Why Choosing Granite Should Not Be a Quick Decision

If you haven’t had the experience of selecting granite before, you might be surprised at how long this decision may take, as well it should. Showrooms are chockfull of numerous samples of granite, maybe 6” or smaller, and a few display kitchens with granite counters. Don’t be fooled into choosing your countertops from small samples as they are not an accurate representation of what your installed granite counter tops will look like.

The two granite options shown above are similar in color but once installed will provide two distinctly different looks. The sample on the left surprisingly reads very light, almost white when you look at the actual slab. The sample on the right reads pinky-beige, even though overall it looks lighter than the first sample. The large blotches of what most people describe as beige will result in an overall rose or pink tone when the granite is placed horizontally at installation time and guess what, it’s too late! Take the time and visit granite yards to see the actual slabs. Even to my trained eye as a color expert, I was amazed to find myself standing in between two identical slabs of granite that looked completely different because of how the light was reflecting on the surface.

The granite on the left is the one we selected for my client’s kitchen. After visiting three different granite yards (my client visited even more) and looking at hundreds of slabs of granite we found only two options that would work in her kitchen. Shocking, isn’t it?! Selecting colors and finishes for your home is a tedious process and to truly achieve “your kind of beautiful,” you may want to consider hiring a professional to work closely with you and guide you through the process. The price of a designer is significantly less costly than spending the next ten years living with granite counter tops that are anything less than the epitome of “your kind of beautiful.”