Comments on 4 Men 1 Lady: Quartzite 101.

This is exactly the advice that I have given my cl...

2012-01-09T16:10:45.708-08:00

This is exactly the advice that I have given my clients over the years - test the actual sample that you are considering buying. Such smart advice and great tips overall!

Hi, I went through the same dilemma. My kids are ...

2012-01-08T18:39:37.291-08:00

Hi,
I went through the same dilemma. My kids are small and I can't trust my family to be diligent, nor can I be in the kitchen all the time. We went with a quartzite called Madre Perla. We really like it. It actually gives some dimension to an all white kitchen w/o the stress of what happens when I am not the one in the kitchen.

I also have 3 little boys and we got honed Carrara...

2012-01-06T13:21:31.219-08:00

I also have 3 little boys and we got honed Carrara marble counters a little over a year ago... we L.O.V.E. them! They are etched all over the place. I think it's impossible to prevent etching with marble unless you never ever spill anything. I'm a messy cook and my kids & husband are messy eaters so we spill and splatter constantly! but NO stains. The honed finish hides the etching better than the polished & as long as they're sealed properly, staining shouldn't be an issue unless you are dumping marinara sauce all over them and leaving it there for days. I vote marble!

That's right, Michelle! We laugh in the face ...

2012-01-05T07:54:39.023-08:00

That's right, Michelle! We laugh in the face of peanut butter and red wine stains! That's just patina. Chips on the edge by the sink? eh. Character, that's nothing but character. We'll get what we want, dangit! Durability fears be dammed! Or... We'll chicken out at the last minute and get honed granite like normal people.

We have Calcutta and I LOVE it. L-O-V-E love it. w...

2012-01-04T23:47:49.777-08:00

We have Calcutta and I LOVE it. L-O-V-E love it. we had a few people try to talk us out of it, but we had just as many say it was no problem. It is honed and sealed and we just take care not to leave stuff on it that might leave stains. It's just so beautiful I'm so glad that we didn't listen to the nay-sayers. I figured since we don't drink (red) wine or smoke, then we should be okay. We keep a big cutting board by the stove for when we are moving around hot pots that need to come off the stove. I figure that half if not more of the kitchens in italy have cream or white marble, and not just any marble, but really really old marble, and they all seem to manage somehow.

I worked at a granite counter shower room many yea...

2012-01-04T16:24:10.764-08:00

I worked at a granite counter shower room many years ago. We had a LOVELY granite w/ the same gray white look called Bianco Ramano. I know Arizona tile in SLC carries it! Check it out fur sure!! Oh and google it too!

Love the Calcutta marble - actually love any gray/...

2012-01-04T15:29:36.375-08:00

Love the Calcutta marble - actually love any gray/white marble - why limit myself. However I am not terribly neat, especially when cooking. Also LOVE LOVE that Super white quartzite. Sigh! What to do? I think quartz (Silestone Lyra) for the kitchen (way more potential for staining) and Super White Quartzite for the master bath.

Well this is a wealth of info..thanks. Now if yo...

2012-01-04T14:41:17.357-08:00

Well this is a wealth of info..thanks.

Now if you could only find a good source in Arizona.

This is a really great post...I am doing a post so...

2012-01-04T14:06:38.449-08:00

This is a really great post...I am doing a post soon on marble tops I may just have to quote this! Thanks

PS totally with credits...just sayin :)

wow, good to know. We're building and the marb...

2012-01-04T13:41:05.568-08:00

wow, good to know. We're building and the marble look is what i wanted, but A- knew it would be pricey, and B- I was told it stained pretty bad especially in the kitchen. We went for quartz, and the sample is gorgeous, but I worry about what the whole slab will look like :/

oh my lordy that is to die for. Good luck with you...

2012-01-04T11:08:25.744-08:00

oh my lordy that is to die for. Good luck with your decision. You can't wrong with either one.

~Mandy

Oh my goodness- a lot of information to take in! T...

2012-01-04T10:44:07.792-08:00

Oh my goodness- a lot of information to take in! They all LOOK beautiful though- go luck with your decision!

Mariah, I like you! I think you just sealed the de...

2012-01-04T10:33:15.396-08:00

Mariah,
I like you! I think you just sealed the deal for me. Thank you for your philosophical perspective on pretty counters. We must be soul sis-tahs indeed! We must meet sometime for a boy playdate. Where oh where do you live? I must behold your fiercely attactive hair!

Oh, Michelle. I've been warring in my mind wi...

2012-01-04T10:12:49.318-08:00

Oh, Michelle. I've been warring in my mind with this exact problem for years... Oh, how to remodel my kitchen?? We're soul sisters, you and I. We are both mommies to three little boys. We both like pretty things. We are both fiercely attractive with great hair. (right? say it's true. come on.) Sometimes a busy REAL life and pretty prettys are at odds... yup. So here is our big decision. Do we want to be the kind of people who lives safe? Who settle for the safe options in life because they don't stain? Or... Do we get what we want and live following our hearts, recognizing that it isn't always the safest option? Yes. I am waxing seriously philosophical about counters. It's that kind of day. hmmm... whatever will we do??

Gosh that Calcutta is just amazing isn't it? B...

2012-01-04T09:50:56.125-08:00

Gosh that Calcutta is just amazing isn't it? But you know, I know I'm not the kind of person who could have it in my kitchen. Some might call it patina, but I think it would drive me nuts and I'd be terribly OCD until that first stain/etch got on there. Quartzite sounds like a wonderful alternative and it certainly is beautiful. For me, I think I'd have to go with a quartz because I'd require something as bulletproof as possible. I'm sure whatever you choose will be beautiful.