Gorgeous Countertop Materials Your Favorite HGTV Stars Swear By

If anyone knows the best countertop materials to use at home, it's your favorite HGTV personalities. It's worth hearing what they think, whether you are thinking of remodeling your kitchen and need advice on the best stone to choose, or just like learning about the pros and cons of each for fun. Marble, granite, quartz, even concrete: These are the gorgeous countertop materials your favorite HGTV stars swear by.

Something to consider, however, is that each designer has a unique style and different material preferences. Because of this, you might see a few contradictions between what each of your favorite stars recommends. That is, Nate Berkus loves marble countertops and even has them in his own home. But, the experts behind "Property Brothers" tend to avoid the stone because they think it is too expensive to be as porous and scratch-prone as it is. With that said, by getting a glimpse into each TV personality's opinion on the materials (and why they love them, or don't), you can decide if the medium is one you could ever have in your kitchen.

Nate Berkus is a long-trusted name in the world of interior design. So if he feels something is good enough to use at home, it must be a stand-out material. The star remodeled the kitchen of the property he shares with husband Jeremiah Brent in 2022. After he posted the look on social media, followers were eager to recreate the look of his gorgeous kitchen in their own home. "Our freshly updated NYC kitchen is a stark contrast from the formerly black cabinetry that we originally installed," Berkus shared with fans on Facebook. "We wanted the most used space in our home to feel bright, airy, and chalky and it turned out exactly like we wanted. The countertops and island feature Calacatta Turquoise Antico marble by ABC Stone."

This marble is typically only sold in slabs; however, if you would prefer tiling or a smaller size than what is available, the supplier is willing to make alterations. The average size of a slab is typically 80" x 40" – 120" x 70", per ABC Stone. To complete the look, consider using the same stone as a backsplash as Berkus and Brent have done in their home. By choosing to have the same material for both, you create a cohesive surface that is easy to clean and minimizes grout lines. The uninterrupted flow of marble from the countertop to the backsplash also adds elegance and sophistication to the kitchen, creating a sense of unity and timeless beauty.

Egypt Sherrod recommends reaching for porcelain if you want a sleek, modern look in your kitchen but also might be worried about blowing through your budget. The "Married to Real Estate" star introduced a young couple to the idea in Season 1, Episode 8. "Porcelain gives a very close look to marble, but it is extremely durable and a fraction of the cost," she explained when presenting potential countertop materials to them. But the pros of porcelain countertops don't stop there. "This is so durable. It's non-porous. You can pour wine on purpose, and it won't saturate as it would with marble," Sherrod later advised during the home's big reveal.

While what she says holds up upon further investigation, there are a few caveats. That is, the average cost of porcelain countertops is roughly $2,900, while their marble counterparts are only slightly higher at an average of $3,000. That said, the type of marble you select for your countertops can significantly increase the price, as certain grades are more exclusive and thus more expensive. The overall care of marble can also be more difficult, as you must reseal it on occasion to keep it looking fresh. So even though the upfront costs might be the same, the ongoing costs mean porcelain is less expensive overall, which is why Sherrod recommends it.

Drew and Jonathan Scott have remodeled their fair share of kitchen countertops. With that in mind, the Property Brothers have a marked preference regarding the materials they use in clients' homes. "We love quartz countertops because they look like natural stone, but are so much easier," Jonathan Scott says (via Apple). Natural stone countertops are materials like marble and granite. Quartz is technically man-made because manufacturers add color and strengthening materials to the original stone.

This makes quartz options gorgeous and a great choice for people who might be harder on their kitchens, like those with large families or budding home chefs. The more you use a space, the stronger you want it to be. "We love materials like quartz and Neolith for durability and no maintenance ...Try to avoid materials that scratch too easily, because you'll shed a single tear when you scuff them up within the first week," the brothers wrote in their 2016 book "Dream Home." While natural stone countertops might look beautiful, if you feel apprehensive about potentially ruining your investment during your next Christmas cookie-baking extravaganza, quartz — in any color — is the perfect happy medium between style and durability.

