Vetrazzo Countertops: Is This Jenny Marrs-Approved Material Right For Your Home?

When building or renovating a home, decision fatigue is a real and common phenomenon. Once you've chosen the right paint color, flooring, and lighting options for each room, the process can start to feel like a bit of a blur. When it comes to choosing the perfect countertop material for your kitchen, all the options might feel overwhelming, but it's important to fully consider them. While most people end up debating between a cost-effective option like Formica and durable natural stone like marble or granite, there are additional options.

Since the 1920s, terrazzo countertops have quietly provided an attractive alternative to stone or laminate countertops, all while coming in as the more eco-friendly choice. Jenny Marrs of HGTV's "Fixer to Fabulous" recently put her stamp of approval on terrazzo's most modern iteration: Vetrazzo. If you're wondering whether or not Vetrazzo countertops would be a good choice for your home's kitchen, this is the guide for you. 

Before you can understand what Vetrazzo is, you must understand terrazzo. A terrazzo countertop (or floor) is made from a mixture of cement and/or resin and recycled pebbles, stones, and glass chips. The result is a glossy, speckled, sparkly mosaic effect. Vetrazzo is a brand that makes an updated, hand-made version of terrazzo that features recycled glass sourced within the United States. Since Vetrazzo uses all glass without pebbles or stones mixed in, it produces a much more dramatic sparkle than traditional terrazzo.

Each piece of glass in a Vetrazzo countertop is precisely placed by hand. This updated and upgraded approach to a vintage material like terrazzo is what inspired Jenny Marrs to select the material for the countertops during the restoration of a particularly retro home in season 3, episode 14 of "Fixer to Fabulous". Marrs chose Vetrazzo's Martini Flint variety for the home, which consists of various clear glass bottle and jar shards against a white background. 

One of the main advantages of a recycled glass countertop is its stunning and fully original appearance. Since each recycled glass shard is placed individually by hand, no two countertop slabs will ever look identical. Recycled glass countertops are also heat-resistant, stain-resistant, and easy to clean. Longer-term maintenance, on the other hand, can be a bit of a potential drawback. To ensure that your Vetrazzo countertop remains protected from stains and moisture, you'll need to reseal it every year. Vetrazzo also recommends waxing your countertop every six months.

When it comes to cost, Vetrazzo countertops aren't exactly a bargain. They average between $85 and $165 per square foot. This is actually a significantly higher price than that of granite, which averages $40-60 per square foot. If price is a major concern, there is a good chance that Vetrazzo won't meet your needs. If sustainability and/or fashion are your main priorities, it may be exactly what you've been looking for.