We did a big kitchen facelift in 2022. Here we are, two years later, and I still love everything about it. One of the major decisions with the kitchen was the material/color/style of the countertops. I knew I wanted to choose something warm, organic and timeless, that was also durable and easy to maintain. After visiting a local stone fabricator, I was introduced to the countertops we ended up choosing. Something about them hit all the major points I was wanting. After researching and looking at all the images I could find, we went for it! Here is the look of honed Taj Mahal Quartzite countertops in our kitchen.
Why Quartzite?
The people working at the stone fabricator educated us on quartzite versus granite versus quartz when we were looking. I didn’t go into this process wanting quartzite, but came to learn it’s exactly what I wanted. Quartzite comes from the earth, just like granite, but unlike quartz, which is manmade. This makes quartzite super durable an each slab is unique. Having had granite before, I absolutely loved how durable and indestructible it was. I love that it looks and feels natural and organic – because it is! We were able to pick out the slab we wanted at the fabricators, which I love.
Why Taj Mahal?
Of course there are so many choices of quartzite to choose from. As soon as I was shown Taj Mahal I kind of fell in love with it. Something about the warm tones and texture really got me! It’s so natural and organic and soft on the eye. It fit perfectly with the other tones in our kitchen. Those include black/white cabinets, dark hardwood floors, brass hardware, polished silver faucet, and dark sink. When I searched images of Taj Mahal, I loved every single one. After choosing quartzite and Taj Mahal, we then had to make a decision about polished or honed. I found myself more drawn to the honed/leathered look more than the shiny polished look. Though I thought the polished was pretty, I thought it took away from the things I really loved about the stone.
The Local Kansas City Fabricator We Used
We chose to go with Rocktops for this project. They had a slab we loved and were easy to work with. Once you chose your slab, they come survey the space and take measurements, do the install, seal it, etc. The countertops were one of the first things we had installed in the kitchen remodel and everything went smoothly.
Sink + Faucet Details
We picked out a sink at the fabricators so they could install as soon as the countertops were put in. This was yet again, another decision! Ahhhh! We decided on the matte black color to sort of ground the countertops and white cabinets. I also wanted a large sink. You can find the sink here. In case you are interested, you can find the faucet here. We also installed a push button garbage disposal which is what that little round hole is in the photo above.
How to Clean Quartzite
I am careful to clean these countertops with only a mix of water and a few squirts of dawn dish soap in a spray bottle. I don’t use clorox wipes or harsh chemicals on them. They clean up great! We have had no issues with liquids, spills, juices, etc. I do put something underneath hot items only because I like to be super careful with them! These countertops have a lot of movement so they are very forgiving! It’s hard to see crumbs, etc! There is one seam in the countertops and you can barely see it becuase of all the variations of color and movement. Love that about them!
After Photos of Honed Taj Mahal Quartzite
I hope this post is helpful if you are considering these countertops! Here are some after photos. You can see how they look darker and lighter in different lighting. They are very versatile and fit many different styels. I’m all about a timeless look and hope to love them for years to come!
You can find other kitchen posts here: Brass Hardware, Island Painted Black, Open Shelves, Moving Microwave to the Pantry, Review of our Refrigerator, Brass Pendants
