Let’s Talk Bathroom Counters
I believe you have more options for your bathroom counters than you would for a kitchen. See how I said “I believe”? Because this is MY OPINION and only my own. I highly suggest you do your own research and make sure your countertop fabricator helps you make the right decision for your bathroom.
NATURAL STONE
Natural stone is a very broad category and includes granite, marble, quartzite and dolomite. Granite is usually the most cost effective option, depending on what pattern you select. I specify very few granite counters because most of my clients are looking for a lighter (whiter) counter or don’t want the maintenance that comes with it. Then there is marble. So beautiful, but not the most durable. It’s the softer of the four natural stones and requires a lot of TLC. Check out this Architectural Digest article for all things marble. Finally, there are two newer categories - quartzite and dolomite. Both are natural stones and have gained popularity because they offer a wide variety of lighter colors that you can’t get from granite and they are more durable than marble. I was told quartzite is a little “harder” than granite and dolomite is a little “softer”.
I have a marble counter in my hall bathroom and my teenage son uses it every day. I have never done anything but clean it in the past two years. I have zero complaints. I have dolomite in my master bathroom, which is pictured below. There are two reasons I selected this counter- I loved the way it looked with my floor tile and the price was way better than the quartz I originally picked out.
In the kitchen pictured below, we used a granite with a lot of movement for the island and a light gray quartz on the perimeter counters. By doing this, we let the island by the star of the kitchen!
QUARTZ
Quartz countertops are man-made, but with natural quartz. Less than 10% of the materials used are not natural such as colorants and resins. The quartz dust is mixed with these other materials and pressed into slabs. It’s much more durable than granite (or other natural stones) and because it’s non-porous, you don’t have to seal it. Check out Cambria for more details on quartz. I specify Cambria brand quartz more than any other brand and that is what I used in the bathroom pictured below. One is because their pricing structure is easy (just 2 or 3 levels) and they are made in the USA. I also like a brand called Vadara, which is made in South Korea. They actually have the best marble “look a likes” I’ve seen on the market. The veining is very natural looking to me. I used Vadara in the kitchen pictured below.
EVERYTHING ELSE
Then there is everything else…wood, solid-surface, laminate, tile, stainless steel and concrete. Each of those has their own pros and cons and I recommend visiting The Spruce for their take on this list. I’ve only ever specified wood when a client was totally comfortable with the maintenance involved and that was in a kitchen. Wood is definitely not recommended in a bathroom!
What kind of counters do you have? I’d love to hear your experience with any of these I mentioned. If you’re stuck on which counter might be best for your project, I’d love to meet with you on a Virtual Consultation to talk through your concerns.
Thanks for Reading!
Jennifer