Shopping for Countertops

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There are so many questions to consider when you are remodeling a kitchen. Which countertops are best for a kitchen? How do I choose a countertop color? Should I choose the countertops first, or the cabinets and floors? 


Before looking at options at a stone center, here are a few things to consider.

WHICH COUNTERTOPS ARE BEST FOR A KITCHEN?

The kitchen is one of the most used rooms of the house. It’s a place where running water, a hot stove, grease, wine, acidic foods, and more all converge in one giant mess. And it happens more than once a day. That means your top priority should be learning which countertops are best for a kitchen. Below are my top 4 suggestions.

French country kitchen with white with gray veining marble look backsplash, countertop, and island with sink, pendant lights, and dark green lower cabinets.

QUARTZ

This manufactured stone countertop is over 90% natural quartz and the rest is resins and coloring. It is the least porous of the stone slab countertops—that means that it’s super tough. It can handle acidic foods, coffee spills, warm pans, and trauma with ease. It also requires the least amount of maintenance of the stone slab countertops—no sealing required!
Large kitchen island with white and grey granite. Orchid in blue pot on the counter next to the sink.

GRANITE

There’s a reason this has been the countertop of choice for so many decades. It’s a durable, tried and tested countertop that looks great for years. It does require sealing and spills should be cleaned up promptly.
Remodeled kitchen with gray heavily veined quartzite countertop, backsplash, and island, natural wood cabinets, white picket wall tile frames the bay window.

QUARTZITE

This naturally occurring stone looks more like marble but is as durable as granite. It too should be sealed and cared for like granite. It offers an exotic look and is one of the most popular choices for countertops for kitchens in recent years.
Bookmatched, marble look, porcelain slab backsplash and matching countertop feature white, gray, and beige veining on this wet bar.

PORCELAIN

Porcelain slabs on kitchen countertops are quickly becoming the new favorite. They are less porous than stone, come in several thicknesses, and are carefully crafted to look like some of your favorite stone countertops, like marble.

How do I choose countertop color?

 

Countertops in the kitchen are a permanent element so it’s natural to want to get it right and color is a big factor in that. How do you choose countertop color? There are two ways to go.

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DRAMATIC

Countertops with high variation or intense color make a big impact in the design of your kitchen. If you want to go dramatic with your countertops, it’s best to make most of the other elements in your kitchen a bit more neutral so you don’t have too many features competing for attention. Drama requires planning. Think through your choices before you start on your kitchen to ensure you’ll have a design you love. 


Natural stone countertops are often dramatic with heavy veins or grains in a variety of natural colors. They can be eye-catching and the visual center of your space. 

Kitchen with white upper cabinets, navy lower cabinets, white quartz countertops, island with sink, glass & brushed brass pendant lights.

MONOCHROMATIC

A more neutral and single colored countertop doesn’t necessarily have to be the center of attention but looks stunning nonetheless. With monochrome countertops, you are free to be more creative with other elements like a colored cabinet, bright and busy backsplash, or unique lighting fixtures.

Quartz is an excellent choice for monochromatic style countertops. It is even-grained and smooth colored—usually in a neutral color.

Should I choose countertops first?

Whether you want your countertops to stand out or blend in, we think choosing your countertops early in the process is a must. 

 

At the very least, you should be considering your countertops alongside your flooring and cabinetry. You should choose countertops, floors, and cabinets first because they are the fixtures of the kitchen space that everything else is built upon. It has happened more than once that someone falls in love with a specific slab and redesigns the entire kitchen around that beautiful piece of stone.

Large kitchen with taupe heavily veined quartzite countertop and backsplash, white open shelving cabinets, island with built-in sink.
There’s only one way to find that perfect natural stone countertop . . . hunt for it yourself! Take a look around one of Daltile's stone centers—full to the brim with unique slabs of every conceivable stone, finish and color—and you’ll quickly find which countertop is best for your kitchen.

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Kitchen with marble mosaic backsplash, white quartz countertops, marble waterfall island with sink, white and black lower cabinets, and stainless steel gas stove/oven.

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Outdoor kitchen with gray stone-look floor tile, backsplash, countertop and island of white quartzite with gray striations, stainless steel grill, wine refrigerator, and wood patio cover.

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Bathroom quartz countertop with double sinks, brushed brass faucets, marble mosaic backsplash, and lighted vanity mirrors.

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Dining room with stunning walls of black granite slab with white veining, and starburst lighting over table with four tan leather chairs.

Your nearest stone center

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