each slab.
Depends on the quality of the countertop manufacturers. We always did our best to work with the natural pattern flows to hide seams. Same with when we made 4cm edging on 2cm slab tops.
I'm so glad I found this video. I'm having quartz put into my kitchen, and I've been reading a lot of negative things about it. It was making me nervous all these people saying to go with granite because it's much better. I like a solid, clean look. The movement and color in granite is not what I wanted. Good to know some people do prefer quartz.
What quartz did you select. I don't the contrast and movement of most granites. I do love Carrara marble....and I know all the pitfalls. Trying to make a decision.
Your decision is a good one.
@@lahawk2931 im leaning toward quartz in a sparkling white. Sandstone brand😳. I hope its a good one
So glad to hear some positive things about granite as many designers seem very disenchanted with using this material. Great content - balanced and insightful. Thank you!
Quartz Silestone brand at Home Depot hands down the best. No Sealing, can put hot pans on it, and I could go on. Very durable, looks good with many design options. just my two cents
Thank you for your input and advice. I had pre-sealed granite installed in 2010 in the kitchen and have never had to re-seal it. I love it, it is so durable, I no stains or any issues at all and would do it again.
Good to hear.
We built our first home last year (in Queensland, Australia), we opted for caeserstone bench tops in our kitchen and bathroom. It’s a manufactured stone that’s heat and stain resistant. So many colour options too! We love it.
My father in law has marble in his bathrooms in his gorgeous house but he regrets it so much! It damages so easily, even the soap dispenser has marked it 😭
Love your videos Nick
Caeserstone is NOT heat resistant anymore than than other quartz. Caeserstone is simply a brand name for a quartz product.
We are in the midst of a kitchen renovation right now. I love my granite so much, we paid a good bit to have it lifted and will reuse it with the new cabinetry. It is actually sitting on a robotic dolly right behind my head as I write! Traditional describes my style perfectly, and I love the idea granite has a history and is something that comes from the earth.
When he spoke about Marble, it felt like he was directly talking to me.😂
As someone who grew up with Formica type countertops and had this in my adult homes until the last 11 years, I am so used to putting down a trivet or hot pad before setting any hot pan onto a counter. I have had quartz for the last 11 years, and love how it looks and performs. One thing that appealed to me over the quartz is that I could get a homogenous look to my surface, instead of the streaking so common in granite. Just my personal aesthetic. love your channel!
Well, I like Soapstone. If I ever own my own home and have the funds, Soapstone it is. Just love the look. And those lovely flagstones on the floor with the varied tones in them.
Nick I appreciate how you approach your content. I like that you don't jump on the internet bandwagon, you form your own opinions without fear. That's probably why enjoy listening to you. Thanks Tina
We redid a minor remodel 2 years ago & chose quartz. Love it! Still looks brand new.
Another advantage of quartz is there is a very wide color & veining/graining range, since it is a manufactured product.
Nick, you are beyond amazing my friend. I love interior design tips / home channels and you are quickly becoming my fav because you don't share your preferences as facts; you speak to the masses knowing not everyone has the same style taste.
I'm about to do a small kitchen renovation and I need to hear that about marble! 🤣 My home is older for the neighborhood and has dated granite. My neighbors keep telling me to put in marble to up the value. I think I'm leaning to quartz now.
Nick is fabulous, definitely take his advice on the marble 👍. I have marble in the master bath, it’s beautiful but high maintenance. PS. I’m one of your subscribers as well 😉 Happy New Year
I've actually seen quartz that looks like marble in my local granite place. They said it's very popular.
Nick, you are my favourite design person.
You just give us the facts and let us decide.
Awesome Job.
Had pre-sealed granite installed in our busy kitchen in 2007, and have had no need to re-seal or any issues with staining.
My parents have had granite since the late 80's and I never heard or see anyone seal that. We have spilled tomato sauce, red wine, sauces, cleaning products etc. and it still looks as beautiful as the day it was placed.
What granite did your parents have?
@@emeraldno1 I don’t know and I doubt they do but it is white with the occasional black dot. I googled it and something between polished grey and oyster white.
