When last I wrote about my journey to find the best white quartz for our kitchen countertops, I never anticipated the amount of interest in the topic. Every single week, I hear from someone who is shopping for white quartz and feeling overwhelmed by the color options. How to Choose the Right White Quartz for Kitchen Countertops offers help for everyone agonizing over or considering white quartz for their kitchen design.
![White classic kitchen with Shaker cabinets, marble subway tile, Viatera quartz countertop in Minuet, farm sink, and stainless bridge faucet. #hellolovelystudio #whitekitchen #farmsink #modernfarmhouse](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/hello-lovely-studio-fixer-upper-kitchen-12.jpg)
How to Choose the Right White Quartz
This will be an update about our experience with the Viatera Minuet quartz countertops in our Chicagoland kitchen. (Still no stains, and still very happy in spite of a few scratches that don’t bother me enough to have them buffed out.)
![Minuet Viatera quartz countertop in our classic white kitchen with Shaker cabinets and stainless appliances. #hellolovelystudio #whitequartz #countertops #kitchendesign #minuet #viateraquartz #lgviatera](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/viatera-minuet-quartz-hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-5.jpg)
If you’ll be in the market for white quartz in the future, do pin the images below of some favorite options from various brands…this is not a sponsored post.
![My simple white Shaker kitchen with white oak floors, marble subway backsplash, Viatera quartz "Minuet" counters, and a window seat. #hellolovelystudio #whiteshakerkitchen #kitchendesign #kitchendecor #classickitchen #viateraquartz #minuet](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-ruffle-bowl-viatera-quartz-minuet.jpg)
There Are LOTS of White Quartz Options
Even though this post concentrates on varieties of WHITE quartz, it may help with deciding on any hue of quartz countertops for your design…Here’s our kitchen with Viatera Minuet quartz countertops.
![My simple serene white kitchen with Minuet Viatera quartz countertops, farm sink, and marble subway backsplash - Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-sink.jpg)
Here at our fixer upper, deciding on the perfect white quartz color was challenging in spite of knowing just what we desired: a clean, crisp, white to complement pure white cabinets and lighten the mood.
![My white modern farmhouse style kitchen with Viatera Minuet quartz countertops--read more about how I arrived at this shade of white quartz for the project. #minuet #quartz #kitchendesign](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gfB896-5cQE/WCS9QPDm47I/AAAAAAAAiYI/ZoQnyE2qB34H8_OXLIYD1q9NnW_ly_HgACLcB/s1600/hellolovely-hello-lovely-studio-fixer-upper-LG-countertop-Minuet-Viatera-kitchen-34.jpg)
I visited every local design showroom offering quartz, looked at giant quartz slabs at warehouses, and brought home sample after sample to see with the cabinetry.
Here’s the thing.
Even when you get narrow down the look you are going for (i.e. Carrara, Granite, Calacatta), you’re still left with a host of options and more than 50 shades of white quartz options
with hues spanning quiet grey to sand to alabaster, which frankly can reduce well meaning DIYers to:
![Image result for gif woman weeping](https://media3.giphy.com/media/j71DSjhL7YQMw/giphy.gif)
My Experience Choosing Quartz
I honestly thought the perfect quartz for our kitchen was Caesarstone Calacatta Nuvo since it is absolutely gorgeous with dramatic, not-too-busy veining and a beautiful finish.
![Caesarstone Calacatta Nuvo - a white quartz countertop for kitchens and baths. #caesarstone #calacattanuvo #whitequartz #kitchendesign #countertops](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/caesarstone-calacatta-nuvo.jpg)
I fell in love with pics online and how it looked at the showroom.
Then I brought the sample home.
![Caesarstone Calacutta Nuvo white quartz countertop in kitchen with waterfall island. #calacattanuvo #quartz #kitchendesign](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d1/7f/32/d17f325b4e0310f5f3c62f2944e53abe.jpg)
Nope.
It was too creamy for the tone on tone look I was after with the white cabinets.
The Quartz Struggle is Real
I brought at least 10 more white quartz samples home to
see in my kitchen and ran into the following issues maybe you can relate to:
*A quartz color sparkling gorgeously in the showroom came off completely wrong in my humble, Northwest exposure (not showroom lit) kitchen.
![How to choose white quartz for kitchen countertops - Hello Lovely Studio. #hellolovelystudio #countertops #quartz #kitchendesign #whitequartz](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/how-to-choose-the-best-white-quartz-kitchen-countertops-hello-lovely-studio.jpg)
*A quartz color appearing gloriously pure white in images online fell flat in person, placed near the white kitchen cabinets.
*A quartz color which seemed just right when viewed as a giant slab in non-fancy lighting… well, that certainly did me no favors (but obviously it helps to view a full slab of natural stone or granite you are considering.)
Sound familiar?
![image result for Silestone Lagoon Quartz Countertop Sample #lagoon #silestone #quartz #kitchendesign](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfiydSHpFPs/WC8ggFVWgPI/AAAAAAAAirg/RfGPloagydYtA2iBoEJCwbiJkuFlc-hRgCLcB/s1600/hellolovely-hello-lovely-studio-silestone-lagoon-quartz-countertop.jpg)
My second choice? Silestone Lagoon quartz. It’s gorgeous.
Loved it in the showroom and online, and even staring at the sample on the passenger seat next to me the whole drive home.
![Beautifully simple deVOL Shaker cupboards with brass door furniture and sleek 'Lagoon' Silestone worktops, a white Smeg fridge, a few vintage pots and some lovely linens. #silestone #lagoon #quartzcountertops](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/bd/fd/1d/bdfd1d93e32d66d631501a9e3735a849.jpg)
I do love you, Lagoon.
![I'll be happy with any smooth countertop after what I have now, but I do want something easy to maintain and durable.](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/1e/1c/93/1e1c935b9b1884633c5e9a3799b394e4.jpg)
No cigar.
Back at home in our kitchen with limited natural light
and ultra white kitchen cabinets (these are my first super white cabinets, BTW), Silestone Lagoon quartz read too drab, too putty, and too wrong.
![Silestone Lagoon quartz countertop in beautiful bespoke kitchen with custom Shaker cabinetry, tone on tone, and open shelving. Design by deVOL. #kitchendesign #lagoon #quartz #deVOL More](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/74/b2/b8/74b2b8d40460535610202aa08baa4fbd.jpg)
Keep Narrowing Down Quartz Options
I am obsessed with how well Silestone’s Lagoon quartz works in every single kitchen design by deVOL, yet it just wasn’t singing with the “White Icing” painted finish of custom Schuler cabinets here at the fixer upper.
(We chose the same Schuler custom cabinets design star Sarah Richardson chose for her cottage-style kitchen because…Sarah’s endorsement of them was good enough for me.)
![Viatera Cirrus quartz countertop in a kitchen with grey cabinets. #quartz #cirrus #whitekitchen #greycabinets](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c1/60/5a/c1605ac95cb1c1ea91402fface59977f.jpg)
![Viatera cirrus quartz in a beautiful white classic style kitchen. #cirrus #viatera #quartz](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/42/32/08/4232081d54812c10419a1bac86ce4ec9.jpg)
Narrow Down Quartz Options to 2 or 3
Butter my biscuit!
![LG Viatera Cirrus white quartz countertop. #countertops #whitequartz #viatera #cirrus #kitchendesign](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/viatera-cirrus-white-quartz-countertop-lg.jpg)
LG Viatera’s Cirrus and Minuet white quartz colors to the rescue!
![We have found our white quartz happy place! #viatera #cirrus #quartz #countertop](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b9/94/47/b994471f0c62930f7590d5ef64e2dafa.jpg)
Option 1: Viatera Cirrus Quartz. (above) Cirrus is serene, with an ethereal, marshmallow-y, subtle painterly feel. I was almost certain Cirrus was my dream quartz color for my white kitchen…
..until I discovered Option 2:
![Image result for gif hallelujah chorus](https://media2.giphy.com/media/CCJnMBqEYxxEk/giphy.gif)
Here it is in our kitchen:
![White classic kitchen with Shaker cabinets, marble subway tile, Viatera quartz countertop in Minuet, farm sink, and stainless bridge faucet. #hellolovelystudio #whitekitchen #farmsink #modernfarmhouse](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/hello-lovely-studio-fixer-upper-kitchen-12.jpg)
Option No. 2: LG Viatera Minuet
Minuet won me over with its:
amazingly pure white and bright,
slightly-more bold-than-Cirrus,
Parisian French bakery-like,
sweet reflective beauty.
Here are recent photos of our quartz countertops with Viatera Minuet (backsplash is polished venatino marble mosaic tile).
![Minuet Viatera quartz countertop in our classic white kitchen with Shaker cabinets and stainless appliances. #hellolovelystudio #whitequartz #countertops #kitchendesign #minuet #viateraquartz #lgviatera](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/viatera-minuet-quartz-hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-1.jpg)
![Minuet Viatera quartz countertop in our classic white kitchen with Shaker cabinets and stainless appliances. #hellolovelystudio #whitequartz #countertops #kitchendesign #minuet #viateraquartz #lgviatera](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/viatera-minuet-quartz-hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-2.jpg)
![Minuet Viatera quartz countertop in our classic white kitchen with Shaker cabinets and stainless appliances. #hellolovelystudio #whitequartz #countertops #kitchendesign #minuet #viateraquartz #lgviatera](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/viatera-minuet-quartz-hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-4.jpg)
![Minuet Viatera quartz countertop in our classic white kitchen with Shaker cabinets and stainless appliances. #hellolovelystudio #whitequartz #countertops #kitchendesign #minuet #viateraquartz #lgviatera](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/viatera-minuet-quartz-hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-5.jpg)
![Minuet Viatera quartz countertop in our classic white kitchen with Shaker cabinets and stainless appliances. #hellolovelystudio #whitequartz #countertops #kitchendesign #minuet #viateraquartz #lgviatera](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/viatera-minuet-quartz-hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-7.jpg)
![Minuet Viatera quartz countertop in our classic white kitchen with Shaker cabinets and stainless appliances. #hellolovelystudio #whitequartz #countertops #kitchendesign #minuet #viateraquartz #lgviatera](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/viatera-minuet-quartz-hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-8.jpg)
![Minuet Viatera quartz countertop in our classic white kitchen with Shaker cabinets and stainless appliances. #hellolovelystudio #whitequartz #countertops #kitchendesign #minuet #viateraquartz #lgviatera](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/viatera-minuet-quartz-hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-10.jpg)
![Loving my LG Viatera Minuet quartz countertops and Bosch appliances. #viatera #quartz #Minuet #blackandwhite #kitchendesign](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/55/5f/48/555f48778122270f37aba6b276b6e9cf.jpg)
LG named this quartz Minuet because of its harmonious perfection of tones, reminiscent of the marriage of notes in a minuet, and it does sing in here.
![Minuet quartz from Viatera on this kitchen countertop. #hellolovelystudio #minuet #quartz #countertop #kitchen](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/hello-lovely-studio-fixer-upper-kitchen-10-1440x959.jpg)
affiliate links follow and won’t cost you a penny extra yet may earn this blog a small commission.
![Hello Lovely's white European country modern French kitchen with Minuet Viatera quartz counters, farm sink, industrial cart, and marble subway backsplash.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/hello-lovely-studio-white-kitchen-oak-floor-marble-subway-backsplash-industrial-cart-stool-1.jpg)
White Quartz Color Considerations?
1. Color over Cost.
Our kitchen design budget was tight, and the price of quartz varies. At the time, Caesarstone Calcatta Nuvo cost significantly more than Viatera Minuet, but we would still have pulled the trigger had it been the perfect color choice.
![White roses in an oversized terracotta urn planter with handles on my kitchen counter - Hello Lovely Studio. #viateraquartz #minuet #kitchencountertop](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_9333.jpg)
You’re going to live with your color choice for a long time so try to see beyond slight price variations.(BTW, the cost of quartz is sometimes determined by demand.)
