Granite is out? What's in?

I am sick to death of granite, and looking at houses that the sellers put in granite to justify raising the price of the house another $10k. If you like to cook, a hard stone countertop is not the way to go. Drop a dish and it shatters into a milliion pieces. Bring back corian - that stuff was/is great.

you, with 'white laminate', are going to forecast style for kitchen countertops? what is this world coming to??!!

I was sick of seeing 'granite and SS' three years ago. However, it is very luxurious looking and I don't think there is anything that will overtake it for some time. It has almost become the standard, and compared to other options, has not been out nearly as long as the aforementioned laminate, or Formica. So perhaps when it is fully the standard, that is when it will tire. But really, I cant think of anything else that would top it, can you?

I like the idea of granite, but it is so expansive, and is rarely installed properly by DIY-ers. I never heard the radon thing though, which gives me something to thinking about as a homebuyer. I like the idea of recycled materials used for countertops, such as concrete with pieces of colored glass in it, and so on, but I rarely see it in homes in this area and think it is more the trend on the west coast (or is it just on HGTV??).

I rent a home with black granite and it is wonderful cooking/baking surface.

I think granite became popular because it was the next best alternative to marble for cooking and baking. Real-high-end kitchens put in a marble slab here and there and the upscale-wannabes wanted a same or similar look and off it went.

Concrete is way too porous - even when properly sealed. Manufactured stone is not as durable as traditional stone either although it is less porous than granite.

I think you will see a solid surface stone such as a soap stone or a manufactured stone dust product.

THe problem is, what's the substitute for granite? If one cooks, having a hard surface countertop that is heat safe and easily cleaned, while being stain resistant, is quite nice.

Granite is pretty much it for the above list.

Granted, many people put it in despite not being cooks, and without thinking, just like faux commercial appliances that are nothing but stainless over the same junk - not the real performance jump you get from Thermador/viking et al.

So far the drop in granite sales has had more to do with the economy than with the radon issue.

The facts are: Granite is the most plentiful resource in the world. It is in fact more green than engineered countertops because it uses less resins. If you know anything about resin you should know it ain't even close to green.
The radon issue is a red herring. It's been done before. You have a larger threat coming from the earth your home is built on. Not to mention the sun. (don't forget to cover up).

Engineered stone does not handle heat as well as granite. Even though it is non-porous it is only slightly better than granite. Both are 1000s of times cleaner than laminates (formica). Plus there are 15 year sealants that are now available for granite with warranty against stains. Granite is not going away. The fact is kitchens with granite are generally better than kitchens with other surfaces. There's a reason they have value. While it may be true that overall granite sales are down it is because new home starts have tanked. Remodels are still going relatively well. Yes, I am in the natural stone business.

I like the look of granite in small sections. Over expansive counter tops and islands is just doesn't look good to me. I am looking for something that looks good and is durable, and most importantly easy to clean and maintain. So what if I cannot put a hot pot on the counter top that is what trivets and pot holders are for! I am glad that granite is being phased out, it is a nice option but having been the "gold standard" it wore out its welcome. I like the look of a glass counter top but I don't think it would be that practical for me. I would settle for a nice glass tile back splash. And finally a plea whatever your counter top make sure it is smooth solid surface, don't tile the countertop. That is the worst.

I'm a realtor, and I'm sick of seeing boring, ordinary condos and houses that some contractor slammed a granite counter and some stainless into, in order to call it "luxury". I can't wait until this expensive fad goes away. It is beautiful, but it doesn't cover up poor craftsmanship throughout the rest of the house. I'm thinking soapstone might be the new "can-you-afford-what-I-can-afford"kitchen item, but I've just seen a house with white laminate, and for the price, hey, it ain't bad!

White laminate??? and you're are hating on Granite? You have to admit you have lost any sense of credibililty by stating you're happy with White Laminate. I think I'd cover my countertops in wallpaper or tinfoil if I had to deal with white laminate. Also there is nothing wrong with Navajo White; you are cleary just too cheap or too proud to keep up with the trends. Do you also have Formica Flooring in said kitchen?

I had honed granite tile and ss appliances put into my place this year when I rehabbed it. I was actually sick of ss myself, but I figured people still expect to see it and if my situation changed and I needed to sell, I would be glad to have it. I also don't love black or white appliances either, so for a neutral color, you are pretty limited.

the counters look good. I actually wanted soapstone, but couldn't afford it. So, I used absolute black honed granite tiles, 12x12. It looks pretty good, and a lot of people have commented on it. They are never sure what the material is since it isn't shiny like the typical granite. I also got a matte black sink so the whole thing looks continous.

finally, I also used mainly whites or very light greys on my walls, which might be inline with the Navajo white comment in the blog. Gee, Rona would probably hate my place.! But, I had a lot of colors in my condo before, and everytime you walk into an open house all of the walls are different colors. Quite frankly, I was bored of colors, and wanted to go with white. I'm sure I;ll get board of that after a few years and change to something else. Styles and tastes c hange - no matter what I went with, 10 years from now most or all of it would look out of date.