Same- we had presealed granite installed 10 years ago and and we’ve never sealed it, it’s never stained, and we put hot pans and cookie sheets right on it with no problems
I had a white and black granite countertop and it got stained brown by coffee.
I would love to hear what you think about polished concrete countertops! Thanks for the videos! I feel like I’m in a super fun design course while watching. You give the tools someone would need to make their own decisions based on their situation and preferences. Such a great approach. Most designers just push their preferences and don’t even recognize there are other viable options. You are awesome.
In a word, tacky. Concrete always looks like concrete no matter how you color it, finish it, etc. It's still concrete.
I have to say, we didn’t know we had to seal our granite when we built our first home, by the time we learned it was too late. That made us hate granite, you can see stain spots on it related to regular use, not much because of cooking though. For me stain resistance is more important that heat resistance since I’m not used to put hot pans in the counter directly anyways. Nice video, thanks for sharing!
Bought my granite 15 years ago. I sealed it with a spray from Home Depot that said 20 year seal. You just spray it, wait 5 minutes and wipe it off. 15 years later with many parties spills of wine and tomato sauce and children there is not one stain on my granite. I also put hot pot on the granite all the time. Granite all the way!
I agree with all your videos!!! So far I watched about 10 though :)))) But, I have marble countertops for 9 years and I cook 3 times a day, every day for family of 4, and I love love love them. It can be done. :))) They are gorgeous!
I've had a light color granite island for around 20 years; it's used extensively for cooking, baking, prep work, etc. with no staining and no burn marks (I DO use trivets ...mostly, but have been known to put a hot pot or dish from the oven right on the granite!) & still love it after all this time! I must say I'm not very good at sealing it on a regular basis either lol. I have a darker granite where I have my cabinets & have never had a problem with them either. I'm going to be renovating part of my kitchen & I'll stick with the Granite 😉 Thanks for the video!
Thanks, good info. I have stainless steel, have had it for 20 years, one piece custom made including sink and backdrop...its perfect! Looks as good as the first day.
I love my granite which is dark colored with silver and blueish speckles. I love it because it is natural and no two stones are exactly alike. I don't have alot of counter space so I can put my hot pots on it and I bake a lot and it is great for rolling out my dough. But I think quartz is gorgeous as well.
Sounds like Blue Pearl, actually (technically, by petrographic definition) not a granite, but a type of gabbro called anorthosite. It's beautiful and I have chosen it for my countertops, planning a light-color gneiss (the home center calls this a granite as well) called Jasmine White for the backsplashes up to the wall cabinets.
Like you, I have a smallish kitchen (a galley), and I think the dark horizontal countertops will accent the light-color vertical surfaces (cabinets and stainless appliances), and will also go nicely with the heavy gauge hammered copper sink I found in eBay for less than the same size lightweight stainless sink, and the bronze faucet. It will also make the red small appliances I already have pop in contrast.
The natural stone is, for me, a more interesting choice. Quartz just looks bland and soulless.
@@5610winston
Wow! You are so knowledgeable. What you are choosing sounds gorgeous. I just feel like everyone is getting the same shaker cabinets and white quartz. My husband actually picked alot of the colors and finishes. He is very artistic. Sound like you are too.
@@jacksmom5233 I studied geology in college, so the word 'granite' has a specific definition to me.
I've been planning my kitchen remodel for some months and have looked at a lot of concepts and models. I had thought about the Blue Pearl, but had reservations about it until I saw a display at the home center with almost precisely the color scheme of cabinets and countertops, even an oiled bronze sink, but I want contrasting stone backsplashes for ease of cleaning, and to brighten things.
I'm preparing a kitchen to my liking because I plan to age in place. I want to have all my cabinets and appliances here in the house before I start demolition.
Shaker cabinets are a nice look, but I'm going with flat slab doors and drawer fronts for ease of cleaning.
I have splurged on upper-mid-range Bosch appliances, including oven and cooktop, and a stainless warming drawer and matching stainless storage drawer.
