Houzz Quiz: Which Kitchen Benchtop Is Right for You?
The options for kitchen surfaces can seem endless. Use your down time at home to sort out your future benchtop
I’m often asked to assist overwhelmed homeowners with picking out their kitchen benchtops. Usually all it takes to guide them toward a winning material is to suss out some of the project’s details, such as their budget, cooking and cleaning style, and of course aesthetic preferences. I’ve put some of my questions into quiz form for a fun way to get you thinking about the right material for your own kitchen benchtops. Be sure to share your results!
Photos & Advice
1. Which of the following best describes your favourite kitchen style?
Traditional all the way [granite]
Make mine modern [quartz]
Colourful and eclectic [laminate]
Rustic with lots of character [wood]
I love those elegant, all-white kitchens [marble]
Cutting edge contemporary [concrete]
Traditional all the way [granite]
Make mine modern [quartz]
Colourful and eclectic [laminate]
Rustic with lots of character [wood]
I love those elegant, all-white kitchens [marble]
Cutting edge contemporary [concrete]
2. What is your kitchen renovation budget?
Woo-hoo, the sky’s the limit! [quartz]
It’s decent – I can splurge on a few things [marble]
I have champagne taste on a beer budget [wood]
I’ve been scrimping and saving and can finally get the kitchen I want [granite]
I have way more style than money [laminate]
Whatever I can get with a home equity loan from my bank [concrete]
Woo-hoo, the sky’s the limit! [quartz]
It’s decent – I can splurge on a few things [marble]
I have champagne taste on a beer budget [wood]
I’ve been scrimping and saving and can finally get the kitchen I want [granite]
I have way more style than money [laminate]
Whatever I can get with a home equity loan from my bank [concrete]
3. What is your typical role in the kitchen?
Executive chef [quartz]
Sous chef [concrete]
Coordinator of the catering [granite]
Delivery or takeout orderer [laminate]
Pastry chef [marble]
Baker [wood]
Executive chef [quartz]
Sous chef [concrete]
Coordinator of the catering [granite]
Delivery or takeout orderer [laminate]
Pastry chef [marble]
Baker [wood]
4. How are your DIY skills?
D-I-what? [granite]
Excellent – I practically built my own house [wood]
I take direction well [concrete]
Pretty good, though I avoid working with super-expensive materials in case I make a mistake [laminate]
I’m better off hiring jobs out to the experts [quartz]
I’m a perfectionist, so it takes me forever [marble]
D-I-what? [granite]
Excellent – I practically built my own house [wood]
I take direction well [concrete]
Pretty good, though I avoid working with super-expensive materials in case I make a mistake [laminate]
I’m better off hiring jobs out to the experts [quartz]
I’m a perfectionist, so it takes me forever [marble]
5. How do you feel about patina?
Love it! Gives a material nice character [wood]
Hate it! I see it as damage [quartz]
I can live with it to get the exact material I want [concrete]
The first mark is the hardest, but I eventually come to like the even-wear pattern [marble]
I try not to sweat the small stuff [laminate]
I’m going to have to look up ‘patina’ [granite]
Love it! Gives a material nice character [wood]
Hate it! I see it as damage [quartz]
I can live with it to get the exact material I want [concrete]
The first mark is the hardest, but I eventually come to like the even-wear pattern [marble]
I try not to sweat the small stuff [laminate]
I’m going to have to look up ‘patina’ [granite]
6. What’s the single most important characteristic of a benchtop material for you?
Good looks [marble]
Durability [granite]
Zero maintenance [quartz]
Lowest cost [laminate]
Uniqueness [concrete]
High end look for less [wood]
Good looks [marble]
Durability [granite]
Zero maintenance [quartz]
Lowest cost [laminate]
Uniqueness [concrete]
High end look for less [wood]
7. What’s your favourite food to prepare?
Pies, pastries and tarts [marble]
Bread [wood]
Meat and potatoes [granite]
I love my vegies [concrete]
Something that requires at least a dozen ingredients and dirties all my dishes [quartz]
Anything that’s available for delivery [laminate]
Pies, pastries and tarts [marble]
Bread [wood]
Meat and potatoes [granite]
I love my vegies [concrete]
Something that requires at least a dozen ingredients and dirties all my dishes [quartz]
Anything that’s available for delivery [laminate]
8. What’s your favourite splashback material?
Glass or metallic tiles [quartz]
White subway tiles [marble]
Tumbled stone [granite]
Back painted sheet of glass [concrete]
Handmade ceramic or encaustic tiles [wood]
A colourful coat of paint [laminate]
Glass or metallic tiles [quartz]
White subway tiles [marble]
Tumbled stone [granite]
Back painted sheet of glass [concrete]
Handmade ceramic or encaustic tiles [wood]
A colourful coat of paint [laminate]
This image features Caesarstone benchop in Rugged Concrete.
You got …
Concrete: At around $1,000 to $1,750 for professional installation, concrete can be an expensive option for a kitchen benchtop. That’s why more and more homeowners are making a statement with their very own custom concrete designs. If you are on a tight budget and have strong DIY skills, you can fabricate concrete benchtops yourself for as little as $260 per square metre, but beware of the hidden costs; hiring the right tools, for example.
Alas, concrete is not for those who want perfect-looking benchtops. Even professional installations tend to have small inconsistencies in colour and texture, and concrete can develop hairline fractures. You’ll also want to seal it regularly to prevent staining.
Yes, it takes some work and upkeep, but you can’t beat concrete if you are looking to install a one-of-a-kind benchtops for your kitchen.
You got …
Concrete: At around $1,000 to $1,750 for professional installation, concrete can be an expensive option for a kitchen benchtop. That’s why more and more homeowners are making a statement with their very own custom concrete designs. If you are on a tight budget and have strong DIY skills, you can fabricate concrete benchtops yourself for as little as $260 per square metre, but beware of the hidden costs; hiring the right tools, for example.
Alas, concrete is not for those who want perfect-looking benchtops. Even professional installations tend to have small inconsistencies in colour and texture, and concrete can develop hairline fractures. You’ll also want to seal it regularly to prevent staining.
Yes, it takes some work and upkeep, but you can’t beat concrete if you are looking to install a one-of-a-kind benchtops for your kitchen.
Concrete benchtop,, no not for me
Laminate, exactly what I've got!
I got Wood, Just what I want :)