I have always liked the composites better. They are more stain resistant and cheaper. I have renovated a number of homes and have only used granite once, in a very upper-end condo. I felt like I was forced to do it. Seems like the use of all this granite is a waste of a natural resource. The best solution would be a "green" synthetic surface. I do like the look of stainless, though.

The problem with granite and SS is that it's a fad. Every single kitchen: stainless, cherry cabs, granite counters. Same same same. My mother had trouble selling her beautiful home with a new kitchen in a nice neighborhood and one of the complaints was that it didn't have granite countertops. Give me a break. I for one won't be sorry to see this fad pass. And stainless steel is hideous unless kept sparklingly clean, IMO.

I'd like to see the author renovate her 1970's white laminate kitchen and put in granite and stainless and then tell me that it's not an improvement! I bet her ideal dinner plate is mashed potatoes, cauliflower, and white rice. How colorful!?!?

Anything that is in fashion is going to go out of fashion. That's pretty much the definition of fashion, isn't it? So, I do agree that granite is going to loose (if hasn't already) its appeal as a got-to-have-it item for the kitchen. The look of dark granite is definitely already dated. (We just put in our kitchen, anyway, because, hey, my wife and I like it). Now, I'm mostly seeing designers show granite with medium to light colors, with large swirling patterns.

So, if we get rid of granite, what are the alternatives? Manufactured stone is very similar to granite from a style point of view. If granite's looks goes out of style, so will manufactured stone’s looks. Corian isn't a bad product, but I just don’t see it being a hot item any time soon. As a practical matter, Corian can scratch and burn, and it isn’t cheap. (Damage can be sanded out, though). It does look different from granite, but I’m not sure it’s a look anyone wants right now. And laminate, please. The stuff is cheap and looks it. (I’ve also never had much luck with it holding up). But, fashion can be hard to predict. With the economy the way it is, cheaper products will likely become more popular. Even those who can afford more expensive items might want to avoid conspicuious consumption.

I've recently seen a couple of “green” countertops. One is made from recycled glass, and the other was made from recycled paper. I think both of these will likely become popular. The countertops made from recycled glass look different from granite, but still have a similar shine and color palette. Like manufactured stone, I think this will co-exist with granite. The countertops made from recycled paper were very different. They had a subtle sheen and a slightly mottled color. They reminded me of leather, and I thought they were pretty neat looking. I have no idea how durable they are though, (except for the unsubstantiated claims of the salesperson), and they seem to only be available in darker colors.

My experience with granite is that it is durable, nearly maintenance free and when you get beyond the samples offered at some home improvement stores, a lot of it is really quite beautiful. I was also one of those who feared dropping things and having them ‘shatter’ but the most I’ve done is chip a plate and I've dropped a lot of stuff on those counters. Like everything in life though you have to know when to say when with granite. I think ‘granite fatigue’ comes from seeing the same type of stone (it must be a contractor special at Home Depot or something) covering every available surface in a kitchen --counter, back splash, island, I’ve even seen granite floors that match the countertops!

And white laminate?! Seriously what are you thinking? :)

I think I have had every kind of surface over the years and granite is simply the most practical. I can put hot pans on the counter (try that with white laminate) and spills don't stain it (think bucherblock). I may be tired of seeing it but it is used so often because it works so well.

Some people have poured concrete countertops. Safer in terms of no radon gas, just not as aesthetically pleasing as some of the granite patterns and colors you see out there. Serves the same function, though. Who cares, really? If you want laminate, keep it. Granite has some benefits but being sick of it just because it became trendy doesn't make sense if the benefits still exist (see charles comment on stainless steel - that's a good reason to be sick of a trend, when people want it for looks instead of function). And if we're saying granite is dying a natural death because sales are down, I think you're misplacing the reasoning there: sales of all home improvement materials are way down, and new construction is way down, so of course granite sales are going to be down along with everything else in our economy.

Quartz...looks like granite, doesn't need to be cured in any way, is less money, and does not REEK of self-conscious, lemming mentality that pretentious granite does. Design was never meant to be "high school cliquey", "peer-pressure-ish" vanilla...express yourself in your home so you can be yourself.

Same with fashion. Somewhere there is a group of people in France in a meeting saying "what can we get the Americans to wear this year?"

RIP Granite. Thank god.

soap stone all the way

"As of this summer, sales of granite are down."

Probably less the sign of a waning fad and more the sign of cost constrained renovators. If you're not looking to sell, you won't do pricey upgrades, and since not many people are selling, granite sales are likely to go down as a result. And since new construction is going to be affected by the credit situation, there will be even fewer orders.

I don't see granite going away.

We were looking for a house last year and we told the Realtor not to even show us houses with the hideous granite/stainless steel/cherry cabinet combo. That look is dated and now forever associated with the housing bubble. When I see it in someone's home it's like a sign that they are underwater in their home.

I just re-did my kitchen, and put in granite and stainless steel, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. It is absolutely beautiful.
The place that installed my granite was extremely busy, so I don't see the "death of granite" coming anytime soon. I can't justify an additional $10K for my house just because of the granite...but it will help it to stand out from the other units in my place...it was well worth it.

