Q-Quartz Calcatta Classique
Who doesn’t love a kitchen with classic marble counters? Unfortunately, marble tends to be softer and more susceptible to etching than granite counters. Of course, with proper care and maintenance, you can keep marble looking pristine in your kitchen for years.
However, many of our clients want both the fresh, bright marble look and a counter that’s easy to upkeep, like quartz or granite.
To make sure these clients get exactly what they want, we carry three separate lines of quartz counters: Q Quartz, Silestone, and Caesarstone.
In recent years, quartz manufactures have developed more and more sophisticated reproductions of marble in the durable quartz format. Here are eleven countertop choices from these collections that will give you a marble effect with no need for sealing or extra care.
Silestone
Silestone is a world-renowned brand based in Spain. It has been produced by Cosentino since 1990, fairly early in the rise of the engineered stone counter.
They have a number of attractive patterns, but two in particular do a great job of recreating the look of marble: Lusso, from Silestone’s Influencer Series, and Lagoon, from their Nebula Series. Both patterns are subtle, with understated gray veining in a smaller pattern.
The tight patterns give these counters a calm, cool, and collected energy that evinces natural marble with a modern twist. If you like the cool palette of marble, but prefer a pattern, these two are worth your consideration.
Caesarstone
Caesarstone is another respected name in the countertop industry. They have been making countertops since 1987, a few years before Cosentino launched Silestone.
While Silestone has focused on creating a lot of colors and patterns that are hard to find in natural stone, Caesarstone has a few more choices when searching for a marble-esque quartz. They even have a few that mimic darker marbles, rather than just the popular white marbles.
Caesarstone’s Statuario Nuvo and Calacatta Nuvo are not just designed to have a general marble look, they are modeled after two particular variations of Italian marble (Statuario Marble and Calacatta Marble). These two counters are unique among all the stones listed here because of their long, meandering lines that masterfully mimic the natural variation found in real marble.
More understated than Statuario Nuvo and Calacatta Nuvo is Caesarstone Frosty Carrina. With a just-barely-off-white background and delicate blue-gray veining in a large, varied pattern, this is a perfect quartz counter if you are going for understated elegance in your home.
Crema Marfil Marble and Dark Emperador Marble are both popular choices for upscale bathrooms and fireplaces (they are both too soft for kitchens).
Caesarstone is really the only quartz company that has tried to create realistic engineered alternatives for these marbles. Even away from cooking and cutting in the kitchen, marble requires more careful cleaning and maintenance.
Caesarstone Dreamy Marfil and Caesarstone Emperadoro capture the luxury of these marbles without any of the hassle, and would look equally good in a kitchen, bathroom, or on a fireplace.
Q-Quartz
The third line of quartz included in our list today doesn’t have the name recognition of Silestone and Caesarstone yet, but with their fresh collection of patterns and quality products, you’re sure to see Q Quartz become a household name before long.
Q Quartz Cashmere Carrara
Q Quartz has really mastered the look of Carrara Marble. The patterning in Q Quartz Carrara Grigio is distributed across the slab in a way that mimics the unpredictable patterns of real marble.
If you want an even brighter white, Q Quartz Cashmere Carrara has the subtle veining of Carrara Grigio with the contrast turned up a bit.
Last, but not least is Calacatta Classique. This is the most subtle of Q Quartz’s marble group. It doesn’t really look like marble per se, but if you want a hybrid between a sleek contemporary look and timeless marble, it’s a wonderful counter.
Q Quartz Carrara Grigio
We’ve save the best for last. Q Quartz Calcatta Classique is hands-down the most elegant, artistic marble reproduction on the market today.
Calcatta Marble is quite expensive, so Calacatta Classique doesn’t only eliminate the risk of marble, it saves you money. Factoring in cost, design, and product quality, this is our top pick for that marble lover looking for a durable quartz counter that truly captures the natural beauty of marble.
Since many of these patterns are very subtle, especially when it come to the differences between them, it’s recommended to see physical samples before making a final choices.
We have full sets of samples for all three collections at both our showroom locations. Stop by and we’ll be happy to help you narrow down the hundreds of choices available to the perfect quartz for your unique needs.
Arch City Granite & Marble is an approved fabricator of Silestone, Caesarstone and Q Quartz countertops in St. Louis, Missouri. Please visit our showrooms in St. Louis and O’Fallon to see the Quartz countertops choices for your kitchen or bathroom project.
Image sources: Q Quartz Carrara Grigio, Q Quartz Cashmere Carrara