Home : Blogs : Julea Joseph : Julea's Home Staging & Styling Blog

Keeping up with the Joneses - Topping off the Counter Top

Whether at a Staging Evaluation or teaching a Home Stage Workshop/Seminar, one of the most common questions I get is - "WHAT ARE THE TRENDS IN COUNTER TOPS?" My reply is always the same - if I'm wearing my Stager's hat I'll tell you "GRANITE-GRANITE-GRANITE," but when wearing my decorator hat I'll tell you "...We're so over GRANITE!"

StageitLogo It's a predicament for those of us that wear more than one hat. As a decorator, it is our job to be privy to what is hip and happenin' in the field, but when it comes to staging a home, we're skilled to what is universally appreciated, valued and accepted.

Top that off, (pun intended-) Here in the Chicago-land area, most established homes have a bit of competition - NEW CONSTRUCTION, - And when it comes to counter tops, 99.998% all of those new homes will have that collectively & universally adored product - GRANITE - So we'd better keep up w/those Joneses.

Although it would be delightful, refreshing and hip and happenin' to recommend, say Corian to a seller, it wouldn't be what is commonly excepted or valued at this time.

So when it comes to counter tops - when you STAGE IT - Say YES to Granite, but when you DECORATE IT - We have lots of options...

WANT THOSE OPTIONS? An attendee from one of my last seminars sent this to me -

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/10/garden/10counters.html?ex=1208577600&en=c763c1ad7e1c0409&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Reinventing Space View our latest Home Staging Work
The Perfect Recipe for a Beautiful Home

Posted by Julea Joseph on 04/15/2008 08:28 AM

Comments (10)

home staging, home staging ideas, home staging tips, home staging chicago, home decorating chicago

Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
Post is included in group: Staging Secrets
Post is included in group: IRIS Stagers
Post is included in group: Redesign Renegades

10 Comments on Keeping up with the Joneses - Topping off the Counter Top

APR

2008

I too wear both hats. When doing new builds or renovations and a counter top is included, I always drift towards the newer finishes. It's a fine line we walk - I like to make sure I let my clients know about what new so that the new counter tops won't be dated the day ofter they're installed.

The nice thing about granite is there are finally some reasonably priced options, and everybody likes it. Even though I seal mine every 6months, it is still apain to keep clean!

I've been saying for a long time now, that the day will come in the not too distant future when buyers will be calling kitchens with granite countertops dated. It's time to move on.

Hello Julea, good to see you. Linda in fact faces exactly the same thing, in fact if you throw in Event Planning, she has yet another hat that she must occasionally dig out and put on. Obviously there are no counter tops involved in setting up an event which are mostly theme driven, but the concept still remains the same. It's all about accomplishing the end result desired by the client. This is a great post to make people stop and think about concentrating on the desired end result.

Hi Gary - I'm only sort-of around, getting ready for round two (Second Model.) So true - It is all about the client. I just emailed you something, I forgot that Linda does Event Planning too!!

Joe - Yeah I'm w/you! But for the Average Joe...

Hi Julea, I agree that for new construction and updating a home for sale, granite is still king for counter tops. That is what buyers expect. That being said, I'm about ready to embark on a huge remodeling project for my own home and I'm choosing a solid surface (Ceaser stone) for my own kitchen counter tops. I like that it is easier to care for and offers a more uniform color surface. It will be interesting to see what the new "granite" will be when granite becomes passe!

APR

2008

It is great to see others with the same service offerings that I have - sometimes it can be difficult to wear both hats (staging vs decorating) but I have found that as soon as I am starting to get bored with one then I start getting more calls for other and then sooner or later the pendulum swings back again.

What could be the next thing after granite? I can't even imagine!

If I were building I would use granite and also consider using some concrete and stainless elements in the counters somewhere, I just don't know where.

APR

2008

I'm hearing that quartz is a desirable look on the West Coast. There's also conversation about the versatility of poured concrete. I'll agree though, that soon enough granite is going to be as dated looking as cultured marble, and salmon pink tiles.

Oh, and I'm seeing a lot of white marble in the magazines......! Maybe moon rocks will be the next big thing!

<G>

APR

2008

Formica was king for how many years? Granite has only recently become affordable for many. I'd say we have quite a few years before granite becomes passe. "They" were saying that Corian was passe only a few years ago yet it is still going strong. Some of the new options require as much if not more maintenance than sealed granite but the cache of being different drives the demand. I wonder about the glass counters-how about chips? Copper pits and reacts to so many substances (but you can clean it with ketchup-did you know?) There are even new Formica-like countertops that look a lot like granite for the homeowner who needs a quick and less expensive kitchen spruce up to sell.

Leave a response…

Name:

Email:
(optional)

Comment:

What does the graphic say?