Recently, someone asked us what we recommend using in the kitchen for countertops. Although every project is unique, we do have our favorites.
Carrara Marble is at the top of our list for kitchen surfaces. In a honed finish it can look modern or traditional.
Some people are wary of using marble in a kitchen as it has a tendency to stain. From our perspective, if staining does occur, we prefer to think of it as a patina that adds depth to the stone over time. Take a look back at the great Italian and French designs and you will notice marbles are the centerpiece of their kitchens and restaurants.
If you are still concerned about staining, there are other practical and attractive options on the market. Most recently, we have been turned on to some interesting granites, which we usually shy away from. Specifically, Black Absolute granite in a Honed or Riverwash Finish. It has a masculinity and depth of soapstone, yet is amazingly durable. We recently used the Black Absolute Granite in the Riverwash finish at a home in the Los Feliz Oaks.
For our modern projects, we also use quartz materials, usually the
Caesarstone brand, in which our favorite colors are Lagos Blue, Blizzard and Cinder.
They look similar to natural slabs, are available in honed finishes, and are also very durable. We used Ceasarstone in Blizzard at a home in the Hollywood Hills.