![Minuet Viatera quartz countertop in our classic white kitchen with Shaker cabinets and stainless appliances. #hellolovelystudio #whitequartz #countertops #kitchendesign #minuet #viateraquartz #lgviatera](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/viatera-minuet-quartz-hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-9.jpg)
2. Tone on tone or pleasing contrast?
The right white depends on the result you’re after. Browse Pinterest and really study the kitchen images to notice if your eye prefers a little, a lot, or no contrast at all. We wanted a bright effect, but a grey quartz would be gorgeous with these white cabinets.
![Minuet Viatera quartz countertop in our classic white kitchen with Shaker cabinets and stainless appliances. #hellolovelystudio #whitequartz #countertops #kitchendesign #minuet #viateraquartz #lgviatera](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/viatera-minuet-quartz-hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-6.jpg)
If you have lots of natural light in your space, you may want to lean toward quartz colors with cooler undertones (like greys) rather than warm creamier hues. But there aren’t any rules, and it helps to look at the sample in the space at different times of day.
![Minuet Viatera quartz countertop in our classic white kitchen with Shaker cabinets and stainless appliances. #hellolovelystudio #whitequartz #countertops #kitchendesign #minuet #viateraquartz #lgviatera](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/viatera-minuet-quartz-hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-3.jpg)
Secure the largest sample possible of quartz to view in your kitchen with your cabinetry and light. Solid white can work beautifully in the right modern kitchen design, but if your design style is not modern, solid white may not be the best choice.
![A white and bright serene kitchen by Hello Lovely Studio with Viatera Minuet countertops and polished marble subway tile backsplash. #quartz #Minuet #whitekitchen](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CBZ1JwJzlA0/WCS9P4uc3yI/AAAAAAAAiYE/TPL-hU-Xd1EKSowjB0NywPVIjeQuSwGegCLcB/s1600/hellolovely-hello-lovely-studio-fixer-upper-LG-countertop-Minuet-Viatera-kitchen-32.jpg)
![Serene European country inspired breakfast nook in my kitchen with Belgian linen - Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/hello-lovely-studio-kitchen-breakfast-nook-window-seat.jpg)
3. Consider Your Kitchen’s Lighting.
I wanted to capture the maximum amount of light in our dim space and Minuet was the whitest white. It also has a semi-polished sheen which bounces the light around.
Here’s our kitchen BEFORE…
4. Consider the backsplash.
We chose polished marble subway mosaic tile for the backsplash/statement wall, and it is a beautiful marriage with Minuet since I wanted low contrast. Minuet worked with Carrara, Grecian, and other natural stone samples I brought home to try.
![My serene white kitchen with Viatera Minuet quartz countertop and Shaker cabinets - Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/minuet-viatera-quart-countertop-hello-lovely-studio.jpg)
5. Try to see expanses of your color choice.
My sister was designing her own kitchen and baths about the same time we were renovating, and since she chose Minuet, I was able to see expanses of it installed which is MONEY.
Here is Viatera Minuet Quartz in Jody’s kitchen:
![Viatera Minuet quartz countertop in a Chicagoland kitchen with black and white. #viatera #minuet #whitequartz #quartzcountertop](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dhSTcfd7RDs/WC3MQYfPSkI/AAAAAAAAimI/-VcRadBTP6UlgQBmAEXYp6gtgMtQybc_wCLcB/s1600/hellolovely-hello-lovely-studio-LG-countertop-Minuet-Viatera-kitchen-8.jpg)
![Nightscape abstract painting by Michele Ranard of Hello Lovely Studio on a Viatera Minuet quartz countertop in a modern kitchen. #minuet #hellolovelystudio #blackandwhite](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uunnSU2KVk4/WC3MRZQXYlI/AAAAAAAAimQ/WDUgBhQawXkCqJ88D8PA70btJGJ3y8FWQCLcB/s1600/hellolovely-hello-lovely-studio-LG-countertop-Minuet-Viatera-kitchen-7.jpg)
![A black and white sideboard topped with Viatera Minuet Quartz. (Abstract painting on canvas by Michele of Hello Lovely Studio) #minuetquartz #viatera #quartzcountertop #hellolovelystudio](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yFs1LqL7oNM/WC3MPCyEnbI/AAAAAAAAil8/SoWdvFGJieow7qPPwXwZ2DtEWsFqFSJkwCLcB/s1600/hellolovely-hello-lovely-studio-LG-countertop-Minuet-Viatera-kitchen-16.jpg)
![A white kitchen with Viatera Minuet quartz countertop. #viatera #quartzcountertop #minuet #kitchendesign](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PlsRfaKEit4/WC3MRvpJ9wI/AAAAAAAAimU/0HbHPfuBHQk0IRDBHP7slRnDMHDawkMaQCLcB/s1600/hellolovely-hello-lovely-studio-LG-countertop-Minuet-Viatera-kitchen-9.jpg)
![LG Viatera Minuet quartz countertop on vanity in bathroom. #minuet #quartzcountertop](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qAA7gq4nmUc/WC3MRdgfjwI/AAAAAAAAimM/r1-Zl1EZNd8Ryx4OhSC9nXyzoTuOZkApwCEw/s1600/hellolovely-hello-lovely-studio-LG-countertop-minuet-Viatera-bathroom-1.jpg)
![Viatera Minuet quartz countertop on a vanity in a powder room. #minuet #quartz #viatera #bathroomcounter](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AlzN22DSuAE/WC3MOhag4UI/AAAAAAAAil4/Wta1UW7z3AYmj_2lJW-tH-R2LRcaFUelgCEw/s1600/hellolovely-hello-lovely-studio-LG-countertop-Minuet-Viatera-bathroom-vanity-2.jpg)
![Minuet quartz on a sideboard in a Chicagoland kitchen. #minuet #quartzcountertop #viatera](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CDI70wfMLmg/WC3MPGUQO3I/AAAAAAAAimA/nBR3hU_wX7Uw4PVNFCK-80ircW3AMDzywCEw/s1600/hellolovely-hello-lovely-studio-LG-countertop-Minuet-Viatera-kitchen-3.jpg)
Quartz Vs. Marble
One more little thing…regarding quartz for countertops vs. marble.
![A black mortar and pestle, rustic wood board, and lime on a quartz countertop in the kitchen. #minuet #whitequartz #viatera](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-BrlwglTD0/WC3MQBaNCgI/AAAAAAAAimE/TkmjA-UVKkcrOfTMUVDON6Zg74wLuwMEwCEw/s1600/hellolovely-hello-lovely-studio-LG-countertop-Minuet-Viatera-kitchen-6.jpg)
I have used quartz for counters in multiple kitchen designs, in no way attempting to fake the look of natural stone or granite…quartz is awesome for being quartz and ain’t foolin anybody as a marble poser.
Ye shall not stain thy countertops!
Quartz was chosen for its: stain resistance, uniformity, strength, non-porous surface, no-maintenance, antibacterial properties, and lovely live-ability.
![How to Choose the Right White Quartz Color! Hello Lovely Studio](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/hello-lovely-studio-quartz-banner.jpg)
If potential red wine or coffee spills or lime slicing on naked kitchen counters are in your kitchen’s future, QUARTZ MAY BE YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND.
Pin the image below to save this article for later!
![How to choose white quartz for kitchen countertops - Hello Lovely Studio. #hellolovelystudio #countertops #quartz #kitchendesign #whitequartz](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/how-to-choose-the-best-white-quartz-kitchen-countertops-hello-lovely-studio.jpg)
Have more questions about choosing the best color of quartz for your countertops? Leave me a comment as I’m happy to help!
See this story to shop my home and kitchen.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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Love your blog and this post is SUPER helpful!!!! . I thank you!!!!!!!
Author
So happy to hear. Thanks for reading! Happy Sunday. 🙂
Would the Minuet Quartz work with a softer white cabinet? I wanted a softer look for my kitchen and I thought a marble look with soft greige, and brownish veins would be a good choice. Thank you for any help!
Author
I think you could definitely go softer on the cabinet color – for instance, Benjamin Moore White Dove is a much softer color than what I have on mine and would be lovely. A very subtle light grey cabinet (Benjamin Moore Classic Gray) would be incredible. But if you’re after a quartz with some caramel warm veining, Minuet is probably not it – since it has crisp greys and no browns. I used Viatera Soprano which is gorgeous and creamy with light brown and grey veining. A totally different effect. If you search ‘arizona fixer’ you can see Soprano in our Arizona kitchen. Let me know if you have more questions.
Thanks for sharing this admirable blog with us all it will be very beneficial for the so many peoples who want to buy Kitchen Countertops.
Author
Thanks for reading. 🙂
Do you know the color of your cabinets by chance? Thanks!
Author
They were made by Schuler, and the painted finish is called “White Icing” which is similar (I think????) to Sherwin Williams North White. Hope this helps!
This article was very helpful, I do have a question where did you buy your countertops? I just checked home depot website and it says it has the LG Hausys viatera sample in Minuet would this be the same one you purchased??? this is the Link https://www.homedepot.com/p/LG-Hausys-Viatera-3-in-x-3-in-Quartz-Countertop-Sample-in-Minuet-LG-M001-VT/303183800 we need to make a purchase before next week, i’m really considering getting these countertops because we’re renovating our kitchen.
Author
I’m so glad it helps. Yes. That is the exact product (Minuet) we used in our Chicagoland kitchen. We also chose LG Viatera for a second home – where we used Soprano. We have lived with the countertops almost 3 years, and it was the right choice for this kitchen. The Soprano is also beautiful – creamier and warmer, off-white. The Minuet is a bright alabaster. Let me know if you have any further questions as I am happy to help. 🙂
My cabinets are pure white by Sherwin-Williams. It’s the whitest I could find and now I’m looking for a countertop that won’t look yellow or gray and has a very soft Gray veining. What do you suggest, please help. FYI the Home Depot link above is no longer available. Thank you.
Author
Hi Mary Ann. Thanks for the heads up about the link – I updated it since HD seems not to offer the sample of Minuet. Not sure if you read through this post which summarizes the process I went through to arrive at the very pure white Minuet – it’s obvi my choice with pure white cabinets, and this isn’t a sponsored post. Is the veining of Minuet too dark for you and so you are wondering about a pure white with a more subdued grey veining? Minuet’s veining is not dark to me, but Viatera Muse might appeal to you.
I know you posted a similar backsplash but could you share exact backsplash you used in your Chicago kitchen?
Author
Pretty sure this is the exact tile at Lowe’s: https://www.lowes.com/pd/allen-roth-Venatino-Polished-Brick-Mosaic-Marble-Subway-Tile-Common-12-in-x-12-in-Actual-10-in-x-12-in/3502404?cm_mmc=SCE_PLA-_-Flooring-_-WallTile-_-3502404:allen_+_roth&CAWELAID=&kpid=3502404&CAGPSPN=pla&store_code=2310&k_clickID=61e55b14-68e0-45ea-9160-26f96e0df5a1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxMLtwdHq3AIVCatpCh18swEzEAYYASABEgIQgPD_BwE
Thank you for this posting! I was leaning toward Viatera Quartet to go with our dark brown/redish cabinets, but now I think I may go with the Minuet you suggest. The Quartet looks a little lighter with light veining, but I like the dark veining of the Minuet better. Did you by any chance see Quartet side by side with Minuet? Thanks again!
Author
Hi! I took a look at Quartet – and it looks like it has mainly grey undertones and is much more subtle than Minuet. So I think you will be going for a completely different look with Minuet, but I imagine Minuet would be stunning with dark cabinets. A crisp clean contrast with Minuet rather than perhaps a more modern look with Quartet. One of the benefits I didn’t expect with Minuet is how forgiving that veining is for daily living. I don’t want to see smudges, crumbs, and even (over time) little scratches in the surface. Forgiveness factor is even more important if there are kids using the kitchen or lots of cooks in there! Hope this helps. 🙂
Thank you for getting back to me so quickly and with such good info; I only wish I had noticed 🙂 “Forgiveness” is a top priority here too with kids and myself. I’ll just have to order a sample since I couldn’t see it at HD.
