A Granite Instead of Marble?
Dear Tom:
I have been gathering info on kitchen counter choices for over 2 months. There are so many options and then so many conflicting opinions that I’m worried I’ll never figure this out. Am doing a new kitchen with white (I call them white white meaning not off white) cabinets and 2 islands one matching the white cabinets and one black. It is a simple design somewhat farm or country style. We are doing medium to dark random plank floors. I want to do a large custom copper sink but am flexible if it wouldn’t work with the counters.
What i want is white marble (carrera or calacatta gold) for the island counters and something dark like soapstone for the perimeter counters.. it is a large kitchen so lots of counter. My husband does not want me to do soapstone so am looking for a granite to give that soapstone look. I was told honed absolute black would work but then I read many horror stories online about it. What do you think of honed jet mist or virginia mist? are they the same granite? Also what about all these different finishes? Honed, velvet, suede, brushed? Do you think marble is ok for kitchen? The fabricator we are thinking about using says they recommend it if honed and sealed properly. My husband drinks red wine every night and one of the islands has a raised bar height end which will get heavy use when we entertain. If we could get comfortable with marble I sometimes think we should do all the counters in it.
Someone told me Donna Sandra Granite looks a lot like Carrera marble. Do you know anything about it? Could you please give me some ideas for these counters and also try and clarify for me what is positive and negative about marble and or granite. I currently have polished ubatuba and do not want the shine and sparkle look in my new kitchen. Thanks for your help you are providing a much needed resource on such a confusing topic. I think you’re great sending the money from this to such a worthy charity.
Sincerely,
Cathyp.s. I should have told you I’m open to looking at any suggestions — color or surface. I do love copper and pewter and my kitchen needs to work with both of them.
Hello Cathy,
I will give you the facts in response to your questions and some personal comments. From that you can make decisions based on your maintenance expectations and desired color décor.
First of all, Carrara and Calacatta are both white marbles from Italy as you know. Before mining technology allowed granites to be extracted, the most popular choice for a stone kitchen countertop was white marble. Carrara Marble being the most widely available and least expensive became commonplace in Italy. Fast forward a couple hundred years and Carrara Marble on countertops still draws an old world Italian charm yet because of the lower maintenance alternative (granite) it comes with sacrifice. Unlike granite, marble is softer than steel and made of mostly porous Calcium Carbonate; therefore, it scratches and stains easily.
Unfortunately, you can not just seal marble and use cutting boards to eliminate the maintenance issues. Because Calcium Carbonate is acid-sensitive, marble will etch from acid in fruit juice and wine. Wine spilled on a professionally sealer marble countertop will still be stained overnight. The only exception to this is a when a topical sealer high in silicone is applied but this will leave your countertop looking polished, not honed.
If you do choose Carrara or Calacatta Marble, you need to be either extremely diligent to use coasters and cutting boards, or you need to have the Italian mentality and just not care about stains or scratches. It is true that the Italians really feel that the stains and scratches just show the classic antiquity of marble and the old world it renders.
Regarding Soapstone, if Martha Stuart didn’t like it, I don’t know who would. This is a very dense, non-porous stone but extremely soft. Your fingernail can scratch it. Basic Soapstone maintenance involves sanding down scratches and using mineral oil to even out the variations after sanding. If you THINK you might like Soapstone, then you don’t. If you want a divorce, then this is a good choice. I rarely find two people in the same room that like Soapstone.
Honed finished granite is problematic if not professional sealed. Granite is hard but the orthoclase minerals and the microscopic gaps between then can be somewhat porous. That issue is successfully avoided after it is professionally sealed. However, honed granites love to show smudges from wipe cleaning and thumb prints. Dark colors are worse than light ones. If you search Absolute Black Granite on my blog, you will see how much I discourage using Honed Absolute Black Granite. That being said, I do know the Virginia Black Granite very well. It is the same stone as Jet Mist. This was very popular granite for government building in the early 1900’s. I never thought of this granite for a kitchen countertop before but it might be the perfect color for those looking for a honed black that does not create the ‘flat black’ maintenance issues. If you use this granite on the perimeter and ask you husband to keep the wine off the Carrara White islands, then I really can see this combination working in an old-world euro-style décor.