I don't think it's granite that's as important as having some sort of solid surface counter top. Having owned both the laminate tends to chip / fade over time and is easily damaged. Having granite is nice, but engineered stone is probably just as nice.... I don't think we'll see people get away from solid surface counters, but we may see people start to use granite alternatives and it may become more standard rather than something that people are willing to pay a purchase or rent premium for. As for the stainless steel, I wouldn't be surprised to see that ultra clean look go out of style... after all if you actually live in it, it's impossible to keep clean and show's its age very quickly. I'm a black or white appliance person myself.

Charles you are a snob. If you know how to cook , you can cook on a coleman camp stove. Our forbearers managed to cook and bake minus granite, viking, thermador and granite.
It was people suffering under the delusion that they "needed" all these high end appliances, gourmet kitchens, media rooms etc that has landed them in the world of foreclosure.

I'm with you on the granite. Don't understand why anyone would want something so cold in the Northeast. One work area in granite is nice if you make pastry a lot, but not the whole kitchen! I feel the same way about tile floors in the kitchen. WAY too cold, too hard for little ones, and you need a perfectly even surface, which doesn't exist in some of these old homes in this area. And why does every decorator on TV take out the ceiling fans first thing? Nothing moves heat or air conditioning around better, and certainly saves on fuel. I am neutral on the stainless steel, as long as it has the newer finish that doesn't show every fingerprint.

We have soapstone, and love it. You can seal it or leave it raw. You can get a honed, shiny finish or a dull, matte finish. You can scrub it, put hot pots on it, sand it, whatever. It has a nice old feel to it and like other natural stone countertop materials, can find some really nice pieces with a grain that add character.

We put Silestone (artificially produced stone countertop) in our kitchen. Much better than our old real granite, which can be stained by different cooking oils.

We just installed soapstone. It's not as hard as granite and is less porous. It can't be polished so it has a softer less formal look.

Miles of granite in a big kitchen is just overwhelming, but you can't beat it for durability, ease of cleaning, and it doesn't scorch like some older products. I like it best as an accent piece - a center island or a drop-in to an existing wood or laminate counter can be gorgeous. Stainless is too cold, concrete too porous, and I agree with wendy about tile! No!! As a substitute for granite, my favorite is soapstone. Old fashioned, generally neutral, and durable beyond belief!

We installed soapstone, and are pretty happy with it as an alternative to granite. The downside is maintenance--you have to oil it every 3 - 6 months, and more frequently initially. The upside was that the general contractor could machine prep it on site, and we were able to use a scrap piece for a bathroom counter.
It is totally non-porous and if it chips you can sand out the chips (unlike granite). Still, given the initial price and the upkeep, I wonder if we would have been better off with formica, and maybe tile or soapstone by the stove.
The "greenest" alternative, btw, is not to upgrade your kitchen at all--unless there is a real need, and not just to make sure that your kitchen is "in." I am tired of seeing what's "in" or "out"--let's talk about reusing what you have!!

I agree with Darrel Boyd. Granite can be cost prohibitive, and the reduction in its use is more related to cost rather than choice. But when one prices out other options (which I recently did), one will find that the cost above the next best thing (corian, engineered stone, concrete, solid wood) is really not that much when considering the overall cost of a kitchen remodel. When the right stone is chosen, it really can make a kitchen stand out, plus its super durable and easy to clean.

I love granite - I miss granite - I want it back. (Had it and now my home has white laminate and I am NOT a fan of that.) You can do anything to granite and it loves you back all while looking good.

As for stainless - please - can I have a few panel overlays to hide the appliances rather than make a statement with them. I am ready to see stainless go away.

Charles - I hope you don't actually have to deal with Thermador and Viking appliances. They may appear to be professional class appliances, but in terms of reliability and quality they are not worth the premium they command. I used to work for an appliance manufacturer and saw the data..while ours may not have been the top, it was far above the "professional" stuff.

You don't have to go all SS-- my dishwasher and stove are SS. My frig/freezer is black. Looks both modern and traditional. Granite counters are dark green. You have to admit, a clean, shiny granite counter looks great!

Sales of everything are down. Natural materials never go out of style. Unless your idea of style is covering your hardwood floors with wall to wall carpet.

I hardly think granite sales are down because it's become unfashionable. Did you not notice the massive amount of wealth that just disappeared in the stock market? Think that might have something to do with it? Granite makes for gorgeous, durable countertops. But it comes at a price that is much higher than cheap plywood covered in laminate/formica. Which one do you think becomes more "popular" during a recession? The real estate boom led to a house-flipping/remodeling boom, and these people were putting in expensive items like granite and stainless steel to attract luxury-minded customers to pay a steep premium. Having lived in apartments/condos with formica as well as granite, I'd take granite any day of the week if I could afford it. Formica is certainly perfectly functional, but it has a cheaper look to it, so you get what you pay for. I bet stainless steel appliances will disappear long before granite countertops. Unless of course the economy keeps tanking, in which case luxury will again take a backburner to practicality, i.e. "cheap".

Silestone all the way baby!!! Antimicrobial and easy to clean!

I have granite counters and love them! Unfortunately, t he morons in Woburn who installed it didn't hire people who understood English. The cuts made for the soap dispenser and hot spot were done wrong, and the idiots on Route 138 who installed my cabinets didn't use a level or a proper template. Hubby and I love the look and durability of granite. If you're considering it, go for it, but please be sure to check the reputation of the people installing it. I want my kitchen fixed so it's level and the blasted fixtures are in correctly.

