Summary: Kitchen and bath trends come and go. Right now, matte surfaces are hot. If you are not sure why, we invite you to visit Bedrock Quartz’s showroom in St. George to see for yourself. We have other showrooms scattered across Utah if you’re not local to Washington County.
If your kitchen features a high-gloss stone countertop, you are in good company. High-gloss surfaces in kitchens and baths have been the norm in southern Utah for decades. It used to be that a surface lacking a polished, mirror-like shine felt unfinished. But things have changed.
Homeowners in St. George and across southern Utah are moving away from reflective polish. These days, they are more likely to favor organic, textured, low-sheen finishes. At the heart of this new movement are matte surfaces – specifically low-sheen, honed quartz.
Honed quartz offers the soft, tactile experience of natural soapstone without the same high-maintenance sealers, etching risks, and delicate upkeep. It is a great option whether you are updating a desert modern home in Santa Clara or outfitting a contemporary kitchen in Washington. We invite you to visit the Bedrock Quartz showroom in St. George to see matte quartz in person.
Polished vs. Honed: What’s the Difference?
If you are hoping for new quartz countertops in St. George, we are guessing you are thinking about color and veining patterns. These two characteristics typically take center stage. However, note that surface finish dictates how a countertop interacts with light, movement, and touch.
- Polished – A traditional polished finish is achieved by buffing the counter with fine abrasives until it reaches a high-gloss sheen. Polished surfaces then reflect direct sunlight and overhead fixtures, creating depth and saturation for dark colors.
- Honed – A honed finish is achieved by stopping the grinding process just before the polish emerges. This leaves a smooth, matte or satin sheen. Instead of reflecting light, honed quartz diffuses it. This gives the surface an understated, organic feel.
For so many customers who come to see quartz countertops in our St. George showroom, less is truly more. A matte finish appeals because it looks elegant without overstating its presence.
Why Matte and Honed Quartz Are Trending in Southern Utah
Here at Bedrock Quartz, we have been doing business long enough to have seen many trends come and go. We were here throughout the highly polished surface trend; we’ll still be here after matte finishes have run their course. Meanwhile, the big question is this: what is driving matte and honed quartz in Southern Utah?
1. The Desire for More Light Diffusion
St. George experiences over 250 sunny days per year. While bright natural light is one draw of Washington County, direct sunlight hitting a high-gloss polished countertop creates glare. One big advantage of honed quartz is natural light diffusion. A quartz countertop with a matte finish maintains its color without casting reflections across the kitchen.
2. A More Tactile Organic Experience
Modern interior design continues its shift toward warmth, texture, and organic elements. Honed surfaces deliver. A honed quartz countertop offers a soft, velvety feel that genuinely grounds the kitchen or bath space. In short, a honed surface just feels more organic to many people.
3. The Ability to Hide Daily Wear
Daily wear and tear is a frequent problem in high-traffic areas. Unfortunately, high-gloss surfaces highlight everything from fingerprints and smudges to water spots and micro-scratches. On the other hand, matte surfaces tend to hide these same things more effectively. The kitchen island and vanity top stay good-looking for longer stretches of time between cleanings.
4. The Low-Maintenance Natural Stone Aesthetic
Before there was engineered quartz, achieving a soft matte finish required going with a porous natural stone like marble, granite, or soapstone. All three are excellent materials for those who appreciate them. Yet they require a ton of maintenance, including regular sealing.
Because quartz is an engineered product, it is not porous. It is not subject to etching from acidic foods and wine. It is also stain-resistant and very easy to maintain. You never have to seal a quartz countertop.
Combining quartz with a matte finish offers the natural stone aesthetic you love without all the maintenance that comes with other products. It’s the best of both worlds for singles, couples, and families looking to upgrade a kitchen or bath.
How to Pair Honed Quartz With Other Elements
When you visit the Bedrock Quartz showroom in St. George, we can help you pair honed quartz with other elements in your home. Our experienced team members are ready to hear your ideas and help you figure out the best plan for your new space. Here are just a few suggestions that immediately come to mind:
- Desert Modern – If desert modern is your thing, try pairing concrete-look honed quartz with warm white oak cabinetry. Lime-washed walls and bronze hardware complete the picture.
- Modern Farmhouse – Although modern farmhouse peaked a few years ago, some Southern Utah homeowners still love it. You can achieve the look by contrasting matte black or deep charcoal honed quartz with crisp white perimeter cabinets and exposed wooden beams.
- Transitional Luxury – For the transitional luxury look, combine a soft white honed quartz featuring gentle gray veining with brass hardware and a textured tile backsplash.
Perhaps you have something else in mind entirely. It is all good. Quartz countertops with matte finishes lend themselves very well to all sorts of design choices. They are as modern as can be, anchoring kitchens and baths in a rather organic and understated way.
See Them for Yourself at Our St. George Showroom
If you are considering new quartz countertops in St. George – or anywhere else across Utah, for that matter – we invite you to visit your nearest Bedrock Quartz showroom. We always recommend visiting a showroom rather than buying online because you can see, feel, and experience different materials firsthand.
Perhaps you’ve never seen quartz with a matte finish up close. We would like to change that. Stop by our St. George showroom, and we will. There is something uniquely satisfying about running your hands across a perfectly sculpted, honed quartz surface situated under perfect lighting. It is enough to blow anyone’s mind.
FAQs
What is the difference between a polished and honed surface?
Surprisingly, it boils down to how much buffing goes into it. A highly polished surface is buffed extensively, while a honed surface is buffed only to the edge of a genuine polish.
Is quartz with a honed finish more difficult to maintain?
No, a quartz countertop’s finish doesn’t change the fact that the material is nonporous. It still resists stains, etching, cracking, etc., with little maintenance required.
Does honed quartz require sealing?
No, quartz is an engineered material that never needs to be sealed. Install it and forget about it.
Why are matte surfaces so popular in Southern Utah?
One of the driving factors behind the matte surface trend is southern Utah’s high-sunlight environment. Polished surfaces cause harsh reflections in the kitchen. Matte surfaces diffuse daylight, making the environment more visually pleasing.
I have a polished quartz countertop. Can I convert it to a matte finish?
While technically possible, we would never recommend it. Honing quartz requires factory-grade grinding machinery and specialized abrasives consumers typically don’t have access to.
