Quartz countertops are my new favorite product to work with in the kitchen because they bring a fantastic high end look for not that high of a price tag. Even better quartz kitchen countertops are available in an endless number of colors and patterns perfect to suit either traditional or more contemporary decor styles. In this lovely modern kitchen with warm pine cabinetry we went with a simple white material that accents the tile backsplash and architectural trim work nicely. If you had a more classic white kitchen, you could always go with a faux-marble design. The benefits of quartz vs granite countertops are clear both in decor and maintenance. Quartz is not porous like granite so it is much more durable and easy to maintain.

Quartz countertops are a great addition to a contemporary style kitchen because the unique patterns and cool color schemes provide a simple yet powerful decor accent to the rest of your decor. I find most of your typical granite countertops to be a bit to plain and traditional for modern decor, which is why I have been experimenting with different types of quartz and other solid surface options in my recent designs. As you can see here, the charcoal grey and gold material offsets the golden cabinets and stainless steal accents wonderfully and really anchors the entire design. Even better, quartz countertops cost much less than you may think and can actually be a fairly affordable addition to your design.

Can you believe that these are actually quartz countertops and not marble. I was astounded to find out about all of the gorgeous quartz countertops colors that area available nowadays. The last time I had looked, the palettes were quite simple and you were limited to a small range of patterns and shades. Now you can find awesome products that look identical to marble countertops but are so much cheaper and more durable. It is such a game changer for those who love elegant traditional designs but were too afraid to install actual marble because of the potential for staining and limitations on what types of cleaning products you can use.

Quartz countertops are becoming so popular this year as a great marble alternative. White quartz countertops have the same great pattern as marble but with much more durability. Many people don't realize that marble can stain quite easily, making it a poor choice for heavily trafficked kitchens. For this reason, I always encourage my clients to look at other types of countertops that may have the same type of finish but much better durability so that they withstand the wear and tare of the kitchen area. I personally love using a quart countertop to create a cool statement island like this awesome contemporary style unit. The sleek lines bring an effortlessly chic look to any type cabinet style.

My new favorite product to work with is quartz countertops because they have so much design versatility, while being incredibly durable and fairly cost effective. In the past, whenever I wanted to achieve a marble-look without the durability and maintenance concerns of the real thing, I always turned to white granite countertops. Although they weren't a perfect match, it was as close as I could get to that look. Now that quartz kitchen countertops options have come into the game, I can achieve a much more realistic faux-marble look and in a price point that is quite palatable to most of my clients. As you can see from this gorgeous large island, the counters look just like real marble but the homeowners don't have to worry about scratches or staining with the quartz that we chose.