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Granite
TIME FOR ANOTHER LOOK AT AN OLD FAVORITE
Black Vincent, Brazil
GRANITE HAS ENTERED THE CHAT.
You know granite. Or at least you think you do.
For years, granite countertops became so familiar that it was easy to forget what made the material remarkable in the first place. But step away from the handful of patterns everyone remembers, and granite gets interesting very quickly.
Inky blacks. Soft creams. Deep greens. Rusts, golds and unexpected flashes of blue. Some granite slabs are quiet and beautifully consistent. Others have sweeping movement that can command an entire room.
And underneath all that personality is one of natural stone's most practical performers. Turns out, the classic still has a few surprises.
Enormous Range of Variations
Choosing a granite slab gives you plenty of room to play.
Its enormous range of color, pattern and movement means granite can work just as comfortably in a quiet kitchen as it can across a dramatic waterfall island, full-height backsplash, fireplace surround, bar or outdoor living space.
And because granite is natural stone, variation comes with the territory.
Look at the full slab whenever possible. Notice how the pattern travels from one end to the other. Think about which areas might become countertops, where a seam could fall, and whether there's a particularly beautiful section you'd want to feature.
Bring the cabinet sample. Bring the flooring, hardware and paint.
Then forget whatever you thought granite was supposed to look like.
LIVING WITH GRANITE
This is where granite has earned its excellent reputation.
Granite is a hard, durable natural stone with excellent resistance to scratching and everyday wear, which is why granite kitchen countertops have remained popular in hardworking homes for decades. It also performs well around heat, although trivets are still a smart habit for any natural stone surface.
That combination makes granite particularly comfortable in the rooms where life gets messy.
Dinner gets made. Groceries land on the island. Homework happens beside the sink. Someone puts something down where they probably shouldn't.
The countertop isn't there to be admired from across the room.
It's there to be used.
GRANITE CARE & MAINTENANCE
Granite is refreshingly straightforward to live with.
For everyday granite cleaning, use a soft cloth with a neutral cleaner appropriate for natural stone. Avoid harsh or abrasive cleaning products, wipe up spills when they happen, and use cutting boards and trivets as sensible everyday precautions.
You may have heard that granite countertops need to be sealed every year. That's not necessarily true.
Many granites are naturally quite resistant to moisture and staining, and some may not require an impregnating sealer at all. Other granite slabs can benefit from one. Your stone professional or fabricator can help determine what's appropriate for the particular material you've chosen. If you ask your grandma, she probably never sealed it once and it “still looks like it did the day they installed it.” But stick with the professionals on these things.
That's about it. Take reasonable care of it, then let granite do what granite does best: handle life.
FINDING THE RIGHT SLAB
Forget the granite you remember.
Start with the granite that's actually in front of you.
Black granite can feel architectural and restrained. Creams and warmer tones can soften a room. Green granite can introduce color without feeling trendy, while highly expressive slabs can become the starting point for an entire interior.
Even the names we've known for years can feel completely new with something as simple as a honed or leathered finish.
The names matter less than the reaction.
How does it work with the cabinetry? What happens when you put the hardware beside it? Does the room need another quiet material—or is this where it could use a little attitude?
Sometimes rediscovering a classic is more interesting than chasing what's new.
Granite has been here all along.