A Paisley Gold granite worktop, installed near Reigate, Surrey. See case study for more details.Â
We often recommend that customers looking for light-coloured worktops think about engineered stone (quartz worktops) rather than natural stone (granite worktops.) This is for practical reasons, to do with long-term maintenance and staining issues – please see our fuller article here on the differences between granite and quartz.
But for some people, only a natural stone will do. The randomness of pattern, the quality of the polish and texture, the uniqueness of every slab – these elements add together to maintain the popularity of the real thing. Added to which, the man-made copies of natural materials are far more effective at present in the marble-look than in other stone types.
So, natural stone continues strong in the market. What is available in lighter colours? Here is a quick round-up of some stones which we either stock or have fitted on a bespoke basis.
Granular Greys
Black high gloss kitchen with Salt and Pepper Granite Worktops
Many stones which are sold as “granite” would be described using quite different terms by a trained geologist – “granite” is a word used as a convenience for marketing but it covers a wide range of natural stones. The stones for granite worktops which are most likely to come close to genuine “granite” are speckled, often greys, with fairly good porosity characteristics and often selling very economically. Salt and Pepper, Bianco Sardo and Azul Platino all fall into this group. They represent great value and are a great way to get granite worktops into your kitchen at an affordable price.
Close up of Bianco Sardo granite showing slightly creamy areas and larger grain
Close up of Azul Platino granite showing cool blue grey and natural sparkle
Big swirls of colour
Many granite worktops are actually made of schist – and being accurate about that name might please the geologists but would be a marketers nightmare! As I understand it, these stones are effectively sandy sedimentary rocks that have been heated and compressed deep underground almost to melting point, and then have cooled to become the stones we know. They are hard wearing, but can be relatively porous, and often have stunning and wild patterns. Because of the porosity, non-coloured stones need resealing especially carefully to stop them picking up curry, wine or beetroot beneath the surface.
A slab of Paisley Gold granite arriving at our workshop
Lemon Spice Granite in a West London kitchen
Juperana Persa in close up
The Kashmir Garnet-Stones
Of particular importance among the metamorphic rocks sold as granite are the stones which tend to be associated with the name Kashmir. Frankly, the name has nothing to do with where they are quarried, but it has become a little bit of a catch all which covers granite worktops with visible garnet crystals – dark reddish spots which sometimes look like squashed cranberries. Kashmir White, Kashmir Gold, Ivory Fantasy, River White, Colonial White – all of these stones feature garnets.
Close up of garnet spots in River White granite
A superb island in Kashmir Gold granite, showing hob and pop-up socket.
A whole slab of Ivory Fantasy, fresh into the warehouse
It is worth remembering that Cosentino – the Silestone people – also produce specially treated Sensa granite – sealed to avoid the pitfalls of the porous surface. We stock their sealed Colonial White – a good white stone with a Fifteen Year guarantee. It retails at a slightly higher price than its “normal” equivalent, but we think the difference is well worth it.
Exotic swirly and random whites
Not all of the wild swirling or randomly patterned stones are colourful. We have fitted granite worktops in a number of superb stones over the years many of which have been variations on a basically monochrome theme. Cosmic White, Silver Cloud, White Spring, Arctic Cream – the list is long. These stones can be tremendously exciting, especially on islands, and yet keep a clean, black and white look which invites the kitchen to be dressed in colours which may change over time. By not committing to colour in the worktops, changing fashions can be accommodated over the years.
A Cosmic White slab arriving into the warehouse
White Spring Granite
A lovely Silver Cloud Installation near Guildford, Surrey