Author
Sounds good. If you can, try to order the biggest possible sample since this has helped me better decide between colors.
Will do. I have an idea that I give out freely in hopes that some company will hear it and decide to steal it: contact or wrapping paper that has an accurate image of a slab on it. This would allow you to try it out in your kitchen and they could charge for a roll. I think it would be better than a sample.
Author
Oooooh – that would be so much more helpful and efficient! I’ll try to whisper your idea into a few ears…
How did you go about getting these countertops through Home Depot? I have tried to find out the price per square foot at two different locations and neither seems to be able to figure out how to find this one. Did you have to get it through their decorator services?
Author
Home Depot didn’t offer Minuet so I bought it from an independent fabricator. I would contact Viatera to find a local supplier. 🙂
Hi! What do you think of alabaster white? I want a pure white with a little gray veins, but nothing busy. Found a slab I loved. We will have white cabinets as well.
Author
Hi. I’m not familiar with it – can you provide a link to it or tell me who makes it?
Hey Michelle,
I was thinking of going with Alabaster for our cabinets as well. What would you recommend for Quartz? I was hoping Alabaster would be a softer white and wanted the quartz to work with it. Thoughts?
Author
Hi there! Let me get a sample of alabaster tomorrow and do some research to get you some promising options. I’ll circle back here asap. 🙂
Thank you again Michele. I now have samples of Minuet and Muse. They are both great! I just need to decide 🙂
Author
You’re on your way – great to hear. Muse looks like a great option too with its alabaster white. 🙂
I found empira white quartz to be very white to match my white cabinets and navy blue island. It is fairly new.
Author
Thanks so much for the introduction to it – I’ll check it out. 🙂
Hi – just saw this thread. What colour of white did you paint your cabinets to match the empira white? Thanks!
I would like to use a Benjamin Moore. I was thinking Chantilly Lace?
Author
I really love Chantilly Lace as a white with Minuet quartz!
Author
Our cabinets were finished by Schuler Cabinetry (the finish is called White Icing), and the color is similar to BN White Dove. Hope this helps, and let me know if you have more questions, always at the ready to help.
Hi,
My cabinets. Will be here in 2-3 weeks and I’m still not 100% on my countertop. The cabinets are not stark white but a soft white or an off-white. My floor is 16” tile that looks like stone, mostly a medium tan, a little grey and bone. I’m leaning to a Calcutta vein countertop but not sure if the background should be a creamy white or a touch grey background? Also the one I’m leaning to I’m not sure if the veining is too dark. Please help. I can send pictures.
Thank you,
Diane
Author
Hi Diane. I emailed you – I am happy to help if you care to send pics. 🙂
Hi,
I am obsessed with the quartz that look like marble (large line that runs across) for my kitchen island, but I do not want white kitchen cabinets. What would you suggest for the cabinet and other counter tops. I hould say that I also like decorating with a splash of warm colors, such as orange as warm colors makes me happy. I definitely do not want granite or real marble. Can you give me some ideas?
Author
Sounds like the marble you are drawn to is calacatta – with its dramatic bold large veins. There are beautiful quartz lookalikes – and Calacatta Nuvo (caesarstone) is actually the choice I thought I would be going for until I brought home the sample and discovered it just wasn’t the right choice for my smallish, more simple and less luxurious, classic white kitchen. Search Pinterest for “calacatta quartz” for inspiration. If you are drawn to warm colors, I can imagine your island and kitchen cabinets in a warm grey stained finish for traditional style or even navy blue cabinets for a more coastal look (which would be incredible with orange accents in a rug/accessories, bar stools, etc.). Are you drawn to light wood or dark? This decision will help you move forward and both can pair beautifully with white quartz. Will the existing floor be staying? Sometimes that is a good starting point when choosing the cabinets. Hope this helps. 🙂
What is the difference between Viatara Minuet and Rococo? I really like Rococo but am interested in getting a sample of minuet. I have a white shaker cabinets, and white shiplap on the walls. I also like Silestone’s Desert Silver, a pale whitish grey with veining. I need to pick my counter tops and am at a loss! I have med brownish grey hardwoods and light grey walls.
Author
I personally preferred Minuet to Rococo because it has more subtle veining. Rococo seems to have a darker grey veining. Minuet is easy to live with, but I do think it’s important to determine how you will bring warmth into the kitchen when you pair white cabinets with white counters since it can become cold. After living with another quartz, Viatera Soprano (a very creamy and warm white with tan and light grey veining) which we put in our second home, I really loved the warmth that color brought to our kitchen with grey cabinets. So I’m not sure you can really make a mistake as long as you pull in warmth from other sources if you opt for those bright whites like Minuet or Rococo. Both have a very clean, alabaster, crisp look. Another point I discuss in the post is that I chose a bright white quartz because of limited natural light in our kitchen. I wanted something highly reflective and light. If we had more light in here, I may have opted for a less bright white. Hope this helps!
Looking for a white paint that matches well with minute, any suggestions?
Author
With Minuet’s crisp, alabaster, bright white, I would stick with whites that have minimal undertones. We chose Benjamin Moore “White” which is the base their whites are made from. You could also check some other paint brands’ white – the ones right on the shelf before tinting. Of course, Benjamin Moore’s White Dove seems to work with everything even though it’s a warmer tone – so don’t rule it out either!
Thanks so much for your help, Michele. I ended up with Benjamin Moore “Decorators White” and love it!! I have lots of natural light and the touch of coolness in it looks great. I am also doing the “Tuxedo” kitchen with dark gray bottom cabinets……
I’m new to your site and loving it!!!
Author
Woohoo! Great to hear from you!
I am going through the same thing now. Looking to paint my cabinets either white dove or decorators white.. my walls are light gray and my flooring in luxury vinyl Shaw wye oak. It is a gray flooring. My concern is I do not want my cabinets to look yellow. I know SW Alabaster is a popular paint for cabinets. . My concern is like yours, I will need my quartz to be cool white to go with decorators white or a more cream to go with white dove.
Your thoughts
Author
I think it’s a great position you’re in as long as you make your choices in the proper order. I like all three of the white paints you named. But start with the quartz choice – Minuet is going to give you a brighter, cooler look and if you’re after a warm white quartz, you may like Viatera’s Soprano (we used it in our Arizona kitchen which you can see on the blog if you type in Soprano in the search box I think). Anyway, after that critical choice is made, you’ll be able to choose the best white for the cabinets. Alabaster will have some brown/yellow undertones. White Dove is wonderful with minimal undertones. I think it would work well with both quartz colors I have used (Minuet and Soprano). And it may be you’ll choose a different white paint which is just fine since there is a whole world of white paints, and without a doubt you’ll be able to find the best hue to complement the quartz.
Chiming in on this months’ old comment, because we are getting Starmark kitchen cabinetry in Dove (which is basically BM’s White Dove, they tell me), with a navy buffet built-in in the dining room. Trying to find a quartz that works for both. And, I think I like Minuet as I hold my cabinet and quartz samples together, but it’s hard to figure out how it will look on a larger scale. Minuet didn’t look bright white to me. It looked softer, like the Dove color, like they mesh. But I’m far from a designer, and really struggling to make this decision since this may be our only remodel. On a larger scale, do you think Minuet could make soft-white cabinets look dingy? Or would they go together?
Author
Great question, and I think your best bet is making the call with those swatches in your space with your unique light and exposure. Hopefully you can get your hands on a decent size sample of the quartz to make that comparison with the Dove color. Looking at product in showrooms under showroom lighting is different than examining the mix at home. For sure, the Minuet will be stunning with the navy…ooh la la!
Thank you so much! Your advice confirmed everything that I was struggling with regarding bright white versus creamy white. I am not going to let anyone influence my discussion just because they might have a designer backround.
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I’m so glad. I took a lot of time to write about the whole process while it was still fresh in my mind, and I’m delighted to hear it resonates. Hope your project goes smoothly!
Does the Viatera Minuet Quartz have any warm tones in it? My floors are tropical teak (so a slight bit reddish/brown) and I have warm and cool tones in my adjoining family room. I want some gray but also want to make sure there are some warm tones in the quartz as well. I haven’t picked the white yet for my cabinets as I was thinking I could pick the white after I pick the quartz. Appreciate your input.
Author
That’s a great plan to start with the quartz and choose your paint color from it! No, Minuet has no warm tones in it. It is very crisp and cool in temperature. If you’re open to a more creamy quartz – I love what we put in our Arizona kitchen – Viatera Soprano. It’s so warm and has this gorgeous caramel in the veining. Definitely check out a sample. Hope this helps!
Love your kitchen! In fact I used some of your “ lovely” ideas for my own kitchen remodel which I am presently undertaking. Decided to go with quartz countertop as well and wondering what style of edge do you have. I love the feel your kitchen exudes, serene, modern and fresh!
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Hi! That’s so great. It is the standard edge – just a straight line, plain and simple. 🙂
Great article. This is exactly the problem I’ve been grappling with. Except when I looked at the two winners: in my case the Cirrus fit better (due to a bit cooler things going on in my room)
Author
I do love Cirrus! Great choice. 🙂
I am doing a new build and have looked at several granite slabs. I have not found a single one that I love. They are either too yellow for my white cabinets and appear dirty or I don’t like some of the black spots or purple spots in them them or they are too wild for my taste. My walls are agreeable gray and the floor is a medium brown hickory. I am using black fixtures and slate appliances. I like the minuet you used. Do you think this would work in my kitchen? I really love an open airy feeling and I really love the look of the quartz you chose. I need to choose something quickly and I am getting frustrated. Thank You.
Author
Hi Beth. I’d like to hear more about the shade of white your cabinets are and how much character/knotty the hickory floors will be. Since Minuet is very bright, alabaster white, you’ll need to be sure you are ready for that much contrast with the grey walls, black fixtures and slate in the kitchen. For less contrast (and again, depending upon what shade of white your cabinetry is), you may like Viatera’s Soprano – a warmer, creamier white with caramel veining which might compliment the hickory floors. We used it in our Arizona kitchen here: https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/2017/08/before-and-after-diy-kitchen-remodel-on.html. nOne of the reasons my kitchen feels so calm with Minuet is because of the white walls and marble backsplash – there isn’t much contrast so it’s a very tone on tone tranquil effect.
The kitchen cabinets and island are a bright white. They are a shaker style cabinet. The floors do have varying colored boards and some knots and character and are a brushed 5″ plank. They were first quality (if that helps). I don’t want that much contrast. I tend to gear toward clean and simple-classic. I have looked at Pietra Silestone and the colors from the sample in person are spot on with the colors in my room but I felt it might be too busy and creamy dirty once I get all of the island in and all around the “L” shape of the kitchen cabinets on the back wall. I also have looked at Italian Wave and it looked the whitest but the veining to me appears blue and sometimes gray. I am now looking at Misterio quartz. I just don’t want my kitchen to look too sterile but I am feeling as if my countertop needs to be more subtle. I had the dark gray slate appliances delivered yesterday and they look good but now I feel they are sort of the focal point so I need to be more subtle on the countertop. Should I make sure I am matching the paint color? I did look at Colonial White/Salinas granite but in the end decided against it. I really didn’t want any burgundy/purple in my countertop . I don’t feel I need any additional colors than I already have. However, that is how I picked my paint color (to warm up the space) with the Salinas granite. I have not bought the hardware for the cabinet doors yet so I could change that if you feel I need to. My lights are black. My kitchen is open to the breakfast area and living room. Here is the light I am using over my table. Palencia 6-Light Artisan Pardo Wash Interior Incandescent Island Pendant from Home Depot. It is beautiful and looks good with the white interior doors and white trim with the black hardware. I thought choosing white cabinets would make things so easy but I think I did everything backwards. We bought things we liked for the house during Black Friday sales because the prices were good. I now lost what I was trying to accomplish. I just don’t want to make a mistake with my countertop. Should I do my island in something different than the back wall? I will see if I can take a picture and send you so you can get a better idea. I appreciate any help you can offer-Thank You!
