Of all of the design debates whereas renovating a house, the “pure versus engineered stone” one can actually paralyze you. You realize the controversy – pure stone could be beautiful (and costly), however it may stain, present put on and tear, and many individuals can’t stand the aged look (together with my brother and SIL). Engineered stone (Quartz) is very sturdy and straightforward to scrub however has much less “actual” trying motion to it. It may be extra inexpensive, is available in jumbo sizes (for giant islands), and you may get a number of slabs simply.
My Actual Stone Rule/Philosophy…
My philosophy (which is unfastened as a result of there are exceptions to EVERYTHING) is that I desire pure stone slabs in additional conventional or classic fashion houses (cottages, cape cod, bungalows, farmhouses, colonials, Tudors, and so on). I additionally suppose that actual stone is greatest in houses that had been constructed earlier than 1950 if you’re transforming an older house (pre-mid-century) My rationale is that quartz didn’t exist then so it stays extra integral to the home. The true stone patina works with the age of the home, particularly if you’re making an attempt so as to add appeal. However when you have a midcentury, modern, or in any other case clean-lined and fashionable fashion house then IMHO you are able to do both actual stone OR the suitable easy Quartz. Goodness, that sounds nuanced, however I really feel actually strong about this philosophy and have for years. I’ve had each in several houses and love them for various causes. I really like our leathered LA kitchen, in a 100-year-old English Tudor and I LOVE our white engineered stone in the kitchen on the mountain home (and so did Ken and Katie – it’s simply SO straightforward to scrub, feels contemporary, nothing stains, and so on.)
So early on, since it is a modern fashion house in-built 2024, clearly new building, we might do both. Resulting from Katie and Ken’s hesitation about pure stone, all of us determined that engineered stone was the best way to go for his or her household. Additionally, they had been coming from a conventional house with an enormous polished piece of white carerra on their island that bought etched and stained very badly so that they had been reacting to that and did NOT wish to repeat these stains. It drove them nuts and I wished to scale back that ache level for them. Quartz it’s!! However in fact there’s a twist on this story…
Two years in the past I reached out to Caesarstone to accomplice on their counter tops – largely as a result of I used to be tremendous interested in their concrete slabs which look SO GOOD and the motion appears to be like actually actual. Max had used it earlier than and liked it so we very early on “checked that field” (LOLOLOL b/c the field turned unchecked).
At first, we selected primarily based on these smaller samples. We’re all interested in the easier designs with some motion, however not a number of fake veining (typically that basically works however not on this home IMHO). Earlier than totally making the choice, I wished to be triple certain about these, so we then went to EleMar (Tualatin) to see the slabs in individual.
The concrete look nonetheless cleans up nice and isn’t porous in any respect, simply appears to be like like concrete. We liked this one and the Black Tempal (under). Keep in mind that they might each be horizontal (you gained’t be it like this).
We liked them each. They positively lean modern and a little bit industrial, however the texture is natural, unfastened, and huge in scale in a great way.
We hadn’t totally determined the place they had been going (an enormous debate over if you happen to put the darker stone on the perimeter of the cupboards and the lighter stone because the island, or the opposite means round).
Then because the design of the home developed I felt nervous in regards to the kitchen. Like couldn’t sleep nervous. You see, we selected a easy white backsplash tile for the kitchen (it’s very fairly however being so impartial it wasn’t going to make an announcement). I noticed that this kitchen (whereas meant to be minimal) wanted coloration. Katie is a bit frightened of coloration and after we designed this home (like 3 years in the past) the design world was much more impartial than it’s now. So our tremendous impartial and heat minimal home was feeling now like there wasn’t sufficient occurring. Was it going to look identical to the mountain home kitchen??? I nonetheless LOVE that kitchen and it was the unique inspiration for this home, however we’re in Portland the place it’s so grey outdoors. We wanted coloration! You possibly can’t have a home like this then have an excessively easy kitchen!
So we had two choices: 1. change the backsplash tile, or 2. change the countertop stone within the kitchen. Once more, the stone order hadn’t been positioned but however we had chosen six completely different slabs from Caesarstone that we liked rather a lot for the whole home. At this level, we thought that the tile couldn’t be modified or it might maintain us up on account of lead occasions (LOL once more, nonetheless not put in so we might have modified the tile) so I begged my brother and SIL to buy groceries with me to discover a dope pure stone.
They had been hesitant to do pure stone, however I satisfied them that their home, which they’re clearly investing closely in, can’t have a kitchen with out coloration or a daring design selection. White tile on grey or black stone with white oak wooden cupboards simply was too impartial. I promised them that we wouldn’t go for a carerra or one thing gentle and we wouldn’t go for polished (which is simpler to etch). Off to buy!
We went to 2 stone yards – Bedrosian and EleMar in Tualatin (each non-spon, however native companies which are nice). In case you are seeking to see Caesarstone slabs in individual head to EleMar – they’ve an awesome choice so you possibly can select primarily based on the slab and never a pattern.
We went on two completely different journeys and Max and I favored a number of the identical ones however disagreed on others. So discovering three VERY massive slabs that all of us liked plus would work within the design proved difficult. It simply meant rather a lot to all of us that we utterly love no matter we selected.
…And Then We Discovered These Pretty Girls
TADA!!!! Three emerald Quartzite slabs. My coronary heart tripped with delight. The wooden in opposition to them can be soooo unimaginable. It felt so Oregon to me, so “River Home”, so “foresty”. Suppose wooden cupboards because the trunk then the inexperienced slab because the tree branches. It could combine so effectively into the general appear and feel of the home and the outside (which is all timber and a river view). I texted the images to Max and thank god he was enthusiastic, too. All of us agreed that whereas this was our stone. I slept GREAT that night time.
They got here polished, so we requested our stone guys what can be the most effective, most sturdy option to have these slabs they usually mentioned to leather-based them (which is basically sandblasting them, including texture, and making them very matte). Then they might must be sealed. They assured us that they wouldn’t etch or stain. GREAT.
Right here is the slab put in (above), however not sealed but (which is a complete different saga with an enormous hiccup that I’m ready to let you know about as soon as we now have an answer). This picture (under) has the seal on it so it turned darker which we nonetheless LOVE.
I’m so so so glad we selected this stone, it added the punch that we would have liked however in an excellent non-risky design means (inexperienced isn’t a threat to me, however is likely to be to others). It’s not busy, simply darkish and natural (I even suppose the veining appears like the present of a river). We selected Caesarstone within the mudroom, loos (a few of our vanities got here with counter tops), the laundry room, and even a slab on the hearth. The kitchen was the one place the place we selected actual stone as you possibly can see. In case you are out there for engineered Quartz here’s what we selected and actually love from Caesarstone: Ethereal Concrete, Natural White, Recent concrete, Blizzard, and Black Tempal which I’ll present you all soooooon.
The home is nearly accomplished, y’all. There are some hiccups that I’ll in fact share, however we’re within the means of determining tips on how to resolve them first and the much more enjoyable half is determining who pays for these hiccups. Extra to come back, quickly. However we’re SO HAPPY with all of the stone up to now and may now see so lots of the rooms actually coming to life. xx
*Fairly Pictures (until in any other case famous) by Kaitlin Inexperienced