Kitchen | Home Makeover Diva

Help With Choosing Granite or Quartz Countertops

02.26.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

Today Mitch writes:

I’m picking out new countertops, but I am not sure which one is the best choice.Granite or Quartz? Please help!

Mitch, if I had a dollar for every time I got asked that question. . . I wouldn’t be a millionaire, but I would definitely be a couple hundred dollars richer! When it comes to picking out granite or quartz countertop surfaces, many people are at a loss of what to choose. Rest assured though that you’re not alone in your quest for the best countertop surface!

Let me also assure you that there’s no real right or wrong countertop when considering these two wonderful surfaces. Simply put, both granite and quartz are great countertop options. To better help with your dilemma, I’ve got a couple of questions to help us narrow down which countertop will work best for you.

Naturally occurring beauty that will be unpredictable or a consistent countertop pattern and color?

Granite is a beautiful choice, but it’s not appropriate for everyone or every kitchen. This comes into play because granite often makes for a bold statement, especially considering that some granite patterns are difficult to ignore. Confused by that last statement? Think back to the last kitchen you saw with a bold granite countertop. Do you remember anything else about that particular kitchen? Often times granites with large designs and a lot of color can become the focal point of the kitchen, making the rest of the features barely noticeable by contrast. There is nothing wrong with this, but it is something to keep in mind when you go countertop shopping! If your kitchen already has a lot going with patterns and colors, then you may wish to find milder colors and patterns when looking into a new countertop. With regard to style, typically speaking, granite fits in more with a traditional design.

I also strongly recommend going to the warehouse yourself and picking out your own granite slab for your countertops. This way, you can avoid any “surprises” that may arise after installation. As splotches may be bigger or smaller than at the showroom, a tone or hue may be different or the rock formation could change the pattern as the granite is mined, it’s best to be there in person to inspect things. You just don’t know what little change may happen in the rock from the time it was mined and put in the showroom to the slab that actually gets installed in your kitchen.

While granite is natural and unpredictable, Quartz is man-made and more uniform. What you see in the showroom is almost exactly what you’ll get installed in your home. The two biggest brands of quartz are Silestone and Zodiaq, each have between 30 to 50 different colors. Some have small splotches while others are bigger. They even come in different textured looks. For example, Silestone has a line that reminds me of honed limestone or marble. Because of the uniform appearance and smaller splotches some colors in quartz work well with a heavily patterned kitchen backsplash. This makes quartz perfect for more modern kitchens.

How much countertop upkeep are you looking for?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54BKL7jvhks

Most granite surfaces require sealing. There are some that do not, but many granite countertops do. For those surfaces, you’ll have to seal them when they’re installed and then you will need to re-seal the countertop every 1 to 2 years. This will help protect your investment and keep your countertop from staining. If you’re instead looking for a countertop with minimal upkeep, I’d suggest quartz. Because quartz is nonporous and doesn’t require sealing like granite. This makes for a great selling point for quartz since it makes it’s more difficult to stain and happens to be antimicrobial. Neither granite or quartz is completely stain proof, however quartz offers greater stain resistance. The final point I would make between the two countertop surfaces is that quartz is slightly harder than granite. This means that it’s less likely to see scratches during daily use than a granite countertop.

Now I must tell you that I’m slightly biased when it comes to choosing countertops because my countertop happens to be quartz. That said, understand that I chose my countertop based on its color and pattern, not the type of surface. At the time, I was going for a modern look that matched well with my cabinets and flooring. The fact that it is low maintenance turned out to be a bonus. So when it comes to choosing your own countertops, you’ve got to decide which is the best for you and your kitchen. As I mentioned earlier, there is no true right or wrong answer for your question. What it boils down to are the above benefits I’ve explained, your own personal preference and which countertop surface looks best in your kitchen. Either way, whichever countertop you choose will be great I’m sure!

Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (window blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe (diva(at)homemakeoverdiva.com) and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Home Makeover Diva Blog.

Can You Paint Cultured Marble Or Tile Countertops?