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Your choices for the kitchen sound amazing, and I am going to devote time to my response and either circle back here or email you! I am happy to offer an opinion, friend.
Love your ideas and advice! I am doing a kitchen restoration, my kitchen is very small with one window so limited natural light. I am considering Ben Moore Decorator’s White cabinets, Viatera Minuet for the counters, Ben Moore TC Pompeii for the island and a light Coretec Compago Oak flooring, single basin stainless sink. Just not sure what color faucet, hardware, appliances or wall color to use, was thinking of SW light French gray or even if my choices all go together. Really need you opinion and help.
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Thanks so much for reading, Charma. Your choices sound wonderful – really! I really like our kitchen faucet’s finish – it’s stainless steel, but you can’t go wrong with a satin nickel or even chrome. I would just take time to find the style of faucet. Since I knew I wanted a bridge style, that narrowed down the choices. I also knew I wanted very high quality after having to replace inferior kitchen faucets in the past! What a headache that was. Mine is here: https://amzn.to/2MaUnPl. If you are thinking of brass hardware, see this gorgeous example: https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/2019/06/timeless-tranquil-white-grey-kitchen-tour.html. We chose stainless, simple, bar pull cabinet hardware here: https://rstyle.me/+HrJHTjDH-HVni5DR9bPjLg. SW Light French Gray looks gorgeous and reminds me of BM Stonington Gray. My sister has used BM San Antonio Gray at 40% (did you know you can tweak the saturation?) in her home with limited natural light, and it looks amazing. You can email me michele at hellolovleystudio dot com if you like to continue the discussion. 🙂
This article was incredibly helpful to me! We are considering Minuet for our new counters and i love how you have it paired with the marble backsplash (I am headed to get my hands on it now to bring home!)
I’m considering all white cabinets, but am toying with the idea of a grey on our island to warm it up a bit. Do you have any color thoughts that might be good? I don’t want to get too dark on the island- which is why I lean back to all white 🙂
Author
I love the idea of grey on the island, and if you want to see an interior designer’s own beautiful white kitchen with a grey painted island (Benjamin Moore Pashmina) as well as vanities painted SW Tinsmith, see this: https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/2019/05/house-tour-board-batten-cottage-entryway-kitchen.html. It might give you courage to go for it. I don’t think there has to be a huge contrast with the white cabinets…sometimes subtle is just better. Keep the questions coming if you have any as I’m happy to help.
Your reply was so helpful! I am waiting on my sample of Minuet to arrive and I did look at your tile that you used! I noticed that some sheets of the tile are a gray-er look while some of them have a creamier look. Your backsplash in picture appears more gray. Did you just gather up all the sheets with more gray? Or did it just all work out when the tile was mixed up and put down 😬😬
Author
I’m so glad that helped! My approach was to lay out all the sheets on the floor (in the long hallway you may have seen in photos)so I could get a sense of how the wall would look before adhering them. There is variation, and it’s important not to panic before you grout! I think it was worth the time, and mixing the more grey sheets with the more white sheets randomly worked well. Excited for you!
Does anyone have any advice I what type of quartz I should be looking at for my kitchen counters?
Author
You’ll find a wealth of info in this post and can also use the search box to type in “quartz” for more resources. 🙂
Hi! This has been so helpful in our search for kitchen counters! We are deciding between the Minuet and the Silestone Calacatta Gold, and currently have Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee cabinets and bright white subway tile. I am wondering if you think the Minuet is too grey and will clash with our wall colors, which are Behr classic taupe. If so, is there another wall color you suggest that would work with the Minuet and warmer/cream tones (also have a dark brown couch)? Appreciate any suggestions you have!!
Author
Hi Laura. If you decide to go with Minuet, I don’t think you’ll love Behr classic taupe for the walls. Fortunately there are some beautiful greys that will work well. Look at Sherwin Williams Repose Gray. As you may know, you can have them mix this color in any brand of paint. A lot of designers have used it in their own homes on cabinets and walls, and I think it will give you that hint of taupe and look gorgeous with the veining in Minuet.
I’m am in love with the Caesarstone Calacatta Nuvo! My walls are BM Natural Cream. I’m looking at doing my island in either BM Chelsey gray or Kendall Charcoal and I’m still trying to choose an off White for the uppers. Any suggestions that would work with the Calacatta Nuvo? So far I have BM Simply White, Cotton Balls, Cloud White and Mountain Peak… Help!
Author
That quartz is a beautiful choice! I personally like BM Cotton Balls because it seems to have grey undertones but I totally see those other options as possibilities since the wall color has those warm undertones. Samples are a smart idea to know for sure! Hope this helps, and feel free to add more questions and discussion. 🙂
I am stuck on what color white to paint my cabinets. I recently changed my flooring to a med LVP brown. My counters and island are uba tuba granite( very dk green, looks blk) but I plan to change the island counter to a quartz( would love some sort of white to lighten things up a bit). I also would love to paint the island Chelsea gray. Any recommendations on the quartz and paint color for the cabinets? My kitchen is more interior with a side facing west window. It over looks my great room which is south facing. I feel like it is a darker kitchen. Will chantilly lace by Bm be too stark white? Suggestions?
Author
Chantilly Lace is gorgeous and a popular choice with designers for their own homes – it’s not too white for me, but I personally am always about capturing as much light as possible. I highly recommend choosing your quartz first and letting that choice guide your secondary decisions such as paint color for cabinets. Chelsea Gray is a fabulous gray that would look wonderful with Minuet if you’re after a crisp, high contrast look. For a more subdued and warmer effect, Soprano has a creamy Calacatta Gold marble look with bits of caramel veining with grey. I hasten to suggest any paint color for cabinets until you’ve fallen in love and decided on a quartz. Minuet has a very bright white alabaster ground so certain whites may look dingy and dirty with it. Our cabinets are a gallery, bright white with minimal undertones (finished in factory so I don’t have the equivalent paint color – but I should do that!!!). I’ll circle back with paint colors for Minuet, and feel free to fire away more questions. 🙂
Your post was the first (and very helpful) when I started researching quartz countertops. I think I’m going with Spectrum Pristine (white with grey veining). Existing Cabinets and all trim (and 3 doors) in BM Simply White. Walls same color but in matte. Question is: Do you think cabinets should be semi gloss or satin? It’s north and west facing , not particularly bright. House c1900. The feature will be this lovely concrete look tile floor.
https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/detail/palazzo-deco/?itemNo=STPPALVG1212BLDECO
Love your site and advice!
Author
Love that tile you have chosen. There isn’t a right or wrong answer. A few things come to mind. Semigloss is going to be less forgiving aesthetically in terms of showing imperfections, brush strokes (unless the paint will be sprayed), or flaws. But I think it would be the conservative and more European approach. It depends too on the cabinets. Sometimes semigloss can have a too glossy effect and make the wood look plastic or ultra modern. Another factor is the wood grain – is it something you want to accentuate or downplay? Semigloss is going to highlight the grain. If I were you, I would experiment A LOT with one door. You could do a combination or say 20% semigloss for less gloss. Another option is to use satin with a poly finish on top for durability. Start with one door to get it right and be able to proceed with confidence. Let me know what you think.
Thankyou for your advice and posts. I’m following up as my kitchen renovation is finished and I’m very pleased with how it’s come together. I chose Spectrum Striking quartz counters, the existing cupboards were painted in BM Simply White Satin, walls in Simply White Matte, and the trim and doors BM white. And of course the Palazzo Deco floor tiles. The satin finish has such a nice subtle sheen. It’s a NorthWest facing room, not tons of light. The Simply White looks slightly creamy.
Author
What a great job! I followed the link to see the quartz – beautiful! 🙂
Well explained!! Thanks for sharing such an informative post. Two years back I have installed Quartz countertop in my outdoor kitchen. From the past 3-4 months, I am noticing a few stains on the countertop and I want them to disappear completely. Can you please suggest me something. Thanks!!
Author
Sorry this post is about interior applications not exteriors. Outdoor kitchens are not within my sphere of expertise.:)
Hey Michele!
Our kitchen cabinets are essentially stark white (not the actual paint color – just how I’m describing them) and anything remotely warm makes them look blue! I’m considering this same countertop for our new kitchen now. Do you think it’d work? I live in Chicago – can you please give me the name of your supplier/fabricator so I can go see a slab?
Also is this the backsplash you used? It’s so hard to match up stone with stone but I love this look of this kitchen and it’s exactly what I’m going for!! https://www.lowes.com/pd/allen-roth-Venatino-Polished-12-in-x-12-in-Brick-Marble-Mosaic-Wall-Tile-Common-12-in-x-12-in-Actual-12-in-x-10-in/3502404?cm_mmc=SCE_PLA-_-Flooring-_-WallTile-_-3502404:allen_+_roth&CAWELAID=&kpid=3502404&CAGPSPN=pla&store_code=2310&k_clickID=61e55b14-68e0-45ea-9160-26f96e0df5a1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxMLtwdHq3AIVCatpCh18swEzEAYYASABEgIQgPD_BwE
Thanks!
Author
Hi Stacy. You can email me photos if you like. Michele {at} hellolovelystudio.com. Is it out of the question to paint the cabinets a white you’re happier with? If so, it is so much easier to BEGIN with the countertop color choice and go from there. If you’re sold on the cabinet color and are sensitive to the whites harmonizing, maybe veer toward the light greys – Silestone Lagoon is beautiful and light grey and a favorite of the exquisite bespoke kitchen firm deVOL. Minuet may appear a little dingy in the photo from Viatera’s site, and it isn’t at all in our kitchen. It’s bright white and cool. We used Lonny’s in Rockford, IL, and I can’t say enough good things about the experience. When the gentleman came to do the measure, he was chatting with me and did the job so fast that I was very nervous about how he could possibly get a precise measure (special considerations with an in-set cabinet, farm sink,… But when it arrived and was installed…perfect, and you can’t see the seam (only one!) which hides (centered) under the cooktop.
Thank you!! Email sent!
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so happy to help!
Hi Michele,
I’m doing my kitchen for the second time which I hope will be the last ! I’m thinking of frost white cabinet and Leon quartz countertops. Any suggestions?
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Hi Sarala. How exciting to be designing something new! Classic white kitchens are still going strong. Leon quartz is such a beautiful choice – I love those calacatta-look options that come with none of the maintenance of marble. I saw a gorgeous kitchen today with simply stacked square tumbled white tiles for the backsplash (as opposed to installing in a running bond pattern like everybody else installing subway style tile). I don’t think they were zellige tiles, but they had that same timeless look where you can really see any grout. Something like this: https://rstyle.me/+FCZ4yu1z8BF4lGB09D4IKA Best to you, and let me know if you have any specific questions.
I was so excited to find this post! I like both Viatera Cirrus and Minuet, but have not been able to see them in larger samples except for images online. My cabinets will be a Pure White by Mid Continent cabinetry and I initially leaned toward a counter with more tan/greige to match both the walls in adjoining rooms, which I will pick up on in some shade, and the white cabinets. But the counter samples in those shades looked dingy in my kitchen, which has only a small east side window, with a slightly larger window in the adjoining nook.
I ran across Cirrus and Minuet and liked them. I don’t want anything super busy with too much movement, and want to be able to carry out a Farmhouse type of theme, and be able to blend in lots of other colors as well. Is there another similar color I should look at as well, or are these good choices? Which of the colors is the softest/most white? Knowing I will most likely paint the walls in the kitchen and nook a soft tan or greige color, would either of these counters be better? I’ll have medium wood floors.
