Gorgeous Countertop Materials Your Favorite HGTV Stars Swear By

Nate Berkus is a long-trusted name in the world of interior design. So if he feels something is good enough to use at home, it must be a stand-out material. The star remodeled the kitchen of the property he shares with husband Jeremiah Brent in 2022. After he posted the look on social media, followers were eager to recreate the look of his gorgeous kitchen in their own home. "Our freshly updated NYC kitchen is a stark contrast from the formerly black cabinetry that we originally installed," Berkus shared with fans on Facebook. "We wanted the most used space in our home to feel bright, airy, and chalky and it turned out exactly like we wanted. The countertops and island feature Calacatta Turquoise Antico marble by ABC Stone."

This marble is typically only sold in slabs; however, if you would prefer tiling or a smaller size than what is available, the supplier is willing to make alterations. The average size of a slab is typically 80" x 40" – 120" x 70", per ABC Stone. To complete the look, consider using the same stone as a backsplash as Berkus and Brent have done in their home. By choosing to have the same material for both, you create a cohesive surface that is easy to clean and minimizes grout lines. The uninterrupted flow of marble from the countertop to the backsplash also adds elegance and sophistication to the kitchen, creating a sense of unity and timeless beauty.

Drew and Jonathan Scott have remodeled their fair share of kitchen countertops. With that in mind, the Property Brothers have a marked preference regarding the materials they use in clients' homes. "We love quartz countertops because they look like natural stone, but are so much easier," Jonathan Scott says (via Apple). Natural stone countertops are materials like marble and granite. Quartz is technically man-made because manufacturers add color and strengthening materials to the original stone.

This makes quartz options gorgeous and a great choice for people who might be harder on their kitchens, like those with large families or budding home chefs. The more you use a space, the stronger you want it to be. "We love materials like quartz and Neolith for durability and no maintenance ...Try to avoid materials that scratch too easily, because you'll shed a single tear when you scuff them up within the first week," the brothers wrote in their 2016 book "Dream Home." While natural stone countertops might look beautiful, if you feel apprehensive about potentially ruining your investment during your next Christmas cookie-baking extravaganza, quartz — in any color — is the perfect happy medium between style and durability.

Mina Starsiak Hawk is most famous for hosting "Good Bones" on HGTV. She also has a preference for chic and classic marble countertops when designing kitchens. "Anyone who knows me knows that I'm in love with Carrara marble — it's just beautiful, but it's getting more expensive and it's a lot more difficult to maintain," she told House Beautiful. This maintenance comes when trying to prevent damage to the stone through everyday use, like baking, unloading groceries, or doing dishes. "You can seal it to help protect it from acidic stains. It will prevent some scratches, but even a seal won't prevent everything," her co-star Karen Laine chimed in when the pair discussed countertop options on HGTV.

If this sounds like too much work for you, or you don't want to go through the extra expense of sealing your Carrara marble countertops after installing them, Hawk is quick to recommend a few equally stylish workarounds. "On a lot of our projects, we've been switching to quartz versus the natural stone. It has the same creamy look but it's more durable and easier to take care of," she also told House Beautiful. This way, you don't have to worry about being too delicate with your counters, but you don't have to sacrifice the aesthetic you want either.

David Bromstad of "Color Splash" and "My Lottery Dream Home" fame has a favorite countertop material, and it's one not many other HGTV stars are using. Quartzite is a sturdy metamorphic rock that forms sandstone with plenty of naturally occurring quartz inside. When the sandstone is subjected to intense heat and pressure, quartzite forms. It is typically rich with quartz crystals but sometimes contains feldspar and mica, too, which can slightly change its appearance.

Quartzite is known for its durability and resistance to heat, which is why it is so good to use in kitchens. "It kind of looks like marble, but it's much more durable. That's what I'm putting in my house," Bromstad shared on Season 14, Episode 4 of "My Lottery Dream Home." The stone has a unique appearance as the pressurization typically creates intricate veining patterns as well as vibrant colors. Classic options include black, white, and gray, but those interested can also find stone available in green or even orange. Something to consider, however, is that because the stone is so strong, you can't successfully cut it at home. You need a diamond cutter to slice the slabs into the dimensions of your kitchen. If you would prefer to complete your kitchen renovation yourself, this isn't the option for you, since it needs to be professionally cut and installed.

If you are looking for a durable countertop material that is easy to customize, Chip and Joanna Gaines recommend concrete, with a few caveats. The material is highly resistant to scratches, heat, and stains, making it perfect for heavy use. This means it is ideal for outdoor food prep areas, or even interior kitchens with a postmodern feel. It is also simple for contractors to adjust the size of concrete slabs, making customizing your kitchen easier than ever. However, it does come with a few drawbacks, namely the difficulty of installing it correctly. "Concrete countertops are definitely in the category of 'do not try this at home if you're not an expert,'" Chip advised viewers during Season 1, Episode 13 of "Fixer Upper." "These things crack if you don't do rebar just right. The science is mixing the concrete right. That's the hard part." 

So while you should not DIY your concrete countertops, you can still partner with a professional builder to create the perfect look. If you are not a fan of the subtle gray of the typical material, you can even add pigments to the mixture to make it any color you would like, including a darker gunmetal gray. This option shows up throughout "Fixer Upper," as the Gaines are big fans of its flexibility and look. "I like the look of concrete countertops annnnd concrete walls now too!" Joanna posted on Facebook when promoting Season 4 of the show.

Canadian builder Mike Holmes is known for his no-nonsense approach to contracting. His popular show "Holmes on Homes" made him famous for stepping in and righting other contractors' wrongs. So when he makes a material recommendation, fans are apt to follow it. He is known for his consistent use of quartz countertops throughout his show, even creating the catchphrase "of quartz!" instead of "of course" when asked about which material he prefers. However, when building outdoor entertainment spaces, he has a different material in mind: porcelain.

"I can take a screwdriver and try to scratch this all I want, and I won't scratch it. It's 100% nonporous. It's made for outdoors," he shared with his audience on YouTube. When you think of porcelain, you might think of tiles that seem a bit fragile to use outside in a high-use space like a BBQ pit or deck kitchen. However, with porcelain, you don't have to worry about spilling sangria or dragging metal tongs across its surface. "Porcelain is the only countertop that I know of that won't scratch or won't stain," Holmes continued. It also comes in other colors other than the classic white, with black and gray being favorites. Best of all, the colors are resistant to the sun's UV rays, so they will not fade with time.