If you are renovating a kitchen, one of the biggest expenses aside from cabinets and appliances are countertops. Selecting countertops can be a bit scary because of the high dollar investment so you want to make sure you get it right. There are tons of countertop options out there with pros and cons to each.
I chose white quartz countertops for our home because they are timeless and fit many different design styles.
Today’s post will share an honest review of my white quartz countertops. Plus, I’ll give you all the insider tips to choosing the best white quartz countertops for your home. If you are stuck deciding which one is best, this post is for you!
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I will be sharing specifically about my experience with Cambria Britannica Warm quartz countertops. Spoiler alert: I love them and they don’t have a single stain or scratch.
I’ll also share a handful of other great white quartz countertops to consider. There are so many white quartz options it quickly feels overwhelming to choose, so my hope is today’s post will give you recommendations on what to look for and consider when selecting your quartz countertops, even if you aren’t wanting white.
First things first, what are quartz countertops made out of anyway? They are created through a manufacturing process that mixes approximately 95 percent ground natural quartz with 5 percent polymer resins that hold it all together. The percentages vary depending on brand, but the results are super durable, low-maintenance, and a natural stone look in a variety of colors.
Quartz is more durable than quartz and doesn’t chip as easily. Since they are man-made they offer a large array of different marbling designs and color choices that a natural stone does not.
Quartz are virtually indestructible and resist staining so you don’t have to stress about red wine spills or leaving lemons downside on the countertop like you do a natural stone and there’s no need to reseal every so often. Non-porous quartz also means that they resist bacteria and are naturally antimicrobial so you can be sure you are getting them actually clean and there is no mold hiding in the pores.
Real marble countertops are high-maintenance and are susceptible to stains. Even water spots are bound to happen with real marble countertops because it is so porous. Even granite and concrete can stain because they are porous.
One thing you do need to be careful about with quartz is heat. They are not heat resistant so do not set hot pans directly on the countertop, always use a trivet or hot pad or you may damage the quartz.
These are our white quartz counters we had installed just about a year ago when we did our kitchen remodel. Even us DIYers know not to attempt installing quartz countertops yourself. They are expensive and require precision and skilled installers that do it all day every day, so it’s best to trust the experts here.
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I knew I wanted white marble countertops with veining to brighten up the kitchen and because I think white marble is classic and timeless. To be honest, I decided on our white marble countertops quite quickly after seeing them installed in a local design showroom.
I absolutely loved the way they looked in the showroom and they had the white with warm undertones I wanted. As an interior designer I see a lot of countertops through all the different showrooms we go to, samples vendors are constantly dropping off and of course in clients’ homes.
I’ve seen everything from stark white to black to super busy patterns to one solid color. I definitely think this helped me narrow it down and know exactly what I wanted for our home and why I was able to choose so quickly.
However, I realize most do not have that advantage so I highly suggest going to local showrooms and looking at the countertops they have installed in the kitchen vignettes (not just the countertop samples hanging on the wall) so you can get an idea of what you’re drawn to in an actual kitchen setting.
Even Googling pictures of certain quartz stones installed to see what it looks like is super helpful. A small quartz sample doesn’t show the veining and movement of the entire stone so you definitely want to see it in a full slab, whether it’s in person or a picture.
Before committing, I took several other white quartz samples home with me and compared them to our cabinet stain, the island paint color and the backsplash tile I wanted to see what looked best. It’s important to bring quartz samples home with you so you can see the stone in your kitchen light next to your other materials. A stone in the fluorescent lights of a showroom can look completely different in your home.
There are SO MANY brands and varieties of white quartz countertops. Some are stark white, others are creamier, some have grey undertones and others more neutral. Then there’s the veining. There are white quartz with zero veining, some with flecks of other color and others have large veining and movement. The samples help you with this so much when you bring them to your home and look at them in your light.
These are the samples I took home.
Between all the samples I brought home, there was about a $500 overall price difference from the most expensive to the least expensive. Of course the one I liked was the most expensive, but to me it’s worth it to get the countertop that looks best.
The different quartz brands can vary a lot in price so it may be worth checking into which is the most affordable. Our kitchen remodel budget was tight and our countertops was easily the single most expensive purchase for the kitchen and was nearly half of the overall kitchen budget. Luckily we kept the existing countertops and were able to save thousands and thousands of dollars by just sanding and staining them ourselves rather than getting all new cabinets.
I wrote an entire blog post on choosing cabinet stain and refinishing them because that was a big decision and it did not come so easily. It took 10+ stain colors that we tested until we found one liked. We actually ended up using 2 different stains to get the look.
Black cabinet pulls
Herringbone backsplash tile
I am so glad we went with Cambria Brittanicca Warm for our white quartz countertops. They are beautiful! The bold veining is my favorite part. It’s such a statement especially on the island and the greige vein adds warmth and depth. I also think the veining helps camouflage dirt and spills so you don’t feel like your white countertops are constantly looking dirty. If you went with an all white without veining you might think that, but with the veining in Brittanicca it hides stuff really well.
