How to Elevate Your Countertops with Quartz (and Where to Start)
Partner Story
Our kitchens and bathrooms are among the most used rooms in the home, and the surfaces in these rooms are some of the hardest-working—with everything from red wine spills and oil drips in the kitchen to abrasive toothpaste in the bathroom to contend with.
While materials such as marble, granite, concrete, and soapstone are undeniably beautiful, they need high levels of maintenance to keep them looking their best. Marble—for example—is soft and porous, which means it needs sealing annually and has the potential to stain and scratch over time. So, it’s important to consider a natural material that will endure for decades (especially when the general rule is that bathrooms and kitchens should be redone every 10 to 15 years).
"Quartz, like granite or marble, is a natural stone. It’s nonabsorbent, highly durable, and maintenance free—making it an everlasting surface," says Summer Kath, Executive Vice President of Design at Cambria. "As such, quartz surfaces are the best countertops on the market today. They are best in performance and the beauty and variety of designs to choose from are endless."
Kitchens and bathrooms typically need to be updated every 10 to 15 years—and it’s an exciting opportunity to transform the spaces you spend a lot of time in. The robust black marbled veining of the Cambria Rose Bay™ design used in this bathroom adds a striking abstract element to the room.
Quartz, and Cambria in particular, has become a popular choice for architects, interior designers, and homeowners as it has the most expansive design palette on the market today, allowing clients to express themselves in any style.
It’s also incredibly durable. "Not only is quartz chip, scratch, and stain resistant, it also never needs sealing, reconditioning, or polishing," says Michael Carter, manager of the Cambria Gallery on El Paseo in Palm Desert, California. "Our clients really appreciate all these qualities when it comes to choosing their countertops."
Cambria is entirely American made. All slabs also come with a transferable Full Lifetime Warranty that has the potential to add value to your home when it’s time to sell. This kitchen features a bold central island defined by the dynamic monochromatic veining of Cambria Bentley™—a spectacular showpiece in the heart of the home.
Quartz is one of the hardest minerals on earth with plenty of applications beyond the kitchen and bathroom. Here, Cambria’s Berkshire Brass Sculpted™ design has been used to create a dramatic bar and fireplace in a light-filled living room.
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While any renovation project is a big undertaking, the hardest part is getting started—so we asked the design experts at Cambria to walk us through the steps to consider when you’re thinking of replacing your home’s hardest-working surfaces.
Step 1: Create a Brief
It’s important to have a good idea of what you want before you start your project. While you don’t need to have a full concept visualized, ask yourself the important questions. Do you want to do a full remodel or a freshen up? What is it that you don’t like about your current kitchen or bathroom? What’s your budget and timeline? "If you’re on a budget, consider just swapping out your old countertops, sink, and tapware," recommends Kath. "It makes a big visual and functional impact while modernizing your space."
"Many of our customers watch remodel shows on television for inspiration and are under the impression that an entire kitchen can be remodeled in a few days," explains Carter. "We explain it can typically take up to 12 weeks for a complete remodel and two to six weeks for a ‘swap the top,’ new paint, and appliances." In this kitchen, the warm gold tones in Cambria's Brittanicca Gold Warm™ on the island and backsplash complement the natural wood and brass moments.
As kitchens and bathrooms typically last many years, it’s easy to become out of touch with prices for new surfaces and appliances. Do some research before taking the next steps to get a realistic understanding of the costs involved. "It’s best for everyone if you know your comfort level for your project and your expectations in advance," adds Carter.
Step 2: Dig Into Your Options
Once you have a good idea of what you want, it’s time to start the exciting part of the process: discovery. "Quartz allows a client to express their own personality," says Carter. "With the correct lighting, quartz shines like no other material in a room giving it a luxurious and modern feel." Pinterest, Instagram, and design websites are good places to look for inspiration—and many clients begin a folder of spaces that they love and want to live with.
Company websites are a valuable resource for the early stages of a project, with plenty of images showcasing colors and completed projects. "We always ask the homeowner to look at our website ahead of their visit to familiarize themselves with our designs," says Carter. "We even encourage them to make a list of designs they like."
It’s also important to take plenty of photos of the space that you want to remodel before visiting the showroom. "Photos help us understand the space and what you currently have," says Carter. In this kitchen, the neutral white background with subtle gray veins of Cambria’s Annicca™ on the island pairs nicely against the blue-gray cabinetry.
Step 3: Schedule a Consultation
A consultation can be either in person or online, making it easy to access from wherever you are. In person, you’ll be taken on a tour of the gallery’s sample wall where you can point out what you like and don’t like. The consultant will then help you choose designs that work with any other samples you bring along and create an overall vision for the space. "It’s very helpful if you have color samples of any cabinets or flooring that you are considering or have already ordered," says Carter. This will help consultants advise you on products that will work best in the space.
The Cambria consultation will involve looking at many different designs—and if a customer shows interest in a particular design, then the design consultant can show images of previous projects or installations in the showroom that utilize that particular design. Here, Cambria in Ella Matte™ was utilized to create a luxe white countertop with a lattice of delicate dark gray veins that complements the subtle white of Winterbourne Matte™ on the island.
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An online consultation works in a similar way to an in-person visit to the showroom and is conducted via a method that the client is comfortable with. "Some like to FaceTime and others prefer to send emails back and forth or discuss everything over the phone," says Carter.
Step 4: Pick Your Palette
After the consultation, take home samples of the designs you’re interested in. Samples are important to have with you while making other decisions about cabinets, hardware, appliances, and wall colors. "We ask that clients place the samples on the existing counters so they can envision their selection in their living spaces," says Carter. "It’s important to look at the samples at different times of the day and evening as lighting in your home will change throughout the day and designs can take on different appearances."
A rule of thumb is that the kitchen and bathroom are usually the first rooms you visit in the morning and last rooms you see before going to bed—so make sure that the countertop design appeals to you at these times. In this kitchen, Cambria Beckington™ has been used to create a countertop and backsplash with subtle gray and tan veining.
Step 5: Bring the Vision to Life
Once you have chosen your Cambria designs, it’s time to begin the build. "We give our clients as much guidance as possible and will refer them to our approved partners in their area," says Carter.
The cloud-like veining of Cambria Summerhill™ brings the beauty of quartz to this classic kitchen, while the white crystals and silver sparkle add an element of luxury.
The highly durable nature of Cambria means it can be used in almost any application—including wet areas, such as showers. Cambria Colton™ combines rust-colored inscriptions with a warm, creamy backdrop for timeless appeal.
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Planning your next countertop project? Find inspiration and order samples at CambriaUSA.com.
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