Need countertop help

[libbygrl109]

We met with our designer today. I was doing OK until she had us pick the countertop, and now I’m stuck. We narrowed it down to 2. This is what the kitchen will look like (not including the minor changes we made today). (ETA - I think I confused everyone with the backsplash in the renderings. We are going with a 4x10-ish beveled white subway tile for the backsplash. I have an example below.)


These are our 2 options. The dark gray is lower/back wall cabinets. I have them on our floor, which will cover the entire kitchen.
(1)



(2)


Both options together:


I like them both equally, so I would love everyone’s thoughts on why they would choose one over the other.

Both are Cambria quartz.

(ETA: sorry for the huge pics. They didn't look this big in the app.)

[mrsukyankee]

I like the lightness of the second (larger) one, as well as the pattern. I don't think you can go wrong, tbh, but number 2 is my preference.

[sju]

Is the backsplash in the picture representative of what you chose? I like them both but I am also leaning towards #2. The kitchen looks very nice!

[expectantsteelerfan]

Just looking at the small samples, I like 1 better, but I think bigger pieces of it might make it seem a little too busy, so I would go with 2. But it's also possible that seeing 1 bigger, it might not look busy, especially not super close up.

[libbygrl109]

Jun 11, 2021 17:13:14 GMT -5 sju said:

Is the backsplash in the picture representative of what you chose? I like them both but I am also leaning towards #2. The kitchen looks very nice!

Thank you! We are really excited. It will be 4x10(12?) beveled white subway (I can't remember what the dimensions were, but the longer style). Like this:

[libbygrl109]

Jun 11, 2021 17:29:43 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

Just looking at the small samples, I like 1 better, but I think bigger pieces of it might make it seem a little too busy, so I would go with 2. But it's also possible that seeing 1 bigger, it might not look busy, especially not super close up.

This is what I found online of a bigger piece of #1. Sorry it's so big. I forget how to make it smaller. I am worried that there is much more going on than in the other one. But against the cabinet color, the darker gray really pops. 

[redheadk]

I like #2. I think you have plenty going on with 2 colors of cabinetry and backsplash with a detail so I'd go simple on the countertops so it all works together rather than competing for attention.

[RockNVoll]

I prefer #1 for the greater movement in it. Everything else you've picked is a solid white or gray and I think a little more pattern would be nice for the counters.

Either way, I would make sure the white of the backsplash works with the counter and that they don't have different undertones. The space looks great!

[libbygrl109]

Jun 11, 2021 20:45:33 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

I prefer #1 for the greater movement in it. Everything else you've picked is a solid white or gray and I think a little more pattern would be nice for the counters.

Either way, I would make sure the white of the backsplash works with the counter and that they don't have different undertones. The space looks great!

Thank you! Our designer had a 3x6 version of the tile, and they blended very well with the quartz. She was going to order a sample of our tile so we will know for sure.

DH and our designer really like #1. I am not sure if I will love or hate the movement after a while. That is where I am stuck.

[darby]

I also like #1 best. The darker flecks will really pop and are different enough from the backsplash that they will compliment each other rather than compete with one another.

[ktw]

I think both are really nice, but I love number 1. I wish I’d had something like it as an option on our new build (I’m happy with what we chose, but I like yours even more).

[dr.girlfriend]

Before I thought #2 but now that I see the larger sample of #1 I like it best. I think you can't go wrong with either, though, but for now everything is so solid-color that I think a little bit more pattern and color variation on the counter would be good.

[konapoppy]

I have something like 2, but it compliments a different backsplash (turquoise hexagons). I agree with others that given the simplicity of the look, #1 adds more texture to the room.

[atarianna]

I really like #1 and love how your kitchen is designed. IIRC your layout was a little awkward before and I think the way the space is designed to maximize cabinetry and function turned out really really well.