BTW, if you’re looking for a new sink, I highly recommend the Blanco Siligranit sinks. They are scratch and stain resistant, super easy to clean and come in great color options. It’s what we go with for our clients in both new builds and remodels. I have the color Truffle which coordinates with our countertops perfectly and the darker color is great because there’s always coffee and green smoothie getting washed down the sink in our house and couldn’t be happier with our choice. These sinks are the best!
Delta kitchen faucet
Bamboo dish brush – these have the best “sturdy” bristles!
Our countertops are a polish finish that have a nice shine. Some quartz is available in a matte finish but I wouldn’t recommend it as they can show every little fingerprint and that might drive you crazy.
I use a damp cloth and little soap to wipe down our countertops. We also use Clorox wipes and Lysol countertop spray as well and they both work great. Just don’t use anything with ammonia or bleach which could ruin them.
We don’t have any stains on our countertops at all and they still look as amazing as the day they were installed! There is one little area where a coffee cup was sitting next to the sink and I found a little ring that was mostly scrubbed out and is not noticeable at all.
I say this because it doesn’t bother me, but even though they say quartz is stain resistant, if you encounter a small or minor mark that needs to get rubbed out don’t be surprised. I was trying to figure out why the coffee cup caused a ring mark when every other cup we have does not. The coffee cup had an unfinished stone base and that’s the only difference I came come up with.
swivel counter stools
They are typically priced between $50-$100 per square foot without installation. From my experience quartz can be slightly cheaper than granite. As I said earlier, this will be one of your biggest expenses in a kitchen renovation.
We couldn’t be happier with our white quartz countertops and I’m so happy with our choice! They truly are a statement and are the focal point of our kitchen.
I hope this post answers your questions about everything you need to know before choosing quartz countertops. If you have a question about something I missed, ask away in the comments and I’ll try to help!
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Updated: March 24, 2023
White quartz countertops is one of the top “must haves” in current kitchen trends for homeowners going into renovations or new builds in 2022! Quartz countertops offers up a look and lifestyle we just couldn’t match with other surfaces. After reading this post, you will know how low maintenance quartz actually is, the pros and cons, popular kinds of white quartz you’ll want to consider, and how our quartz countertops held up after 4.5 years for our family of 6.
We’ve had our white quartz countertops installed for 4.5 years in our kitchen and all bathrooms. We used:
Towards the bottom of this post I’ll share more photos of our quartz countertops and recommend names of popular white quartz you can consider.
Above: my boys’ bathroom
What Are Quartz Countertops Made From?Quartz countertops are man made. They are not a slab pulled from a rock quarry – they are what is called “engineered stone”, as in made in a factory. Quartz is made from mixing crushed up pieces of (real, actual) quartz and other stones, and bonding all the pieces together with plastic resin.
Our stone manufacture told us quartz countertops are roughly about 90% ground up particles of real stone, and 10% plastic resin. t’s that 90% that gives quartz countertops the look of real, natural stone to the untrained eye!
But since quartz isn’t pulled from a quarry, the slabs are manufactured in a variety of designs so you can find the colors and veining you want!
How Low Maintenance Is White Quartz, Really?A quick google search of quartz makes the stone sound like an overblown exaggeration. We read it was more durable than granite, and no sealing ever! (Does anyone actually seal their granite yearly?)
You will not have to seal quartz, ever.
Quartz countertops should not be used as a cutting surface – although it likely won’t ruin the countertop – it will just ruin your knives. Because quartz is almost impossible to scratch, our countertops still look new 4 years later! Even with 4 kids who are determined to tear apart my house (and a year spent at home during 2020) – my countertops are the one thing here that still look brand new.
It is true; no maintenance is required.
Do White Quartz Countertops Stain?We do not baby our countertops. We use our island heavily – mainly, piling up all our crap (that’s what they are there for!). But also for cooking, homework, kids crafts. Our white quartz is just about indestructible. Case in point:
a regular day at home during 2020 when schools were shut downNo, white quartz countertops does not stain. Ours see red wine, lemon, red slime, coffee spills, all of it. They are non-porous, meaning they don’t soak up and hold onto spills.
I once forgot to bring a box of popsicles to a party and left them out on the kitchen island – I came home late in the evening to melted, rainbow food coloring all over the white quartz countertops!
For that dark stubborn spill, I used my beloved Shout Out (the laundry cleaner). One spray, a few minutes of soaking, and the colorful stain wiped away clean to reveal the bright white countertop. If you like a more natural approach, just try a baking soda and water paste.
Shortly after move-in day a dream crushing child wrote with permanent marker on our white quartz island! I shed actual tears, thinking it was forever. We gave it several 5 minute soaks with rubbing alcohol and were able to lift all the ink up, leaving just clean white countertops behind. The alcohol did not lift or change the finish on the counter.
