Low Maintenance White Countertops
Low maintenance and white are not a combo I'm used to seeing describe the same thing let alone one that is used to describe a kitchen. Kitchens are messy. They are the new family room of the house, well-loved and mess prone.
Over the past 3 weeks I've shared some of my favorite kitchen trends that won't go out of style and this week I'm sharing a trend in kitchen countertops that seems too good to be true. A white and bright alternative to marble and granite that is low maintenance and still beautiful. The unicorn of kitchen countertops?
Quartz
Despite being in the early stages of a kitchen renovation, I'm getting a head start on the design style and materials. While it seems like every decision in the kitchen is a BIG decision since nothing is cheap the countertops feel like one of the biggest decisions. You can skimp on the look of a fridge and cover it in a custom cabinet but your countertops are exposed and deal with the most ware and tear in your kitchen. Balancing looks and durability is tough.
Marble
Hands down my favorite "look" for a countertop. It's absolutely beautiful, but it stains easily and has a bad rap for being really tough to clean and remove everyday kitchen stains.
Granite
Gets a little bit better with cleaning, but as a semi-porous material it requires regular care to seal the surface each year.
Quartz
Has come out on top of the kitchen countertop list as a natural stone that isn't porous allowing for low maintenance and easy clean. It shows less veining lines that what you see in marble and granite, but has really upped its games in the design world to give it more subtle gray veins like you find in marble.
Here are some of my favorite designers/bloggers who have installed quartz countertops in their client's or their own kitchens.
source: Becki Owens
Source: The Hunted Interior Countertops: Martha Stewart in Snowcap
Source: Studio McGee Countertops: Lagoon By Silestone
Source: Doug Elissa
Image 1 source: House of Jade | Quartz: Carrara by Pental Quartz