I understand that sometimes white counters are problematic with pure white cabinets? How do I know if that is the case when I am just looking at small samples? I clearly am struggling with the decision—have never done a full kitchen remodel before, which probably is obvious;) I appreciate your advice! Thanks.
Author
Hi Debbie. Minuet is actually busy but in the best possible way as far as I am concerned. Rather than being a distraction to my eye – the veining provides a lot of forgiveness so crumbs, smudges, and even little scratches from 5 years of heavy use don’t jump out. If you are after a mostly white ground, there are other options such as Viatera Snow Storm. Minuet was more bright and true white than Cirrus. But Cirrus has a slightly softer, more abstract and painterly quality to the veining. Greige would look lovely with Minuet, but I wouldn’t rush the paint color choice. Since the investment of the quartz is much steeper, let that paint color choice come after it is installed. Much easier to get it right that way. The important part about matching cabinets to counters when you have just samples available is to look at those samples together IN THE SPACE WHERE THEY WILL LIVE. It really is only a problem when you’re making decisions in a showroom or box store with completely different lighting. And of course, you’ll want to examine samples in natural light and at night. I was able to get a good sized sample of quartz so that eased my mind. It also helped me to see a full slab of Minuet before I placed the order. Let me know if you have more questions – I’m happy to help, Debbie.
Hi Michele,
I was thrilled to find your blog on white quartz countertops! I’ve taken this COVID19 “stay at home“ time to search for my white counter tops. And as you well know, it’s easier said than done!
Some specifics regarding my kitchen are: My cabinets are painted a Ben Moore special mix to match a Ralph Lauren paint, “Sneaker White” which was discontinued several years ago. It’s a crisp white white and I love it. Since it is used as the trim throughout my house, I do not wish to change the trim and cabinet color. The tile I’ve picked out is a handmade 3×6 subway which also is a crisp white and has a wavy effect. I have been looking for a crisp white countertop with soft veining. I found the countertop background color which works perfectly- in Hanstone’s Tranquility. However the veining in Tranquility is a digitized vein which isn’t soft and solid, but a speckled vein….which was explained to me is that way because it’s digitized! I’ve looked everywhere for options. The backgrounds are all too grey or the veining isn’t soft and natural looking.
Do you have any suggestions to help me narrow my search?
Thank you!
Marsha
Author
Hi Marsha. Is Minuet too busy with its veining for you? It has the crisp white you may be after and the veining is not speckled, but perhaps there is more grey going on than what you are after? Once I discovered Minuet, I knew it was the one so it’s my top pick (still) and I haven’t explored its competition yet. I am not sure Minuet’s veining will meet your expectation in terms of being ‘natural’ enough. For me personally, I wasn’t trying to fool anyone about whether the product was carrera or quartz. I value the non-porous, antibacterial properties of quartz so I’m good with the more uniform veining which to me is calming. So you may want to be sure that marble isn’t a better fit for you since that natural look seems of utmost importance.
Hello! Did you use a 2cm or a 3cm slab of Minuet? It’s hard to tell in the pictures. It’s gorgeous!
Author
3 cm – when we renovated our kitchen in Arizona and used Viatera quartz (Soprano), the fabricators used the 2 cm product and then built up the edge. It seems to be a regional fabrication preference thing so there really isn’t a wrong way to do it. 🙂
I’m deciding between a bright white cabinet or very faint grey. Looking at quartz- calacatta Vincenza or Carrara marmi… but the marmi veining is very speckled. The kitchen has a massive island with lots of cabinetry so I’m wondering if the white Cabinets and big white quartz island will get lost. Thoughts?
Author
I hear you about trying to envision all that white and whether you need more contrast. A couple of things come to mind. You could do the light grey on the island only with white cabinets everywhere else. Not sure if you saw this house tour which has a white kitchen with faint grey island: https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/2020/05/modern-farmhouse-style-meets-coastal-cottage-decorating-ideas.html Another thought is that you can bring in grey or other hues with the backsplash. As far as ‘getting lost’ I love a very tonal look since it feels ethereal and even modern so as long as there are different textures and sheens going on, it doesn’t scare me to layer whites. Of course it is a subjective matter – others may feel bored with monochromatic schemes.
Oh Happy Day to find your blog today! You are spot on with how this process is going for me and your sense of humor and authenticity told me I’m not alone! You are a very talented lady. My new cabinets arriving in about 3 weeks are very similar to yours in style & color. The new kitchen will have a more modern feel as opposed to the current traditional glazed maple cabinets. Definitely my preference here in southwest Florida. This change is a total refresh for me as a widow who enjoys friends, family and entertaining.
The 20×20 porcelain tile will remain. It runs throughout the 1800 sq ft villa (fancy word for a one story home with a 2 car garage in a gated community) The tile is a neutral beige with subtle off white & gray marbling. What I like is how well it is laid with grout lines consistent from room to room and out to the lanai. It gives an expansive look & feel. The walls are a neutral light greige and all trim is bright white. For the new back splash I like the Blanco Orion Polished 4″x 12″ marble tiles in a subway pattern found at Floor Decor and More. My contractor recommends steering clear of a marble back splash. My current back splash is tumbled marble squares that were sealed and have not been a problem. In Florida, Pompeii quartz seems to have a large following. A new pattern, Lincoln, looks great with the new cabinet sample. The white is brighter than most. I’m concerned about the veining pattern. The lines are thin and seem to crisscross. I like that it picks up both the beige tone and gray tones in the veins which coordinates with all the other areas of my home. It’s hard to visualize it in online photos. It may not be enough pattern for my long galley kitchen with a peninsula. The sink & coffee/wine bar wall is 24′ long and would be marble with quartz counters. The opposite wall with refrigerator slide in stove, no microwave above, would be quartz counter & quartz back splash to accent recirculating . New appliances are stainless, Bosch without handles and a Koehler catering sink. Your opinion would be much appreciated!
Author
I’m so happy you found me! You are delightful, and I’m ready to move into that wonderful villa…get this beachy land locked blogger to the ocean! I think I understand just what you mean about Lincoln for the quartz. I tend to favor that type of veining (like that which you see in natural calacatta) for big kitchen islands or great big peninsulas and not so much on peripheral counters. It’s a very subjective matter and one of the things I don’t discuss in the post (and need to someday) is how one might first explore their favorite natural marble. There are so many beautiful white stone varieties, so if you can establish what your heart is drawn to, it may whittle down the list. What about Pomepei’s Misterio? It appears to have both brown and grey veining and seems like a fairly safe choice. I think I mention in the post that one of the qualities I appreciate about the veining in Minuet is how forgiving it is. For crumbs and for the little scratches that happen over time with use. I am fairly sure such scratches on big expanses of white would be more visible. Best to you and feel free to keep the discussion going. 🙂
Love your GIFY’s.. perfect choices. And thanks for posting pictures that give a true idea of what these quartz’s look like!
Author
You bet! Thanks for playing along – it’s great to have you here.
I love your kitchen! I am so happy that I found your site and could really use your help. I have honey oak kitchen cabinets that unfortunately have to stay. I have been looking for a quartz counter to hopefully make my kitchen Look better even though I have oak cabinets and I keep going back to minuet. I have pine wood floors and all of the trim is stained. Do you think minuet would look alright with oak? I would really appreciate your opinion So much.
Author
Thank you for the kind words. Minuet is quite cool so there would a lot of contrast with the honey oak. Minuet may work, but I wonder if Soprano might be a better choice since it has some caramel and warmth. I used Soprano in our vacation home and loved it. It is possible Soprano could make you love your oak cabinets. Try to get a good sized sample of quartz. Alternatively, you could take one of the cabinet doors off and head to a showroom/countertop fabricator where you can hold it up to a slab.
I came across your blog while looking for Quartz countertops. When I saw your kitchen I knew this was the feeling I wanted. I have a galley kitchen with a breakfast nook so I wanted the look to be bright and reflective as the space is small and felt this would help open it up. I too love the Minuet Quartz counter top and I have ordered it for my kitchen remodel. The tile for the back splash works so well with the Minuet. I will be going to Lowes to look at it. The other tile I am considering is a white subway tile with a crackle glaze. I have purchased white Shaker cabinets for my remodel. I purchased the handles you used (sold out on Lowes) but was able to get them on Amazon. Any suggestions for a tile floor as I have parquet flooring throughout the apartment and it can’t be matched. Also any ideas on ceiling lights? I love the French bakery feel.
Author
How exciting that your kitchen is coming together! I also like white subway with crackle, and I think that would look lovely. My sister has Minuet in her kitchen and has standard white subway tile with white grout, and it looks wonderful. As for flooring, not sure if you want to make a statement with an encaustic-look ceramic tile like this: https://rstyle.me/+WO7zx_qrnl6kmCsp4yYK4Q or this one (which I plan to use in a reno project in the works): https://rstyle.me/+C_5U1S71IIlXtJ4JKdFjlw. For ceiling lights, if we’re talking flush mount, I love these very French-y crown lights: https://rstyle.me/+C0rT_M3IdDEBy8MRgduxSA or something vintage/honeycomb/schoolhouse: https://rstyle.me/+bJ0f7y9dq0POE0wLBcw6yA. I’m happy to help so keep bringing questions. 🙂
These are some great things upon choosing quartz, that you have discussed here. I really loved it and thank you very much for sharing this with us. You have a great visualization and you have really presented this content in a really good manner.
Author
Thanks for the kind words.
Hi Michelle,
What a fun article to read and just as much fun to read all the messages/questions and your responses. I am going to be remodeling a condo in a few months and I know I am doing white cabinets, counters and back splash. The kitchen will be open to the family space with a wide cased door way to the dining room as well both of which will be blue. You shared that Minuet has cooler tones which I think that would be good with the blues. Thanks for your recommendations for both Minuet and your polished marble back splash.
Author
Thanks so much for reading. How exciting to begin this remodel! I think you will love it with blue. In fact, I used a cool blue/grey just around the corner in our laundry room on the walls along with more of that same polished marble subway tile, and it blends beautifully. I also have blue/grey mugs I use daily that look stunning with Minuet. Keep in touch so we can hear (or see if you care to email iamges) about the progress!
Michele would love your advise on what quartz countertop would look best with shaker style cabinets painted BM Intense White and BM Hale Navy island. The flooring is natural red oak. The plan is to do all the walls in the house Intense White. There’s lots of natural light and the kitchen opens to the dining and living room. I was hoping to use a marble backsplash with some bluey gray to tie the island and cabinets together. I’m hoping to find a complimentary quartz countertop. After reading your posts, I’m thinking I may need to start all over with the selection of the countertop first, then choose the cabinet, island and wall colors. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated and thank you for all the content provided above.
Author
Hi there – how exciting to be embarking on this design journey! So happy to have you here. Your choices sound beautiful, and I think it will be fairly simple to choose a quartz to harmonize with them. Intense White reminds me of our own white which I love with Minuet. But even the grey-ed white quartz options will be lovely with bright white walls. I think you’re going to love the contrast with the navy! Minuet’s veining is definitely blue-grey, and so is our venatino polished marble backsplas (you can find link for it if you click “shop” above. Bear in mind, I picked out each 12″ mosaic tile to find the most pleasing combo and those crisp white and blue-grey cool stone tiles. It could also be beautiful to extend the quartz as the backsplash as we did in our Arizona home with Viatera Soprano (a much creamier, warm and Calacatta gold-like quartz).
Hi, I love your remodel and have selected many similar choices. One area has me stumped. I will also have Minuet quartz on white perimeter cabinets and black island. The sink is in the island. I can’t decide on a color for the Blanco sink. I don’t want dark/dark because it would be come the focal point. Between metallic gray and cement gray, which do you think would look better with the quartz? Thanks!
Author
How exciting! The design plan sounds amazing – I would choose cement gray or or which ever option looks the best with the faucet choice. 🙂
Thank you for taking time to respond to my question. Faucet is the next choice!
Keep up the good work, so helpful!
