Granite Seams & Finish: light/dark - shiny, satin, antiqued or ??

remodel1958

16 years ago

We're stuck on the type of finish for our countertop - I prefer a matte look and love (love love ;-) soapstone but it is not in the budget. What do you think of satin or antiqued finish granite?

Is there any difference (positive or negative) between shiny and matte when it comes to resisting stains, water rings and showing fingerprints, etc?

One fabricator told us that a lighter color will show a seam less than a darker color.... but I've been told the opposite also

So basically, I'm at a standstill.. What's been your experience?

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Comments (6)

jayav
16 years ago
My slab is typhoon bordeaux in a satin finish...here is a picture of my island after installation.

I love the matte look of the satin finish. It feels so fantastic to touch as well. I have not had any issues with water resistance, rings or fingerprints...to be fair, I am not yet using the kitchen fully.
nanapeg
16 years ago
jayav...
LOVE your island! How dramatically did putting the satin finish on your slab impact the colors and movement? I have a beautiful slab of Red Montana that I would love to have finished this way (to better blend with my soapstone countertops) but I'm fearful of losing some of the color and movement of the stone in doing so. Any advice is appreciated.
THANKS...
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jayav
16 years ago
Hey nanapeg, The slab was already finished in satin when I saw it so I do not know if putting the finish impacted the color. I must say that I did see several slabs of regular polished typhoon bordeaux but the satin was so gorgeous that it was no competition at all.
jayav
16 years ago
Hey nanapeg, The slab was already finished in satin when I saw it so I do not know if putting the finish impacted the color. I must say that I did see several slabs of regular polished typhoon bordeaux but the satin was so gorgeous that it was no competition at all.
remodel1958
Original Author
16 years ago
That's really lovely granite, jayav. I think the slightly muted color accentuates the movement of the stone. Do you have this on your countertops as well? Still wondering about the seams. We're doing cream cabinets with a pewter glaze and I like the look of a dark counter with them. Something like Cambrian Black or UbaTuba in an antique finish - I'm still curious about seams and whether the antique/satin/brushed type finishes hide or show them.
jayav
16 years ago
Yeah...I have this granite along the sides as well. Cambrian Black Antique is gorgeous...several people on this site have them. Hopefully they will respond about the seams.