Dear Alice | Countertops

This week’s episode is about everything countertops! We’re really passionate about natural materials because they always draw us in and give good energy back to us so investing in a quality countertop is a must! This week’s episode can be found on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or Google Podcast.

Quartzite is beautiful and really tough so it’ll withstand the test of time because it has the same qualities of marble without being absorbent. Because it’s harder than marble, it’s nice for places that have more wear and tear to them like a kitchen. You can get them in light colors with veining so the world is truly your oyster when it comes to quartzite. We use the Macaubas and Taj Mahal stone a lot! Quarts is man-made so you can’t put a hot items on it because they’re ground up and mixed so just invest in a quartzite- you’ll thank us later!

A fireplace might call more for a marble because you can sculpt ornate details into it easier. Bathroom and showers are a nice place to use marble; you can use it in a kitchen but you’ll have to be okay with the character that comes with it. Ask your slab yard people for the best way to upkeep it- it might be expensive but it’s very worth it. Marble is very rich and timeless- it can be more charming the more it gets lived in. Be aware of acidic items on it though because they can get etched onto it, you’ll have to get it buffed and resealed every few years.

When we typically think of granite, we think of gross speckle-y brown stone- we won’t typically use granite but we don’t write it off completely. We only use a super white granite so make sure you’re aware of what you are drawn to so you can find it. There are different grades of granite and can have sweeping veins in it so there are options out there if you’re passionate about it!

Concrete is another option. We don’t use it often because it’s really porous, can chip, crumble and crack. It’s nice if you are drawn to styles that are very casual and industrial. It might be nice maybe in a garage but in general, it’s not as practical. If you have wooden cabinets, they might shift around so keep that in mind. Don’t use it outdoors if you’re in a climate that’s prone to freezing and thawing because it will crack- use a natural stone that can uphold a shift in temperature.

Soapstone is a softer stone; it’s a living material that can go from light grey to dark grey because you can to oil it to get to the tone you want it to be. There’s a quartzite that looks like soapstone if you’re looking for a stone that’s more durable with the same look. It’s very organic looking and like concrete, feels more industrial and casual. You’ll see stones that lean more blue, green or grey so get a tone that fits your home.

Wood/ butcher block is nice to break it up. We’ve done islands that are half butcher block for prep. It has a culinary casualness and artisan feel to it. The end grain of butcher block absorbs the least amount of moisture (although all wood will be absorbent to some degree) and it feels really special with the checkerboard pattern. You have to treat and coat it fairly often so be aware of the upkeep to it. We probably wouldn’t do an entire kitchen in wood but we primarily use it for work surfaces- you don’t want too much of a good thing.

We’ll use a large slab and reuse parts of it throughout the house to be economical- bathroom vanities, shower seats, mantle surrounds or even as artwork; be creative!

It’s fun to go to a slab bone yard and see all wild pieces that might be there! Ask the people at the slab yard to see what nobody buys- it such an enjoyable experience! We don’t make decisions on the slab until we get there; picking out your slab is like buying artwork- you can have an emotional reaction to it and be completely taken back by what you end up loving. Be flexible and keep in mind the practicality of the stone for your lifestyle.

At the end of the day, everyone should go to a slab yard on a date! If you’re shopping for stone, keep in mind the practicality of what you need and let your perfect slab find you. Any questions or podcast ideas? Email us at dearalice@alicelanehome.com