And, true, no two slabs of any natural stone are exactly alike. The 'granites' are more resistant to heat than other surfaces, but that is not to say they can't crack. Please use a trivet or a pad of some sort to protect your investment from hot pots and pans. I hope you enjoy your kitchen for many years to come, and that it brings joy to your family and friends.
Just finished my kitchen remodel recently, went with shaker cabinets, open uppers and quartz countertops in white with a grey veining. Love love love it. I did a charcoal hexagon backsplash behind the floating shelves. Thanks for all of your inspiration.
What quartz did you get. Sounds like I'm looking for something similar to yours. Would love a photo.
@@lahawk2931 Hi, I used Corian Quartz in Versilis Grigio, if you google it and look at images it will show you many photos. It has been very durable, non staining, heat resistant and basically no maintenance, which I love. Good luck to you.
versilia grigio, sorry I misspelled it
@@pamelam.7789 Thank you. Pamela!!
Thank you!! I was leaning towards quartz, but second guessing. SO glad I found you!
Thanks!
You're welcome!
Thank you for being truthful about quartz. Granite sealer has come a long way and has a 15 year sealer now. We get so many more chips and problems with cutting quartz and some discoloration with quartz especially with a lot of windows. Don’t get white white quartz with a lot of windows. At the end of the day, pick what you like. At the end of the day granite and quartz are basically even with plus and negatives. Also quartz is sky rocketing in price
Found this when I was googling how to clean my quartz countertops and surprise I’m already subscribed!
We went with quartz for our kitchen and absolutely love it. We also have granite outdoors and love it as well. We built and outdoor 'shed'...okay, really an entertaining bar and shed combined (bar in the spring, summer, fall then converts to a shed in the winter to store our patio furniture). We were told we needed to go with granite since it's more durable and the sun will not fade the design. Honestly, I like the look of quartz best but was concerned with fading over time. So, if you have an outdoor living space you'd like to spruce up, granite is your friend!
I saw this now - maybe a month after making our choice on our future counter tops. We decided to go with granite since granite has more shiny finish, has more variety/randomness in the pattern and - most importantly - we found a granite manufacturer (cosentino) that sells granite that has undergone molecular treatment that makes the surface stain resistant and no re-sealing is needed during the lifetime of the kitchen. The price of course was more than same stone without the treatment, but we are happy with our choice.
Of the two, I usually prefer quartz just from a durability standpoint. However, my fave of faves is soapstone and always will be. It’s got a certain degree of maintenance, yes, but I love the way it ages and the character it develops over time. Truly a timeless material. The fact that it’s inert and doesn’t react to acids and is essentially heatproof is also a big selling point. If it stands up to a chem lab, it will stand up to anything we do in the kitchen!
I love the look of soapstone and Carrara marble. A friend of ours has soapstone in her kitchen and some lovely butcher block that came from an old bakery and "seasoned" to perfection. I have a small 8 x 10 kitchen that I'm trying to decide counters for. I worry that soapstone would appear too dark in time for a tiny space and hubby might have a melt down when Carrara etches or stains. Still at square one weeks later.
I love my quartz! Looks like marble without the fuss. Looks so good against my stone back splash.
I am actually getting snow white quartz in our new kitchen and will have a stone backsplash. I would love to see yours!
@@courtneyszkopinski607 I wish I could show you! I'd be curious to see yours as well!
I have a marble look quartz counter and real marble backsplash. It looks great.
We are going with quartzite for our kitchen renovation. I can’t get into the man made look of quartz and most granite is dated. Quartzite is porous similar to marble though, so you do need to be cautious. New to your channel within the past week or so Nick, and love it!
I like the unique look of a natural stone and I want the bold look of strong colors and iridescence on the horizontal surfaces, but a contrasting black and white backsplash.
For me, granite is the only way to go.
Ok so I have watched at least 8 videos on the different counter tops you made this easy to understand. Ty
Beauty wise......there is nothing comparable to exotic level granite slabs. Super expensive and unaffordable to the majority of people, but they are utterly amazing to look at.....almost like a giant gemstone. My favorite is Lumerian Blue.