02.24.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

Today Mary asks,

Have any ideas about making over countertops that are cultured marble, and tile countertops? Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations won’t work on these surfaces. 🙂

Mary, unfortunately neither one of those surfaces handle paint well in wet areas. This is one of the reasons why it’s not recommended to use a product like Rust-Oleum CountertropTransformations on cultured marble or tile.

Upon receiving your question, I asked all my contacts in the painting industry for help and I also scoured the internet to find a paint for a DIY makeover on a cultured marble countertop. Unfortunately, short of buffing and reapplying a gel coat to get it back to its former glory, there really isn’t much you can do yourself to give a cultured marble countertop a new look. In fact, when it comes to making over cultured marble you really have only three options: live with it, replace it or hire a company to come in and professionally refinish it.

The first option is pretty self-explanatory, do nothing and live with the countertop you’ve already got. Not the most glamours option, but it’s certainly the cheapest.

The second option requires you to choose a new countertop and install it yourself, or hire someone else to install it for you. Depending on the size of your countertop, you might be able to find a pretty cheap replacement at a home improvement store. If you go this route and decided to do it yourself, be aware that you are also going to have to deal with the plumbing attached to the sink and faucet as well. After all, it’s not just the countertop that has to be removed and replaced.

The last option is to hire a company to professionally refinish it for you. This is done very similarly to how you would have a bathtub or shower refinished, which is why it’s best to have someone else do the work for you. To date, none of the attempts I’ve seen by DIYer’s have turned out very well. It’s also important to mention that if you are going to have this done, it may be more cost-effective in the long run to just replace the countertop. These finishes can last for awhile, but eventually may chip and crack. At which point, you’d be back to square one. Which brings us back to option two – replace it.

As for a tile countertop, if the tiles are well secured, just about the only thing you can do that will last is to put a new tile right over the existing ones. However, this poses a unique problem when it comes to the sink. Whether the sink is an under mount or a drop in sink, you’ll have to get creative with the new edge. In the case of an under mount sink, how will you treat the overlap of the tile onto the sink? It will now be twice as thick as it was before and if you leave it the way it is it, you’ll be able to see the edges of both layers of tile. So, you’ll have to find away to cover up the existing tile and make a finished looking edge at the same time.

If the sink is a drop in, you’ll want to make sure that the additional tile with thinset isn’t too tall. You don’t want the tile to be taller than the sink. And then if the sink is round, you are going to have a lot of angled circular cuts to make. Which can be frustrating if you are not familiar with how to make those types of tile cuts.

I wish I had better advice to give, but when it comes to cultured marble and tile countertops there really isn’t much you can do. My advice is to wait until you can replace them completely, as this is the only option that will be cost effective and long lasting.

Cleaning Granite Countertops Safely

02.18.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

Today Susan writes:

Dear Diva, A friend of mine just told me I could use regular Pledge on my granite countertops. Is this true? I’ve used Pledge on my wooden surfaces but it just doesn’t seem like the thing to use on granite. Please help, I’m confused! Cleaning granite countertops safely is what I’m after here.

Dear Susan, you will hear a lot of other people’s advice on what they think you can use to clean or polish your granite countertops. And Pledge is one of those items that even some of the high-profile websites have readily endorsed lately. However this advice could be absolutely wrong for your countertops. Despite the fact that the can of Pledge even says that it can be used on granite and marble alike, there is some fine print that should be noted. Right on the can and on their own website Pledge specifies that it is ‘safe to use only on finished, sealed surfaces.’

1) Important Warranty and Disclaimer Information – Unfortunately, though, none of the high-profile websites or your friend probably mentioned that disclaimer. This is a shame because it could cause a problem if your granite has never been sealed or is in need of a fresh coat of sealer. If your granite countertops were made in the last couple years than the odds are pretty good that they have the lifetime (15 year) warranty and seal. If this is the case than you could probably use Pledge and be perfectly fine. However, if your granite countertops are older or in need of a sealer, you could have some discoloration or staining appear depending on the colors in your granite.

