How to tone down busy granite

Alyssa Kapito Interiors

Updated 3/22/22

First of all, let me say congratulations to you! Why? Because you are trying to improve what you already have instead of just ripping it out and starting anew. You are saving the environment while also saving thousands of dollars with that choice. Well done! And in return, I will share a way you can fix your outdated granite countertops easily and affordably…because it’s possible!

It seems many homes were built in what I’m calling the ‘granite bubble’. Granite countertops used to be the only material people knew to choose. Everyone wanted granite so everyone got the same kind. It’s not the builders’ fault; when something works and there’s a great demand, they replicate the look over and over and over. They don’t change this formula because they are kind of like landlords: they build or update as affordably as they can. So a ‘copy and paste’ design strategy suits their end goal.

Certain styles of granite were trending, and as it happens with anything trendy, the bubble eventually bursts. We have moved on from that idea that granite is the only good material, and now consumers know about a plethora of other materials that are possible! Which is good and bad: good because you have more information to select materials that truly reflect your style, but bad because you now have a very specific idea of what doesn’t work for your taste and what doesn’t work might be what you have…aka ‘outdated granite’.

Now hundreds of thousands of homes from the granite bubble have a very expensive product that is the focal point of their kitchen and they are unhappy. Granite is ultra durable, so you would be replacing something that is perfectly usable and probably in great condition–which is what sold everyone on granite to begin with. Unless you gave your counters to a stone yard for them to chop up and sell as remnants, your stone will go to waste. So what are you to do?

I do not believe that granite is trendy, by the way, and ‘outdated granite’ is a matter of opinion. There are just ebbs and flows of popularity with certain styles. For instance, the most popular granite colorways back then were tan/brown and gray/black. Here’s an example of the tan/brown below:

Avionale Design

Polished granite felt new and sleek. You probably now know that you can get stone in a variety of different finishes. You’ve probably also noticed that matte fixtures and finishes have been sprouting up in the last few years. Everything from matte black faucets to drawer pulls to surfaces. Matte surfaces just look more modern and natural. Just like picking a flat paint instead of a glossy one for the walls, picking a matte finish on stone surfaces hides dirt and stains more than a glossy one.

So even if you have beautiful granite counters in a neutral color, if they are shiny, you might still feel you have ‘outdated granite’. It’s the finish that people are objecting to, not necessarily the stone style–which is a really good thing if you have a particularly busy style of granite! Honing removes the shine which makes it seem more minimalist and calm. The shine is a light bringing attention to the granite, so if you remove the shine, you remove that light. All is calm. Check out these matte surfaces and see how they compare to your polished surfaces:

Emily Henderson

Jenny Komenda

Studio McGee

Cool, right? Matte surfaces just look so sleek and it allows your eye to notice the other aspects of your design since you’re not being blinded by reflective surfaces. Do you know what else is great about matte surfaces? They hide dirt. When a surface is not reflective, you cannot detect stains and scratches. A reflective surface essential shines a light on all the imperfections. Remember this: matte conceals, shiny reveals.

Now that you know why matte surfaces are preferable, you’re ready for me to tell you how you can transform your ‘outdated granite’ without having to spend thousands to replace them.

Outdated Granite Countertops? Here’s How to Fix it

You HONE it. If you don’t know, honing just means that the shine is removed, revealing a matte surface. We can use the honing technique on many different surfaces, the most popular being marble and quartzite (quartz is actually a manmade product consisting of quartzite, which is the solid stone). Honing your granite is a great way to bring it up to date without actually having to replace your very costly countertops. Winner winner chicken dinner.

Granite is one of the toughest materials to use for countertops, but maybe for you, the style can feel just a bit dated and out of context. All you need to do is get your granite honed and it will look like a brand new countertop. The speckling detail will be less intense and to me, it will actually look more like a natural stone. After all, stones are naturally matte and go through a lot of polishing to get that high shine!

I’ve said this before, natural materials are super popular thanks to the rise of gorgeous design accounts such as Amber Interiors. The Scandinavian style is still well loved and that style is all about minimalist natural interiors. Matte surfaces are perfect for both of these styles.

Before & After: Polished vs Honed Granite

Let me show you honed granite in action by way of Emily A. Clark’s kitchen makeover. Emily did actually replace her countertops because she was changing her kitchen’s layout and counters are non-transferable. But the point here is you can see how much cleaner the stone looks with a matte surface and also get validation that yes, designers are still using granite–not everyone goes for marble, and granite is a timeless choice:-) I super promise.