Love my extensive (but not that expensive) professionally installed granite counter tops. The formica and corian tops I had in past refurbishings never did the kitchen justice.

Stupid. This whole "article" is stupid. Posts 5 and 6 explain it well, posts 2 and 7 say it best. The good stuff is always expensive and often worth it.
The Globe has really become a poor and lazy news source.

Granite is a luxury. Anything less is a compromise. I do believe you can have too much but it’s a great utility surface to have in the kitchen. I’m okay with Corian in the bathroom, just isn’t attractive in a big kitchen.

Granite is a luxury. Anything less is a compromise. I do believe you can have too much but it’s a great utility surface to have in the kitchen. I’m okay with Corian in the bathroom, just isn’t attractive in a big kitchen.

I am a homebuyer and I am sick of dark granite and stainless steel. (I currently have it with cherry cabinets in my rental apt.)
FOr my home I would like to go with white beadboard cabinets and perhaps a white marble countertop with black veining through it. ANYTHING but the dark granite/ss/Cherry that is EVERYWHERE and wil probably be outdated in 10 years.

Granite is King !!! As long as you can afford it, it is durable and natural and opposed to glue-on plastic, like white laminate. Bet you got some real nice stick on squares on the floor too !!!

We put soapstone counters in our kitchen several years ago. They look great, they're practically no-care (just apply a layer of mineral oil every now and then to make them darker) and they're completely heat- and stain-resistant. The stone is soft enough that you don't have to worry about breaking dishes. We took a tour of a Newport, R.I. mansion from the late 1800's that had a soapstone sink especially for handwashing the good china because it was good with delicates.

We were the first in our area to put granite in our new house 9 years ago. It still looks beautiful! This may be a disadvantage over laminate - since it will never get "scratched beyond washability" it will far outlast it's trendiness.

I'm not going to even consider changing it. It's been the best surface I've ever cooked on. I do not miss scrubbing laminate one bit.

If you do get granite, make sure you really, really love it. If you like change, get laminate...

Has anyone had any experience with teak, mahogany or cedar? How about that stuff that they use in chemistry labs for bench tops?

Soapstone rules! it reminds me of the high school chemistry lab countertops! And that definitely brings back good memories.

Plus if you drop acid or a strong base on it, no problem :)

Silestone is the new Granite!!! It's warmer, softer, and more forgiving to your glassware. Plus the matte finish that silestone has is a really nice understatement compared to granite's sometimes boorish shine. LJB posted that it was anti-microbial too--how is this true and granite isnt?

No way granite is gone. The reducion is most likely the down economy and poor new home construction. Granite is definately one of the best looking. I did look at the Silestone " fake granite " but it was more expensive then the real stuff.

As far as cost, an independent guy with good references was the way to go... 2400 for a large countertop with a drop in sink and a large 7 by 4 island piece was fair to me... looks beautiful...!

Rona...what gives you the right to ____ on those who have chosen to install granite in their kitchen. Sounds very petty with just a touch of jealousy. I hope everyone goes out an buys granite counter tops. Beats stuffing your nickels in the mattress waiting for the sky to fall.

wow. lots of comments. Being old enough to have seen many fads come and go, I get such a kick out of watching HGTV house shows, where someone will walk into a place and (say) look at carpeting and exclaim" eiwww - carpeting - how could they?". I remember when you HAD to have carpeting. I also remember my apartment with a wooden floor in the bedroom and how cold it always was. So granite is out now. And one of those kitchen shows was showing that colored enamel is the next 'hot' thing in appliances. Exactly what I grew up with...

I'm wondering where homeowners (or anyone) get the impression that a certain item is a ‘must have’ in a home. Is you realtors that tell people what they should have? Is it trashy shows on HGTV where they now treat kitchens like they are fashion models? Or are today’s buyers just so gullible? :-

Seems like a false observation and the wrong argument... granite is going to decline because people aren't looking to resell their houses as quickly and will have a harder time justifying the added expense as a personal luxury. It is really just the economy. Basically, anything that people previously did "to increase the resale value" is going to have to wait until the place is actually going to be sold and people are otherwise having trouble selling. People that can afford to spend the extra dough on granite will probably still do it because it is a good material for counter tops. Unless they are really trendy and want some custom man made material, but that is going to be more pricey than granite in most cases to get it done well.

I think granite is kind of tacky (very Long Island, Sopranos, etc). I find it too shiny, people choose overly worked edges and it is often poorly installed.

We're planning a kitchen remodel in the next couple of years, and we're currently leaning towards soapstone, slate or a composite materal (composite would also be a matte dark gray).

I love my granite! I looked into soapstone and marble too but maitenance stories scared me off. I guess Marble stains very easy and soapstone scratches. ,With two small ones not worth it. If I redo my kitchen again, I'll definitely try out the soapstone - love that rustic look.

