Monday, February 18, 2008
friends, romans, countrymen...

we are trying to pick out our counter tops. i thought this would be easy, usually i know exactly what i like, but this is more difficult than i expected. i like little variation, which is why granite is not my thing. i'm looking for one smooth color, but i want it to look natural. i love things like limestone and slate, but i keep hearing how porous and breakable they are so they are not practical. we have stacks and stacks of samples here. we came across a fairly new product called caesar stone. i think i like it. i am also thinking of going really dark with it, which is surprising me. i love my light colors. anyway, does anyone out there know anything about caesar stone? do you have it? we are doing our island in wood/butcher block, so this is just for the perimeter. and since you all are always so helpful...which of the small squares above do you like the best? i kind of like the one in the bottom left corner.
et tu, brute?
:)
  posted at 6:54 AM  
  17 comments



17 Comments:
At 8:26 PM, Blogger Bethany said...

Me too! I just picked a "coffee" colored stone to put in our kitchen... eery... we're totally on the same page. But it makes me feel good because you have such a great sense of color!

 
At 8:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

probably worth very little, but everyone i've ever known with dark countertops has told me they wish they had done something different. i can think of four people, my aunt included, that felt this way. now, they weren't stone...also they were all a very shiny, glossy surface...i, personally, think they "look" great...but, apparently they show every dog hair, speck of dust, crumb, scratch, etc. maybe the stone doesn't have scratch issues...? just wanted to tell you that. i like light too...i also like people to have what they want, so go for what you like sister. of course anything bethy does will turn out beautifully...love you girl.

 
At 7:51 AM, Blogger hqm said...

I like that one, too! So warm!

 
At 8:18 AM, Blogger ROXY said...

HI!

We have a product called Silestone on our countertops, which is also a manufactured quartz product, similar to Casear Stone. It's very durable, heat resistant and doesn't need sealing. I myself, have always had a soft spot for white marble countertops, but from what I've been told, they are very difficult to maintain. I think of the choices you have, I love the one in the upper right. It looks exactly like Canadian Soapstone!! Good luck!!

Roxy

 
At 9:25 AM, Blogger Claire said...

Hi, I like your one to and also the 2nd from top at the back. i have never heard of the stone sorry so not much help. Can't wait to see the finished result. We have had our offer excepted on a house and it needs a lot of updating especially the kitchen, its fun to start over again.

 
At 10:26 AM, Blogger Kimber said...

Coming out of lurk dome to answer this one. I had dark solid countertops one time and hated them.
My problem was they never looked clean and showed everything. I don't know anything about the product you are talking about so it might not happen. If smears and spots drive you crazy, you might want to go with a lighter color.

 
At 11:27 AM, Blogger Meg said...

This is a toughie...especially with my lack of knowledge about any kind of stone. But my instinct says a darker color is maybe more practical, if that's even the right word, for a countertop. No food stains, a little easier to disguise those red wine spills. So I'm with you there. As far as color...again, tough! I actually really like the color you are leaning toward. It seems warms enough to work with colors well and go with many different options you're considering.

Sorry if this is sounding wishy-washy, but you seem to be going in a great direction!

 
At 11:40 AM, Blogger Chris Kauffman said...

I like the darkest sample. have you seen the soapstone counters at http://brooklynlimestone.blogspot.com/search/label/kitchen oh my goodness, I want those counters, gorgeous.

 
At 3:12 PM, Blogger Michelle said...

The sink is fabulous! I like the dark brown you've chosen as well. I like the black too though.

 
At 6:02 PM, Blogger Gabrielle Mader said...

LOVE the sink...especially the skirt...I'm so jealous now..just green. I don't like granite either so and would do butcher block, we are on the same page. Also I read somewhere that when you do the apron sink....do you want it to sit above the counter which they said gives it more promonise or below it? I like the dark one too and the contrast of light and dark will be nice.

 
At 8:49 PM, Blogger Jill -Forever and Ever House said...

What colour is your floor? I've read that you are supposed to match your floor tone with your counter top. I don't like granite either and am planning on doing dark butcher block treated with Waterlox.

 
At 10:04 AM, Blogger Sue said...

Hi,
Just thought I would add my comment that my dark granite counter tops are not only not to my style preference but also very hard to maintain. They show every crumb and have to be polished every time I wipe them down or they look dull and have streaks on them.
I'm sure what ever you pick will be lovely.
Sue

 
At 12:15 PM, Blogger KLKinFLA said...

You are having so much fun! I love high contrast, so I'm a fan of the darker countertops. I think if you've stayed with the lighter colors in the adjoining areas, the darker counters would punctuate the kitchen as a separate space. If you're going for more of a great room feel where you're treating the space as one big room, I'd stick with the lighter counters. Just a few thoughts. Enjoy the process!
Karen

 
At 7:05 AM, Blogger Chris Kauffman said...

I saw some samples this weekend at the interior desing show in Toronto , love that cesaer stone, looks much nicer in person, I stick with the dark brownish grey , gorgeous.
Chris

 
At 8:53 PM, Blogger Diana@The Devine Home said...

Bottom right corner sample will be much less trendy and give you a timeless look.

If you are doing a center island, consider your bottom left selection for that.

 
At 10:54 PM, Blogger preppie lucy said...

I used to work at expo design center -the high end home depot- silestone gave us and home depot money to sell against granite- that was one of the main reasons I quit - it Does NOT look natural it has a pattern to it ....that granite or marble does not - it also is quite expensive for what it is...i think that it also does not have the resale appeal that granite or marble has = my grandmother has had marble countertops for over 40 years and they look brand new - be sure about the fake manuf stone - i hated it

 
At 10:55 PM, Blogger preppie lucy said...

I used to work at expo design center -the high end home depot- silestone gave us and home depot money to sell against granite- that was one of the main reasons I quit - it Does NOT look natural it has a pattern to it ....that granite or marble does not - it also is quite expensive for what it is...i think that it also does not have the resale appeal that granite or marble has = my grandmother has had marble countertops for over 40 years and they look brand new - be sure about the fake manuf stone - i hated it

 

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