Reputable stone countertop fabricators operate showrooms their customers can visit before making purchases. Here at Bedrock Quartz, we operate multiple showrooms throughout the state of Utah. Here’s the thing: we operate them for you. We really want to encourage you to pay a visit before you invest in marble, granite, quartz, or quartzite countertops.
The main advantage of a showroom visit is having the opportunity to inspect full slabs up close. Rather than just looking at photographs, you are conducting a hands-on evaluation. You’re seeing, touching, and experiencing slabs in real time. It is the best way to ensure that the slab you ultimately choose matches your vision.
Color and Lighting Matter
Is it fair to say that every slab looks good in photographs? Such is the nature of photography. What the camera lens picks up can differ considerably from what you see with the naked eye. As such, photographers manipulate the environment they work in so as to produce the most attractive image possible.
The challenge is that what you see in a photograph is not likely to match reality once the new countertops are in your kitchen. Professional photographic lighting differs from standard household lighting. So colors and textures look different.
In a showroom, we do our best to mimic typical household lighting so that customers get an accurate view. Even if our lighting differs somewhat from yours, seeing a slab in-person will give you a more accurate perception than a photograph.
Pattern Movement Matters
In addition to color, pattern movement affects what a slab will look like in your home. The challenge with photographs is the inability to present a full picture of what the veining actually looks like. What appears to be a low-movement pattern in a photograph might actually be closer to a high-movement pattern in reality.
Pattern movements flow across entire slabs. Photographs do not show enough surface area to provide an accurate picture. Ditto for samples. What you see in a small sample may not be characteristic of the entire slab. So to know what veining movement looks like, there is no substitute for seeing it in person.
Feel and Texture Matter
Beyond the visuals are the feel and texture of natural stone and quartz. Quartz is usually smooth and polished with a very sleek feel. But it can be finished in different ways to give it some texture.
As for quartzite, marble, and granite, they can vary in terms of surface smoothness. They can show subtle pits or fissures that you can’t see in photographs. So the best way to understand the feel and texture of a slab is to run your hands across it.
Perhaps you are interested in a matte finish. You know what it looks like, but are you familiar with what it feels like? The same goes for any finish. There really is no substitute for the in-person, tactile experience.
Expert Guidance Matters
Finally, we believe that expert guidance matters when it comes to choosing a stone slab. It is so important to us that we ensure every team member we employ is properly trained and educated. Our showroom staff has the knowledge and experience to provide the kind of expert guidance you need.
While it is possible to purchase stone countertops without ever visiting a showroom, we highly recommend seeing slabs in person before you make a choice. Bedrock Quartz operates several showrooms for your convenience. Why not choose the one closest to you and pay us a visit? Should you decide to purchase new countertops, you will be glad you saw the slabs in-person first.