Ok, but here are some other options to think about. First all, Donna Sandra Granite? In 18 years, I have never heard of it. It is probably a fictitious name. Basically, select a white granite color that you like and have it professional sealed. I suggest looking at Bianco Romano Granite or White Springs Granite. If you can find White Springs in your area, that would be the best choice. These granite colors are from Brazil and you can see swatches of them at www.GraniteStock.com.
I do like the Jet Mist honed choice. I think that is a very good choice. Bianco Romano or White Springs would compliment the Jet Mist well. With this color combination and the described décor, a flat edge detail with minimal overhang would be best. A copper sink on the white granite would look granite. On the Black surface, I’d highly recommend white porcelain as copper won’t work at all.
My best wishes!
June 19th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Hi Tom,
I’ve been told that there’s a granite derivative called quartzite, and have actually seen pictures of a variety called White Palisades that looks great. It is supposedly harder than marble, but resembles it in most other ways.
I live in NC, and can’t seem to locate it anywhere within 100 miles of here, and no one has any idea where to find it.
Do you know about it, and if so, what are your recommendations? Is it as durable as I’ve been told?
Thanks,
Bobby
July 10th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Two months ago we had Volga Blue (anorthosite) stone countertops installed. The fabricatior knew that they did not need sealing. I have begun to notice rings from water that do not wipe out, or go away with cleaning. Also it seems like my counters smear when I wipe them unless, I wipe them dry as I go along. I have only used MB-F from Marblecleaning.org, it does not have a sealer in it. From my research this problem should not be occuring with this stone. What do you suspect is the cause? What is the remedy? I intend to have the fabricator out to deal with it, but I want to know what it is beofre he tries to put a wax or something else on it. Is it possible that this is sealer sitting on top?
July 12th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Thanks for the opportunity to ask a question. We are beginning a complete kitchen remodel, and we are really struggling with our countertop decision. Our perimeter cabinetry is antique white, and there is a dark stained island in the center of the kitchen. The hardwood floors are somewhat dark as well. It is a large space that gets a lot of natural light. My decorator had suggested using the black honed granite, but I’ve read your concerns and do not want to set myself up for those issues. I love the look of soapstone, but I cringe at the thought of wiping the countertops down with mineral oil weekly/monthly. So, therein lies the decision of which granite to use. Everyone tells me that the darker granites are extremely hard to keep looking clean and print free, but I’m afraid a lighter color will look washed out. Is there a dark choice (other than black) that would complement my color scheme? My husband is not a huge fan of large variations and movement in the granite, so I feel somewhat limited. Could you possibly suggest some choices for me to consider? Many thanks…
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
We just installed Calacatta honed marble in our kitchen. I was wondering what I can use to clean the counters with and keep them sanitary. Thanks.
August 9th, 2008 at 7:46 am
I’m remodeling my kitchen, vintage, with off-white cabinets inset cabinets, and I’m contemplating soap stone countertops vs. honed black granite. The kitchen is open to the great room which has many windows and opens to the San Francisco Bay. I want to do soap stone or black honed granite for the kitchen counters, and carrera or Calacutta marble for the hutch. My delema is which stone to use, the soap stone with the carrera or calcutta, or the black honed granite with carrea or calacutta marble for the accents. My husband does not what white cabinets, so we are going with an off-white. The floors will be oak with a medium stain.
The house was originally built in the late 1800’s and has a lot of character and charm.
What direction do you think I should go insofar as countertops are concerned. We have two small children and do not want to worry about damaging countertops.
I look forward to your response.
January 26th, 2009 at 11:56 am
You are great..Thks Small kitchen (condo) , white cabinets, porcelain sink, light hard wood floors…Stainless appliances Thinking of White Fantasy Style of home conservative Queen Ann furniture
August 2nd, 2009 at 8:31 am
I would like to know the mineals that are in White Springs Granite? is there any calcite? I would like to put this in a bathroom vanity and shower. we have very hard water and i am looking for somethng that doesn’t show it as bad. Also what kind of sealer do yu reccommend for the professional to use? water based or oil based? How often do you think i would need to reseal the shower & vanith using the White springs?