I have granite countertops and no they are not my favorite. To try to lump them into a "fad" is ridiculous though. They have become the standard, quartz, soap stone etc. may become the next trend in countertops but does that mean in 10-15 years they will be a "fad" that has to go? There are lots of options for counters but whoever said Corian (yikes) talk about cold cheap and artificial looking or Laminate (ditto) are a better choice than granite are flat out wrong. I personaly would love different countertops..but having granite counters is like having high end wood cabinets they will never be looked at as a negative

Dear B Delman,
You need to learn the difference between dumping on a product (in this case, stone) and dumping on a person. If you like granite, cook on it in good health. I will cook in my kitchen the way it is. No jealousy involved.
My job is to report on what is happening in real estate. From what I am seeing, what is happening is a shift away from granite to other countertops. I am not the only one who want to see more variety in new kitchens. Note that there are a lot of posts on this subject.

I am just about to replace my developer-provided white laminate counter tops (As poor a solution for a counter top as exists) with manufactured quartz. I've already done this in a second home and the result is wonderful. Cleaner than granite (No chance of mold on the underside) and the color range is excellent. It provides a visually pleasing, hardworking surface that requires little or no maintenance. And it goes well with lots of non SS and Cherry appliances and cabinets. But even those as well as granite have their places in any well-designed kitchen.

Too much of anything is not good and certainly granite is very very popluar. Perhaps some homeowners who prefer to be at the cutting edge of a trend are tired of the material as the ancedotal evidence suggests. But claiming that granite is dead based on recent sales figures is silly and bad journalism (oh sorry this is a blog, not actual responsible journalism). Quality materials will always be valued by those who take a long term view of home ownership. My counters and backsplash are granite and gorgeous, easy to maintain and give me pleasureevery day as do my shaker style cabinets and black (gasp) appliances.

I would like a kitchen with wood counter tops, a Connemara (Irish marble) slab near the stove for baking and no upper cabinets just a lot of well designed drawers and lower cabinets. There would be a hutch with a glass door top to store glassware and cups. Lots of windows and a double, deep soapstone sink. Aga stoves are beautiful but I can cook on anything. I currently have electric but dream of the day I can have a gas stove again. No island but a big farmhouse type table in the center to eat at and work on. A fireplace in the kitchen!

And you think white laminate is better? I had white laminate in my kitchen and for a person who cooks and spills a lot this was no way to go. We just recently upgraded to granite and it's actually not as expensive as people might think, as long as you shop around and pick common colors. The dark brown granite has been an excellent upgrade to our kitchen both from usability and sheer beauty of this natural stone. Other then quartz, which is essentially granite, there is no other product on the market which is even close.
Did you ever consider that the sales for granite are down because people are just not buying as much these days?

You're all nuts (well not all of you, but..)- can't you just get what you can afford and like at the same time and call it a day? History shows that people who don't have granite but have laminate knock it because they're jealous- which is insane. Who cares???????????

We actually replaced old laminate countertops in our condo with Ceasar Stone counters. It's primarly stone/quartz and resin, and has some pieces of broken glass in it. It looks fabulous and was SO much cheaper than granite. And less maintenenance. A lot of people don't even realize that you have to keep re-sealing the granite every so often (or so many years? not sure). There is no maintenance with Ceasar Stone. I would even just wash the counters with a soft sponge and warm water and dish soap and they sparkled! Also, if you put a hot pot or dish on the counter by accident, it won't scorch or leave a mark.

Kelly - snobbery has a meaning. Look it up. I'm a meritocrat. Sure I can cook over a coleman, and have. I frequently cook in my fireplace for the fun of it. But thinking better tools are superior to worse tools is not snobbery, its common sense. And commercial stoves are better tools, as it is easier to achieve high and low heats. Essential? Of course not. Neither is good food. Sometimes non-essentials are nice.

Thermador I have years of experience with, not the others. I was speaking specifically to its performance. I found its reliability to be average, and have heard that of the others as well.

A granite counter top is a tool. So far no better one exists that I know of - I don't know much about soapstone. I am sick of the black granite/cheap cherry/faux commercial appliance trope, but no need to throw out the baby with the bathwater

Sally: i LOVE your dream kitchen!! We have the poor man's version: wood counters, only one set of upper cabinets, painted floor, white porcelain double sink, humble white appliances, (but I got my gas stove!) a nice little pantry. (so, no soapstone or table or fireplace, but we have a tiny cottage.) We did everything from IKEA. the cabinet doors are the highest end solid wood ones they offer and the 'boxes' are a more sustainable particleboard than other domestics, it has been claimed Ikea cabinets don't offgas formaldehyde like other PB products. We asembled and installed ourselves.

And remember people: serve them enough wine with the cheese, make 'em laugh; they'll remember the company, not the counter.

I can't believe you are all railing on the white laminate. I have sunshine yellow laminate from the 70s - white laminate would be a welcome change! Can't you all hate on that instead....

We cook a LOT and although it's not our dream kitchen it will be turned into one in time. When the time comes we'll probably put in some kind of "stone" - silestone, soapstone - depending on budget.

I'm a real-estate appraiser, and get to see hundreds of homes, from the cheapest 2-bedroom ranch to the high-end $5+ million mansions. Granite is not going out of style, and anyone who thinks that shouldn't be advising others about decorating, real estate, or style.