I'm not sure why UA-cam is recommending my channel from this one, but I'm grateful for it!
Having had both, I prefer quartz. I have marble piece next to the stove for hot pans.
Personally, I prefer granite, but I should give quartz a shot after watching this video.
Hi Nick, Thank you so much for the video. From what we heard from our customers, most of them prefer granite over quartz, mainly because of its durability.
Granite is porous which will stain and harbor germs . You need to have resealed every year or two. It also shows the seams. I had it for 23 years. When we bought and remodeled another home I decided to go with Cambria Quartz. I love it, no seams, no sealing, non porous, so it’s next to impossible to stain and doesn’t harbor germs! If you were to chip it , which is also next to impossible it can be repaired flawlessly. I also had them run it up my backsplash instead of using tile. It creates a seamless , clean and elegant look. I did a lot of research beforehand. Where I live the new homes are using it because it’s become so popular among homebuyers because of all the reasons I previously stated. I know that everyone has their own reasons for choosing whatever type of stone or material. I just enjoy the beauty, durability and easy clean up and not freaking out if someone knocks over a glass of red wine…no biggie…lol
I would love to see more videos helping those of us that love modern home decor styling ! Hauls and must haves etc
More to come!
Yay! I am so excited! I see other designers who post a lot of scandi, traditional or country room decor and redesigns. So I am super excited to see what you come up with !!!
Great video. Well explained. As an architect and interior designer, I also love looking at marble, materials and tiles in my spare time. That and traditional Japanese tattoos 🤣
Just had dark honed gray granite countertops installed in my kitchen. I love the natural stone color variation and the fact that they will last the rest of my life
Those sounds beautiful. I love quartz but I love the look of natural stone!
Sounds beautiful! Love the honed surface
I really like granite for a kitchen because it comes in an infinite number of colors and patterns depending on your budget, and best of all, as you said, you can set a hot pot right on it and it won’t hurt it.
Just note that if you require more than one slab, you'll need to get extremely picky about the slabs themselves, as granite of the same name can vary drastically, especially if they've come from different areas within the quarry.
@@myNarrator that’s why you get slabs from the same bundle. Not that much different
@@2uudr3yyy Good luck finding a slab from the "same bundle" a year later
@@myNarrator story of my life ha
How I wish I had seen this video a few months ago! When I bought my two year old house, the seller told me the bathroom granite wasn’t sealed, but that just means it gets spots when it gets wet, but the spots disappear when it dries. I thought, no big deal, I can handle wet spots for a few hours, as long as they disappear eventually!
What they didn’t tell me is that when granite is not sealed, it stains super easily! So like, if I got soap on it and didn’t wipe it up right away, it left a stain forever. With about 5 stains after a few months, now I’m going to have to pay to get it restored, but this time I’m definitely sealing it! And I’m going to seal the kitchen granite again too, just to be safe!
You could have put soap everywhere, and you'd not be able to see the stains!😊
My mom dropped oil on unsealed slate and she decided to put oil everywhere so we can't notice any stains, and it looks beautiful!
Can we have a closeup of that wood and panelling combo? I’m thinking of doing something similar
Yeah I think I'll do an in-depth panel moulding video soon with all the details of how I did it. If you're in a rush, it's the Very Square mouldings from Metrie.
there were these stone shops on my way to school, always loved granite, those giant slabs of many colors
I'm so glad you pointed out the problems with marble countertops. Not only is it very porous but it is also soft and can be damaged by a knife. HGTV has been promoting marble countertops of late, and it makes me cringe. Unless you like the old, distressed look, marble is a bad choice.
thanks for the video. i had in my previous house installed carrara marble on my counter tops 20cm thick. never had any issues with staining or burning and no maintenance . chef by profession. also like the idea of cutting on the marble without blunting knife like granite and no cutting marks like quartz . def prefer the natural material
I have loved the look of Carrara for years, but have only had it on accessories. Redoing a small kitchen and despite all the drawbacks, I'm still considering it. Did you purchase a presealed marble? Polished or honed?
