Home Design Showcase: Granite and Quartz Countertops

Posted: October 12, 2026 | Categories: News | Design and Decorating

By Highland Homes

Updated on October 12, 2026: This story was originally published on September 1, 2021, and has been updated with new information.

Countertops are a key focal point in kitchens and baths, and kitchen countertops are perhaps one of the most-used surfaces in your home. Understanding how various countertop materials perform is important when deciding which type of countertops are the best fit for your lifestyle.

Granite or quartz countertops are now included in kitchens and owners' baths in our Florida new homes, with a nice selection of included granite and quartz colors, as well as beautiful quartz upgrades. Our granite and quartz countertops include an undermount sink, a stainless steel pull-down faucet, and a 4-inch backsplash, making quite a statement in kitchens and bathrooms.

Let’s break down the various materials and benefits, how to care for these countertops, and the gorgeous granite and quartz countertop colorways available for you to select and personalize your dream home at the Highland Homes design studio.

Quartz Countertops

Quartz countertops are increasingly popular among Florida homebuyers - and with benefits such as super-low maintenance, it’s easy to see why! Let’s learn more about this innovative engineered stone countertop option.

Product Makeup

Quartz countertops, also known as engineered stone or solid surface countertops, combine natural quartz crystals with resins, polymers, and color pigments to create a resilient finished material. 90% or more of the finished product is natural quartz material, and resins and polymers bind this together to create a durable finished product.

If, like many, you have heard of Cambria and are asking yourself what the difference is between this and quartz countertops, the answer is none - Cambria is a manufacturer of quartz countertops. At Highland Homes, we offer quartz countertops from two brand-name manufacturers:

• Cambria is family-owned and American-made, using sustainable mining and manufacturing processes. With products manufactured from the finest pure white quartz, their signature surfaces are high-quality and include a transferable lifetime warranty.
• Daltile ONE Quartz surfaces are crafted to mimic the timeless beauty of natural materials, with the enhanced benefit of minimal maintenance. Daltile has more than 75 years of expertise in manufacturing and includes a limited-lifetime warranty.

Benefits of Quartz Countertops

Quartz is a low-maintenance, ultra-durable product, which is why so many homeowners love it! The many benefits of choosing quartz countertops for your home include:

• It is a non-porous material, which means sealing is not required, making it very low maintenance.
• The non-porous material also means quartz is resistant to bacteria, mold, and mildew since it cannot absorb liquids.
• And, this durable manufactured surface is resistant to stains, corrosion, heat, and cracks or chips from impacts, which makes it ideal for high-use areas such as the kitchen.
• If damage does occur, it’s easy to repair scratches, chips, and gouges.
• It is available in an abundance of colors, patterns, and designs, which are fade-resistant and will look beautiful throughout your lifetime.
• The surface of quartz is smooth and comfortable to the touch (unlike real stone, which is cold and hard).
• Quartz is incredibly easy to maintain (more on that below)!

Cleaning and Maintaining Quartz Countertops

While quartz countertops are extremely durable and resistant to stains, heat, and scratches, they are not totally damage-proof. To prevent damage from heat, use trivets or hot pads underneath hot cookware rather than placing these directly on the quartz surface.

When you spill something on the quartz surface (which is bound to happen), remember that quartz is stain-resistant but not stain-proof – while liquids cannot seep into the non-porous material, they can leave a stain on the surface. The best way to prevent this? Wipe up spills as soon as possible.

To clean quartz countertops, simply use mild soap and a gentle rag. Avoid bleach, high-pH cleaners, oil soaps, abrasive chemicals, or abrasive cleaning pads. If sticky stains, grease stains, or hard stains such as ink or permanent marker get on your quartz countertops, Goo Gone or Easy Off are safe options – simply soak a rag, cover the spot for 5-10 minutes, and wipe away.

Quartz Color and Style Options

At the Highland Homes design studio, you can choose from 20 beautiful quartz colors are available to choose from.

