Quartz and concrete countertops both bring bold, modern aesthetics to a space. While concrete offers one-of-a-kind customization, quartz delivers that same contemporary look with added durability and less maintenance. Choosing the right surface depends on your design goals, usage priorities, and how much upkeep you’re comfortable with over time. Quartz vs. Concrete Curious about the similarities and differences of quartz and concrete countertops? Explore what sets them apart. What Is Quartz? Quartz countertops are made of abundant natural quartz crystals that are then combined with binders and pigments to create its final, beautiful product. This process results in maintenance-free surfaces that are extremely durable, nonabsorbent, and resistant to stains, scratches, and chips. Available in a wide range of designs, colors, and consistent patterns, quartz also presents a uniform look from slab to slab. What Is Concrete? Concrete countertops are custom-made surfaces formed from a mix of cement, sand, aggregates, and water. Poured into molds and sealed after curing, concrete is durable and heat resistant—though some sealers may be prone to heat damage. Its porous surface requires regular sealing to help prevent against stain, moisture, and damage. Known for its industrial aesthetic, concrete offers full customization for shape, finish, color, and texture—all affecting its final cost. Performance: Quartz vs. Concrete While both quartz and concrete surfaces create a contemporary look, they perform differently when it comes to durability, upkeep, and design consistency. Discover the differences between how the two perform. Maintenance Quartz countertops are maintenance free, stain resistant, naturally nonabsorbent, and NSF-51 opens in a new tab certified, and they never need sealing. To clean, just wipe with warm water, a soft cotton cloth, and mild soap, if desired. Concrete countertops are naturally porous and must be sealed to resist stains, moisture, and damage. Even sealed, they require ongoing care: spills should be wiped up immediately, pH-neutral cleaners must be used, and sealing often needs to be done annually. Durability Quartz countertops are highly durable, resisting chips, scratches, and stains. They handle daily use well, though a trivet should be used to protect from heat. Concrete is strong and long lasting but more prone to chipping, cracking, or scratching without proper reinforcement or care. Sealing helps protect its porous surface, with durability depending on mix, support, and maintenance. Cambria quartz surfaces are backed by a transferable Full Lifetime Warranty to provide peace of mind for life. Appearance Quartz countertops come in a wide range of colors, patterns, finishes, and thicknesses—including 1cm, 2cm, and 3cm options. Designs can reflect the look of natural stone or concrete while delivering consistency from slab to slab. Concrete has a natural, industrial look that can be fully customized. It can be molded into any shape, finished to various textures, and embedded with materials like glass or stone, and may develop a patina over time that adds character and variation. Environmental Impact Quartz is harvested by removing small aggregate quartz stones, which leaves a smaller footprint and generates less waste. This harvesting practice allows for more optimal native vegetation restoration. Concrete is made from widely available local materials, but its production is labor-intensive and requires additional energy for mixing, curing, and transport. Using recycled materials or low-carbon alternatives can help reduce its impact. Available at Cabinet-S-Top, 1977 Medina Road, Medina, OH 44256 - 330.239.3630

Quartz and porcelain countertops bring elegance to any space, offering an array of designs. While both are excellent choices, their performance and minimal maintenance set them apart. Understanding their similarities and differences will help you choose the best option for you. Choosing between quartz and porcelain countertops? We’re here to help you find the right fit for your home. What Is Quartz? Quartz countertops are made of natural quartz crystals combined with binders and pigments to create the final product. This process enables quartz countertops to be extremely durable, nonabsorbent, and resistant to stains, scratches, and chips. Available in a wide range of designs, colors, and finishes, Cambria quartz surfaces also offer rich depth, texture, and versatile edge profiles for a truly luxurious look. What Is Porcelain? Porcelain countertops are crafted through a precise manufacturing process. Raw materials are ground into a fine powder, mixed with water, and shaped into durable, nonabsorbent slabs. Decorative patterns are applied to the top of the surface with inkjet technology to create the look of natural stone or other designs, but these designs do not run through the slab. While resistant to stains, scratches, and heat, porcelain may be prone to chips that cannot be repaired. Performance: Quartz vs. Porcelain Quartz and porcelain have their own beauty and distinct qualities, but they perform differently. See how they compare. Maintenance Quartz and porcelain countertops are effortless to maintain. Due to being nonabsorbent, both materials are stain resistant and never need sealing. Some options, including Cambria quartz and certain porcelain surfaces, are NSF-51 opens in a new tab certified for safe food preparation. To clean either, just wipe with warm water, a soft cotton cloth, and mild soap, if desired. Durability Quartz and porcelain are both durable and scratch resistant. Porcelain tends to be a popular choice for outdoor spaces, though prolonged exposure may lead to fading over time. It is also more brittle and prone to chipping, especially along edges or during installation. Unlike porcelain, which is often impossible to fix, quartz chips can typically be repaired. Cambria surfaces also come with a transferable Full Lifetime Warranty, ensuring long-term durability and repair support, if ever needed. Appearance Quartz offers a wide range of colors and patterns, with depth and luxury running through the slab and edges. Some designs feature raised or debossed veining for enhanced dimension and texture. Porcelain’s surface-level inkjet designs can mimic natural stone but has limited edge profile options compared to the more intricate possibilities of quartz. While porcelain’s thin profile provides a sleek look, Cambria’s 1cm quartz surfaces offer additional benefits. They are lightweight, making installation a breeze; are incredibly versatile for unique applications like showers and fireplace surrounds; and can even be backlit for dramatic illumination. They’re also available in multiple finishes for greater design flexibility. Environmental Impact Quartz is harvested by removing small aggregate quartz stones, which leaves a smaller footprint and generates less waste. This harvesting practice allows for more optimal native vegetation restoration. Porcelain countertops offer durability and eco-friendly maintenance but may be less sustainable than quartz due to their energy-intensive production process. Available at Cabinet-S-Top, 1977 Medina Road, Medina, OH 44256 - 330.239.3630