Granite is a very practical, low-maintenance solid surface that improves the looks and functionality of not just the kitchen, but other rooms in the house.
Also, there isn't a better alternative (yes, silestone and soapstone are good too, but these are kinda in the same family) - Corian makes the kitchen look like a bathroom, and tiled surfaces really ARE out of style since 1990.

Get a grip - just because the real estate market is in the dumper and there's not really any good news on the horizon, it doesn't give you license to make things up just for the sake of having something to write about.

Every time I walk into a kitchen that has been recently remodeled to reflect the current "granite/what-have-you-wood/stainless Bosch/ceramic tile" style; I feel like I have been transported to a strange yet convenient new mausoleum and sauna combo. I keep half expecting to see hot rocks in the sink. The granite makes me feel like I am surrounded by the dearly departed. All of the wood combined causes claustrophobia like only an A-frame could. Hey, I'm Swedish. I like clean lines too. However, you have to admit, in ten years all of these rare quarried granite slabs dove-tailed with mahogany veneers is going to look as old as avocado refrigerators and amber bullet-glass walls from the '70s look now. Remember to put some more water on those hot rocks.

Rre we really arguing over this? I eat off the (linoleum) floor with my cats.

I have hammered copper countertops from my 1910 kitchen and I think this will replace everything when this style comes back maybe in 2010?

Hooray to the death of granite! We used to joke that certain condo flipping companies had a huge warehouse somewhere of granite and ss appliances they'd just plug into any old kitchen even if the rest of the house was total garbage.

Hubby and I just revamped our kitchen. We decided to save money by keeping what (white and pretty new) appliances we could, and bought ss for the rest. So we've got a 1/2 and 1/2 combo. Just reading this will probably make some realtor faint, but it makes sense, trust me!

What doesn't make sense is the lux poured concrete countertop we had installed. Besides the custom acid pattern resembling barf, the finish is already coming off. We've treated this g-d thing with kid gloves; it's been four months now. Sigh.

Kat - are you serious? what are you looking for then? what do you suggest instead of granite? Wait! I know! You want asphalt because it will be sooooo, let's think of a witty word here . . . URBAN!!! Yeah, that's it! Get a life!

We look back at the 90's and the 2000's as the era of the granite stainless steel times, every kitchen from revere to the jersey shore has these two kitchen luxuries, in 1983 every kid and their grandfathers had lens only jackets it was the rage in 83' by the time 1984 came the jacket craze faded away, 10 years from now that will be the case with kitchens with as and granite,it will cheesy just like the members only jacket

Built two high end houses in Sudbury this year and did my research. Marble is too soft and stains. Soapstone is a nightmare to maintain, laminate (do I really need to say anything??). We added a solid wood counter top on a second island to warm it up and soften the look. Mixing the right colors is essential and there are so many to choose from. It is a classic...not a fad

How do you care for soapstone counters? My experience with it is only in the context of carving it to make sculptures... it's VERY soft. Is there a coating you apply that maintains the look (I love it and imagine it would be great for kitchen counters) and prevents scratches?

And stop dumping on Rona! All she said was that she was happy to see that granite was now less popular. I read the rest of her comment as suggesting that there's something out there that's better (or at least people are now choosing alternatives to granite) but for her own kitchen, she's just not that concerned about incorporating those alternatives, since she's an "if it ain't broke don't fix it" sort of person. That did NOT imply that she thought her white laminate was the height of fashion, or superior to granite or any of the newly-popular alternative counter coverings. She then asked what other people are covering their counters with.

I, for one, have builder-supplied grey "granite-look" laminate, which I do NOT like. It does look low-end and I think I'd like a butcher block counter-top.

What happens when you purchase a home with granite counter-tops in a color that is unappealing? Now, you are stuck with the cumbersome task of REMOVING the granite countertops and replacing it with something else. Granite is another one of your typical impractical fad-ish status symbols that only demonstrates to your friends and family that you were dumb enough to blow a bunch of hard-earned cash on pretty counter-tops.

If the internet existed in 1977 I'd be you could find 77 people defending avacado green laminate countertops and electric ranges; stating that carpet in the bathroom was a great idea and why doesn't everyone install it; and that vertical blinds on a sliding glass door are not only beautiful but practical as well.

Soon enough a less-expensive, better looking, and far more functional product than granite will be all the rage. Unfortunately, I have no idea what it is otherwise I'd be pushing it on "keep-up-with-the-Jones" mortgage holders that just have to have the latest kitchen even if it means taking out a HELOC to afford it.

Hmm. I certainly didn't mean to dump on Rona, and apologize if it came across that way.

I understand the "look" she doesn't like - I'm sick of it and make jokes about it as well. I just wanted to point out that granite as a material is still good, and doesn't have to be used in the same way everyone currently does.

At the end of the day, its not the materials, its the design that really makes anything in the house. And the black granite/cherry/fake stainless is definitely the avocado or harvest gold design idea of this era.

Comments are particularly silly for this post. It's simply a fact that developers had started to move away from granite--and especially polished granite--before the bust. Now that every flipped house has tombstone countertops, the look is generic and lacks what HGTV calls the "wow" factor buyers want.