How To Clean Stubborn Stains Off White Quartz Countertops?Sources: Anti-fatigue mat | cherry blossoms | kaftan
See 11 Washable Kitchen Runner Rugs here.
How To Clean Quartz Countertops Daily?You can use a mild cleaner you have on hand; a warm soapy rag, a cleaning wipe, or a Norwex cloth are fine. What you shouldn’t use are abrasive cleaners with bleach. It’s just not necessary.
Are Quartz Countertops Heat Resistant?This is something to be careful of – high heat will damage your countertops! Not a cup of hot coffee though, but a pot out of the oven that gets set down directly on the quartz.
I say this with every ounce of good intention: people get too hung up on the heat issue. Generally speaking, getting the family in the habit of using hot pads under burning hot pans on the counter can be easily accomplished.
It’s just like the habit of reaching for a cutting board instead of using the countertop to cut! If my messy tweens and teens can handle it – it is doable.
Houzz Are White Quartz Countertops A Good Idea?White quartz countertops are certainly trending in 2022 and going forward into this decade, and they’re low maintenance enough to stay in favor with homeowners for the long haul. The value a classic looking quartz offers a kitchen remodel, especially when compared to the cost of granite, makes it a great idea and a solid investment.
If you are concerned about outlasting trends, stick to the classic solid colors of quartz, or subtle veining rather than dramatic veins.
How Much Do Quartz Countertops Cost?But how much are my quartz countertops going to cost me? The cost of quartz runs $50 to $100 square feet. Premium types of quartz will be on the high side of that range (our Brittanicca island is a premium stone, for instance, and our perimeter White Zen is not).
The installation of quartz is an even bigger range, running between $75 and $200. When getting a quote for the cost of quartz, make sure to ask if the price includes installation, and removal of older countertops if needed!
I recommend making sure you are able to get countertops without a seam. This isn’t always possible, but keep looking further if the first answer isn’t positive. This will help keep the value of your kitchen.
You will also love reading my guide to 10 different types of white countertops!
The Quartz We Used In Our HomeWe chose a balance of using premium high priced quartz, and simple, budget friendly quartz. All 3 kinds of quartz have done well in our home!
Cambria Brittanicca on our Kitchen IslandWe chose Cambria Brittanicca for our island, a premium white quartz. Brittanicca is your statement piece for the room!
Our island is generously sized at 9.7 x 4.3. We now have brass hardware in our kitchen. You can see the change here.
Cambria Brittanicca has a white base with a lot of contrast, thick large veining splashed across it, and bold movement. It has soft warm gray undertones, and the veining is light to medium gray tones. It says “look at me, I’m so pretty and extroverted!”, but it’s not ostentatious.
Shop the Look: Counter Stools | Large Palm Leaf | Step Stool | Pendant Light
Turn on your JavaScript to view contentWe added a 3″ mitered edge just to the island countertop. A mitered edge means the edge is 3″ thick around, instead of 1.25″ like the perimeter countertops (the standard thickness).
Don’t be fooled – the whole slab is not 3″. Typically a mitered edge has sidepieces that are simply laminated on! In our case here, 3″ side was laminated onto the sides. This extra detail cost us right under $1500. The mitered edge countertop is a detail I don’t regret, because it is so noticeable and often commented on.
Cosmos Quartz White Zen On Our Perimeter Quartz CountertopsWe saved a little by using White Zen quartz (a less expensive quartz) made by Cosmos on the perimeter countertops. White Zen looks just like what you would imagine – a pure, solid white countertop. No speckling or veins, nothing “exciting” but a great backdrop so your kitchen can shine.
Although most of our cabinetry is white, this could look great paired up with the trend of darker, moodier cabinets too!
Get The Look: 2 Gallon Jar | Marble Bookends | Cabinet Pulls
We continued the White Zen all through the house; in all the bathrooms too. Here it is in our powder bath:
Shop The Look : Mirror | Faucet | Sconce
Viatera Minuet Quartz: A High End LookI wanted something special in our bathroom. Something high end feeling and lux! We were able to find our Viatera Minuet top from a remnant. What a score!
Sources: Cabinet Pulls | Mirrors | Sconce
Viatera Minuet quartz is made by LG Hausys. Viatera Minuet might by a mouthful to say, but it sure is easy on the eyes! It has grey marbling that makes it look classic and luxurious. It has a rich feel, and somewhat mimics marble.
3 Other Kinds of White Quartz To ConsiderWhen looking at quartz, make sure you ask for a take home sample to see in the light of your own home. What looks like a regular white quartz in the showroom could can be stark and cold amongst your own lighting. Some of them are also available in a matte finish, but polished looks the cleanest.
1. Cambria EllaIf you have concerns Brittanicca (the quartz on my island) is too bold, Ella is the compromise you are looking for. The veins are thinner, more delicate. Cambria Ella is hands down gorgeous. It gave me pause even though my heart was set on Cambria Brittanicca. Ella looks more like marble with the veining. The white in the quartz is luxe.
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