Doing a kitchen Reno right now. We already made our choice, quartz, and this video reassured me so thank you! I too tried every way to justify marble but could not. It’s just so beautiful! I’ve got some in my bathroom so I’ll enjoy it there for now.
Great video! I fell in love with, and decided on, Corian. Yes, I was surprised too!
Awesome video, Nick! Thank you for your help. My wife wants quartz, but I'm a granite kind of guy. There's just something about knowing I'm looking at a product mother nature produced.
Oh, how I love this channel and all the researched information. The best part in your delivery. Thank you!
thank you for your honesty about marble in the kitchen
I love old houses and apartment buildings and so have been thinking a lot about the best counters for vintage kitchens. Ceramic or porcelain tile or butcher-block countertops seem to be the most durable and least likely to look dated.
Those two products are also the nastiest regarding bacteria.
The 1935-ish house my parents bought in 1959 had porcelain tile countertops that looked really ratty at that time and my Mom changed things out for (ugh) laminate in the mid-seventies.
I had suggested granite at that time, but she said granite looks like a tombstone and went with laminate instead. The laminate began to fray and ravel the first time she ran the dishwasher.
It has now fallen to me to keep this hovel livable, and while a new kitchen is a substantial expense, needed structural repairs dictate it. Trying to get all my appliances and materials together before I pull the trigger on the project is a major job in itself, but I don't want to start anything before I have everything I'll need to finish it.
I love your channel! Just wanted to add that it might be good to clarify that not all granite countertops have to be resealed every year, I believe it depends on the manufacturer. We've had our granite countertop for 25 years and nothing seeps into it; it has held up exceptionally through the years!
Sometimes granite has enough going on with its natural pattern the you don't notice stains.
Sealing by the manufacturer should last many years vs. customer sealing which has to be redone annually.
Do you think one is a better choice for rental over other? Granite staining and quartz scorching. Thank you
I agree with you about marble! I have a marble dining room table and every little thing leaves a mark. It is pretty but a lot of work!!
I love your knowledgeable content and delivery! You rock! 🤗 You are spot on with what I’ve experienced or had the instinct for with this subject! I’ve had a few episodes of sheer panic and alarm involving flushed cheeks, saucer eyes, and a dewy forehead over this very subject. 🙄 🤣 I’ve seen my granite turn colors from wine or dark juices (it always comes out w liquid Barkeepers so it doesn’t scratch)and I’ve never been able to let myself set a super hot pan on the quartz. 😂 Just never felt right. So I’ve thrifted some awesome vintage trivets. 😁
So...HERES THE STORY! It’s sweet n good ❤️ 🏡 I inherited our family home and my mom rocked the design, legit! It’s gorgeous! Amish made custom cabinets in a creamy white w light taupe colored “aging” in crevices and along design lines. There are deep drawers and pull out skillet and pan drawers. Soft close drawers. Vertical stacking for cookie sheets and trays above fridge. The talent and vision my mama possesses! Bless her sweet classy beautiful kind intelligent funny lovely soul, she didn’t live to see her home finished. 💔 I say this because I can’t take credit for the design or execution. Heehee. SO! The MULTI GRANITE ISLAND (tans, browns, whites) houses stove top and oven, pull out 2 can trash drawer and 3 huge drawers (bread toaster etc) w an overhang opposite the oven side for 3 stools so she could stare into her grandchildren’s faces while she cooked for them ❤️ Behind you if facing the stove is the CREAMY WHITE QUARTZ COUNTERTOP that runs from fridge -micro - dishwasher- farm sink then turns into an L bar FILLED w storage 3 HUGE deep drawers (soup pots etc) and more. Bar also has an overhang w 5 stools on the DR side for more babies to look at ☺️❤️) 10 grandkids. 8 of them were stairstep in age 🥰 About 3 ft away from the end of the bar is a built in pantry with 7 MASSIVE pull out shelves and directly above it (as a separate space) is another huge storage (crock pots blender etc). The island cabinets are actually a walnut finish and the rest are the creamy white.. shes a bada** for sure. So I moved my 3 babes into the home we had been so loved in and we have tried our best to make it ours and it is just dreamy really. 2 acres. Country. Many many mature trees. River is 2 minute Gator ride away. Pool. Chicken coop sits across the lane on our other little piece of land. 🐓 🐣 🍳 But here’s what I know to be the truest...I’d burn it down today if it meant mom and dad would be back. Down to the ground. Hug your people, PEOPLE! ❤️ much love to all!