[divanerd]

I like them both cant decide

[libbygrl109]

Jun 12, 2021 15:11:00 GMT -5 divanerd said:

I like them both cant decide

I am still at this point. I went to another place in my area today that has a big Cambria showroom. They had #2 (Swanbridge) on a big kitchen island, but only had the 12x12 of the Highgate. I liked how there wasn't a ton of movement in the Swanbridge, but it didn't have that distinct dark gray veining that the Highgate has that matches our cabinets perfectly. I left the store set on #2, but then got home and uncertainty kicked in again.

If I could blend the two together, I would have my perfect countertop. 

[aprilsails]

Since everything else is quite plain I would go with #1. It sucks you haven’t been able to see if in a bigger format. Have you searched the name on Houzz? Seeing installed pictures helped me when I was trying to make these decisions. Unfortunately it’s hard to see countertops in most photos.

[aprilsails]

Here is one photo I found:

st.hzcdn.com/simgs/d5124c750c5088a5_9-1735/home-design.jpg

It is paired with dark backsplash but I think it will work well with white too. I find it is less classic marble looking as compared to #2. Both would work it’s really up to you what you are wanting.

[libbygrl109]

Jun 13, 2021 4:50:33 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

Here is one photo I found:

st.hzcdn.com/simgs/d5124c750c5088a5_9-1735/home-design.jpg

It is paired with dark backsplash but I think it will work well with white too. I find it is less classic marble looking as compared to #2. Both would work it’s really up to you what you are wanting.

Thank you! I've been scouring the internet, so I've seen this picture. I think I had the more classic marble look in my head, and seeing this one makes me rethink things. I have to return the samples and make a choice in the next day or so, so I may go to the kitchen design shop after work tomorrow, and look at one other sample of one I saw online before making my choice. 

[silvercrayon]

I like #2. It will be perfect with your cabinets and backsplash.

[stemmie]

My mother has a similar scheme. Her base cabinets aren't quite as dark as yours and her appliances are black stainless; she has #1 as her countertop with a smaller bevel white subway tile. It looks great, but #2 would as well.

One thing that surprised me is that her backsplash reads more as a pale grey I think partly because of the reflection of the countertops. The room has a double hung window over the sink and 3 walls of windows around the breakfast nook, so it gets plenty of natural light.

[mrsd2006]

I like #1 but I think both would look great

[TR]

I like #2 because it seems to have a larger "pattern" which I prefer.

[Deleted]

I was initially leaning towards #1, but with the additional pictures, I now think that it is too busy for my taste and would go with #2.

[libbygrl109]

New option found today. Found this one when I went to return the other samples to my designer. It was really hard to tell the true background colors because the room it was in had dim, yellowish lighting. I really like the veining in this one. My designer doesn't work on Mondays, so I'll have to wait and get her thoughts. Her assistant was able to get me the samples of both cabinets and the tile. The first two options are on the top right and left.

ETA: I took out the old picture link and added this. The large slab is the new option. #1 and #2 are the 12x12 pieces. The solid gray is our cabinet and the white is our tile, but in a smaller size than what we ordered. The lighting in the room cast a lot of yellow onto it. It looks more white in person.

[libbygrl109]

Jun 14, 2021 22:15:38 GMT -5 kellady said:

libbygrl109  I don’t see any new options?  What am I missing?

I uploaded the picture from my computer. Not sure why it won’t show in the app. Hopefully this shows up.

[silvercrayon]

Still #2 for me.

[dr.girlfriend]

I think I like the new one best. It's the really big piece in the background, right?

[ellipses84]

I liked #1 until I saw #2. I also like #3. I think I would go with #2 unless you love #3 so much you wouldn’t even consider the others. All of them are good choices. Try to narrow it down back to 2 choices and sleep on it if you need to.

[libbygrl109]

Thanks everyone! I did end up choosing #3. It best represented the picture I had in my head of what I wanted and it fits in our budget! Our designer also let me know she tweaked things a little so that we will be getting a larger sink cabinet with a 28” sink - 7” wider than what we have now. I am so glad the selection process is done.

I cannot wait to start, but we won’t even be demoing everything until right after Thanksgiving.