Author
You bet. Thanks for following. 🙂
has anyone tried a grey with white shaker cabinets?
Hi Michele- I’m currently trying to decide on my quartz and came upon your blog. I too deciding between Minuet and Lumina. I have stark white cabinets and want a very white countertop too. However I would like to bring in natural wood tones with my stools, floor etc. is minuet too “cool toned” for that and do I need quartz with more gold/ beige veining? I live have minuet is more uniform in its pattern rather than streaky veining but Lumina is warmer. Any advice for me? Thank you so much.
Author
I think the light in your kitchen will ultimately help you make the decision. I love the cool tone of Minuet and how it brightens the room. The natural light we get here seems to cast yellow on everything inside, and when we moved in, every single thing was painted this yellowed white, just exaggerating and aging it all. The warmer white quartz samples I tried before deciding on Minuet looked dingy and so much less fresh. Without the wood floor and warm pops of wood, I do think it would feel too sterile, but the counter is such an expansive surface that I prefer a neutral/cool tone which can be balanced with other finishes. That said, I think Viatera’s Soprano we used in our Arizona house would have worked too – but I would have chosen a different paint color to minimize the contrast. You can see Soprano here: https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/2020/10/before-after-diy-serene-kitchen-makeover.html
OMG this article just might save my sanity.. I’ve looked at every quartz sample and I am so overwhelmed. We are going from dark cherry cabinets with St. Cecilia granite to an all white kitchen as that is my dream. I don’t want any yellow undertones. He uses Dunn Edwards paint, any suggestions? I’m in love with the Minuet quartz after reading your article and picked up a sample at HD tonight! How do you figure out if you’re going “too white”?
Author
So happy you found me and so glad to help. You are going to fall in love with your white kitchen because the visual weight of the cherry and granite can also weigh on one’s mood. As far as the cabinets, if you want to minimize undertones and are choosing a paint finish, maybe start with Dunn Edwards White 380 – it is the equivalent of the white I used throughout our home on walls (BM White). Other pretty whites designers like are Cool December and Icy White. You’ll want to veer toward greyed-whites and cool options. Minuet is a crisp cool white that is reminiscent of a Parisian bakery, yet our kitchen doesn’t feel stuffy since there is white oak hardwood on floor, vintage wood accents like candlesticks and cutting boards, and warm whites on the linen pillows and chairs. You can also bring in warmth with wood counter/bar stools, area rug in breakfast nook, window coverings, hardware, art, and even lamps. As far as going too white? It has always been rather simple for me to start with a white base and add as necessary. For example, a light grey paint on the walls would be stunning with Minuet. Island cabinetry could also be a light grey or charcoal for contrast. Your unique light exposure in the kitchen matters too. Our kitchen is dark, and it needed the bright whites and reflective surfaces I created. My former French kitchen was huge and flooded with light, and we chose warm whites and painted the walls BM Ashley Gray – still a timeless look that read airy and light since the sunlight worked magic. You need to please YOU and remember it is easy to re-paint walls and bring in warmth if need be, it’s the cabinets and counters and appliances you’ll want to choose first. Let me know if you have any other questions and do keep us posted!
Really very happy to say,your post is very interesting to read.I never stop myself to say something about it.You’re doing a great job.Keep it up
Author
🙂
Have you ever had or have you ever considered real Carrara marble? Your comment about quartz ” ain’t foolin anybody as a marble poser…” makes me want to go with my gut and get the Carrara I love so much! Would I rather get what I love and be okay with eventual scratches, stains, and etches? Or do I get quartz and wish every day that it were Carrara marble?
Your kitchen is stunning!! I love it!
I will likely be using the same backsplash. It’s gorgeous 🙂
Author
I have Carrara in both bathrooms, and I like it but it started collecting stains quickly so sometimes I feel like it’s dirty. I don’t baby it. I think your decision should maybe reflect how you and any housemates use the kitchen. I cook and bake every day and am always working with citrus and red sauces. So quartz makes sense with my lifestyle. (And since everyone gravitates to the kitchen at a party, add red wine to the mix). We have definitely added scratches to the Minuet but still not so much that I feel like having them buffed out. If you can get your hands on a big sample and live with it, to me that would help so much!
Thank you for your reply! I appreciate your feedback. I also have carrara in my guest bathrooms. We just put them in so time will tell. I aim to be diligent as a military officer when it comes to adding sealer on a regular basis. As for the kitchen, we just booked our slab of Carrara marble. I rarely cook 😉 I was mindful when deciding on the perfect farmhouse sink, and I bought the a sink that has a cutting board ledge (it included the cutting board as well which was nice). This will keep the juices from running onto the counters. If I did more cooking and baking, I would definitely go with the quartz that you chose. It is stunning and compliments the Carrara backsplash beautifully. It’s gorgeous! As for red wine…I drink champagne, so that’s not an issues 🙂 Give me all that Barefoot Bubbly! For under $9 a bottle, it’s a win! LOL. We don’t entertain much, but I do have some ridiculously sizable cutting boards that I can place on the counters (on potholders or pads) if I plan on having a get-together. I am hopeful to be able to keep the marble as nice as I can, but I do expect imperfections over time. I hope each imperfection has a great memory tied to it.
All the best to you and yours. Happy Holidays <3
Author
Sounds so beautiful and like the perfect decision – it’s going to be gorgeous! xox
We just bought a house that was being remodeled and does not have a kitchen so I am starting from scratch. The house was built in the 70’s and has a mid-century modernish feel that we are trying to bring out to some degree. I read an article that recommended a honed or suede finish for mid-century modern kitchens is the way to go. I am working with a designer that said the same thing so I have this in my mind as a must but I keep finding white marble-like quartz colors that I like that do not come in anything but polished. My kitchen gets lots of sun so I think the honed/suede finish would work well. I’m afraid a bright white counter might be too bright and possibly blinding. I went to our local countertop shop today and happened to come home with V. Minuet. It is very much in the family of quartz patterns that I really tend to gravitate to but it does not come in the honed/suede finish. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions on marble-like options that DO come in honed or suede finish?
Author
I think it’s great you are honoring the home’s age as you consider design elements for the interiors. In terms of a white quartz with a honed finish, I think options are in short supply due to the fact that they are so much less forgiving. Fingerprints, metal marks, and various abuse from daily living are going to show up in a way they do not with polished finishes. The only one I can think of, and it may not be as alabaster white as Minuet, is Caesarstone Statuario Nuvo 5111 here: https://www.caesarstoneus.com/collections/supernatural/statuario-nuvo-5111/ I would highly recommend viewing a full slab if you can before pulling the trigger! Let us know if you find a winning option!
Thank you very much for your reply. Still in decision mode. The pandemic has given me some breathing room to make this decision! Following advice to see slabs before making the decision, I visited s Silestone showroom yesterday. Have been considering Silestone Helix lately even though it does not have a honed finsih. I do like it but noticed it has a lot of small sandy dots in the background. Not sure if I like that or not…Saw several quartzite slabs that caught my eye while I was there. Some very pretty options that are marble-like. Also pretty options like Taj Mahal. Any suggestions for patterns that would be suitable for mid-century or thoughts on using quartzite instead of quartz?
Author
I think any of the quartz or quartzite that are marble-like and natural work harmoniously with Midcentury. I hear what you’re saying about excessive sandy dots – to me that often suggests something less natural looking, although I can report that pattern is very forgiving and what I lived with in our French country prior home (Silestone Ivory Coast is what I had in that home). At the time, I was after the perfect color to complement warm white French inspired cabinets, and there weren’t as many quartz options available back then. I have not lived with honed countertops so I can’t give an opinion – I wonder if I am too messy of a cook to be able to keep the honed finish looking pristine! 🙂
Which cabinet color should I choose for frost white quartz?? I have two options : Maple Espresso or painted linen(kind of white)
Author
Hi there. Both of those cabinet options are going to be beautiful with the quartz so here are some things to mull over: Look around at the rest of your home and even your wardrobe, are you a person who enjoys high contrast of dark and light? Or are you more of a tone on tone design lover – soft greys with white and low to no contrast? I would also take into consideration how long you’ll be staying in the home – if it won’t be too long, then look at real estate trends in your area: are people “over” white kitchens where you live or is that trend still going strong? Where I live (in the middle of the US), buyers are actively seeking homes with white kitchens. Lastly, in general, a darker cabinet with a white quartz will impart a more formal look than tone on tone so think about your goals for the overall mood in the kitchen, and this may help guide you.
This article describing the trials and tribulations of determining the cabinet, backsplash, and finally counter whites was super helpful to me (Feb 2021)!! We chose our floor (changing from typical honey hardwood 3″ wide random strip to 12″x24″ slate colored porcelain tiles), and our backsplash (cararra marble large fan with white grout) and then our cabinets (slate cherry Putnam (shaker style) from Kraftmaid)… And searched and searched for counters. We originally opted for black with subtle white veining from Cambria (Mammoth Cave) but this turns the space waay to severe, and dark-even with the expanses of white backsplash. We are currently awaiting delivery of multiple samples: Cambria Brittanicca; White Cliff; and Smithfield; Hanstone Tranquility; and from Silestone’s eternal line, Classic Calacatta; Desert Silver; and Serena. We are not very formal, and didn’t want a severe black & white (or all black) kitchen. I’m hoping I can capitalize on this great article to create more of a tonal feel (grey floor; white-with-grey counters; cararra backsplash; stainless appliances) in spite of the dark cabinetry. The kitchen is the only room in the house that does not have direct light, but it gets a lot of indirect light from the generally open-concept design. Thanks for outlining your struggle – it IS REAL! 😀
Author
Thanks so much for painting a picture of your project and how it is evolving. I think the decision to keep the counters light/white is a wise one – I have heard from many unhappy folks with black granite since it can show a lot of day to day crumbs and living. Your kitchen plan sounds lovely and full of interest with the different textures you’ll introduce. Let us know which quartz gets chosen!
I really wish I had read this a few weeks ago!!! We bought our countertop from photos and online, as we couldn’t visit and it does not look right in our lighting at all! I totally understand the need to see it in your own setting and how it works with the units, too!!
Author
Sorry to hear about the headache – you have reminded me that this has likely been a tricky year for home renovators and builders when in person shopping is not possible. I hope you are able to come up with a creative solution – let me know if you have any questions.
Hi, thank you for this blog. It has greatly helped us with our kitchen renovation & selections.
I’m curious how you chose the pieces for your backsplash. Since the material has a large variation of color, I’m wondering if you hand selected each piece or laid them out prior to installation to make sure you didn’t have too much of one shade lumped together. Although I know pictures aren’t always accurate in color, it seems your backsplash is a bit more on the light gray/white color palette. Was that your intention?
Thank you for your help.
Author
Thanks so much for the kind words and thoughtful questions. Yes – I bought more tiles than what we needed and went through each mosaic sheet, laying them in the pattern that pleased my eye. I didn’t use sheets that had a yellow tint or that stood out for another reason. Since it was no problem to return what we didn’t use, this was an effective method. Since I laid them all out on the floor, I went ahead and sealed the stone at this stage rather than wait until after installation. Hope this helps!
Thank you for your help!
Author
You betcha. 🙂
Hi
I am going through this now – trying to pick the right white quartz. My kitchen will have “Hollow White” upper cabinets by Cabico and “Svelte” on the lower and Island. I was thinking of doing White Attica by Caesarstone on the island and had chosen “Fresh Concrete” by Caesarstone on the perimeter but it is honed and have read several people have had issues with fingerprints/stains so Id like to choose a polished quartz – is there one you’d recommend that would pair/complement the White Attica which has a lot of movement and has darkish grey veins.
Author
I actually don’t have any experience with quartz mimicking concrete, and in fact, a polished “more solid” light grey might not impart that concrete feel you’re going for. The only light grey colors I’m familiar with (like Silestone Lagoon or Viatera’s Mica) are mimicking stone rather than concrete. I am also not a big fan of mixing quartz colors in a space as much as say, quartz and real concrete or quartz and solid surface or quartz and wood. Is there something keeping you from using White Attica on all the counters? Hope this helps.