I thought I was going to go with GRANITE, but now I am rethinking everything. I am NOT a fan of needing to do maintenance. I only once put a hot pan on a butcher block and it was really stupid of me, I don't know what I was thinking... well obviously I wasn't, and it burnt a nice ring. A nice looking marble hot pad could solve the heat issue if I decide to go with QUARTZ now. THANK YOU NICK!
Could you review recycled glass counter tops, please?
Agree!
Hahaha xD I needed to hear that advice on marble, THANK YOU, you are just amazing!
Absolutely agree
In the middle of a kitchen reno and I went with granite. I'm lame enough to transfer a hot pot to my counters so I decided to play it safe! lol
I have had builder-installed granite for 10 years and never had an issue with it staining BUT, it never really looks good and shiny, it's always a bit dull and dingy looking, with lots of imperfections, and has a lot of sunken rough "raw" pockets in it that catch on a microfiber towel. Really a totally different look and feel than something like Silestone quartz.
I had granite counter tops in my condo and never sealed them. I didn't know and was never told about "sealing" them. I kept them clean and polished. What I loved most was that they were the perfect cutting board, no scratches or stains. I lived there for ten years and never had issues with staining, etc. Just an FYI and my personal history with granite counter tops. Thank you for the video and wasn't aware about the pitfalls of quartz. Wish list butcher block counter tops - sigh.
Yes, no marble in the kitchen. Thanks for the message 👍
Go down to the stone yard and pick out your granite. I found a fabulous slab of Alaskan white (least expensive group) with huge crystals and garnets the size of peas. It was spectacular and not very traditional. It was eye opening to see what was available and buy direct from the stoneyard.
Do you have video tips on choosing backsplash for kitchens?
I don't yet but that's coming soon. Stay tuned!
@@Nick_Lewis great!! I bought a house, a house& land package. I guess i dont have many choices picking backsplash, my new house will be built 6 to 8 months starting now. Hope i can show you once it's done😁
I am addicted to your videos, they are all so helpful! Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.
Loved the comment about marble not being good in the kitchen. I've always wondered about that! You saved me so much time.
I personally think that Quartz products are so good and are a wonderful way to mimic marble without the hassle.
Lived in my house with granite kitchen counters for 13 years and have never sealed it. Use a granite cleaner, sometimes windex and even a rubbing alcohol based disinfectant. Never a problem. It has however chipped around the sink where I’ve banged it up w pots and pans. I dunno 🤷♀️ just my experience.
Is it safe to use toaster ovens and air fryers on quartz counter top?
I have black granite and only have used the spray sealer. I love not having to worry about scorching because I use my kitchen to cook, not only for looks.
I love marble too. I did put it in my powder room as a countertop. I figured that was far enough away from red wine and tomatoes. I try to use that bathroom often so I can enjoy my marble. 😅
Thank you for making this so simple to understand, I'm going for granite as I love the fact it's a natural stone and I'm having a country kitchen here in the UK. I like a rustic look as apposed to a modern look. It's very exciting to be doing a kitchen, so many different styles, it's just down to personal taste I guess.
Just wanted to say that you’ve done so well and come so far within one year! As someone who’s come on board within the last 2 months and has mainly watched more recent content of yours I find myself going back in time to some of your earlier vids such as this one. You’ve grown into your own skin with this channel which is really captivating, if you compare this vids aspects of visual, spoken tone and background music to some of your newer vids you can really notice a massive improvement. Or you were just sick 😂 or both 🙃
I’m usually a wordsmith but I’m not sure my words are as cohesive as I’d like them to be but my brain isn’t cohesive as I’d like right now 😂 (that’s such a great word! Thanks for teaching me vocabulary too 😂)
A good alternative is the porcelain countertops like Dekton. They are heat-resistant, but more expensive than a high-end quartz.