BEFORE

Emily A. Clark

AFTER

Emily A. Clark

Emily A. Clark

Look at that close up! Just so you know, honed granite will look darker because you are removing the shine, which reflects light and makes the stone look lighter. You can choose to try to do hone your granite yourself or you can hire someone to hone it for about $50 per square foot (obviously depending on your area, this cost could be higher or lower, but you should be able to have this done for under $1k).

What needs to happen when you or a professional hones is:

• you break through the sealant that has been protecting your counters for decades
• you remove the shine and etching
• you re-seal with a matte, food safe sealant

A commenter below tried with just an orbital sander and they do not recommend this strategy. I would suggest talking to a professional at your local hardware store and the vendor of a honing powder to see what they suggest. Remember, this is not a step by step tutorial; I am a designer with the ideas not a DIYer and you definitely need to do your research to see if this is something you feel comfortable and safe doing. Make sure you get the proper supplies and understand the method, following all safety protocols which I list below.

If it were me, being unfamiliar with sanding stone, I think it would be well worth it to hire a stone professional to remove etching, hone, and re-seal using their professional equipment and air filtration. Upon digging, I found a really great company in Chicago that shows you how they fixed the granite etching and honed it. It looks absolutely incredible and their great work will last for decades to come.

Hunker gives us their DIY tutorial and if you were to try this yourself, I would first test and refine your technique on the underside of your granite in a spot you can’t see. And be sure to see safety information below:

Lung safety measures:

Safety gear must be work to protect the lungs while sanding stone. You need proper air ventilation, a dust mask, respirator, etc. According to the American Lung Association, Silicosis is:

“A lung disease caused by breathing in tiny bits of silica, a common mineral found in sand, quartz and many other types of rock.”

While dust particles might not appear harmful, what you can’t see can deeply hurt you. If you choose to DIY this, please do your research to ensure proper safety protocols are being followed. The tutorial I linked to does not remind you of safety precautions and an astute commenter made me aware of this. Protect your lungs, friends!

Ok, now on with the show…

The Look of Granite ‘Speckling’ vs Marble ‘Veining’

Given that marble is super popular and has a very specific veining style, you might not be used to seeing images of matte countertops that are made of a stone with speckling instead of veining. Let me reassure you, speckling is just as gorgeous as veining. I actually prefer speckling because I think it is more of a relaxed style, whereas marble can be fancy and uptight depending on the context it’s used in. So if you want a less busy look, you don’t need to replace your granite with a brand new stone. Try to hone it first.

Here are some examples of matte stone surfaces with speckling so you can see for yourself. Not all of these are honed granite, but they are perfect examples of how great a matte stone with some variation is, and they also demonstrate that the honing technique is really popular and used on a variety of different surfaces.

Bedrosian Tile

Alyssa Kapito Interiors

Rejuvenation

The Jungalow

I have something to say about this kitchen. Other than OH MY GOODNESS HOW GORGEOUS, I also want to point out that the tile floor is probably original. That particular style is very popular in older buildings, including my own 120 year old apartment building. We have the blue color way in our kitchen and it is definitely original. Designers really really value using original materials. So don’t you dare feel bad about your ‘outdated granite’. Character is the name of the game, always. An older material is full of life and character.

The reason I point this out is to show you that not everything has to be brand new to be beautiful. Things can have a story. How much more interesting is this kitchen because the history of the floor is preserved? That vintage runner is just the icing on the very beautiful cake. So many people are scared to update their kitchen because they think it is just too expensive, but no one ever said you had to replace everything. In fact, it’s much better if you don’t:-) Your home is unique, just like you.

Amber Interiors

Amber Interiors

By keeping original materials (‘outdated granite’ included), you are bringing more warmth, history, and character to your kitchen. You’re also saving a lot of money. So let’s all agree that we don’t need to overhaul our entire home. We can make intentional updates ourselves like honing ‘outdated granite’ countertops, painting cabinetry, switching out cabinet knobs and pulls, installing a new faucet, etc. We can do all of this without breaking the bank. Small, mindful updates done well.

-Kristen

More inspiration…

• Update Your Home Without Buying Anything
• How to Update Your Design Style
• This is How to Use Shiplap in 2019
• Affordably Update Kitchen Cabinets

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