It’s great that you talked about your experience deciding which quartz color to choose for your countertop. Recently, my wife and I started a renovation project for our house. We want to change our kitchen too, so we thought about getting a quartz countertop, and we think your article will help us choose one. We appreciate your tips about taking a sample home to compare its hue.
Author
Best of luck to you on your reno!
Thank you for writing this incredibly helpful article. We are about to have our frost white colored shaker cabinets installed and wanted to find a cool white quartz countertop w/grey veining to go with a very contemporary reno vibe. Your Minuet kitchen looks gorgeous, so your article definitely helped us make the quartz decision. Now my first question is what color (s) of Benjamin Moore grey paint will work best with Minuet to keep our open floor plan kitchen/living area feeling light and bright with our Chantilly Lace trim? Btw We have a 1975 home that only has 90” ceilings, but we have light oak wood flooring in kitchen & living areas so we’re hoping our choices feel light and bright… Also, my second question is our GC asked if we wanted to change our original 1975 oak flooring color to a slightly darker color than the yellow tone it is while they’re being refinished in whole house. Do you think that’s worth doing while they’re being sanded and sealed anyway? What wood floor color stains do you like to update floors w/a cool contemporary white cabinets & Minuet counter combination?
Author
You are off to a beautiful start, and your descriptions are perfect so I can visualize what you’re working with and where you’re headed. I really like BM Stonington Gray for a modern grey, and it can be tweaked if it seems too dark (you could do 50% of the formula). For more grey paint options see posts here: https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/?s=grey+paint+colors. Getting away from the amber tones in oak that can make a place feel too country or outdated is a common concern. I’m wondering if your oak is red oak rather than white oak (which is what we have) and whether there is a stain on it now or if it’s natural with just poly. If wood floor is red oak, a grey-based stain is probably what you’ll want to consider. You’re not trying to mimic the grey in veining or paint color, you’re countering the warm yellow with a cool tone. If wood floor is white oak, you could skip a stain and just have poly on top but it will still be golden in color. I like this look at our house because it is a cheerful sort of sunny warmth contrasting with so many cool colors elsewhere. A greyed stain may be what you’re after for that driftwood or raw wood look. Alternatively, in our prior home, we opted for a fruitwood stain for a still light, but warm brown color. Feel free to keep the conversation flowing – I’m happy to help.
I was looking at Bianca marina white quartz and trying to find a good warm white for cabinets. I don’t like stark white as it’s too bright. Would alabaster go with that quartz
Author
I think it will look beautiful with Bianca Marina. I would definitely paint a sample of wood with Alabaster and look at it with your sample of quartz or even better, a slab. If it isn’t quite right, you can adjust the saturation (i.e. ask the painter to make you a sample at 50% to see if that works better).
Hi, Michelle – Fantastic post and beautiful kitchen. Our kitchen has walls of Agreeable Gray and countertop/backsplash of Viatera Soprano. Would Classic Gray work for cabinets? It’s a small kitchen and I want to keep the cabinets light but with a tinge of gray. Any suggestions? Wall color is easier to select/change than cabinet color!
Many thanks,
Beth
Author
Hi Beth. YES YES YES – I love your choices so much! I miss my Soprano counters in that home we sold in Arizona! Lucky you! Classic Gray will probably read a lovely white with those other design elements, and Agreeable Gray is so beautiful as well. Peace to you and hope your holiday weekend is blessed.
Thank you, Michelle! You are so helpful and I appreciate your advice, knowledge and taking the time to respond. Blessings to you and your family, too!
Author
You’re welcome, friend. 🙂
We’re getting Calacatta Leon countertops. Would you go with BM’s Decorator’s White or White Dove for the cabinets? Island will be BM’s Lagoon. Floors are Mirage Stardust (white oak). Backsplash will be picked out later.
Thanks!
Author
How exciting! If your kitchen gets plenty of of natural light, I’d go with White Dove. If the natural light is intense or harsh, I’d go with Decorator’s White (to minimize any yellow from the sunlight). Decorator’s White is going to be cooler, and Dove White has a bit of warmth. White Dove is more often used in traditional settings, Decorator’s White in more contemporary ones. But I think both are excellent choices for the quartz and other design elements planned – well done!
Your kitchen looks so beautiful! The added large windows under the flower market sign helped bring in more light into the kitchen. Because of that, the light that is reflected on the white quartz countertop makes the room brighter. This manufacturer (the same manufacturer of my current countertop) just released a few but new designs for white quartz, and I’m thinking to get them the next time we renovate our kitchen again. Good white quartz and natural light is the best formula for a wonderful kitchen. Cheers!
Author
I so agree that there is something special that happens with white quartz or white stone when natural light comes into play – the way it bounces around and changes throughout the day is pretty special, and the changes through the seasons mean things never feel static or boring in here. 🙂
Author
…and thanks for the kind words!
Such a useful post for the homeowners looking to renovate their kitchens! I hope this post could help a lot of homeowners out there. Keep it up!
Author
Thanks so much for the encouragement!
People who planning for kitchen worktop must read this! Nice One! Planning for a Quartz Worktop for my dream kitchen. Had many queries regarding quartz and about its installation. And After reading this blog, it cleared all my queries & Doubts! Thanks a lot for sharing!
Hi! Need help!!!!
We are having the HARDEST time choosing countertops. My cabinets are white dove, my backsplash is a muted white with platinum grey grout.
We have almost 0% natural light in our kitchen and i’m scared to choose a countertop that is too white so the contrast is stark against my cabinets or too yellowy and they look too putty.
I want to brighten up my kitchen ( we currently have marble, dark brown and black counter to replace!) I have more limited options to either HD (. with the current sale so affordable!) or A few different MSI options but seem to putty!
I have been toying with the idea of:
Minuet
Snowy Ibiza Silestone
Calcatta Nuvo – MSI
Calcatta Clara – MSI
Author
You’ve come to the right place for the help since I’m happy to assist. First off, my own cabinets are close in color to White Dove so I don’t see any problem there with Minuet. Our kitchen only gets bright with natural light in late afternoon – and yet even with limited light before then, things don’t look or feel dingy. Snowy Ibiza is similar to Minuet so odds are, that’s a safe choice too. If you’re considering a calacatta marble look quartz, keep in mind that’s a completely different look with large scale veining and more expanses of white. It looks best in kitchens with a modern, contemporary, or very chic edge. I think it can look out of place in more traditional kitchens that don’t have high end everything surrounding them. So you should decide about veining. I like the busy=ness of Minuet because it is so forgiving to live with. As scratches or even day to day little messes happen, they aren’t jumping out at you. But you must get your hands on samples and at least try to soothe yourself by determining if they are too white for your eye. I don’t find my own Minuet counters too white, and in your lighting, they could even read greyed-white. Let me know if you have more questions, and feel free to email a photo.
Hi! I love your kitchen and I need your help please. I am doing kitchen renovation and am considering Minuet or Caesarstone White Attica and I could not decide which one to get. My shaker cabinets would be in BM Coventry Grey and my island would be in BM Kendall Charcoal. Also, I am torn using a Herringbone pattern or the subway tile in the marble look you used. My floors would be polished porcelain tile in light grey. Would you recommend to have the range hood painted in Kendall Charcoal as well or keep it in Coventry Grey. Thank you so much for your help!
Author
Happy to help. The Caesarstone White Attica has a darker grey veining than Minuet. I can see why it’s a good choice for you since you’re opting for charcoal on the island. But I think Minuet will look awesome with the charcoal island as well. It comes down to a matter of DOES YOUR EYE WANT MORE CONTRAST OR LESS? While Minuet’s veining is busy, there is going to be less contrast and more subtlety than with the White Attica. I would keep the hood color the same as cabinets. My own style is tone on tone and low contrast so that guides my design decisions. But if you are going for higher drama, more formality and more contrast, then be guided by that. Are your floors actually going to have a polished finish? I’m curious about the safety in an area prone to get wet and slippery…would love to hear your thoughts.
I am planning my kitchen. I will use a greige wall color with slight beige tones. I think that might be Agreeable Gray. I like the Viatera Minuet quartz countertops in this blog. Would you suggest the Venatino Marble Mosaic backsplash or a white subway tile? Which white would be best for the cabinets? I would appreciate any advice!
Author
I love the combination of Minuet and the Venatino. It will definitely work with greige tones. Keep in mind if your budget allows, Minuet continued for the backsplash is a gorgeous look. You should first buy a sample of the Venatino mosaic, and keep in mind since it is natural stone, you’ll want to take your time and go through a box or two of it in the store and choose your favorite. Then if you decide it’s the one you’ll use, you may want to buy lots of extra boxes as we did in order to inspect each piece and use only your favorites. It may sound like a lot of extra work, but it wasn’t time consuming, and it simply involves returning the unused extra tile.
White cabinet finishes with cool white or greyed white and minimal yellow undertones likely will work best. My own cabinets are made by Schuler, and the finish is called White Icing which is very close to Benjamin Moore’s White Dove, an off white. It is certainly not about “matching” the whites of counter and cabinet, but rather deciding what tone you care to bring forward. In my own kitchen, that tone was cool white. Grey cabinets work beautifully with Minuet, and white oak (or oak with a greyed driftwood stain) would also beautifully contrast. If Benjamin Moore White Dove appears dingy or just not bright enough in your kitchen, look at Chantilly Lace and Decorator’s White.
What shade of white cabinets will be best with Viatera Minuet quartz countertops and Venatino Marble Mosaic backsplash. Is this carried by Home Depot of Lowe’s?
Author
White cabinet finishes with cool white or greyed white and minimal yellow undertones likely will work best. My own cabinets are made by Schuler, and the finish is called White Icing which is very close to Benjamin Moore’s White Dove, an off white. It is certainly not about “matching” the whites of counter and cabinet, but rather deciding what tone you care to bring forward. In my own kitchen, that tone was cool white. Grey cabinets work beautifully with Minuet, and white oak (or oak with a greyed driftwood stain) would also beautifully contrast. If Benjamin Moore White Dove appears dingy or just not bright enough in your kitchen, look at Chantilly Lace and Decorator’s White.
Hello
Finally someone that understands my agony of picking the right countertop color. I have already purchased the paint colour – Simply white by Benjamin Moore and am using the original white builders grade cabinets from 15 years ago. I like Silestone Helix but I am worried it may be too cool for the warmth of Simply White. Miami Vena is another option but I do not like the pattern as much. The third option is a Taupe Grey Granite however it darkens things quite a bit. I love white kitchens. I am also on a tight budget. Here in Canada my options are from Home Depot. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Author
Thanks so much for reaching out. Great info you have provided. I’m thinking an off white or warm white. Since I have used Viatera in the last two kitchens we renovated, and it’s reasonable in price, what do you think about Viatera Soprano? We used it with light blue/grey cabinets and calacatta gold marble, and it worked stunningly well. It has veins of caramel along with grey, and was creamy and warm which was nice with the stainless appliances. I also loved how subtle tones in the veining echoed the tan tile floor. In any case, I think it’s wiser to choose countertop before paint color. Paint is far easier to tweak and remedy. Let me know if you need more options if you don’t care for Soprano.
This blog is surprisingly useful and informative.This is really very informative for us.
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Thanks for visiting – keep coming for new ideas and inspiration. 🙂
Great Blog! Thanks for sharing this awesome knowledge with us.
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thanks for visiting!
Good morning, this has been a godsend! Thank you! My kitchen is making me CRAZY I am so not good at designing. It’s a good thing I wear scrubs to work cuz who knows what I’d look like….. Small kitchen, decent lighting, Agreeable Grey walls, and SW Williams Silverstrand cabinets. Would the Soprano or Minuet look best? I was feeling the Minuet. Was also looking at Silestone. Would a white subway tile backsplash be okay. I’m not fancy just looking for a classic clean look. Brushed nickel hardware maybe??? Any suggestions would be so appreciative.