2) Read the Product Label – This is why I always recommend reading the entire label (fine print and all), on any product you are going to use on your countertops and when possible contacting the company who provided your countertops to find out what the manufacturer suggestions for cleaning products are. Especially, considering that if you use the wrong product you could void your manufacturer warranty. Now I know what some of you are thinking: manufacturer warranties don’t cover a lot. But in my experience the time you dismiss that warranty is the time you need it! And on a product that costs as much as granite, it would be wise to preserve that warranty as much as you can.

Beware: Pledge is not the only product that is being recommended incorrectly for granite countertops. Some websites are advising readers on how to remove specific stains on granite countertops using other unsafe products. While I have no doubt that most of these remedies will work, I am concerned that none of the granite cleaners recommend by legitimate countertop experts rely on bleach or other harsh chemicals.

These household cleaners aren’t mindful of the sealer applied to your granite counters. So while using bleach or acetone on your granite will no doubt strip the stain, it will also strip the sealer at the same time. This of course, means you would be even more susceptible to countertop staining in the future.

3) Avoid Misleading Advise – Why the so-called “experts” on these unnamed websites aren’t mentioning this critical info is beyond me. Apparently they’re also suggesting that you reseal your granite every two to three years based on their cleaning advice. Just remember to be mindful of the granite warranty and the warranty on any granite sealers you’ve used prior to stain removal. Following directions on the back of your granite cleaner is always a good idea while using household products and following bad advice, is something that is best to be avoided.

Granite countertops are expensive and you should protect your investment regardless of how easy someone else’s advice may be to follow. If you read the fine print on any cleaning products and do your research as far as warranties go, you’ll save yourself valuable time and money.

Update: One other product that is made specifically for cleaning granite countertops safely is called Rock Doctor. Despite the silly name, this product has received great reviews! You will only need the polish and cleaner, assuming your granite as already be sealed. These products are designed for granite and will prevent you from voiding your warranty using the wrong granite cleaning products.

Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (window blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe(diva(at)homemakeoverdiva.com) and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Home Makeover Diva Blog.

Kitchen Cart With Granite Top

02.17.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

Deb writes:

Diva, I am so tired of my kitchen I could scream. It’s large, yet somehow lacks countertop space. I wish I had granite instead of black laminate countertops. I’m renting so I can’t make any permanent changes but is there anything I can do to class the place up?

Deb, I know how it feels to hate your kitchen, but don’t despair there is always something you can do to make it better. For example, have you ever thought about adding a kitchen cart with granite top? This way you get more of the countertop space that is needed, as well as, the granite you’re wishing for. And since you’re renting, a kitchen cart is something that you can take with you when you move later on. Add to that the fact that kitchen carts can get as cheap or expensive as your budget can afford and you’ve got a viable option for any modern household! Here are a few things to keep in mind before you purchase your kitchen cart.

Size Matters: The key to picking out the perfect kitchen cart is to make sure you consider the flow of your kitchen. You don’t want a cart that is too large or bulky and just gets in your way. This is why, in my opinion the most important aspect is to make sure that the cart will fit well within the classic kitchen triangle. The best way to do this is to open the doors of the oven, dishwasher and refrigerator and measure from the edge of the open door, instead of the edge of the appliance. Otherwise it could get annoying if you have to move the cart out of the way every time you load your dishwasher or take something out of the oven, let alone have to put something away in the fridge! So by choosing something that fits well within those guidelines, you’ll be preventing a size issue from occurring later on down the line.

Wear and Tear: Another thing to be wary of is whether or not the granite countertop part of the cart has been pre-sealed. This is especially important if you are going to use it for food prep because you’ll want to protect the granite from staining. I recommend getting a good food grade quality penetrating sealer. This way you’re prepared for food handling right from the beginning. Then depending on how often you use the kitchen cart, I would recommend re-sealing it every one to two years.

Make your Own: If you can’t find one that is the right color or has the right type of granite consider making your own kitchen cart. You can make it as challenging or easy as you like. If you don’t want to have to build the cart from scratch, consider getting one that is unfinished wood and painting it the color you want. I did this in my kitchen about two years ago and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. The best news is that the unfinished “wood block” looking ones are pretty cheap, too. I think the one I purchased was around $60 or $70 from IKEA. I used mosaic tile on the top of my kitchen island, but you can use 12×12 granite tiles or go to a fabricator. Most stores selling countertops will sell their small scraps cheap and if you pay a little extra, they can finish the edges so it will fit to your new kitchen cart.

