Granite Counter tops...are they the 'only' acceptable surface now? (windows, refinishing)

[Caseynj]

I didn't realize there were so many grades of granite either. We just remodeled our kitchen and went with granite. We too were going with silestone initially but when I saw my sample in the Home Depot kitchen display I changed my mind and went granite. I love my granite! I never thought I would love a countertop, oh , but I do. You can't beat nature and the maintenance is minimal. It all comes down to what you like. Personal choice. If you like Formica, cement, caesar stone...whatever you like, knock yourself out, it's your kitchen. Who's business is it anyway how much one pays for a countertop? To each their own!

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by Mike78613

~~ Yep Silestone all the way. You can lay anything on it and will not damage it. I choose it b/c I hear about the nighmare about granite that its mineral base and it has to be sealed and maintained like a baby.

What?!
That certainly *is* a myth.
I use a regular spray cleaner and, like Claire, and seal once a year.
I never sealed my old granite countertop at all, because back in the 90's it just wasn't the thing. None of us died from germs or whatever, and the granite looked just fine as well, no stains, and the person living in our former house has not gotten rid of it.

Sustainability of granite is certainly desirable, but I don't think it's being dumped right and left. There is granite in municipal buildings that has been there for a century.

I never thought I would love a countertop, oh , but I do.

I know what you mean. I am certainly not living a nightmare.

But to each his own. I enjoy seeing and learning about what other people have in their kitchens. It certainly does not *have* to be granite.

[Cattknap]

I would never pick out granite from a sample - go to a granite fabricator with a large warehouse full of granite slabs and pick out your own slabs. It is amazing how different slabs can be from samples.

You are letting someone else choose your slabs when you order only by seeing samples.

Our granite is yellow Bahia - the typical samples are beige and cream with a tiny bit of black - very boring looking....but when we chose our own slabs, we were able to choose some that had this unusual formation running throughout each slab and their were bits of dark red also.

[Caseynj]

Cattknap, your granite is gorgeous! I agree with you in looking at the slabs, it can't compare to the small samples in the stores. It took me a month to find our granite. The variations of each slab are amazing. That's another draw of granite.

[Mike78613]

Granite is very beautiful I have to say!

[Claire_F]

Beautiful, Cattknap!

We went with a darker color. I not only love the color - I love the name of the color as well: Uba Tuba.

[KimK]

This is hilarious. I am looking at these pictures and see "my" kitchen-but no, its Claire's kitchen. This is amazing. I have polished cement floors and my stove and fridge are reversed. Also, we have vaulted ceiliings over the kitchen and dining room area that have copper leaf on them. But otherwise, exactly. We even have the same pendant lights and pot lights. Too weird for words! Needless to say, I like your kitchen.

[Claire_F]

Thanks! I love yours, too!

[AnyDayNow]

Claire_F, your kitchen is gorgeous! I'm trying to keep my h from seeing the pic on my screen, or he'd be right over to cook in it--look at that layout! Awesome kitchen.

Cattknap, what I could see of your granite looks pretty, but it's so covered with the apples and green dish and the towel that it looks like you're hiding it. Show off that variation! (My goodness, I feel like Stacey from "What Not to Wear" saying, "Show us some leg!" Giddy, silly stuff here.)

We have put granite in our bathrooms and love, love, love it. We're in the process of remodeling our kitchen and will be putting granite in it as well. I never thought I would be one to care about what surface was on a countertop, but granite has changed my mind about that.

(Edited to add: Claire_F, I just saw the pull-out drawers next to the stove. Oh my! Don't you just love them?)

[DanielChang]

Is it okay to put new granite countertops on older cabinets? Or is that like slapping lipstick on a pig? Seriously. I am so sick of my laminate countertops and want to replace them with granite or stone, but the cabinets are still in decent shape (they are not pretty to look at, but they are fine as far as construction goes). I would hate to rip out the cabinets just for aesthetics, but also don't want to throw money into nice countertops and have to replace the whole thing a couple years later.