Author
Both will be beautiful with Silverstrand cabinets. Soprano is warm, Minuet cool. But here’s the important thing I need to write a post about. The wall color is going to affect how samples of these options look in the room and with the cabinets!!! I can’t stress this enough. The Agreeable Gray may not be the most agreeable paint color with the quartz and cabinet choice so stay open to changing and be aware that undertones (i.e. green) are subtle but real and influence the harmony. I’m speaking from direct experience with Agreeable Gray and other greys which on the surface may seem super neutral and friendly. Quartz is a huge investment so go with what you love and change the paint color if you must – soooooo much easier and more sensible than planning around it. Keep asking questions – I’m here to hold your hand cuz it’s scary to pull the trigger.
Thank you for posting this, Great job so many awesome projects love the organizer for kitchen the best thanks for sharing.
Author
Thanks so much for tuning in.
I love the look and color of the Minuet. I am considering Silestone Pearl Jasmine, but it’s expensive. I don’t want a busy pattern.
I’m about to update my kitchen. I’ll be selling my house in a few years but want to enjoy the new kitchen for awhile! I’m on a budget and planning to replace the counters, sink, and flooring.
The kitchen faces south and gets a lot of light. The cabinets are natural maple that have yellowed over the years, which I don’t love, but are in good shape. I haven’t yet found engineered hardwood or luxury vinyl tile that isn’t too pink/grey/blonde for the cabinets.
Should I paint the cabinets? Refinish? Reface? Or replace them? If I keep them as is, what do you recommend for quartz counters and flooring?
Author
What a wonderful project, and you have ignited my imagination with your excellent description of the space and your needs. Since I also just selected a white quartz for our new kitchen (we’re moving if you didn’t see that post!), I have been shopping. If you are open to shopping at Home Depot, they offer a quartz similar to Viatera Minuet called Stonemark Mara Blanca here: https://rstyle.me/+xyJZ5IeZVX7BDESRw7rBrw. It is a little more grey, but the veining is quite similar. It is in the A group as far as pricing which is about as affordable as you can get for quartz. As far as what to do with the cabinets, I recommend painting them since you’ll be moving on anyway. Refacing is always more expensive than you might imagine. Choose the quartz or countertop material first and THEN decide on a color for the cabinets. The quartz is a bigger investment and should come first. Consider Benjamin Moore Classic Gray for a greyed-white or Chantilly Lace for a bright white. For the flooring, look at the LVP by Lifeproof called Dusk Cherry here: https://rstyle.me/+CXwSZJtTr6WWXckhvGEMNw Let me know what you think, and feel free to pose more questions. 🙂
Thanks so much for this interesting post on quartz worktops. This type of information can be so useful.
Author
🙂
I read your all posts all are very impressive and relevant to my work i really appreciate your great work keep it up.
Author
Thanks for your support.
Beautiful! The white is always the great choice to give a bright and gorgeous look to any kitchen. Your tips and ideas on choosing the right white quartz for kitchen tops are really helpful. Keep sharing useful stuff like this!
Author
Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂
Hi! I bought a CRL worktop called “Polar White” to provide a contrast to my Putty colour kitchen cabinets. The sample I got was a crisp, cold white, as was the giant slab in the workshop and same with the few photos I could find online. Unfortunately, what was installed in my kitchen was a warm cream colour worktop. I’ve been onto the company and they said there’s a huge variation in shades. Now I’m left with a clashing eyesore for a new kitchen, which looks like I was trying to match the cream worktop to the putty cabinets rather than contrast the cabinets with a crisp, cool white. But when I read articles like this, there isn’t a huge variation in shades. Is it just that CRL quartz is far inferior to Silestone, etc. even though they’re very similarly priced? What’s your opinion? I can send photos if you like? Thanks, Marion.
Author
Hi Marion. I can imagine your distress about this. Wondering if you actually had a sample of the quartz that you viewed in your kitchen – it’s tricky choosing from photos. I’m not familiar with CRL, but something seems off about the quartz color reading warm. With a name like Polar White, I would guess the material would be a bright cool white. I hope they can correct it if an error was made. That said, I can imagine how you could bring contrast with backsplash tile. Color variation in natural stone is a given, but not quartz. It is why so many of us like working with quartz in our designs – the control over the color is so helpful. (Although you can’t always get a feel for the veining from a small sample of quartz – it’s a much better idea to see a slab and view photos online to understand the nature, movement, and color of veins.)
Hi Michele,
Thanks so much for replying to me so quickly and for understanding! Yes, I got a sample and photographed many times with my cabinet door and tiles so I could see exactly what it looked like in my kitchen at all times of day and in different weather conditions, so I had it for a while. I was shown a giant slab in his workshop, which was also a cold white colour. There weren’t many pictures of it online but the ones I saw were cold white, which one would expect. We sent pictures to the owner of the company and asked a a few times if he could replace the warm cream quartz with the cold white one, explaining it’s too close in colour to our Putty cabinets. He just said that’s what to expect with quartz – there can be massive variations in colour, especially with white. He offered to show us several slabs called “Polar White” to show me that the hue is very changeable, as if that’s fact but in actuality, it contradicts all the many articles I read before choosing the worktop. Of course, he says this after the worktop is already in our kitchen. One of the slabs his employees put in was in the cold white colour and he put it right next to the warm cream slab, which he insists were from the same batch! He offered to replace the white slab with a warm cream one to match the rest of the kitchen, but as I said, that’s the only section we want to keep. Thank you for your advice as my instinct is that he’s trying to pull the wool over our eyes by contradicting everything else I heard about choosing a quartz worktop.
Sorry Michele, I forgot to say that I was going to get backsplash tiles as I love marble tiles but we’ve an awkward pillar in our kitchen so the oven had to be squashed in off-centre, which the tiles seemed to highlight in projected drawings so it looked better with just simple Polar White quartz upstands and cooker backsplash.
Author
Totally makes sense – and all the more reason the quartz be the right color with no variation for a seamless look. I hope you are able to resolve this and someday have the cool white counters you envisioned and ordered. Keep us posted.
Author
Oh my! Quartz cannot vary in color because it is always being configured with seams and such which must match. And it need not vary since it is a man made product. The way you are being treated is unacceptable, and you should feel free to request a refund at the very least. I’m so sorry this is happening.
Hi Michele! It’s so good of you to keep helping people years into your post! I’m doing a kitchen remodel and agonizing over countertop choices as we speak. I also have a northwest facing, fairly dark kitchen that receives an almost green light from the reflection of the woods behind us. I think I made a rookie mistake by choosing bright white, cool”ish” white perimeter cabinets (Wellborn Glacier White) with a warmer gray island (Wellborn Mink Gray). This makes the choice that much tougher because the white quartz that complements one doesn’t necessarily look great with the other.
I love your kitchen and the Minuet, but the fabricator has scared me to death about making my countertops look too dingy with the wrong quartz. The Viatera lumina sample seems to do well in all lighting, but I’m not sure if I feel the love factor there. I could do the island and the cabinets in different tops, but now my head just hurts. I wish in retrospect that I had picked a cooler gray island to make this process easier! Any suggestions for making the whole shebang work together? I haven’t chosen any backsplash, paint, or flooring yet. Thanks in advance!
Author
Hi Lisa. I think I understand your anxiety about this. I can imagine how the lighting with its green tones from the woodsy setting impacts the Wellborn Mink Gray. And because Minuet is so cool in its temperature with its grey veining, it is unclear how the two will harmonize. In fact, I am in a new kitchen under renovation and have not chosen colors for the cabinets yet and brought in a vintage piece I recently painted a color like the Mink Gray to live with it and notice it in the changing light of the day. I learned I do not like how it reads with abundant natural light because it appears very muddy. It actually brings my mood down. This info helps me to make decisions about cool vs warm, etc. I know cabinetry is a big investment, but I would probably choose the quartz you love most (will it look great with the white cabinets?) and then just deal with color correcting the island after install if you hate it. In my own kitchen, I am customizing/painting the existing cabinetry because they are in great shape and high quality. I think you bring up a very pertinent issue that arises with two-tone kitchens – it is certainly more of a challenge when you must choose a quartz color that suits both those tones. Also, Lumina looks beautiful too and similar to Muse which is what I chose for our new kitchen. Bear in mind that Muse and Lumina have a larger scale veining pattern (sort of like wide stripes) very different than Minuet. The effect is more modern than Minuet’s traditional feel. Let me know if you have more questions/concerns as I’m happy to help.
Nice information on quartz worktops, thanks for posting useful information.
Author
Thanks for reading.
Actually, Since a week I was very seriously looking for Luxurious kitchen Worktops for my dream house. I was confused about which to select and now after reading this blog, all my queries got clarified. Thankyou so much for sharing!
Hi Michelle. Please help me to choose right white quartz for my kitchen with two tone cabinet white shaker and midnight blue at the island. I really appreciated for your help. My wall will be white color and the floor is wood floor light natural wood, look like white washes oak. Thank you
Author
Hi there. For a fresh, bright, timeless look – Viatera’s Minuet or Muse will look wonderful for quartz with both the white and blue cabinets. If you have yet to choose a white paint color for walls – consider Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. It has minimal undertones and will look beautiful with either one of those quartz choices.
I never took into account the fact that there are over 50 shades of white quartz kitchen countertops to choose from. It would probably be easier to see them in person to be more specific about our preferences. So I hope that we find a contractor that will let us visit their establishment first before we sign a deal with them for the remodeling of our kitchen this summer.
Author
So many whites to choose from even when you decide on white! Good luck with the project. 🙂
Hello Lovely Studio’s blog post on choosing quartz countertops is both informative and visually stunning. The way you highlight the beauty and durability of quartz while sharing your personal experience is truly captivating. As someone in the midst of kitchen renovations, I can see why quartz is such a popular choice. The variety of colors and patterns available is awe-inspiring, and the fact that it’s low maintenance is a bonus for busy households. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and making the selection process easier for your readers. Your expertise shines through in every blog post!
Author
Thanks so much – good luck on all of the renovating. 🙂
Beautiful counters. Have you seen Carrera mist and if yes what are your thoughts?
Hi Michelle, love your post and love reading through all the comments for ideas. Have you come across carrera mist quartz and what are your thoughts? I’m in the process of redoing my kitchen and have maple shaker cabinets. Would like to get away from my old tile ceramic countertops. Thinking of keeping the cabinets as is, though I’m tempted to paint it stone gray but don’t want to go through that tedious task. Thank you for any suggestions.
Author
While I haven’t seen Carrara Mist in person, I looked at it online, and it seems gorgeous. Creamy and maybe even a touch of blush which may be gorgeous with maple depending on the stain. I had creamy quartz (Viatera Soprano) in our AZ house and loved its warmth and beauty. It is always better to choose a quartz countertop BEFORE deciding on cabinet color so it’s good you’re not choosing a color until that big investment is made. It is easy to pick a color for cabinets after the other major elements are in place. And keeping them unpainted is great too! I loved continuing the quartz on the backsplash in our AZ house – so wonderful to live with since there was no grout to clean, and it gave it a very updated clean look. Hope this helps.
Hi! Love your advice! What do you think for a kitchen: Sherwin Williams Natural Linen cabinet color, white polished 2×10 backsplash subway tiles, and would like a warm/white quartz countertop. Any suggestions? Kitchen Window faces South. Thanks!
Author
I love SW Natural Linen, and it’s similar to BM White Sand which I used in a previous home for most interior walls. I love Viatera Soprano for a warm white quartz – it’s so interesting since it has some caramel veining along with grey. That warm caramel is fantastic with touches of natural wood, whether it’s a cutting board or shelves or wood island. I used it in a South facing kitchen and adored it. Hope this helps, and feel free to keep the discussion open here.