In any case, nothing is going to replace granite for a long while. There's a reason why there are lots of '20s kitchens and '40s and '50s kitchens, but not so many from the '30s. In an economic depression, new houses don't get built, and there's no money to renovate. You can't start a new fad when there's no market for your product. In a few years--perhaps five, maybe ten--a different material will be popular, granite will be seen as the avocado green and harvest gold of the bubble years, and HGTV, if it still exists, will be showcasing cheap ways to "update" your tired granite countertops.

Personally, I like granite for countertops, but think the stainless steel appliances ruin what could be a warm and inviting look. When I had to replace/upgrade my range recently I chose black over stainless and I am very pleased with the way it looks. ( I also don't like to be constantly cleaning my appliances which is what you have to do with stainless)

People who don't know how to cook don't appreciate the pros to granite or any natural stone countertop..
You can temper chocolate
You can pull sugar
You can put hot things on it
It wipes easily
It's easy to maintain if you take the time to maintain it
Stainless steel- same thing. If it was a 'bad' thing, commercial kitchens wouldn't use it.
Obviously, if you don't use a ridiculous color it looks nice for years to come.

I'm a chef. I have granite and stainless in my house. If you have electric ranges in your home, dont bother complaining about granite, because chances are you can't cook, and what you have doesn't really matter when you're microwaving that swanson fried chicken dinner

Preaching to the choir... this is a column/blog dedicated to Boston's other spectator sport - speculative real estate. Kitchen and bath design is a fashion-driven business - ask any designer. Trends come and go. There is no perfect surfacing material. Witness the adjectives used in the posts: cheap, tacky, pleasing, low-end, glitzy, over-rated, ad infinitum. This is a subjective-driven topic; there are few apples-to-apples comparisons and statistics cited.
Granite is no. 2 in market share now, behind laminate (no. 1 because it is entry level). Quartz is gaining in market share quickly, solid surface is losing share. Sales of everything are way down because, well, you know why. That has nothing to do with market share. The coming trends will be toward greener, more sustainable products. Petroleum based/derived surface options will be priced/ostracized from thier current share positions. Granite is a great choice, but it will not reign forever. There will be new kids on the block: concrete, composites, glass, and yes, wood.

I have to say, katt, you don't need granite, stainless or even a gas stove to be a great cook. I ate beautiful food in Honduras cooked for me on top of a large, old pizza pan set on top of a wood fire. I don't remember what prep surface the cook used but what ever it was there wasn't much of it. I'll never forget those tortillas. And I have had great meals made on an electric cook top. My mom is a wonderful cook and all she ever had was an electric stove. I cook good food from scratch every night for myself and my daughter on an electric stove and it works out fine. I'd prefer gas but at the moment I have what I have. In my dream kitchen there's no granite, even though I can appreciate that others like it and find it useful.

I have a truly vintage 70's kitchen complete with gold Sears Kenmore appliances all on their way out of serviceability not to mention the dated aesthetic. And as far as tempering chocolate, I made mendiants last Christmas for all my friends and just tempered in the bowl. It's funny, I have the worst kitchen right now I've ever had (truly hideous) and yet I am happiest in my life than I have ever been. A fabulous kitchen would be great but I know for sure it couldn't make me happier.

As with everything, it's the *intention* of what you do that makes something happen. And as charles has said many times in his posts here, it's people that really matter, not things or money or property.

Houses aren't selling as well either , does that mean houses are no longer in style? What will replace them? I don't really care for granite but I don't think that sales falling in a down economy is indicative that something is no longer desired.

I also want to add to the group that thinks Granite will always be around in some fashion. Soapstone has been around for centuries, marble too. These types of surfaces work in a kitchen, period. They both have pros and cons, but they have been tested over time to work for cooks and non-cooks. So, while colors or high levels of polish might come and go over the years, I don't think the day will come any time soon that people will think the idea of granite in a kitchen just doesn't work. It does, and it lasts longer (barring unusual circumstances) than laminate.

As I said, I just had large matte black granite tiles installed in my kitchen, and while I paid a bit more than laminate (but a lot less expensive than any solid surface), i think it will hold up better. In 10 years from now, any counter I chose will look out of date. But, the granite tiles are likely to hold up better.

With my buyers, they would rather buy a property before a kitchen renovation so they can make it what they want it to be. None of my clients like the cherry/stainless/granite combo and don't want to pay for it and they are tired of seeing it everywhere they look. I have one client who won't even look at the property if the kitchen has dark cabinets and granite.Some want Corian, or another kind of stone. We've also seen a lot of poorly installed new kitchens that the buyer is expected to pay for. I usually say "Let's walk!" unless they love, love the rest of the property and will do the kitchen over.

Oh Sally-

BIG difference in being a 'cook' vs a chef.

And money, property, and things matter very much.

I'm also going to put myself out there and say, "good luck trying to sell your house with a 70's kitchen" in the event that you chose to put it on the market.

Rona, I don't think granite is on its way out or any other natural solid surface material for that matter. Quite frankly natural stone in the kitchen is practical, functional, durable, fairly low maintenance and is finally being made available to folks in all price ranges.

