One of the biggest debates in kitchen and home design is this: should granite be replaced by marble, or quartz? While more developers are looking toward quartz as an alternative to marble, neither one clearly outweighs the other. But there are four different categories that compare the two materials, and can help both developers and homeowners decide which one best suits them. Their appearance, durability, maintenance and overall cost can play a part in choosing which one is better to replace granite.
For appearance, it is largely a matter of preference. According to MSI Surfaces, while Quartz is more uniform in its design and color, it can also mimic the look of natural stone as well. Meanwhile, with marble, each slab is one-of-a-kind. If you have marble as your kitchen countertop, no other counter will be the same as that one. The uniqueness adds a classic beauty to any room.
Renderings courtesy of KAR Properties (Marble)
Marble
Quartz
Appearance
- One-of-a-kind
- Natural stone rather than man-made
- Uniform in design and color
- Man-made, but mimics natural stone
Durability
- Can get stained or discolored more easily
- Overall, durable and dependable
- Direct sunlight or UV rays can cause irreparable discoloring
- Overall, durable and dependable
Maintenance
- Sitting water can cause discoloration or stains
- Overall, more maintenance is required
- Hot pots or pans sitting on it can scorch the stone
- Overall, less maintenance is required
Price
- More expensive per square foot
- $50-150 per square foot
- Less expensive per square foot
- $40-100 per square foot
In terms of durability, both are great options. Quartz is man-made, but is increasing in popularity because of the material’s durability. Marble is from many different countries around the world, and is also a durable but natural material as well. With quartz, however, any direct sunlight or high UV rays can cause irreparable discoloring, according to Polycor. Although both can gain chips on their edges and other minor damages, neither are fragile or impractical for everyday use. For durability, both quartz and marble are great options.
Marble requires more maintenance since it is natural stone. Sitting water on a marble countertop can cause discoloration and stains. For individuals with a busy lifestyle, quartz would be much easier to manage. But with quartz, make sure not to place any hot pots or pans on the counter — doing so could scorch the material. In terms of overall maintenance, however, quartz is generally a better fit.
Rendering courtesy of RIVA Residences (Quartz)
Rendering courtesy of Akoya Boca West (Quartz)
Rendering courtesy of RIVA Residences (Quartz)
Lastly, marble is usually more expensive than quartz. MSI Surfaces explains that while each square foot of marble is only slightly more expensive than quartz, that price tag can quickly add up when designing a whole room. Despite the overall added price, however, marble can add to a home’s value, so it might be worth it in the long run for some homeowners and designers.
While quartz is more practical in terms of durability and maintenance, nothing is like the one-of-a-kind material found with marble. In the end, knowing both materials’ advantages and setbacks can help determine which one works best.
Rendering courtesy of RIVA Residences (Quartz) Rendering courtesy of Akoya Boca West (Quartz)
Natural stone unites with modern metals in the new Eccentric Stone collection by Australian kitchen and bathware design manufacturer Rogerseller.
A celebration of the beauty in balance when two become one, Eccentric Stone is a new collection sculpted from natural stone and highlighted by hints of metal. In perfect harmony, these signature elements explore the power of duality; the raw and refined, subtle and strong, timeless and modern.
Presented in Carrara marble or Emperador Grey stone, the collection features new round and oval basin designs, a shelf and the acclaimed Eccentric Mixer.
“Curved lines and generous proportions add an understated luxury to the pieces, while the refined shapes and considered details continue to demonstrate the craftsmanship Rogerseller is revered for” says Jo Jackson, group manager of
Designed to be paired with Rogerseller’s signature Natural Elements finishes, each piece incorporates metallic hints, making this stone and metal duo truly unique. The metal finishes drawn from the Natural Elements collection include Chrome, Brushed Chrome, Satin Chrome, Graphite, Brushed Nickel, Bright Nickel, Twilight, Matt Black, Bright Gold and Brushed Gold, creating styles defined by the individual.
Finding inspiration from the Earth’s raw resources and the untouched qualities that come from years of metamorphosis, the Eccentric Stone collection shows the result of a “whole made greater by the sum of its parts,” according to the brand. “While individually, the elements of stone and metals are well-known and loved, brought together they create a new harmony, making for an unstoppable duo.”
