Barndominium/Shop or "real" House?

   / Barndominium/Shop or "real" House?
  • Thread Starter
#641  
We have granite, installed in 2000. We're very active cooks, and three kids learned to cook well here, including hot cast iron going directly to the counter. Still looks perfect and it's exactly what I'd use if I did another kitchen today (big fan of "uba tuba" granite).
I looked up "uba tuba" granite, that does look pretty nice.
 
   / Barndominium/Shop or "real" House? #642  
I've worked with realtors and decorators that are trying to sell a house that has been on the market for way too long. They always paint everything one color. Usually white. Then install granite counters. Those two things will sell a house faster then anything else.

I realize this isn't being built to sell, but it makes sense to build it as nice as you can in case that day happens.

Granite has proven to be timeless and highly desireable. Just be careful of picking something too cheap, too flashy, and especially, too trendy. For years, the marble look was the big thing. White with grey veins. Every wife had to have it. Now it's fading away and I think we're getting back into neutral colors with cabinets being stained wood again. I'm seeing more of that in high end homes where I'm at then I have in a long time. I'm really excited that this trend is going away in bathroom showers too. I've so sick of white with grey veins!!!

Shop around for granite. Prices are all over the place. Here, the company that has dominated the market has become ridiculous on their prices. They do great work, and that's really important when comparing one company from another. The box store venders don't care how the pattern of the stone lines up when they join them together. They also don't care where the seam is, and it can be really ugly if they put it where it's easiest for them instead of where it is the hardest to notice. If your kitchen counters have L's to it's design, you will have a seam to deal with. Pay extra for the company that does this right. Take your time, talk to people, look at their work if you can find somebody that has used them.

I'm not a fan of the manmade counters like Corian and Quartz. To me, they look plastic. Kind of like fancy PVC counter tops with some speckles of color in them.

Marble is very porous and stains easily. It's been trendy for years now, but not so much anymore. I'd be very hesitant to commit to something like this.

Concrete is another option. I've seen a couple concrete counters that were amazing. I tried doing it myself, but it didn't come out that great and I'm going to through it away. If you hire it done by a pro, expect to pay more for concrete counters then Granite.

Butcher Block and solid wood seems to be making a comeback, but I'm not sure if it will last. It's just not the same as Granite, and I think people will be tearing it out fairly soon after getting it.

Tile used to be a popular counter top. It's still done, but it's hard to find edge tile in a color that people want for counters. I've done a few, but it's been awhile. I thought about doing it for my back porch kitchen, but then we found 6 foot long granite slabs for sale that are under $100 each, so I'm going to buy two and seam them together where the sink will be.

The good thing about counter tops is it's just about the last thing that has to be done. Deciding on what you want doesn't have to happen until everything else is done.
 
   / Barndominium/Shop or "real" House? #643  
I've worked with realtors and decorators that are trying to sell a house that has been on the market for way too long. They always paint everything one color. Usually white. Then install granite counters. Those two things will sell a house faster then anything else.

I realize this isn't being built to sell, but it makes sense to build it as nice as you can in case that day happens.

Granite has proven to be timeless and highly desireable. Just be careful of picking something too cheap, too flashy, and especially, too trendy. For years, the marble look was the big thing. White with grey veins. Every wife had to have it. Now it's fading away and I think we're getting back into neutral colors with cabinets being stained wood again. I'm seeing more of that in high end homes where I'm at then I have in a long time. I'm really excited that this trend is going away in bathroom showers too. I've so sick of white with grey veins!!!

Shop around for granite. Prices are all over the place. Here, the company that has dominated the market has become ridiculous on their prices. They do great work, and that's really important when comparing one company from another. The box store venders don't care how the pattern of the stone lines up when they join them together. They also don't care where the seam is, and it can be really ugly if they put it where it's easiest for them instead of where it is the hardest to notice. If your kitchen counters have L's to it's design, you will have a seam to deal with. Pay extra for the company that does this right. Take your time, talk to people, look at their work if you can find somebody that has used them.

I'm not a fan of the manmade counters like Corian and Quartz. To me, they look plastic. Kind of like fancy PVC counter tops with some speckles of color in them.

Marble is very porous and stains easily. It's been trendy for years now, but not so much anymore. I'd be very hesitant to commit to something like this.

