Choosing a Granite Countertop

Ever since the beginning (that would be like, for 6 years now) we have talked and dreamed about granite for our kitchen countertop.  Growing up I thought marble or granite – real stone – was the norm.  It was what our kitchen countertop was made out of in Hong Kong.  They mined for marble where we lived in China.  At one point, we had marble floors.  Imagine my shock when I realized it was a rather expensive commodity here in the USA!  It is one thing we’ve chosen to splurge on.

After making the decision of choosing what material to use for your countertop, it might seem like there is only one main question left.

What color granite shall we choose?

Melding two people’s likes and dislikes, personalities and tastes and priorities to come to ONE combined conclusion can be a challenge.

The “color” choice in and of itself has a few options:

• Light or dark?
• Varied design or more consistent?
• Black tones or brown?

That would be simple, but it doesn’t end there!

A bathroom vanity top too?

Backsplash or no?

Whaaaat????!  Who even knew this was an option?!  I’d always assumed… {because what else would you do that would look good?}  But he had always pictured…

I’m sure the countertop lady has seen it countless times, as the couple turns and stares at each other incredulously, surprised that there was yet another thing to have differing preferences on.

If not, what instead?

We could do tile.  What color of that would look good?  More work for us, vs. already installed with the vanity top.  More integrated look with the matching backsplash?

What kind of edge? Squared off,  1/8″… 1/4″… 3/8″… or 1/2″ bevel?

Last time I thought you liked… What? No… THIS is the one I think we should get…

Use one of the kitchen sink options included, or get our own?

Now would we want a basin farm style, two-bowl, two-size two-bowl, stainless, black…

Bathroom sink square or oval?

Square.

White or bisque sink?

Match to the toilet or to the shower?  Oh, square only comes in white?  GREAT.  One less decision we have to make!

And this is all wrapped up in “choosing the color.”

This is just a countertop.  But I hope it gives you a peak into what it’s like to choose Every. Little. Thing. for your house… and to come to agreement about it all with your spouse! 😉