TL;DR
Get home appliances delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
A House Beautiful report says designers are increasingly choosing natural stones and porcelain slabs instead of engineered quartz. It cites a National Kitchen & Bath Association survey in which 78% of designers were sourcing quartzite, alongside concerns about quartz fabrication dust and the material’s limits with stains. The report does not establish that quartz is disappearing nationwide or that California has enacted a production ban.
Some interior designers are steering clients away from engineered quartz countertops and toward quartzite, soapstone, granite and porcelain, according to a House Beautiful report. The shift matters to homeowners planning costly kitchen renovations, but the report describes a change in designer preferences—not a confirmed nationwide decline or replacement of quartz.
The report cites an annual trend report from the National Kitchen & Bath Association, saying 78% of designers were sourcing quartzite while fewer were selecting quartz. It does not provide the survey’s sample size, the precise comparison period, or the share of designers choosing quartz, so the figure indicates interest in quartzite rather than a quantified drop in quartz use.
Designers interviewed by House Beautiful pointed to both appearance and performance. Barrett Oswald said quartz can lack the depth and individuality of natural stone, while Jessica Risko Smith said some clients expect a worry-free surface and are surprised that quartz can stain. Steven Cooper described it as stain-resistant, not stain-proof.
For homeowners seeking natural materials, the designers named marble and quartzite for their appearance, and soapstone and granite as options Smith considers suitable for lower-maintenance kitchens. For clients seeking an alternative that can fit a tighter budget, designers Kilian Camp and Cooper recommended porcelain slabs. The report does not offer comparative prices or maintenance data for these materials.
Choices for a Costly Kitchen Project
Countertops are a significant renovation decision: replacing them involves expense and disruption, and homeowners may expect the material to last for years. The reported shift is relevant to people weighing appearance, upkeep and cost before committing to a surface. It also challenges the idea that quartz is a completely worry-free option: the designers quoted say it can stain, despite being stain-resistant.
The alternatives involve trade-offs rather than a universal upgrade. According to the report, natural stone can require more maintenance, while porcelain is presented by the interviewed designers as durable and potentially more budget-friendly. Those are attributed assessments, not side-by-side performance findings. Homeowners should compare specific products, care requirements, installation costs and warranties before choosing.
Products Worth Considering
Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with Self-Empty Base
Philips Hue Large Smart Light Tube, Black – White and Color Ambiance LED Color-Changing Light – 1 Pack
Ring Alarm 14-Piece Wireless Security System Kit
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Why Designers Are Reconsidering Quartz
Engineered quartz has been popular because it offers consistent patterns, durability and relatively low maintenance, as Oswald acknowledged in the House Beautiful report. Some designs imitate the veining of marble, making quartz an alternative for buyers seeking a similar look at a lower cost. Designers interviewed for the article said clients still request quartz partly because they expect strong performance in busy kitchens.
The report also raises a separate issue: occupational exposure during fabrication. It says crystalline silica has been linked to silicosis among workers and reports that California is preparing to ban production of engineered quartz. The article does not identify a specific enacted law, effective date or regulatory document. Its account should not be read as confirmation that a ban is already in force.
““We’ve always felt that quartz lacks the depth, warmth, and individuality of natural stone.””
— Barrett Oswald, an interior designer in New York’s Westchester County, quoted by House Beautiful
How Far the Shift Has Reached
The report does not establish how much quartz use has changed across the countertop market, whether consumer demand has fallen, or whether the reported designer preferences apply nationally. The 78% quartzite figure lacks survey details in the material provided, including its sample size and the basis for comparison.
California’s reported plan to restrict engineered-quartz production also needs clarification: the report does not cite a law, rule, enforcement timeline or official statement. It is not clear whether or when any restriction would take effect, what products it would cover, or whether other states are considering similar measures. The health concern described relates to fabrication exposure; the article does not claim that installed countertops pose the same risk to homeowners.
What Buyers Should Compare
People planning a renovation can ask fabricators and suppliers about the specific slab, expected maintenance, stain resistance, repair options and total installed cost. Those details vary by product and project; the House Beautiful report does not provide a price comparison or independent testing to rank the alternatives.
On regulation, the next concrete development would be an official California announcement or published rule that specifies the scope and timing of any production restriction. Until then, the report’s account of a planned ban and designers’ predictions about other states remain reported expectations, not confirmed policy changes.
Key Questions
Are quartz countertops being banned across the United States?
No nationwide ban is established by the report. It says California is reportedly preparing a production ban, but does not cite an enacted rule, its timing or its scope.
What materials are designers recommending instead of quartz?
The report names quartzite, marble, soapstone and granite, along with porcelain slabs. The most suitable option depends on budget, appearance preferences and tolerance for maintenance.
Does quartz stain?
The designers interviewed describe quartz as stain-resistant rather than stain-proof. Their comments warn against treating it as a surface that cannot stain.
Why are fabrication workers part of the quartz discussion?
The report cites concerns about crystalline silica exposure during fabrication and its link to silicosis. It does not say that an installed countertop creates the same exposure for homeowners.
Source: housebeautiful.com
