I wanted to use a shimmery pearl backsplash but it was problematic to install. Looking for something reflective. My island is deep blue (sea serpent by Sherwin-Williams), cabinets white with clear glass in second row uppers, fixtures, pulls and knobs all champagne bronze. Hoped to find something more exciting than white subway but I need help and fast so we can install the range hood and the stove!

I have used both with good results. The main difference between Quartz and Granite are 1) price, 2) colour range. Granite generally works out cheaper, because you can buy the exact quantity you require. Quartz comes in large slabs of specific sizes- standard size being roughly 10'-0" x 4'6", so there tends to be more wastage if you don't plan the cutting well. But Quartz is pretty and comes in a wide range of colours and can be re-buffed at a later date. Quartz also comes in various thicknesses- the most commonly used being .75" to about 1.25". And especially when you use dark wood cabinets in a kitchen or bathroom, beige and white counter tops work very well. Some people go even with coloured counter tops like blue, orange, yellow. Natural stone in light colours tend to be porous and stain easily, so I prefer to go with pure black which is safe.

Laminate is incredibly durable. Currently we have a stone-look gloss surface with tiny, occasional pits for texture, no problems with food particles getting stuck. Previously we had a matte finish in color, it lasted 20 years before looking scuffed. I would not use raised texture on a counter bc the peaks would wear more quickly.

Hey, IKEA has some great choices in solid surface kitchen countertops. Since you are trying to choose the best material for your kitchen countertops, you can head over to the IKEA website to get help with your decision. There, you can browse the different kitchen countertop options available and compare them. Besides their ready-made countertops, you can also get customised ones, so that they can suit your requirements better.