Personally, I wish we'd have a move toward marble. It is not nearly as delicate as many imagine, is much less busy looking than granite, and marble kitchens bring a warmth and "used" aesthetic that speaks volumes about family/friends memories being made. Marble has been (and will be) used for hundreds of years in kitchens throughout southern Europe.

Incidentally, It might interest you to know that the major contributors to the radon study you reference (indirectly) were engineered stone manufacturers.

I think it's a wise person that saves their money and makes due with what they have until they have to replace something. It's a lesson I didn't learn as well as I'd have liked.

I'ts hard to take the post seriously in view of her pride in white laminate. Perhaps she also has exposed bricks, oak cabinets and ferns. It sounds like sour grapes but more likely she is terminally cheap. Forgetting for the moment that granite is available in an incredible vairety of choices alternatives have been available and popular for years including corian, engineered stone, soapstone even concrete.

By the sound of it she must have a thriving decorating business.

Tom,
You are late in the game at insulting me because I admit that I don't have a decorating stake in this discussion. It's been said.
I find it unfortunate that some people cannot take other people (in this case, me) seriously because of what they own.

I don't think there is anything wrong with white laminate. I wouldn't choose it, as it must be a nightmare to keep clean. However, laminate has always been a reasonably durable, and inexpensive option for counters. Some people still choose it today, and will continue to do so. I think that is what I am trying to say (and others) about granite. It may not be the "in" thing as it once was, but I don't think it will ever be "out". It, along with soapstone, tile, concrete, marble, etc., will always be options for people to consider. Granite, like all other options discussed here, work as viable counter materials, and will continue to do so.

Hmmm, where to start. We sell everything in the way
of countertop materials, so let me correct a few
misconseptions in this thread.

Solid Surface is a mixture of acrylic or polyester
resins and ATH (aluminum trihydrate, similar to
aluminum powder). So when posters call
natural stone "Solid Surface", they have been fooled
by the granite companies marketing. Corian is a
brand of solid surface, many others out there as good
for a lot less.

Granite being green, no way. Quarry yeild is between
10 and 35%, the rest is wasted, then shops like mine
that fabricate stone incur another 35% waste. Look at
the tons of granite scrap laying out side most
fabricators buildings.

"Engineered stone does not handle heat as well as
granite. Even though it is non-porous it is only
slightly better than granite. Both are 1000s of times
cleaner than laminates (formica). "
True, E.S. doesn't handle heat well, but granite isn't
heat proof either. Ever see a car window break when
pouring hot water to thaw a icy windsheild?

And 1,000s of times cleaner than laminates?

Granite is pretty hospitable to bacteria. NASA found
100,000 bacteria per gram of stone in one study.
Millions of bacteria per square foot, living inside
the stone.

"Some people have poured concrete countertops. Safer
in terms of no radon gas,"

Much cement now has flyash in it, plenty of
radiaton and where you have some kinds of radiation,
you have Radon.

There were two papers at the AARST (American
Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists)
convention a few
months back on Radon from concrete.

So, yes the information about Radon and radiation in
granite did cause a large drop in granite sales, as
it should have. We have three methods of measuring
granite radiation, and when you show consumers the
radiation coming from even the low level granites,
they pick another material 9 times out of 10.

Been making custom countertops for 3 decades. Stone is still huge. I do long for the hey day of Corian . It is a fantastic product! It comes in over 150 colors, Is fairly easy to fabricate and install and has a faster turn around time. Best of all it is NOT a natural product. God made granite and stone in all it's infinite variations. It is very hard to get the consumer to understand that unless you pick out each and every slab personally, your countertop might not look exactly like the sample. It is a natural product with variations.
Go for Corian. It is easy to keep clean, makes a great shower -you rarely have to clean it, it is heat moldable, impervious to weather-great for out door kitchens, and is so easy for a professional to work with. What ever you do, please don't go to a big box store. The little guy is dying! Think global, shop local. Thanks!

Rhona's correct. Granite is incredibly tiresome tat. I will forever associate it with poorly built and over-priced condo conversions and mcmansions. Sorry - no offense intended! We were looking at houses 6 or 7 years ago and even then my wife commented that granite was about as over done as the dot-com bubble. Sally, we love your comments: will you design our kitchen for us? Wooden counter top, no cabinets up top, real furniture in the kitchen, etc. Please get in touch!

I know this is an old post, but I have a question. I bought a house that already had the "2000" look of granite,ss,etc last summer. The seller paid alot to have it installed a few years ago, but I didn't like it & I wouldn't pay extra for it. Since she needed to sell fast, I pretty much got the ugggh "updated kitchen" for free. I think its gaudy and want it out because everyone in my neighborhood has it, but I thought I could sell it if I can get it out without damaging it & then I would have money to help out with my new kitchen. Any suggestions?

White laminate ugly?! I don't think so, but then I have about 20' of white laminate countertops and 16 cupboards. It looks as white and clean now as when the original owners put it in in 1986. There aren't any chips or loosening of the counters. Maybe it works so well because we're in central FL and things are more light and airy there.
We did check out Corian and silestone as possible updates; although the "stone slab" look isn't really us. SS appliances are ugly to us....I haven't found even one co-worker,or relative who likes them. Oh well, to each his own. Boring if all were the same.