All photos courtesy Rogerseller.
Top photo by Steve Henke for Cambria Style.
Cambria, the leading producer of American-made natural stone, is expanding its editorial platform this spring with the release of its first-ever workbook supplement, Kitchen & Bath Design Inspiration: The Ultimate Design Planner. The Planner will be bound within Cambria Style, the brand’s award-winning luxury home and lifestyle magazine, and will also be available to consumers for free download online at CambriaUSA.com.
Part inspirational guide and part project checklist, the Planner was designed by LouAnn Haaf, editor-in-chief of Cambria Style, and her team as a comprehensive guide to help consumers navigate the often complex process of renovating their home. The new supplement illustrates top kitchen and bath design trends, including features on popular styles and product roundups of fashionable accents and accessories. It delves into the most functional and popular kitchen floor plans, providing tips for planning the perfect layout, selecting the right materials, colors and finishes, and includes designs from Cambria’s expansive palette in both elegant neutrals and bold patterns.
Haaf combed through her vast experience in covering the kitchen and bath market to create the Planner, which provides invaluable takeaways – both creative and practical – including the following:
Find Your Look: Whether it’s the blend of modern farmhouse and West Coast styles of California to the picture-perfect sophistication of a classic Hamptons retreat, it’s important to find the right types of inspiration that emulate you, while staying modern and fresh. Cambria recommends trying out or investigating on-trend styles to inspire your own projects, such as the Into the Woods aesthetic, combining industrial materials and an urban look to blur the lines of interior and exterior.
Know Your Pro: Consider your options when it comes to choosing and working with a professional, which in turn will help take the guesswork out of kitchen and bath design.
Draft Picks: Lay out all your designs carefully, and make sure all options are weighed when designing your dream kitchen, and which one is best for you.
Splurge-Worthy Investments: Take a look at the five areas of your renovation where you shouldn’t cut corners on spending and why.
The 3Cs Buying Guide: Color, Cabinets and Countertops – the magical trifecta to incorporate color, storage and durability into your kitchen.
Surface Area: Make sure you select a surface that showcases your personality, making your house a home. Cambria offers a multitude of options, from the inky blacks and soft-gray hues of Midnight Blacks, the classic, understated earth tones of Organic Neutrals or the dramatic selections of Edgy Movement that tend to make a statement.
Photo courtesy of Cambria.
The magazine, along with the removable Planner, will be available on May 7 through Hudson newsstands, select Barnes & Noble stores, in hotels, by subscription and for free download on CambriaUSA.com.
Blending the best of classic and opulent French style, the latest collection from THG® Paris has been curated alongside renowned French interior designer and decorator Stéphanie Coutas.
The collection, entitled “Montaigne,” embodies a French sophistication that is enhanced by Coutas’ choice of material. Finding beauty in nature through her signature use of Grand Antique d’ Aubert marble, Coutas marries this traditional material with her unerring eye for the codes of luxury ‘‘à la française.”
The prestigious marble, revered for its natural black and white coloring, is native only to southwest France and has a rich historical past, decorating exquisite structures such as Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Palace of Versailles and the tomb of Emperor Napoleon.
“The Montaigne Collection stems from this idea of transformation, this is one of our specificities: we like working with raw materials, transforming them and thus magnifying nature,” says Coutas. “Hence this idea of a marble tap, a rather raw element, which has been shaped into something luxurious, inherent to a refined universe.”
“Montaigne” sheds light on a traditional French marble enhanced by contemporary French artisans.
The collection is also offered with cross or lever handles and in various configurations for basins, matching bathtub and shower systems and a range of matching accessories.
Growing up in Hong Kong, Coutas, an interior designer and decorator, has retained an intuitive appreciation for the mixing of cultures and “art de vivre” refinement with no show of ostentation. Her neoclassical and contemporary designs can be found in a number of luxurious residential projects and hospitality spaces in France, Europe and the Middle East.
“Making us nostalgic for quintessential eras in French history, Stéphanie Coutas revisits artful designs from the past which she honors in a most noble way,” says Pedro Uranga, North American director for THG Paris. “We are humbled to have her signature designs featured as a tribute to the transformation of nature from raw to refined.”