Concrete is another option. I've seen a couple concrete counters that were amazing. I tried doing it myself, but it didn't come out that great and I'm going to through it away. If you hire it done by a pro, expect to pay more for concrete counters then Granite.

Butcher Block and solid wood seems to be making a comeback, but I'm not sure if it will last. It's just not the same as Granite, and I think people will be tearing it out fairly soon after getting it.

Tile used to be a popular counter top. It's still done, but it's hard to find edge tile in a color that people want for counters. I've done a few, but it's been awhile. I thought about doing it for my back porch kitchen, but then we found 6 foot long granite slabs for sale that are under $100 each, so I'm going to buy two and seam them together where the sink will be.

The good thing about counter tops is it's just about the last thing that has to be done. Deciding on what you want doesn't have to happen until everything else is done.
We used Berry in 2009. Wasn't cheap then but great work.
 
   / Barndominium/Shop or "real" House?
  • Thread Starter
#644  
The good thing about counter tops is it's just about the last thing that has to be done. Deciding on what you want doesn't have to happen until everything else is done.

Yes, but I think the difference in countertop material thickness has already bit me. Luckily I am able to add material to my half wall as opposed to remove.
 
   / Barndominium/Shop or "real" House? #645  
Yes, but I think the difference in countertop material thickness has already bit me. Luckily I am able to add material to my half wall as opposed to remove.
I'll admit I didn't follow the countertop topic real closely, but are you doing something where the thickness is that critical? Even a free-standing range has a good inch or more of height adjustment in the feet to match up to an existing countertop height. Everything else is usually taller, to where the counter is abutting it, not flush.
 
   / Barndominium/Shop or "real" House? #646  
I've worked with realtors and decorators that are trying to sell a house that has been on the market for way too long. They always paint everything one color. Usually white. Then install granite counters. Those two things will sell a house faster then anything else.

I realize this isn't being built to sell, but it makes sense to build it as nice as you can in case that day happens.

Granite has proven to be timeless and highly desireable. Just be careful of picking something too cheap, too flashy, and especially, too trendy. For years, the marble look was the big thing. White with grey veins. Every wife had to have it. Now it's fading away and I think we're getting back into neutral colors with cabinets being stained wood again. I'm seeing more of that in high end homes where I'm at then I have in a long time. I'm really excited that this trend is going away in bathroom showers too. I've so sick of white with grey veins!!!

Shop around for granite. Prices are all over the place. Here, the company that has dominated the market has become ridiculous on their prices. They do great work, and that's really important when comparing one company from another. The box store venders don't care how the pattern of the stone lines up when they join them together. They also don't care where the seam is, and it can be really ugly if they put it where it's easiest for them instead of where it is the hardest to notice. If your kitchen counters have L's to it's design, you will have a seam to deal with. Pay extra for the company that does this right. Take your time, talk to people, look at their work if you can find somebody that has used them.

I'm not a fan of the manmade counters like Corian and Quartz. To me, they look plastic. Kind of like fancy PVC counter tops with some speckles of color in them.

Marble is very porous and stains easily. It's been trendy for years now, but not so much anymore. I'd be very hesitant to commit to something like this.

Concrete is another option. I've seen a couple concrete counters that were amazing. I tried doing it myself, but it didn't come out that great and I'm going to through it away. If you hire it done by a pro, expect to pay more for concrete counters then Granite.

Butcher Block and solid wood seems to be making a comeback, but I'm not sure if it will last. It's just not the same as Granite, and I think people will be tearing it out fairly soon after getting it.

Tile used to be a popular counter top. It's still done, but it's hard to find edge tile in a color that people want for counters. I've done a few, but it's been awhile. I thought about doing it for my back porch kitchen, but then we found 6 foot long granite slabs for sale that are under $100 each, so I'm going to buy two and seam them together where the sink will be.

The good thing about counter tops is it's just about the last thing that has to be done. Deciding on what you want doesn't have to happen until everything else is done.
I just had soapstone counters installed in my kitchen. Absolutely stunning!
 
   / Barndominium/Shop or "real" House? #647  
I would be interested in seeing the look of the soapstone countertops. Any chance you could post a few pictures of those ?
 
   / Barndominium/Shop or "real" House? #648  
I would be interested in seeing the look of the soapstone countertops. Any chance you could post a few pictures of those ?
Here is one for now. I have some better ones but need to find them. The veins look like lightning and there are some spot son the island that look like a galaxy.

1755100766469.png
 

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