Hilary Farr, the "Love It or List It" host, remodeled her home in 2022, and fans were eager to know what she chose for her kitchen countertops. "I wanted elegance, durability, and Sustainability. The pattern is Statuaria quartz by Silestone," she shared in an Instagram post. "It's manufactured using a sustainable manufacturing process that uses 99% reused water, 100% renewable electric energy, zero water waste, and a minimum of 20% recycled raw materials. It can be done. Commitment to beauty and our earth."

Statuario is a type of marble that comes from Italy. It gets its name from where it is quarried, deep underneath the town of Carrara in Northwest Italy. It is highly exclusive and sought after due to limited availability and high demand. The quartz Farr used mimics this marble in appearance but is more durable because of the manmade elements. The quartz is typically white with deep gray lines, arranged in bold veins or stringy wisps, depending on the subtype. In addition to being eco-friendly, these countertops are also durable, scratch-resistant, and low-maintenance. The non-porous nature of quartz makes it hygienic and resistant to bacteria growth. To steal Hilary Farr's actual kitchen look for your own home, quartz with a similar coloring and durability can be purchased from retailers like The Home Depot. You can also splash out for the same product, available at Consentino.

Mina Starsiak Hawk is most famous for hosting "Good Bones" on HGTV. She also has a preference for chic and classic marble countertops when designing kitchens. "Anyone who knows me knows that I'm in love with Carrara marble — it's just beautiful, but it's getting more expensive and it's a lot more difficult to maintain," she told House Beautiful. This maintenance comes when trying to prevent damage to the stone through everyday use, like baking, unloading groceries, or doing dishes. "You can seal it to help protect it from acidic stains. It will prevent some scratches, but even a seal won't prevent everything," her co-star Karen Laine chimed in when the pair discussed countertop options on HGTV.

If this sounds like too much work for you, or you don't want to go through the extra expense of sealing your Carrara marble countertops after installing them, Hawk is quick to recommend a few equally stylish workarounds. "On a lot of our projects, we've been switching to quartz versus the natural stone. It has the same creamy look but it's more durable and easier to take care of," she also told House Beautiful. This way, you don't have to worry about being too delicate with your counters, but you don't have to sacrifice the aesthetic you want either.

In Season 3, Episode 14 of "Fixer to Fabulous," host Jenny Marrs sourced a unique countertop for her client's vintage-inspired kitchen. The material is a variant of Terrazzo, known as Martini Flint, and made by the company Vetrazzo. Terrazzo countertops are a unique man-made material. They are created by embedding small pieces of marble, granite, or glass into a cement or epoxy resin base. This creates a visually striking countertop with a unique speckled appearance. The finished product is polished to create a smooth, sleek surface. The countertop is durable under high use and also quite resistant to heat, which is perfect for a kitchen or bathroom.

The variant that Marrs chose for her client's home is more distinctive in that the pieces of glass are shards from glass bottles and jars, giving the counter a uniquely upcycled feel. If you would like to replicate this look at home, there are a few care instructions to keep in mind. To keep things in tiptop shape, you must regularly maintain the hand-cut stone. This includes annually resealing your countertops and giving them good coverage with wax bi-annually. Whether or not Vetrazzo countertops are right for you depends on your diligence in the stone's upkeep. For some, this might be a fair price to pay for the style, while others think it is entirely too much fuss.

David Bromstad of "Color Splash" and "My Lottery Dream Home" fame has a favorite countertop material, and it's one not many other HGTV stars are using. Quartzite is a sturdy metamorphic rock that forms sandstone with plenty of naturally occurring quartz inside. When the sandstone is subjected to intense heat and pressure, quartzite forms. It is typically rich with quartz crystals but sometimes contains feldspar and mica, too, which can slightly change its appearance.

Quartzite is known for its durability and resistance to heat, which is why it is so good to use in kitchens. "It kind of looks like marble, but it's much more durable. That's what I'm putting in my house," Bromstad shared on Season 14, Episode 4 of "My Lottery Dream Home." The stone has a unique appearance as the pressurization typically creates intricate veining patterns as well as vibrant colors. Classic options include black, white, and gray, but those interested can also find stone available in green or even orange. Something to consider, however, is that because the stone is so strong, you can't successfully cut it at home. You need a diamond cutter to slice the slabs into the dimensions of your kitchen. If you would prefer to complete your kitchen renovation yourself, this isn't the option for you, since it needs to be professionally cut and installed.

