- In this video, you'll learn about the different
countertop ideas for your bathroom
Including the different types
as well as the pros and cons
And what you should use.
That's starting right now.
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^So today I'm joined by Mackenzie Schurer,
^interior designer with Brookfield Residential.
^And today we're gonna talk about countertop ideas
for your bathroom.
So, I know Mackenzie in our last video,
we talked about the types of countertops, right.
And if you want to know more, you could check out the video
up here or I gonna leave it in the description below.
^In your opinion, what would you recommend
^for a regular size bathroom?
^- So obviously the options are the same,
but the function in a bathroom is gonna be very different
than in a kitchen.
So you have to take that into account.
^If we're looking at a either main bath or ensuite
^where it's being used daily either by kids or adults,
^you wanna look at maybe something a little lower maintenance
^especially if you've got hair tools,
hot elements right on the surface.
Also, cleanability, you're usually cleaning around fixtures
and things like that.
So, something lower maintenance like a quartz
would be great.
^The only thing here is you wanna avoid putting
^any hot appliances directly on it.
^So if you're gonna use a curling iron or a straight iron,
^just put something underneath it.
^The benefit of a natural stone would be
^that you don't have to worry about the heat as much,
^but there will be just a little bit more maintenance.
^You wanna make sure no oils or acid get on those materials
^compared to the quartz.
^- So things like shampoo, or things like deodorant,
^or whatever it is, those, would that have an adverse impact
^on the manmade or a more adverse impact on,
^- On the natural.
- On the natural?
^- Yeah, especially oils.
There's a lot of face oils and things like that.
^That's what really will be an issue for these ones,
^but then they don't respond to the heat.
^So you just have to think about how you use the space.
^- And if you were to go natural,
^how often would you need to I guess, seal it or clean it?
^Like every six months?
^Same thing as a kitchen?
^- About the same thing as a kitchen, yeah.
A quartzite or a granite,
you'd want to be about every eight months to a year
depending on how frequently orhow heavy use it's getting.
^Marble, closer to the six month mark.
^- Are there any, how about waterproofing?
^Is that a concern at all?
^- It's not a concern with any of these
and the way they're installed, the joints and the seams
and everything are well sealed.
- So you won't see any type of warping
or anything like that.
- No.
- Okay, now let's talk about ideas.
^What are some of the I guess the trends or the ideas
^for bathroom countertops today?
^- It really depends on the tile you've chosen
for your bathroom.
^I think the countertop needs to compliment
^what you've done in the rest of the space.
^And it's a smaller piece of the puzzle,
^so I always encourage homeowners to choose
^the surrounding tile first and then we'll find a countertop
that suits it.
The one exception to that would be maybe a powder room
where you want it to be a bit more of a showpiece.
That's a great spot to use something like a natural stone.
It's not getting heavy use and it's a small area,
so you can really sort of get more bang for your buck
in that space and really create something unique.
^- How bout in terms of matching it
^with let's say, your tile.
^Does that like have any impact?
Like your tile or your bath whatever the material you choose
in your bath before?
^- Yeah, I think it's more important to coordinate.
^So we're never gonna get an exact match.
^And by coordinating it instead, pulling the same colors,
^maybe more pattern, less pattern,
^it's going to look a little bit more cohesive.
^- And can you actually mix and match the two
^or would you recommend one type or one color
^for the bathroom?
- My preference on countertops in the bathrooms,
so if you have a split vanity or something like that,
I would keep the same countertops just because you have
a lot of finishes in the bathroom that will play into it.
You have the plumbing fixtures,
the chrome or the metal finish that you choose,
and then the various tiles and various sizes,
so I think personally, just to keep it nice and clean
to leave the countertops the same.
Another way to tie it together would be to wrap
one of these up as the backsplash.
So that's another option as well if you want to simplify
^or a more modern look.
^- And does it matter if you combine manmade
^versus natural or not at all?
- No.
^- In terms of cost, does this cost about the same
^as a kitchen countertop when you design it,
^or more expensive, how does that work?
- It's just based on square footage.
Costs to typically upgrade in a bathroom is gonna be less
just depending on the design of your home.
But that's where a smaller powder room,
you might be able to upgrade a little bit more
rather than a large main bath where you've got
a couple sinks.
^- What if your bathroom is smaller or bigger,
^does that make a difference,
^or still kind of aesthetically?
- Not specifically to the material.
^I think maybe more to the pattern or color you choose.
^A smaller bathroom,
^you may wanna go a little bit more simple.
^But again, it just plays into the rest of your finishes
^and how creative you wanna get.
^- Perfect, do have anything else to add
^in terms of designing your bathroom
^with the different types of countertops?
- No, I think sometimes what you can do
is tie that countertop finish into other places
in the bathroom just to tie it together.
Maybe you're doing a bench in the shower or a niche
and that would be a spot to tie it in.
But in terms of materials,
you can pretty much do whatever you want.
^- Perfect.
^So the question of the day I have for you is,
^what are some bathroom ideas you have
^in terms of countertops as well as what material
did you use?
Let us know in the comments section below.
Thank you very much for joining us
and we'll catch you next time.
If you wanna know more about marble, quartz,
or granite countertops, I've actually got a great plan
that's for you here as well as other interior design videos
which we have here.
I'll see you in our next video.