Quartz and marble countertops each bring elegance and luxury to any home. Choosing between them depends on your lifestyle and preferences. Marble offers distinctive veining and classic appeal. The Cambria quartz palette provides many veined designs with added durability and low maintenance. Let’s review their similarities and differences.

The beauty draws you in, but lasting performance matters just as much. Discover how Cambria quartz surfaces set the standard, and how they compare to other materials in durability and functionality. Quartz vs. Granite Countertops Quartz or granite countertops are an exceptional way to add functional extravagance to your home. If you love the look of granite, Cambria designs offer the same aesthetic, but feature the unique benefits, elegance, and resilience only quartz can deliver. Before you begin your next project, it’s important to understand the similarities and differences of both materials.

Looking for reliable beauty? Seeking design options big on value? When it comes to cabinetry, maple’s remarkable appeal delivers consistency without compromise. Offering a rare combination that’s increasingly precious in today’s market, maple pairs cost-effective pricing with exceptional versatility that adapts to virtually any design vision. Maple’s Sweet Spot Today’s design trends are bringing lighter stains into the limelight—and maple sits squarely in the wheelhouse for contemporary aesthetics. Featuring a closed grain structure that creates the dependable look designers prize, maple promises minimal variation, predictable staining, and a clean canvas. Running your fingers along maple’s subtle, evenly distributed grain reveals a smooth, comfortable texture that feels as refined as its appearance. The species’ naturally pale, creamy tones provide an ideal foundation for applying those sought-after bright, airy finishes that define modern living spaces. However, these characteristics mean that heavier, high-touch finishes can work against the inherent benefits of maple, potentially obscuring the very qualities that make it exceptional. 

In home design, the most compelling spaces promote a fundamental truth: what one chooses to reveal says as much about personal style as what one conceals. While thoughtful organization and tidiness are crucial, strategic display can transform functional storage. Here are a few ways you can create a visually engrossing narrative, elevating everyday necessities into curated moments that define a home’s character. Elegant Exhibition Thankfully, these opportunities for expression come with an abundance of potential options. Open or floating shelves can create breathing room in contemporary kitchens, offering clean lines and platforms for daily essentials and more; glass inserts provide the perfect showcase for items like vintage stemware or a brief glimpse into a homeowner’s attention to detail. Adjacent and beyond the kitchen, a well-placed hutch can bridge dining and display in time-honored tradition, stately bookcases can become architectural features, and a well-appointed mantle can capture an audience for seasonal celebrations.

Inspired by the hallowed halls of higher learning, Dark Academia brings rich, opulent styling to spaces suited for work, relaxation, or entertainment, turning each into sanctuaries of sophistication. Rooted in the architecture and atmosphere of elite Ivy League institutions, this captivating design trend seamlessly blends reality with the romanticized scholarly world depicted in film and literature.

Style that stands the test of time? In more ways than one, oak remains the gold standard. This distinctive hardwood brings character that’s impossible to replicate. Even so, that same character requires careful examination as it can offer surprises every designer and homeowner should be aware of. The Oak Experience Running your hand across pure oak reveals a time-honored story. Pronounced patterns reminiscent of church spires flow and jut across flat-sawn boards, while reverential flecks and rays catch light to give the species near three-dimensional depth. This tactile richness translates into visual drama that makes oak cabinetry a design focal point rather than simply functional storage. Material Characteristics That Matter Oak’s open grain structure and tannins create beauty and complexity, and the wood’s natural properties also allow it to readily accept stain. But that’s often where oak’s unique idiosyncrasies emerge. Those same tannins that grant oak its warm undertones can react unexpectedly with certain finishes, sometimes shifting colors in extraordinary ways. This is precisely why many designers and manufacturers go the extra mile to set consumer expectations when working with oak – not because there’s any material issue with the wood, but because its chemistry creates variables that other woods and synthetics don’t possess. Grade Makes the Difference Moreover, understanding oak grades is crucial for managing both appearance and cost. Rustic grades embrace oak’s natural personality—knots, mineral streaks, and color variations that tell the tree’s complete story as seen here on Medallion’s Mission flat panel door in Eagle Rock stain. Side by side you’ll notice select grades like Quartersawn Oak, also in handsome Eagle Rock, offer consistent color with minimal character marks, better suited for contemporary designs seeking uniformity. Similarly, most white oak products come at a significantly higher cost than red oak. That’s why Medallion created an alternative to achieve a premium look at an approachable price. Our Woodland Oaks Collection uses a proprietary technique that chemically inhibits the inherent amber tones of red oak so it presents visually as popular white oak. When oak is part of the design, the Woodland Oaks Collection offers decided advantages in both style and cost. Get a closer look at their entire wood species by visiting our showroom located at 1977 Medina Road, Medina, OH 44256. Give us a call at 330-239-3630 to set up an appointment.