Comments on: Countertop Counterparts http://www.housetweaking.com/2010/03/02/countertop-counterparts/ ...a blog designated to tweaking all things house and home. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:09:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: They’re Here! — House*Tweaking http://www.housetweaking.com/2010/03/02/countertop-counterparts/comment-page-1/#comment-396 They’re Here! — House*Tweaking Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:48:33 +0000 http://www.housetweaking.com/?p=490#comment-396 [...] Absolute Black, polished.  I went back and forth so many times between getting honed or polished.  In the end, I decided on polished.  I really [...] [...] Absolute Black, polished.  I went back and forth so many times between getting honed or polished.  In the end, I decided on polished.  I really [...]

]]> By: Nicole P http://www.housetweaking.com/2010/03/02/countertop-counterparts/comment-page-1/#comment-327 Nicole P Fri, 07 May 2010 00:51:08 +0000 http://www.housetweaking.com/?p=490#comment-327 I am in a similar situation, except, I added kitchen cabinets (to match existing cabinets) and only later realized I could not match my existing granite. So, the new countertops will be black to compliment my Giallo Veneziano. The cabinet guy recommended a honed absolute black or leather finish. I really want to go with the honed finish, but I did the research and I am going to go with the experts and stay away from it. I hope to go granite shopping tomorrow and go with the leathered look. It looks quite nice in the photos I've seen. I am in a similar situation, except, I added kitchen cabinets (to match existing cabinets) and only later realized I could not match my existing granite. So, the new countertops will be black to compliment my Giallo Veneziano. The cabinet guy recommended a honed absolute black or leather finish. I really want to go with the honed finish, but I did the research and I am going to go with the experts and stay away from it. I hope to go granite shopping tomorrow and go with the leathered look. It looks quite nice in the photos I’ve seen.

]]> By: housetweaking http://www.housetweaking.com/2010/03/02/countertop-counterparts/comment-page-1/#comment-158 housetweaking Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:32:16 +0000 http://www.housetweaking.com/?p=490#comment-158 RBoone - From what I know after talking to the company we are using to install our counters, "antiqued" and/or "leathered" finish is the same...just different terms. It's a textured finish but still sealed. I hadn't heard of the river washed until you just mentioned it. RBoone – From what I know after talking to the company we are using to install our counters, “antiqued” and/or “leathered” finish is the same…just different terms. It’s a textured finish but still sealed. I hadn’t heard of the river washed until you just mentioned it.

]]> By: RBoone http://www.housetweaking.com/2010/03/02/countertop-counterparts/comment-page-1/#comment-157 RBoone Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:19:33 +0000 http://www.housetweaking.com/?p=490#comment-157 what is difference in antiqued, river washed, or leathered honed absolute black granite? I am wanting the honed...until reading all of the maintenance....I still want absolute black on the perimeter and white carrera marble on island... what is difference in antiqued, river washed, or leathered honed absolute black granite? I am wanting the honed…until reading all of the maintenance….I still want absolute black on the perimeter and white carrera marble on island…

]]> By: michele http://www.housetweaking.com/2010/03/02/countertop-counterparts/comment-page-1/#comment-107 michele Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:23:03 +0000 http://www.housetweaking.com/?p=490#comment-107 We purchased the same material as Kasey. We are low-luster kinda people, we picked a matte finish with a type of leather look to it. We love it and have had it for almost a month now. Easy to keep clean which would have been an issue if we were to go with the honed. The bonus is that it is beautiful with the white oak cabinets that we had made. We purchased the same material as Kasey. We are low-luster kinda people, we picked a matte finish with a type of leather look to it. We love it and have had it for almost a month now. Easy to keep clean which would have been an issue if we were to go with the honed. The bonus is that it is beautiful with the white oak cabinets that we had made.