Five quartz selections from Daltile ONE Quartz are included (in the kitchen and owner's bath), in clean, polished, monochromatic styles:

• Chipped Ice
• Fresh Linen
• Simply Beige
• Simply Grey
• Simply White

Six additional Daltile ONE Quartz looks are available as an upgrade, in stone-look and monochromatic styles:

• Arches
• Golden Gate
• Morning Frost
• Niagara
• Rocky Mountain
• White Sand

Plus, ten Cambria quartz colorways are available to choose from as an upgrade:

• Ainsley, a white and grey waterstone design with pools of color and a dusting of shimmer.
• Axbridge, a rich and dynamic beige waterstone with warm chocolate brown swirls.
• Bellingham, a mesmerizing marble-look with dark swirls on creams and light greys.
• Berwyn, a swirling, creamy waterstone design with grey veins and gold and silver radiance.
• Clifton, combining cool whites and soft sage green in a waterstone design with silver flecks.
• Hermitage, with delicate gold waterstone veins glistening on white and beige.
• Macbeth, a cool white accented with soft taupe/beige veins.
• Sandgate, a white and warm grey waterstone with silver flecks.
• Sutherland, a dignified soft alabaster white crossed with light and dark grey veins.
• Travella, a creamy and elegant white with striking yet delicate navy blue veins.

No matter which quartz countertop option you decide upon, rest assured you are receiving a high-quality, high-value countertop that, with basic maintenance, will endure life for many years to come!

Granite Countertops

What’s not to love about granite?! This natural stone material is beloved by homeowners thanks to its long-lasting luster, diverse and unique natural stone patterns, and because it is generally a cost-effective, high-value design option. Let’s dive in and learn more.

Product Makeup

Granite is a 100% natural stone that is mined from quarries all around the world. One of the things that makes granite unique is that no two pieces are ever the same, and it’s available in a variety of different patterns and colorways thanks to its natural production.

Benefits of Granite Countertops

Granite is durable, affordable, and unique, and has a number of benefits making it the top countertop choice for many homeowners:

• This natural material is resistant to scratches, chips, stains, moisture, and heat – unlike quartz, hot pans can be placed directly on the surface without any harm.
• When sealed, granite also resists bacteria and dirt.
• Granite is repairable using an epoxy, acrylic, or resin product, should chips or cracks occur (though it’s unlikely).
• It’s the most unique option, as no two slabs of granite are ever the same!
• Granite is one of the most affordable stone options.
• Despite its price point, this popular countertop material adds value to your home.
• Granite is relatively easy to clean and maintain (more below)!

Cleaning and Maintaining Granite Countertops

It’s important to ensure your granite countertops are resealed regularly to help ensure their longevity. Granite is a porous material and sealing can help prevent liquids from being absorbed into the stone, stains from setting in, or other damage.

It’s also important to remember that because granite is porous, a high-impact blow can do damage to the surface in the form of chips or cracks. If this happens, it’s best to have a professional make repairs to ensure the longevity of your granite.

Granite countertops should be cleaned daily with soap and water or a mild household cleaner, and wipe up spills as soon as possible when they occur. Certain oils and acids can stain granite, so using a cleaner specifically designed for granite or testing a small area first is important to keep your granite surfaces gleaming.

Despite these traits, granite is an incredibly durable material that is resistant to many kitchen elements including heat. You’ll never have to worry about what happens to your countertops if you accidentally set a hot pan straight out of the oven directly onto the surface!

Granite Color and Style Options

Highland Homes offers 5 unique granite selections (included in the kitchen and owner's bath):

• Giallo Ornamental Light, a bright white base color with golden, beige, and creamy tones.
• New Caledonia boasts shades of grey, with white and black patches.
• White Wave, with beautiful grey, black, and white waves throughout.
• Black Pearl, a dark grey stone with speckles of gold, silver, brown, green, and shades of grey; although from far away, it looks fairly uniform.
• Peppered Ash, a soft grey base with white, cream, and tan flecks throughout.

Granite provides an affordable, high-value, and durable countertop surface that will add a gorgeous gleam to your kitchen or bath, and with an estimated 30-year lifespan, it will please for longer than you’re likely to live in your home.

Choose the Perfect Countertops for Your New Florida Home

Not sure which countertop option is right for you? When you build with Highland Homes, our professional designers at the Highland Homes Personal Selection Studio will walk you through your options and help you design the kitchen and bathrooms of your dreams! You can also get design inspiration by browsing our kitchens and bathrooms in our online Inspiration Gallery!

Reach out by phone or email to our Florida New Home Specialists today to begin the process of building your new home!

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Tags: design features design trends kitchen design Personal Selection Studio personalize your dream home Silestone Cambria Granite Home Design Showcase

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