When everyone's favorite redhead, Jennifer Todryk of "No Demo Reno," redid her kitchen, fans were eager to mimic the look at home. Luckily, she made an Instagram post with all the information about the brands and materials she used. Most notable are her gorgeous blue-gray countertops, which are a type of stone known as Lennon granite. This stone is sometimes called Bonno and is mined in southern Brazil. The combined hue in Todryk's kitchen is typical of the material.

Like many other types of granite, this Lennon variety is a great choice due to its durability and resistance to scratches, heat, and stains. If you are a messy cook or have a lot of people in and out of your kitchen, you don't have to worry about them ruining your countertops. Because it is so easy to maintain and a style that is universally adored, having granite countertops also adds to the overall resale value of your home. In addition, it pairs well with many different design styles. For example, Todryk's kitchen is a modern take on the classic farmhouse aesthetic. However, the same countertops could be dropped into a midcentury modern kitchen, or even an Art Deco-inspired space and still fit in perfectly.

If you are looking for a durable countertop material that is easy to customize, Chip and Joanna Gaines recommend concrete, with a few caveats. The material is highly resistant to scratches, heat, and stains, making it perfect for heavy use. This means it is ideal for outdoor food prep areas, or even interior kitchens with a postmodern feel. It is also simple for contractors to adjust the size of concrete slabs, making customizing your kitchen easier than ever. However, it does come with a few drawbacks, namely the difficulty of installing it correctly. "Concrete countertops are definitely in the category of 'do not try this at home if you're not an expert,'" Chip advised viewers during Season 1, Episode 13 of "Fixer Upper." "These things crack if you don't do rebar just right. The science is mixing the concrete right. That's the hard part." 

So while you should not DIY your concrete countertops, you can still partner with a professional builder to create the perfect look. If you are not a fan of the subtle gray of the typical material, you can even add pigments to the mixture to make it any color you would like, including a darker gunmetal gray. This option shows up throughout "Fixer Upper," as the Gaines are big fans of its flexibility and look. "I like the look of concrete countertops annnnd concrete walls now too!" Joanna posted on Facebook when promoting Season 4 of the show.

Builder Jasmine Roth stars in HGTV's "Hidden Potential" and "HELP! I Wrecked My House," but installing her favorite countertop materials will do just the opposite. "For countertops, there's so many different ways that you can go as far as the material. And my favorite right now is definitely quartz," she told HGTV. "Quartz isn't necessarily a budget-save, sometimes natural stone can be less expensive, but the nice thing about Quartz is it's durable."

When choosing between quartz and other options, like marble or granite, sometimes you have to think about upfront costs vs. long-term maintenance. While you might be able to find marble cheaper, you might have to replace it sooner because marble countertops stain more easily than you may realize. While quartz can be an expensive outlay, Roth reminds us that "it's very sturdy. It's not as porous as a natural stone and it'll last forever." However, if budget is your main consideration, Roth has another option for you: butcher block. The modified wood is significantly less expensive per square foot than its stone counterparts, making completely redoing every countertop a possibility for those who don't want to spend too much.

Canadian builder Mike Holmes is known for his no-nonsense approach to contracting. His popular show "Holmes on Homes" made him famous for stepping in and righting other contractors' wrongs. So when he makes a material recommendation, fans are apt to follow it. He is known for his consistent use of quartz countertops throughout his show, even creating the catchphrase "of quartz!" instead of "of course" when asked about which material he prefers. However, when building outdoor entertainment spaces, he has a different material in mind: porcelain.

"I can take a screwdriver and try to scratch this all I want, and I won't scratch it. It's 100% nonporous. It's made for outdoors," he shared with his audience on YouTube. When you think of porcelain, you might think of tiles that seem a bit fragile to use outside in a high-use space like a BBQ pit or deck kitchen. However, with porcelain, you don't have to worry about spilling sangria or dragging metal tongs across its surface. "Porcelain is the only countertop that I know of that won't scratch or won't stain," Holmes continued. It also comes in other colors other than the classic white, with black and gray being favorites. Best of all, the colors are resistant to the sun's UV rays, so they will not fade with time.