https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:22:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface/page/2#post-1901387 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 07:27:11 +0000 hellobeeboston 1901387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: excellent idea. Thanks!</p> <p>@Hoots: ok wow. I'm definitely off corian. Thanks for words of wisdom and sorry to hear its been a pain </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1901178 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 20:25:35 +0000 Maysprout 1901178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you decide on light countertops I would get a sample first. You can test out different things that might stain it like wine and spaghetti sauce and leave it there for a couple hours and then see how hard it is to get the stain out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1901140 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 19:55:37 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1901140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: I like the light too even with the other surface being dark. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1901127 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 19:43:38 +0000 lawbee11 1901127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: Light! I'm not a fan of really dark counters (like black). I feel like it's hard to tell when you spill something if they're that dark! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1901122 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 19:37:24 +0000 Hoots 1901122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have Corian and I HATE it. Here's why: 1) Heat, you can't put hot things on it or it will MELT. 2) Scratches, all over, all the time. I joke that the scratches are unique texture, but I hate them.</p> <p>I really think it depends on who you're selling to/what market you're in. It's a huge turn-off in comparison to granite or quartz in our market. Also, the matte finish really isn't very pretty in my opinion, I'd much rather have shiny. </p> <p>Corian was really hot in our market in 2002-03 and that's when our house was built. I think it makes our house look dated. I think the quartz composites are much prettier than Corian.</p> <p>Edit: Oh for pete's sake, if you ever replace the countertop with the sink, don't opt for the Corian seamless sink. They stain terribly. And get this: they can crack if you pour boiling water down the drain, and you'll have to replace the whole slab most times. Apparently, most repairmen refuse to just cut out and replace the sink. I am terrified this is going to happen to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900959 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 16:06:55 +0000 erinpye 1900959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think granite is that "dated." It still increases the value of your home upon appraisal (and that applies to both slab and tiles equally). I personally don't like the look of corian. What about concrete? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900945 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:58:40 +0000 meredithNYC 1900945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@plantains: Totally agree on granite = dated. Sorry, but when you see EVERY SINGLE PERSON on HGTV going on and on about granite it's like, welp, that trend has died. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900942 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:57:17 +0000 hellobeeboston 1900942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok. Just did a little photoshopping.... Very rough, question is dark or light counters?!?!?</p> <p>I'm leaning heavily towards light. Need to convince dh. </p> <p>[attach=1584/14/ndgcvi.600x337.image.jpg] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900894 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:27:19 +0000 hellobeeboston 1900894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@alohaorchid: I've been looking at Quartz today since I started this. Lots of options!! Seems comparable to granite in terms of price. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900868 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:12:37 +0000 StrawberryBee 1900868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @.twist.: Thanks, I still miss it :crying: . Though I do have a rectangular piece they cut and smoothed for us from where the sink was cut out.</p> <p>Current house has cherry cabinets and black galaxy granite, which is also pretty (but doesn't have my lovely peacock-blue splashes!). I would seriously pick labrador antique again and again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900832 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:54:40 +0000 .twist. 1900832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StrawberryBee: I never did see the finished product! WOW. Looks amazing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900824 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:52:39 +0000 Mommy Finger 1900824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have Corian and it does scratch pretty easily </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900760 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:20:21 +0000 alohaorchid 1900760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have granite in our house right now, which we love, but we decided to go with quartz for the new house. Granite hsa too many variants in how it looks and we wanted a very specific look so quartz made sense. I really like the look of both though. I have never had an issue with granite feeling cold (we have a breakfast bar in our kitchen). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900758 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:19:37 +0000 Radish 1900758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have black granite with a leather finish. I like it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900735 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:05:37 +0000 Shutterbug 1900735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: we have a 5' x 8' island that is granite and all one piece (no seams). It's also very thick - I think thickness varies regionally, which is why you see sometimes on HGTV they put plywood down first. Here in the NE they don't do that... I don't know what effect that has on the durability. I like granite for the uniqueness in the patterns (rather than the speckled corian, etc). Ours has a sort of vein going through the middle of the island that I love. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900677 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 13:21:32 +0000 twodoghouse 1900677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love our Corian! It's less fancy than granite, which suits our house. The one we chose isn't the speckled Corian, though. I don't really like the look of that. Ours is called sandalwood. (Not my house, just an image from google!) </p> [attach=141/14/ndg5nw.600x403.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900649 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 13:03:37 +0000 snowjewelz 1900649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally agree w/ plantains about the engineered quartz; mine's from Caesarstone also. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900576 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:27:50 +0000 ShootingStar 1900576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have granite in my kitchen and I love it and have never had problems with it. I do think that solid surface stuff is up and coming, but I'm not a fan of Corian, it looks too much like it's trying to be a stone, and it's not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900557 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:21:43 +0000 shinymama 1900557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have black granite, and I have lukewarm feelings about it. When we move, I want to have marble or quartz. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900541 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:15:32 +0000 mrs. wagon 1900541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: I'll wall you!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900539 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:14:29 +0000 hellobeeboston 1900539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: really?! How big is the piece?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900536 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:12:46 +0000 mrs. wagon 1900536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We put absolute black granite in our kitchen and I absolutely love it. We knew we wanted stone and looked at quartz as well, but I didn't like the consistency of the patterns (if that makes any sense??) for a kitchen. We went with a squared off edge/corner with a slight bevel to it and I absolutely love it. </p> <p>We have our old (also absolute black) granite sitting in our garage, waiting for a buyer or for us to use it in our bathrooms...!! Although the cost to have someone come out and cut it on site might make it not even worth it :( But if you happen to want it, just let me know!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900530 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:09:27 +0000 hellobeeboston 1900530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@plantains: good call. But we probably won't sell for at least 10-15 years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900526 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:07:45 +0000 hellobeeboston 1900526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsStormy: also, good to know about the scratches. That would be an issue, I don't want to have to be gentle on the surface. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900525 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:07:24 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1900525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StrawberryBee: that's pretty. We have granite too, but I didn't design or pick out our kitchen. Our granite is black with green specks.</p> <p>I like honed soapstone, but a quick Google of quartz and corian shows you can get pretty much any style or look you want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900522 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:06:26 +0000 hellobeeboston 1900522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsStormy: it's 6 feet long by about 3 or 4 feet deep (can't remember). I want to do a curved edge, like a semi-circle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900520 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:06:10 +0000 Mamaof2 1900520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I LOVE our granite!!! We have it in the kitchen and bathrooms! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900514 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:04:56 +0000 hellobeeboston 1900514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StrawberryBee: love that!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900501 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 11:57:17 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1900501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: Cambria has some really good looking solid surface countertops. They are less maintenance than a natural product but have a similar look. A lot of our clients have been happy with them lately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-choose-countertop-for-new-kitchen-surface#post-1900496 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 11:54:25 +0000 coopsmama 1900496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have granite (was here when we moved in) and it has a crack in it which to me screams that it isn't super durable because it's not as though we are hard on our countertops. </p> <p>Our granite is also rough-edge which I really have grown to dislike. </p>