August 8th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Tom, Just read your anwer about alternatives to carrara mable & soapstone in a kitchen. I have a 100+ year old home and loved both these product, but didn’t want the maintenace problems (I have two young boys). I bought Jet Mist honed and color enhanced it…it’s as close to soapstone as I’ve ever seen! Maintenance is not a problem & I love how it looks. Is Jet Mist mined in Virginia? Isn’t that unusual to have granite mined in the US? I paid a premium for the product, but it was only available at one supplier in St. Louis.
Also, have you heard of Moonlight granite? It looks very close to carrara marble. I’ve had trouble finding it.
Thanks, Kelli
January 12th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Dear Tom,
I saw a stone sample today for use as a countertop at a local tile shop.
It is called pietra serena and the owner of the shop called it a marble.
When I did an internet search, I read that it is a sandstone.
Do you have any knowledge of this material? Would it wear like a marble in terms of staining and etching? Would you recommend it for a countertop in a heavily used kitchen?
Many thanks,
Lucretzia
April 15th, 2010 at 8:35 am
I have natural cherry cabinets with black appliances in a dark kitchen and am considering white springs granite. How do you think this would look? Any other suggestions?
May 27th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Dear Tom,
I am going to be putting Antiqued Cambrian Black granite in my kitchen.
I was thinking about enhansing it to make it a little darker.
Being that it is such a dense stone, will the enhancer be absorbed at all?
Could I use some sort of Enhancer/Sealer product?
Can you seal it and enhance it?
Are the enhancers safe to use in food prep areas?
Are there certain ones you like more than others?
Thank you so much for your help!!
July 8th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
I am considering a material for a countertop called “Super White or Supreme White”. I’m told by some that it is a granite and others that it is a quartize. I got a sample piece and it scratches very easily. I can’t image that this would hold up as a countertop material. Have you heard of this granite/quartize and does it etch easily?
Thank you very much.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Have you ever seen Via Lactia granite? How would that looked honed and paired with Spring White (also honed)? I would use the Via Lactia in the perimeter and the Spring White on the Island. I want to go with white cabinets and a black base on the island. Would all this be too busy? I am also considering VA mist but really like the look of the Via Lactea. What do you think?
Thanks!
Anne
August 7th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
I live in Bradenton, Florida which is close to Sarasota , Florida and whenever I ask someone for Jet Mist no one knows what I am talking about I saw it in the boston area while visiting and love it and want it for my kitchen counters in the polished finish. I have a galley kitchen with white cabinets and black in the wall stove and black built in microwave, because I have a small kitchen I am stuck with having to keep a white floor and thinking of getting
a carrara white porcelain floor do not know if I should use the 24 x 12 tiles or the 18 x 18 and being a small galley kitchen do not know if it is best to put on a angle or straight. If I put a dark color on the floor it would make it look smaller. Was thinking of using a black granite sink but maybe I would be smarter to use a chrome sink instead. What would you suggest?
October 12th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
hi
since i see you know so very much and sound very professional and knowledgeable i have a different kind of question. any clue who might carry italian silver travertine tile in 12 x 24 ?
thank you
susan
July 27th, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Hi Tom.
Your blog has great info. I am hoping you might help us as you have many others. We are remodeling the kitchen in our 1870 Colonial. Floors are heart pine. We have chosen traditional style inset white painted cabinetry. Kitchen is approximately 12 X 15. We are looking a a black granite (labrador or nordic black) for the counters. My husband would like to put White Diamond granite on the (white) island for contrast. Please let me know if you think this would work.
Thank you so much.
Maria Price
August 20th, 2011 at 11:41 am
I am choosing a granite countertop for my kitchen to replace the ugly ceramic tile countertop that came with the home. I love, love, love the White Diamond granite!! But, not really 100% sold on how it the sample looks with the rest of the kitchen. We also brought home a sample of Spring White that has a “leather look” (I’d say almost a matte) finish. Although I think I like the colors of the Spring White better with the rest of the kitchen than I do “my” White Diamond, I think I’d prefer a polished finish on it. I asked my salesperson if she could get the Spring White in a polished finish. In her response, she said she could, but she also referred to the Spring White as “aka Sienna Bordeaux”. Is this actually the case, or is she just trying to fool me into the polished Sienna Bordeaux because their supplier has it in stock?
Thanks for your help as I’ve looked at so many different sites and so many different granites, that they are all becoming a blur!!
November 1st, 2011 at 1:18 pm
I love the look of brushed matrix granite – is it as durable and low maintenance as a polished granite