Of all of the design debates whereas renovating a house, the “pure versus engineered stone” one can actually paralyze you. the controversy – pure stone could be beautiful (and costly), however it may well stain, present put on and tear, and many individuals can’t stand the aged look (together with my brother and SIL). Engineered stone (Quartz) is very sturdy and straightforward to wash however has much less “actual” wanting motion to it. It may be extra reasonably priced, is available in jumbo sizes (for big islands), and you may get a number of slabs simply.

My Actual Stone Rule/Philosophy…

My philosophy (which is free as a result of there are exceptions to EVERYTHING) is that I want pure stone slabs in additional conventional or classic type properties (cottages, cape cod, bungalows, farmhouses, colonials, Tudors, and many others). I additionally suppose that actual stone is finest in properties that have been constructed earlier than 1950 in case you are reworking an older house (pre-mid-century) My rationale is that quartz didn’t exist then so it stays extra integral to the home. The actual stone patina works with the age of the home, particularly in case you are attempting so as to add attraction. However if in case you have a midcentury, modern, or in any other case clean-lined and fashionable type house then IMHO you are able to do both actual stone OR the proper easy Quartz. Goodness, that sounds nuanced, however I really feel actually strong about this philosophy and have for years. I’ve had each in several properties and love them for various causes. I like our leathered LA kitchen, in a 100-year-old English Tudor and I LOVE our white engineered stone in the kitchen on the mountain home (and so did Ken and Katie – it’s simply SO straightforward to wash, feels recent, nothing stains, and many others.)

So early on, since it is a modern type house in-built 2024, clearly new building, we may do both. Resulting from Katie and Ken’s hesitation about pure stone, all of us determined that engineered stone was the best way to go for his or her household. Additionally, they have been coming from a conventional house with an enormous polished piece of white carerra on their island that obtained etched and stained very badly in order that they have been reacting to that and did NOT wish to repeat these stains. It drove them nuts and I wished to cut back that ache level for them. Quartz it’s!! However after all there’s a twist on this story…

Two years in the past I reached out to Caesarstone to accomplice on their counter tops – largely as a result of I used to be tremendous drawn to their concrete slabs which look SO GOOD and the motion seems actually actual. Max had used it earlier than and cherished it so we very early on “checked that field” (LOLOLOL b/c the field turned unchecked).

At first, we selected based mostly on these smaller samples. We’re all drawn to the easier designs with some motion, however not lots of fake veining (typically that basically works however not on this home IMHO). Earlier than absolutely making the choice, I wished to be triple positive about these, so we then went to EleMar (Tualatin) to see the slabs in particular person.

The concrete look nonetheless cleans up nice and isn’t porous in any respect, simply seems like concrete. We cherished this one and the Black Tempal (beneath). Keep in mind that they’d each be horizontal (you received’t be it like this).

We cherished them each. They positively lean modern and just a little industrial, however the texture is natural, free, and enormous in scale in a great way.

We hadn’t absolutely determined the place they have been going (an enormous debate over for those who put the darker stone on the perimeter of the cupboards and the lighter stone because the island, or the opposite method round).

Then because the design of the home developed I felt nervous concerning the kitchen. Like couldn’t sleep nervous. You see, we selected a easy white backsplash tile for the kitchen (it’s very fairly however being so impartial it wasn’t going to make an announcement). I spotted that this kitchen (whereas meant to be minimal) wanted shade. Katie is a bit petrified of shade and after we designed this home (like 3 years in the past) the design world was way more impartial than it’s now. So our tremendous impartial and heat minimal home was feeling now like there wasn’t sufficient occurring. Was it going to look identical to the mountain home kitchen??? I nonetheless LOVE that kitchen and it was the unique inspiration for this home, however we’re in Portland the place it’s so grey outdoors. We wanted shade! You possibly can’t have a home like this then have a very easy kitchen!

So we had two choices: 1. change the backsplash tile, or 2. change the countertop stone within the kitchen. Once more, the stone order hadn’t been positioned but however we had chosen six completely different slabs from Caesarstone that we cherished lots for the complete home. At this level, we thought that the tile couldn’t be modified or it will maintain us up resulting from lead occasions (LOL once more, nonetheless not put in so we may have modified the tile) so I begged my brother and SIL to buy groceries with me to discover a dope pure stone.

They have been hesitant to do pure stone, however I satisfied them that their home, which they’re clearly investing closely in, can’t have a kitchen with out shade or a daring design alternative. White tile on grey or black stone with white oak wooden cupboards simply was too impartial. I promised them that we wouldn’t go for a carerra or one thing gentle and we wouldn’t go for polished (which is simpler to etch). Off to buy!

We went to 2 stone yards – Bedrosian and EleMar in Tualatin (each non-spon, however native companies which might be nice). In case you are seeking to see Caesarstone slabs in particular person head to EleMar – they’ve an important choice so you possibly can select based mostly on the slab and never a pattern.

We went on two completely different journeys and Max and I preferred a few of the similar ones however disagreed on others. So discovering three VERY massive slabs that all of us cherished plus would work within the design proved difficult. It simply meant lots to all of us that we utterly love no matter we selected.

…And Then We Discovered These Beautiful Girls

TADA!!!! Three emerald Quartzite slabs. My coronary heart tripped with delight. The wooden towards them can be soooo unimaginable. It felt so Oregon to me, so “River Home”, so “foresty”. Suppose wooden cupboards because the trunk then the inexperienced slab because the tree branches. It could combine so nicely into the general appear and feel of the home and the outside (which is all timber and a river view). I texted the pictures to Max and thank god he was enthusiastic, too. All of us agreed that whereas this was our stone. I slept GREAT that night time.

They got here polished, so we requested our stone guys what can be the perfect, most sturdy approach to have these slabs and so they mentioned to leather-based them (which is actually sandblasting them, including texture, and making them very matte). Then they’d have to be sealed. They assured us that they wouldn’t etch or stain. GREAT.

Right here is the slab put in (above), however not sealed but (which is a complete different saga with an enormous hiccup that I’m ready to let you know about as soon as we now have an answer). This picture (beneath) has the seal on it so it turned darker which we nonetheless LOVE.

I’m so so so glad we selected this stone, it added the punch that we would have liked however in a brilliant non-risky design method (inexperienced isn’t a threat to me, however is likely to be to others). It’s not busy, simply darkish and natural (I even suppose the veining appears like the present of a river). We selected Caesarstone within the mudroom, bogs (a few of our vanities got here with counter tops), the laundry room, and even a slab on the fireside. The kitchen was the one place the place we selected actual stone as you possibly can see. In case you are available in the market for engineered Quartz here’s what we selected and actually love from Caesarstone: Ethereal Concrete, Natural White, Contemporary concrete, Blizzard, and Black Tempal which I’ll present you all soooooon.

The home is sort of achieved, y’all. There are some hiccups that I’ll after all share, however we’re within the means of determining easy methods to resolve them first and the much more enjoyable half is determining who pays for these hiccups. Extra to return, quickly. However we’re SO HAPPY with all of the stone so far and might now see so most of the rooms actually coming to life. xx

*Fairly Images (until in any other case famous) by Kaitlin Inexperienced