What options would you select and not, in new build (flooring, countertops)

[HX_Guy]

Originally Posted by kytoaz

I'm so over granite and stainless. I would never go that rout personally.

And what would you do instead? Everything else looks like crap by comparison. Some of the new concrete stuff is cool but too industrial I think.

Our kitchen...

[DetroitN8V]

Very nice, HX! The dishwasher drawers are cool but I'm wondering why you put them so far from the sink. Unless those are something else.

[HX_Guy]

[DetroitN8V]

That makes more sense. Bad ass!

[asufan]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

And what would you do instead? Everything else looks like crap by comparison. Some of the new concrete stuff is cool but too industrial I think.

Our kitchen...

The popular finishes for counters are quartz and marble. There's a granite that resembles marble that is also still popular, but I'm seeing less and less granite. Stainless steel is still popular as far as I can tell, as long as it's real stainless and not that fake plastic stuff.

[asufan]

I would do anything that will be buried behind walls (speaker wire, TV, security, plumbing, etc), all structural items and cabinets at the very least. If you don't need to move in right away it's easy to change out flooring, counter tops and fixtures. I would rather the builder do all carpet everywhere if you are going to tear it out, rather than having to remove tile.

[Iowastater]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

I don't really care for granite but I don't know how you could improve on this range. What would you do instead?

Having just got done with a big kitchen re-do where I spent days researching appliances, I agree. When looking at the good stuff, there really is nothing other than stainless offered. You can panel your fridge and dishwasher, which we did, but that doesn't work with ovens/cooktops.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by kell490

That's one reason I didn't go with Granite in the kitchen went with Corian solid surface the sink was part of the counter top made it easy to clean on our last remodel. I hate under the setups because it gets hard to clean up under the counter top.

Corian is totally out of style- at least in Raleigh. THAT would have been a massive mistake. Heck, I'm not even sure Toll was offering it for the kitchen!

BTW, we received no credit for replacing the light and bathroom fixtures. The builder would not install ours (understable, since they own and insure the house until closing), but could not get a COO unless that stuff was installed. Handyman took them out, installed ours, we sold the builder grade stuff on Craigslist.

Originally Posted by asufan

I would do anything that will be buried behind walls (speaker wire, TV, security, plumbing, etc), all structural items and cabinets at the very least. If you don't need to move in right away it's easy to change out flooring, counter tops and fixtures. I would rather the builder do all carpet everywhere if you are going to tear it out, rather than having to remove tile.

Go wireless, baby. We had a box put in one of the closets with plugs and shelves for modems, router, Ooma, etc.

Since wood flooring was included in most of our home, having the builder upgrade it in the areas they paid for carpet was cheaper than doing it later ourselves. And no worrying about color and grain match.

Wanna see the end result? https://www.homeexchange.com/en/listing/94959/ (though we are taking out the columns at the front entrance way, and putting French doors on the office )

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by Jkgourmet

Corian is totally out of style- at least in Raleigh. THAT would have been a massive mistake. Heck, I'm not even sure Toll was offering it for the kitchen!

BTW, we received no credit for replacing the light and bathroom fixtures. The builder would not install ours (understable, since they own and insure the house until closing), but could not get a COO unless that stuff was installed. Handyman took them out, installed ours, we sold the builder grade stuff on Craigslist.

Corian is very dated here as well. On the bright side, it seems to be the 'in' material for airplane bathrooms!

[Montanama]

I am not a big granite fan either. I never loved it, and by now I'm SO tired of it. But there's a reason it's so popular.

Last kitchen remodel, I chose honed pietra de cardoza, which is not granite, after the soapstone I originally wanted arrived the wrong color (not easy to remedy these sorts of issues in MT, it's not like AZ! Prefab granite doesn't even exist here, for example, and the soapstone was specially ordered and shipped. It was hunter green, hand to God.). Wow. What a PITA that pietra was, though really beautiful. We finally figured out, after having it etch several times (we have kids), that a monthly coating of beeswax was necessary. Not a huge deal, but certainly not as easy care as granite.

I also love carrera marble, and it can be sealed, but will never be as stain resistant or durable as granite.

Some of the new quartzes have a very natural look, and I have my eye on one for the next remodel. It's more expensive, though, than the granite I would choose....

I love wood countertops, but that's a very specific look, not as versatile nor as good a choice for resale.

So, granite it is, lol. It didn't come to dominate the industry by accident.