I did need to hear about the marble. Thank you. I thought of the three as being essentially interchangeable. Good to hear they are not.
I love your voice and the way you talk, it’s sooo soothing. Opposite of most youtube videos. Subscribing!!!
I love love love how u explain the products & all the difference,will be watching u every Tuesday.👌🏾👏🏾👍🏽
Thank you so much for this video. We are planning a kitchen reno and your videos have been a great help. I’m a tad stressed about the countertops and was wondering what you think of porcelain.
Love your decor intelligence! Always had black granite in all the homes I've lived in.. no complaints. Learnt about sealing in this vid, not sure if I should seal.. dont see a need
Nice explanation of the countertop choices. Thanks.
What are your thoughts on porcelain slabs for counters/backsplash?
Thank you so much for this Nick! In the process of a complete kitchen reno and was definitely considering marble since I cannot find granite that is the color I want. I will now go with quartz thanks to you! You are amazing!! One last thing...any suggestions on a high quality quartz that looks most like marble?
There's always Quartzite (natural) and stunning array of colors, movement, etc.
Great video! I learned so much from watching it! I have granite countertops in my kitchen and bathrooms and I genuinely had no idea they need to be re-sealed. Oops!
Yup they do! You can buy the basic sealer spray from amazon though which is really easy, even if you don’t bring in a pro!
What is your thought on Corian?
Great segment on counter tops. Obviously I'm a big fan. However, I'm in need of advice for kitchen/bathroom floors: color, patterns and materials. I'm strongly considering vinyl plank floor. What's your advice?
Soapstone, soapstone, soapstone! It’s non-porous, beautiful and just like mine!
It's nice if you're going for a matte finish.
Hope the two tone cabinets are still in for 2021 as that's what I'm considering to freshen up my kitchen. Renovated in '98 and its currently light wood, I want to say Maple and thinking about painting the bottom cabinets and changing out the hardware. Love your videos by the way. Helping me figure out what I want to do with my living room. Maybe Scandi/Mid-Century. Scandi/Boho might be a bit of a stretch. LOL
Hi Nick, you have helped me in many videos. We moved into our house 2 years ago. I always hear “ live with in a bit” before you change it. Well, the time has come to change our kitchen. We have a big kitchen, but it is not an open concept, so to me, it can be a bit dark. We are going to change the door and drawer faces. The style is too formal for us. The surrounding cabinets are white, which we like. The island is grey with black granite, which I don’t like at all. The granite on the surround is lighter, but with a lot of grey veining. I don’t like this, either. We lean toward a modern kitchen. Our design style is MCM with some Art Deco for accent pieces. Please help us figure our a good color scheme!
Nick I love your wall clock. Is it possible for you to share where you got it?
Blue granite going into my kitchen next year.... Quite rare color and will cost me 3k for a 10ft counter top finished.
4k for the island,and the bar for 2k.
Cabinets are 5k
Appliances are 8k.
Epoxy flooring.
So just for the kitchen will be 22k.
Thanks for a really helpful and informative video . Easy and simple to understand , which is just what I was looking for .
Thanks for your honest opinion.
That's so interesting to see how granite is perceived in other cultures. I'm from Brazil and granite is sooo common, it's like people's traditional choice (in the past); now it seems dated and old. Quartz and marble can be very expensive (like double or more the price), but nowadays they're so fashionable and quartz is the first choice of most people. I decided to use granite in my latest renew, even though it is considered tacky here. I fell in love with it completely! I chose one that is white with black dots, it looks like ice cream, I just wanna eat it ehehhe. In Brazil we don't normally seal granite, and it's fine. It will survive as long as you try to clean on the spot. On the other hand, marble it's only for those who don't drink coffee nor wine and also don't cook (it's beautiful, but the stains are REAL and not cute).
I have no use for the idea of choosing a material based on "fashion". My (sealed) granite looks gorgeous, and I couldn't care less what the "fashion" is five years from now.
soapstone is also great and very beautiful 🙂