]]> By: housetweaking http://www.housetweaking.com/2010/03/02/countertop-counterparts/comment-page-1/#comment-86 housetweaking Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:43:11 +0000 http://www.housetweaking.com/?p=490#comment-86 Carole - I LOVE your kitchen! The counters are great. If I had nice wood cabinets (like you) and not the grainy oak ones we painted, I would have loved some light countertops. I'm still on the fence with the whole polished versus honed thing. On one hand, the ease of keeping polished clean would be nice but the softness of the 'chalkier' honed makes me swoon. Decisions, decisions. Carole – I LOVE your kitchen! The counters are great. If I had nice wood cabinets (like you) and not the grainy oak ones we painted, I would have loved some light countertops. I’m still on the fence with the whole polished versus honed thing. On one hand, the ease of keeping polished clean would be nice but the softness of the ‘chalkier’ honed makes me swoon. Decisions, decisions.

]]> By: carole http://www.housetweaking.com/2010/03/02/countertop-counterparts/comment-page-1/#comment-83 carole Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:50:40 +0000 http://www.housetweaking.com/?p=490#comment-83 My sister in law has a black granite countertop with a honed finish, and she has been disappointed with the stains/scratches that show. However, to me, it looks great, so you have to decide if you mind it not being perfect! We have the traditional finish on a light colored granite (see below for a pic), and even though it's sealed, oil stains are still a problem. When it happens, I whip up a mixture of flour and dish soap and let it dry on there to draw out the stain, it really does work! http://buckcanuck.blogspot.com/2010/01/old-kitchen-new-kitchen.html My sister in law has a black granite countertop with a honed finish, and she has been disappointed with the stains/scratches that show. However, to me, it looks great, so you have to decide if you mind it not being perfect!

We have the traditional finish on a light colored granite (see below for a pic), and even though it’s sealed, oil stains are still a problem. When it happens, I whip up a mixture of flour and dish soap and let it dry on there to draw out the stain, it really does work!

http://buckcanuck.blogspot.com/2010/01/old-kitchen-new-kitchen.html

]]> By: housetweaking http://www.housetweaking.com/2010/03/02/countertop-counterparts/comment-page-1/#comment-80 housetweaking Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:29:46 +0000 http://www.housetweaking.com/?p=490#comment-80 Kasey - Good to know! If we go with granite, we'll definitely try to see our slab in person before the install. Thanks! Kasey – Good to know! If we go with granite, we’ll definitely try to see our slab in person before the install. Thanks!

]]> By: Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog http://www.housetweaking.com/2010/03/02/countertop-counterparts/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:08:42 +0000 http://www.housetweaking.com/?p=490#comment-78 Know what happened to me? I trusted that the 'absolute black' that I picked in the store couldn't have too many variations and didn't drive the 45 minutes it would take to see the slabs in person... and ended up with a black with some major grey speckling. At that point, I was reallly upset that I didn't get exactly what I was looking for, but now I'm as happy as can be :)! Know what happened to me? I trusted that the ‘absolute black’ that I picked in the store couldn’t have too many variations and didn’t drive the 45 minutes it would take to see the slabs in person… and ended up with a black with some major grey speckling. At that point, I was reallly upset that I didn’t get exactly what I was looking for, but now I’m as happy as can be :) !

]]> By: housetweaking http://www.housetweaking.com/2010/03/02/countertop-counterparts/comment-page-1/#comment-77 housetweaking Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:41:50 +0000 http://www.housetweaking.com/?p=490#comment-77 Frank and Sandy - You both post good points! We were mainly looking at granite for the ease in upkeep with them. However, I'm scared of the polished finish looking too stark in our white/gray kitchen. It's funny you mention concrete counters... I have always loved the look of concrete countertops but was leery of the maintenance. However, Handy Hubby comes home from work today announcing that he's pretty sure he can DIY them himself for a fraction of the cost of granite!!! The difference in cost may be worth having to seal them every once in a while. We'll keep you posted... Meanwhile, thanks again for all the suggestions and input! Frank and Sandy – You both post good points! We were mainly looking at granite for the ease in upkeep with them. However, I’m scared of the polished finish looking too stark in our white/gray kitchen. It’s funny you mention concrete counters… I have always loved the look of concrete countertops but was leery of the maintenance. However, Handy Hubby comes home from work today announcing that he’s pretty sure he can DIY them himself for a fraction of the cost of granite!!! The difference in cost may be worth having to seal them every once in a while. We’ll keep you posted… Meanwhile, thanks again for all the suggestions and input!

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