Today I’m discussing high-end décor decisions I’ve made that don’t hold up as well as their less-expensive counterparts.
If you have any upcoming design plans, these are decisions you might want to consider.
I’ll give you the true 411, my thoughts about how I’d do things differently and let you decide!
Marble Countertops
It seems like whole-house remodels or new-home builds use consistent countertops in kitchens, bars or bathrooms.
Our home was slooooooowly remodeled, room by room, over many years. And each area has distint design choices.
Guest bathrooms and the bar have sturdy granite counters. The master bath has quartz.
But the kitchen? Oh, the kitchen received my dream marble countertops.
The most beautiful piece of stone I ever laid eyes on.
We remodeled our kitchen over 10 years ago. So I have a lot of data to report on the durability of marble in the kitchen.
And the numbers do not look good for the long run.
It did not take long at all for our counters to become etched from lemon, vinegar and other acidic juices.
I have not noticed stains from tomato sauce or the like, but I do wipe the counters down. A lot!
Actually I think stains from tea are more of a threat than anything.
Marble is an expensive choice and it does not hold up well. Would I do it again?
I really am not sure. There isn’t ever a time I come into my kitchen and don’t just love seeing the white crisp finishes.
I have had to get over being bothered by the imperfections.
A beautiful piece of leathered granite or quartz would definitely be a consideration if I were doing it again.
These are quartz countertops in a model home with very light veining. Pretty and bright too.
Engineered Hardwood Floors
Wood floors are so beautiful and so timeless.
And so expensive.
And are not always the best choice for places that harbor termites (like our house).
Or places with extreme temperatures (like ours!).
When we remodeled our floors, we removed very old carpet. With both of us being allergy sufferers and pet lovers, we knew carpet was not an option.
So that left hard tile, vinyl plank flooring or hard wood.
My sister Susie has tile that looks like wood in her mountain house and it is attractive and extremely durable.
Way back when we were doing flooring, the vinyl plank looked very cheap and flimsy with limited color options that did not fit in with our taste.
So we chose distressed engineered hardwood.
And then. A tiny pinprick of a hole in one of our water lines in the wall. And a flood.
The entire floor in the kitchen, hallway, living room and dining room had to be removed, abated and replaced.
What a job!
Of course, with a flood, that process would have been followed in any case, but it was heartbreaking.
Would I do it again? I’m not certain!
Luxury vinyl plank has come a long way since our flooring was done. There are a bazillion color selections and the quality is really pretty.
Remember Denisse had her flooring done recently. It’s beautiful and she is happy with it.
Feather Down Cushions
Not to go into my moral feelings about using down, I also don’t care for the sloppy look furniture starts to get very soon with feather down cushions.
The Pottery Barn sofa and recliner in our family room have the top cushions in feather down and I really wanted another option, but that style only came with those cushions.
Are the comfortable? Yes. Do they look good? No. Would I do it again? Nope.
Leather
This one is super easy. If you have pets, particularly cats? Just say no.
Even faux leather or a distressed finish is not going to hold up.
We have a faux leather daybed and it has tiny pinprick holes where someone decided to do a little scratching.
Not mentioning any names, but her initials start with Roxy!
Wrap Up
So, what do you think? Are some finishes worth the money regardless of their durability?
As always, thank you for reading my blog and coming along with me!