Your home is a space that changes and grows along with your family: Babyproofed kitchens turn into coloring book wonderlands; quiet hearths become a favorite spot for your furry friend. It stands to reason that your home should be equipped to accommodate whatever life stage you and your family are in — and having the right surfaces is a key part of that design.
Whether you’re starting a family in a new home, enjoying the life of an empty nester, or anything in between, here are a few things to keep in mind when finding the right surface for your life stage.
For the First-Time Homeowners
The first thing to consider when buying or building a starter home is how much you’re willing to put into surface maintenance.
There are a few key things to keep in mind when considering your options:
- Marble: Some people still want marble in their kitchens, and that’s perfectly fine, but it’s important to realize that it’s more difficult to preserve than quartz.
- Granite: Though granite was the preferred material for years, it’s now being replaced with quartz and synthetic options — like the ones Santamargherita offers — because of the array of vibrant colors and lack of upkeep.
- Quartz: Quartz is fully customizable and durable, and it will last a long time. When choosing countertops, a young couple might be tempted to go with the less expensive Corian or laminate, but quartz would be a better use of their money because the home’s resale value will be higher. And when making your decision, be sure to choose a quality quartz manufacturer.
As a rule of thumb, I recommend that people invest in the highest quality early on — it’ll pay off in the long run.
For the New Parents
As the most solid and stain-resistant surface material, quartz would probably be the best option for a couple that’s recently started a family. This will help prevent countertop discoloration from small children spilling food and drink.
As mentioned above, quartz is not necessarily cheaper than marble or granite, but it’s a better long-term value. And it does have some money-saving perks: for example, quartz comes in slabs, so by choosing a countertop color and repeating it most places, you’ll waste less material in cutting and cut back on cost. You can still get color contrast by opting for a kitchen backsplash that lends more pattern with smaller tiles — Horizon Italian Tile has great options.
For the Active Family With Pets
A pet-owning family with an active lifestyle should seek the utmost in durability when choosing the right surface for their life stage. When considering surfaces for outdoor spaces, granite is more suitable than quartz and marble. Opt for darker surface colors to avoid sunlight tinting, but keep in mind that granite products won’t offer the same consistency in color and pattern as an engineered quartz or marble surface.
Moving inside to the kitchen, quartz reigns over marble, which easily stains and will require more regular upkeep. Implementing quartz in a buffed creamy white or pale gray will ensure your countertops are red wine-proof for the adults, marker-proof for the kids, and scratch-proof for the dogs and cats.
For the Empty Nesters
In a home with empty nesters, there aren’t quite so many accidents waiting to happen. If a couple is downsizing and considering countertops, marble is a viable option. You have plenty of options here — for example, a master bath could have marble on the shower floor paired with a different countertop.
Regardless, I recommend choosing a neutral color for surfaces, because you can’t easily alter them like you could repaint a wall — the expense and hassle would be considerable. A couple could design a powder room to feature a darker or more dramatic quartz with more movement as an accent countertop, but you need that neutral backdrop for your home.
Entering a new season of life can be overwhelming, but choosing the right surface for your life stage doesn’t have to be.
Learn more about Santamargherita’s variety of quality marble, quartz, and synthetic products that can polish off your kitchen, bathroom, or just about anywhere in your home here.
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Michelle Meredith, owner of Dallas-based interior design firm Michelle Meredith & Associates, specializes in hospitality design and brings 30 years of experience to projects around the globe. She and her team offer creative and collaborative solutions that provide a holistic approach to design.