The bottom line here Deb, is that you are not completely stuck with the kitchen you hate. There are “little things” you can do that may not change the entire look of your kitchen, but they will give you something to look at and be proud of everyday! Especially considering that you brought in something that is actually made of the material you love! And if that’s not enough, I’m willing to bet that kitchen cart with granite top will become the new focal point for that area!

Kitchen Open Shelving Ideas

02.15.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

Today Lila writes:

Diva, I am considering changing up my kitchen a little bit and need some major help! I want to put some open shelves in, but I’m not sure which cabinets to choose. I’m also not sure whether I should use my existing kitchen cabinets or if I should just replace them with some contemporary floating shelves. Do you have any suggestions on kitchen open shelving ideas?

Lila, I can definitely understand the dilemma you are facing. Especially considering that if you make what you feel is the wrong choice you’ll have to do a lot more work to get your kitchen back to square one. That said, if you are not happy with your kitchen the way it is now, you’ve got nothing to lose! Of course, it is easy for me to say that because it’s your kitchen and not mine! But it is important to realize that any work you do here will go towards making your kitchen better not worse! I’m confident that with a little planning you’ll choose the right cabinets to make into opens shelves or floating shelves.

When choosing which cabinets to transform or replace it’s important to consider what will be stored in those shelves. For example, in my kitchen I have one cabinet that has shelves that are slightly taller than the rest and because of that I use it for specific storage items, so I would want to make sure that the items in that cabinet are things I’d want on display. In this particular case this cabinets houses my olive and vegetable oil. I also keep the rest of my cooking supplies and spices in this cabinet and I can tell you that I do not keep that shelf tidy enough to keep its contents on display! So, I would definitely not choose it for my new open shelf design! Partly because I’m not organized enough for it, and simply because I have no where else to move the contents to.

I would be more apt to make a cabinet that holds my everyday dishes an open shelving unit. This is because I know that I can keep those shelves organized on a daily basis and because my dishes match the color scheme of my kitchen. Add to that, the fact that I would love seeing my dishes on display everyday and you’ve got a winner. Placing items that are visually appealing in open shelves is also very important. You don’t want to create an eye sore do you? Plus, it would also be very functional to place my everyday dishes into an open shelf. Because the items in this shelving unit are used everyday, they will be easy to grab.

Now that we’ve talked about what types of items could go into kitchen open shelving ideas, let’s talk about open shelving versus floating shelves. Which choice you make really boils down to which you prefer and what your skill level is. A cabinet turned open shelving will most likely have more storage space. It will also conform with the space of the closed cabinets and the only visual difference will be the lack of doors. If you are looking for something to break up the boxiness a little more you may want to consider the floating shelves. They will open the space up a little and introduce a new shape into your upper kitchen cabinets. Depending on the style and shape of the shelves, however, you may not have as much storage space.

When it comes to skill level, taking the cabinets down is fairly easy but it may require additional work. Do you know what the state of the wall behind the cabinet is in? If you live in an older home, are you prepared to remove old wallpaper or tile or fix major wall blemishes? Not to mention you are going to have to fill in the screw holes and probably sand and repaint the wall before you can even install your shelves. I’m not trying to scare you away from removing the wall cabinets, I am only warning you that odds are you won’t just be able to remove the wall cabinet and install the floating shelves without some prep work.

If you decide to keep the cabinet and just remove the doors have you considered what it will look like with the screw holes for the hardware exposed? Are you going to fill them in? Or have you decided to prime and paint the cabinet and inside shelves? All of these questions are important and should be figured out prior to beginning the project.

Regardless of which kitchen open shelving ideas you choose, it’s important to consider as many aspects of the project beforehand as possible. This way you can make an informed decision and be ready for any additional prep work that may arise! I’m confident that you’ll make the best decision for your space and will be able to admire and enjoy all your hard work!

Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (window blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe (diva(at)homemakeoverdiva.com) and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Home Makeover Diva Blog!