Making a decision can be difficult with such a large selection! Bring home a few natural quartz slab samples from a kitchen showroom before deciding on a color or design. You’ll be able to choose a pattern and design that complements your kitchen décor better under your own lighting and against the backdrop of your cabinets and walls. Before you buy, it’s a good idea to have a good idea of what you want your finished kitchen to look like. You can get ideas from show homes, home design magazines, and websites, or you can browse through design books at any kitchen center. Keep the following points in mind as you plan:

 If your counter is longer than 120 inches or has a complicated configuration, a natural quartz slab may have to be fabricated in more than one section, resulting in one or more seams. Seams are usually less visible on dark-toned quartz, but they can be quite noticeable on light-toned or multicolored countertops with obvious veining or marbling patterns. Depending on the style, brand, and size, slab thickness ranges from 12 inches to 14 inches. If you want a large slab or an elaborate edge design, the fabricator may recommend a thicker slab. If you have your heart set on a thin countertop but your kitchen is large, you can expect one or more seams. Thickness is also affected by custom features such as integrated drains.

Custom designs are available in a wide range of colors, including neutral grays, off-whites, and subtle tans, as well as bold blues, bright yellows, and striking solid blacks. In addition to color, you can select quartz with small particles for a smooth appearance or larger grains for a flecked appearance. The surface can be smooth and glossy, or it can be flecked, pebbled, embossed, or even suede-like. Custom edge profiles in complex designs add distinction to your kitchen but raise the overall cost. You can choose between a bold square countertop edge, a chiseled raw-edge look, or a softer, rounded bullnose corner. A reverse waterfall edge is similar to crown molding in shape and adds a touch of traditional elegance, whereas contemporary edges such as slanted, mitered, or undercut create the illusion of a thinner slab. An ogee (S-shape) is a popular edge design that can be used in almost any setting.

Buying a natural quartz slab for your bathroom is not the same as buying one for your kitchen. Bathroom vanities are available in standard sizes, so you can buy ready-made vanity countertops. Many include pre-molded sinks or pre-cut holes for drop-in sinks. Bathroom vanity quartz countertops range in price from $400 to $1,000 depending on length, and installation is more do-it-yourself friendly.