Inspiring ideas

Step inside chic and stylish homes and get ideas and advice for designing your own space. Truly Chic Inspirations you’ll find parties, weddings, recipes, DIY projects and much more.

DIY projects

01 July 2017

The 1 Reason Everyone Wants Quartz Counters Right Now

Category: DIY projects

Marble has long been the counter material of choice in highfalutin kitchens and bathrooms. And while it looks beautiful - how dreamy is a sea of creamy white marble to look at? - it's a huge pain in the derrière to deal with. Any type of citrus will erode it, red wine will stain it, heat can leave burn marks, and even water can scar the material! To mitigate the damage, marble must be sealed two to four times a year. Like we said, tremendous pain, and completely unrealistic in busy homes with kids.

Granite, on the other hand, has been extremely popular over the past couple decades. But its busy patterns and porous surface - which is prone to similar scratches and stains as marble - have been pushed aside of late for a different material: quartz.

Our editors at POPSUGAR have heard over and over again from design pros, HGTV stars, and others that quartz is the countertop choice of today's homebuyers. If you're asking why quartz and why now, you're not alone. POPSUGAR wondered the same thing, so we went straight to the source to find out. We met with Roberto Tiscareno, the director of business development at trendsetting quartz manufacturer Cambria. While we already knew that...


Marble has long been the counter material of choice in highfalutin kitchens and bathrooms. And while it looks beautiful - how dreamy is a sea of creamy white marble to look at? - it's a huge pain in the derrière to deal with. Any type of citrus will erode it, red wine will stain it, heat can leave burn marks, and even water can scar the material! To mitigate the damage, marble must be sealed two to four times a year. Like we said, tremendous pain, and completely unrealistic in busy homes with kids.

Granite, on the other hand, has been extremely popular over the past couple decades. But its busy patterns and porous surface - which is prone to similar scratches and stains as marble - have been pushed aside of late for a different material: quartz.

Our editors at POPSUGAR have heard over and over again from design pros, HGTV stars, and others that quartz is the countertop choice of today's homebuyers. If you're asking why quartz and why now, you're not alone. POPSUGAR wondered the same thing, so we went straight to the source to find out. We met with Roberto Tiscareno, the director of business development at trendsetting quartz manufacturer Cambria. While we already knew that quartz is a superior product in terms of durability and maintenance, Roberto explains that recent advancements in design have made it more attractive than ever. Today's styles are sophisticated and elegant, making quartz a no-brainer for savvy homeowners on every level.

To elaborate . . .

  • It's nonporous so it won't absorb stains. Olive oil spill? No problem. Tomato juice explosion? Don't sweat it, just wipe up when you have a chance. This means that when you spend big bucks to create your dream kitchen in your forever home, you can have your forever countertops as well, since quartz's durable surface will last for decades. Cambria even offers a lifetime warranty on its products.
  • Quartz doesn't need to be sealed with chemical substrates several times a year the way porous materials like marble and granite do. Roberto explains that Cambria uses a giant diamond head to polish and seal its quartz during manufacturing, which makes it nonporous and therefore eliminates the need for sealing.
  • It's the safest and most sanitary counter option. Marble and granite can soak up dangerous bacteria from cooking and granite is known to emit radiation (yikes!), but quartz's nonporous surface blocks germs and mold from being absorbed and festering. It's this quality, Roberto explains, that makes Cambria quartz food-prep certified - and even safe enough to use in a hospital operating room!
  • Designs have recently become more sophisticated and stylish. Gone are the days when your only quartz style option was glitter-filled or kitty-litter-reminiscent. Today's styles are understated and elegant, with a recent trend toward clean white, dramatic black, and muted gray designs. Cambria has had huge success with designs that mimic the elevated look and effect of marble. And its next phase of quartz design focuses on matte finishes, something no other manufacturer has been able to offer with a warranty until now.

  • Read full article on popsugar.com