Quartz Countertop and Quartz Backsplash

Thank You To Lowe’s Home Improvement For Sponsoring This Post

Last Fall I had a vision for my new kitchen and I am beyond grateful to Lowe’s Home Improvement that helped make my kitchen design come to life. Partnering with my local Lowe’s was the best decision and experience. When I first walked in I met with Kathy and Bob and basically showed them my design board plans, telling them I wanted Quartz Countertop and Quartz Backsplash, they replied, “yeah, I think we can do that.”

Quartz Countertop and Quartz Backsplash

What made these design plans unique was that I wanted two different countertops and two different backsplashes. They asked if I had a big kitchen. Surprisingly, I have a small galley kitchen, but I knew how I would divide up the space and make my design work. They reason I want you all to know this, is because it was so easy to walk into one store and request two countertops, two backsplashes, and be done. I didn’t have to go to four different stone yards or a bunch of different tile shops. Everything was right there for me. Then, when I had questions or concerns I could call and speak to them directly.

In the kitchen refresh design plans you can see that I had butcher block and Elida Handcrafted Spanish Subway tiles installed. The install of the butcher block and tiles are in full detail a few posts back. Naturally, the second portion of the kitchen took a couple extra weeks and well worth the wait.

What I envisioned months ago came to life. Exactly how I wanted it. A gorgeous Quartz Countertop and Quartz Backsplash in Calacatta Classic Quartz with matching Full Height Calacatta Classic Quartz backsplash. I KNOW!!!! A MAZE ING!!!

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Explore the Products: Calacatta Quartz Countertops and Backsplash / Kohler Whitehaven Farmhouse Sink / Samsung 30-in Smooth Surface 5-Element 3.3-cu ft/2.4-cu ft Self-Cleaning Double Oven Convection Electric Range /  Samsung 1.6-cu ft Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Over-the-Range Microwave

I can’t even. I just stare at the slab over my Samsung range and fall in love every time. No joke. I am so happy I decided to go with the Quartz Countertop and Quartz Backsplash. NOW, ignore the missing trim from my under cabinets. wuah wuah. They had to be removed to install the full height backsplash. The painter is suppose to pick them up to paint. Once they are installed it will feed right into the slab for a seamless look.

All quartz edges are flawless and polished for a beautiful finished look. I also love how the installers were able to eliminate seams. In other words, I don’t have many seams in my slab and the couple seams that I do have, I bet you couldn’t even find them. My mom tried. It’s perfect!

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When you walk into the kitchen from the main entrance or even the side entrance I have a small open space butlers pantry. This was the area that I “separated” from the main kitchen with darker cabinets, butcher block, and handcrafted subway tiles.

Explore The Products: Butcher Block Countertops // Elida Handcrafted Subway Tiles

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TIPS ON SELECTING YOUR COUNTERTOPS

Selecting a new countertop for your kitchen can be a daunting task. There are many options available and Lowe’s Home Improvement offers five different solid surface countertops

• Quartz
• Granite
• Laminate
• Solid Surface
• Butcher Block

Why I decided on Quartz and Butcher Block:

• I wanted an elegant but relaxed style, in other words, not too much color and detailing
• I also needed worry free maintenance: NO Sealants. NO polishing. NO Conditioning
• A Consistent pattern / color within the same lot slab (easier to decide)
• Butcher Block: I wanted to warm up the “white kitchen” with natural wood tones and a custom butcher block countertop was the answer.

WHAT I LEARNED TO HELP YOU

The kitchen refresh project definitely had it’s moments. To live without a kitchen, even water on the main floor for almost 8 weeks was brutal, but that had more to do with my first contractor then the actual design. Once I brought it in a new crew everything went perfectly.

Some tips for when you decide to update your kitchen space.

1. No joke, work with Lowe’s Home Improvement because the crew at the store become a part of my own team. For instance, when a sink didn’t arrive or an issue with the countertop occurred, they took on some of the headache with the manufacturers. They have direct lines to Kohler or Silestone. I don’t.
2. Know that you cannot measure for full height backsplashes until the countertops are installed. Which now makes complete sense. Your countertops need to be in place and secured. Then you measure for your backsplash. For that reason, expect that it can take upto 4 or 5 weeks to get a full slab backsplash installed from the time of order.
3. Ask to go see the slabs. Lowe’s Home Improvement even suggested I call the fabricators and schedule on onsite visit. I was so happy I did. I got to see the slabs, the veins, and share some of my concerns or questions about the cuts with them onsite.
4. Request “as little seams” as possible. I didn’t want a bunch of seams, which means they will note to cut long.
5. Request your seams to be in hidden areas.
   • For instance, the only seam for my largest two pieces are under the Sink Faucet. It appears I have one GINORMOUS slab. GORGEOUSNESS
   • For the oven / microwave backsplash I also requested no seams. There is one at the corner that smoothed into the next slab, practically invisible.
6. Quartz comes in 3mm or 2mm. I wanted thicker countertops and 3mm is standard in kitchens. Some might consider 2mm for a bathroom countertop. NOW WHAT I LEARNED!!
   • If you decide to do a full height matching backsplash it also has to be the same width. I went with 3mm countertop and wrongly thought I could do thinner, 2mm for backsplash. Thankfully, the fabricators told me that was not a good idea because it would come from a different lot. In other words, it won’t match.
   • Solid slabs come in “lots,” like fabric. The 3mm lot had the same shades of white / grey veins. When they showed me the 2mm lot it was definitely darker.
   • Quartz in a way is like Marble, it can vary slab to slab, so stay within the same lot.
7. Measure / Measure / Measure and Measure again. The fabricators actually had 4 measures for the backsplash. If you saw my stories, being off just a 1/4 of an inch is disastrous in a kitchen design. Luckily, the fabricators for Lowe’s were great and all those re-measures and new cuts were part of the process.
8. Someone mentioned to me that the cost of a full height slab must have been pricey. Actually, we are thinking it is less than had I gone with tile and grout.
   • I had a lot of walls that needed backsplash. The amount of kitchen tiles I would have needed…beyond. The square footage was a lot.
     • Then I would need mastic plus all the grout. Plus the clean up and labor.
   • To install a slab of quartz as backsplash all you need is adhesive silicone and bam.
   • Then, the long term maintenance is almost zilch. I don’t have to worry about dirty grout lines or tiles. Simply wipe and clean.
9. Farmhouse sinks are heavy. I could not even pick it up. For that reason they need supports installed in your under cabinet.
   • Basically, two 2×4’s on each side of the sink plus one 2×4 going across the back of the sink. These will help support the weight of the sink and with added water in the sink when washing dishes.
   • If you opt for 9in deep sink you do not have to cut out your cabinets. To save costs I simply had all my cabinets painted, I did not install new cabinets. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t have a farmhouse sink with pre-existing cabinets, simply opt for 9in deep.
10. Have everything onsite before anything gets started. What should be onsite before installing new countertops?
    • Kitchen faucet
    • Water Line
    • Soap dispenser if you want one
    • Oven installed
    • Sink installed
    • Microwave installed (for height of backsplash)
    • Upper cabinets installed before backsplash! The backsplash should feed up into the cabinets, NOT under it.

PHEW! That was a lot of info and I have oh so much more coming in the weeks ahead as I share more about my kitchen project makeover. If you want, go ahead and pin this for later to come back to anytime and if you have questions don’t hesitate to ask. Happy Cooking!

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