I received some new quartz samples the other day.
This is how they were packaged when they arrived. . .
Every single sample had to be pried off with a screwdriver and taken out of the packaging.
Why?
Because it’s virtually impossible to choose the coordinating colour for your walls or cabinets with the sample glued and surrounded by plastic.
If each one stays in the package. You can’t place them on one white after another. . .
To make sure you have chosen the correct colour.
Which white, neutral or colour is the right one?
Which tile is the perfect one?
Laying your samples directly on large colour samples or tile is the only way you can correctly determine whether the colour you have chosen has passed the test.
Choosing the correct colour is more about placing the paint colour or fabric or hard surface sample as close to the exact environment it will be live in.
That means, the paint colour should NEVER be laid ON the tile (people do that all the time).
Is that where the paint colour will go in the end? NO.
Stand the colour up against the wall vertically, your tile sample beside it on the floor, and your countertop sample right on it. If it all looks beautiful together together with the lighting and your chances of getting the colour to do what you want get much closer to perfection.
After all, you can’t re-upholster your countertop once it’s installed.
Related posts:
When Should you Rip out Brand New Tile
The Hottest Trend in Backsplash Tile
One More Reason you Should Skip Accent tiles Altogether
If you would like your home to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact me.
Download my eBook, How to Choose Paint Colours: It’s All in the Undertones to learn how to get colour to do what you want.
To make sure the undertones in your home are right, get some large samples!
If you would like to learn to how choose the right colours for your home or for your clients, become a True Colour Expert.
Maria, it’s possible you got a defective kit. I have the same one and the covers pop off no problem and the samples pop out and back in without any effort. Call your rep!
You are right as always, great advice.
This explains why people don’t get a perfect color match when they want to match a paint exactly, and they hold a color chip at an angle to a wall. Not to mention the size of the chip.
Yup, perfect advice! I hate it when samples come in packaging like that- looks great but so inconvenient!
Forward the quartz manufacturer rep. this post.
Wasteful packaging and perhaps cheaper without it. 🙂
Mary in Ohio
I was so thankful when I chose my color options that our builder’s design center had large samples. I took them all outside to make sure they all coordinated. I wish I could have had them in the space they were going into, but thought that was the next best option. The overhead lights in the DC were really bad. I laid them out just like you said too- floor tile on the floor, shower tile on the side and countertops above. I think some of the people there thought I was a little bit nutty for taking it all outside. Lets hope they look as good installed. Hope that is the next best option to choosing them within the space and I made the right decisions.
I really struggle with keeping all my design stuff organized because of this kind of issue! They look so nice in the packaging, but it’s not user-friendly for us. Any tips for keeping the quartz and other samples organized?
I always explain to clients that materials need to be viewed in the orientation in which they’ll be installed…so vertically for wall paint, horizontal for tile and counters, as you recommended. I try to look at them in natural light as well.
OMG, you are so right! Samples need to come in boxes…like the grout colors.
Don’t forget the cabinet sample! Even if you’re using painted cabinets, many manufacturers have limited white colors, so it’s critical to have those handy to see how they relate to the potential countertop & flooring selections.
At the time we installed our Cambria Quartz countertops, the Cambria website had a partnership with Benjamin Moore. What you would do is enter the colour of countertop you were interested in, and then certain BM colours would be listed to coordinate. I thought it was a neat feature, but you still have to make sure that the paint coordinates with your cabinets, tile, etc. In the end, I didn’t choose a BM suggestion, but it can help point you in a certain direction. Not sure if they still have that feature on their website. I still think the best thing to do is what Maria suggests with the large paint sample. Painting a larger piece of poster board is the way to go and then you really have something to work with.
thanks Maria for the kind of basic information that actually really works
I like the samples from Cambira, which come in sturdy black boxes outfitted with a handle so you can carry it like a briefcase. All of the individual quartz samples are fitted into a piece of foam with slots for the samples. You can take them out and place them anywhere, and then just carry a few with you when shopping for other finishes or fabric.
Hello- may I ask what is the brand and color of the stone you have in this blog that showcases some tulips on top?
Thanks so much
in the last picture, which one is the right one?
You mentioned many quartz countertops are offwhite – are there many that are greige as well? Just finished reading both of your books and they were so helpful! I also watched your video on choosing countertops first and how to lay out the materials. I still can’t quite figure out which white or greige will work with my countertops but have ordered several samples of true white, off-white, and cream. For Silestone Eternal Staturaio — could it be considered a greige?