One Quartz

When you shop quartz countertops, thickness sounds like a simple spec. In real kitchens and baths around Milwaukee, WI, thickness affects how your countertop looks at the edge, how it spans over cabinets, and what your installation needs for long-term stability. K.G. Stevens fabricates and installs quartz locally, so they see the same issues come up across remodels, new builds, and commercial projects: overhangs that need support, islands that need a thicker visual, and design plans that do not account for edge details until the last minute. 

Before you pick a slab, it helps to understand what “standard” quartz thickness means, how it changes the finished look, and where you can make smart choices without creating extra complexity.

The Standard Quartz Thickness Options: 1.2 cm, 2 cm, and 3 cm

Quartz slabs are commonly available in three thickness categories:

• Ultra-thin: 1.2 cm (about 1/2 inch)
• Thin: 2 cm (about 3/4 inch)
• Thick: 3 cm (about 1 1/4 inches) 

These measurements describe the slab itself, not the finished countertop height once installed on cabinets. 

Where each thickness is typically used

• 1.2 cm: Often used for vertical applications, decorative panels, and some modern designs where a slim profile is part of the look.
• 2 cm: Common for countertops when paired with an edge build-up (more on that below). It is also frequently used for backsplashes and vertical features. 
• 3 cm: A frequent choice for kitchen counters and islands where you want a thicker edge without added build-up steps.

Pro tip: If you love a clean, thin look, confirm your edge profile early. A thin slab with the wrong edge can look unfinished from across the room, especially on an island.

2 cm vs 3 cm Quartz: How to Decide Based on Your Layout

For most Milwaukee-area kitchens, the 2 cm versus 3 cm decision comes down to these factors:

1) Visual weight at the edge
A 3 cm countertop reads more substantial on perimeter runs and islands. It pairs well with traditional, transitional, and many modern farmhouse kitchens.
A 2 cm slab can look just as strong when it is paired with a built-up edge.

2) Overhangs, spans, and support planning
Thinner slabs can require additional support depending on overhang length, cabinet design, and how the countertop will be used.
This matters on island seating, desk-height counters, and long runs where the countertop bridges open space.

3) Project type

• Busy family kitchen: 3 cm is often the simpler path because it reduces edge construction choices.
• Bathroom vanity: 2 cm can be a practical fit, especially if you want a lighter visual profile.
• Commercial work: Thickness decisions should align with durability needs and the look the space is aiming for.

Pro tip: If your island is a homework and entertaining hub, plan the thickness decision together with your overhang depth and seating layout. Those three choices should match.

Edge Build-Ups: How You Get a Thick Look Without Choosing a Thick Slab

A common strategy with 2 cm quartz is a laminated (built-up) edge, where the fabricator builds the front edge to create the look of a thicker countertop.

This is useful when:

• You want a thicker, furniture-style edge on an island
• You want a consistent “thick” look across multiple areas
• You are trying to match an existing countertop profile in another part of the home

What to check before you commit

• Which edge profiles are compatible with a build-up
• Whether seams or pattern transitions will be visible at the edge
• How corners and radius details will be finished

Pro tip: If you choose a quartz pattern with bold veining, ask your fabricator how the veining will wrap around the edge. This is where a countertop can look clean or look patched.

For edge planning help, start with K.G. Stevens’ quartz resources and showroom guidance: Quartz Countertops. 

Practical Pro Tips for Milwaukee Homeowners and Builders

Plan thickness around your sink and faucet decisions
Your sink style and faucet layout affect cutouts and spacing. Lock those choices in before templating so thickness and edge planning stay on track.

Match thickness to the cabinet style
A sleek slab on ornate cabinets can feel mismatched. A thick-looking edge on flat-panel cabinets can feel heavy. Use thickness to support the cabinet style, not fight it.

Think about islands differently than perimeter counters
Many homeowners want a thicker edge only on the island for a focal point. That can be done with smart edge planning, even if perimeter counters stay simple.

Confirm your installer’s process
K.G. Stevens operates out of a large fabrication facility in Milwaukee and recommends scheduling a visit so you can review options in person. 

If you want a second perspective on how thickness affects design and function, this related post is useful: The Truth About Quartz Thickness: When And Why It Matters. 

Get Quartz Thickness Right Before Fabrication Starts

Choosing quartz thickness is one of those decisions that is easy to rush and hard to change later. If you’re remodeling in Milwaukee, WI or working on a new build nearby, K.G. Stevens can help you compare 2 cm and 3 cm options, plan edge details, and choose a thickness that fits your layout and your daily use.

Next steps:

• Schedule a Showroom Visit 
• Explore planning tips on the K.G. Stevens Blog 

Start with quartz options here: Quartz Countertops

Quartz countertops are known for their versatility, but a detail that often goes overlooked is thickness. The thickness of a quartz slab affects far more than appearance. It influences performance, cost, installation methods, and even the feel of the finished space. Understanding how thickness plays a role helps homeowners make smart design choices that balance function and style.

Understanding Standard Quartz Thicknesses

Most quartz slabs are manufactured in two primary thicknesses: 2 centimeters and 3 centimeters. A 2 cm slab is about 3/4 inch thick, while a 3cm countertop is about 1¼ inches thick. These measurements refer to the depth of the slab, not the height of the countertop itself once installed. A 2 cm slab is lighter, easier to handle, and often used for vertical applications like backsplashes and fireplace surrounds. A 3 cm slab provides a sturdier, more substantial appearance and is the go-to choice for high-traffic areas such as kitchens. While both options share the same material composition and quality, the difference in thickness directly impacts strength and installation requirements.

Why Thicker Quartz Means More Durability

Quartz is one of the strongest engineered stone materials available, but thickness adds another layer of protection. A 3 cm countertop resists impact and vibration better than a thinner slab, making it ideal for spaces where heavy appliances, cookware, or frequent food prep might put stress on the surface. The extra weight contributes to a more grounded and luxurious look while maintaining the durability quartz is known for.

When Thinner Quartz Works Best

In some spaces, a thinner quartz slab is the smarter choice. For bathrooms, bar tops, or accent areas where the countertop won’t face the same level of daily wear, 2 cm quartz provides an elegant, minimalist appearance. It can also be used creatively to achieve a sleek, modern aesthetic with waterfall edges or floating vanities. Because it’s lighter, thinner quartz can be installed in places where a 3 cm slab might be too heavy or require reinforcement. The reduced material weight can also help manage project costs without sacrificing the overall quality of the surface.

Edge Profiles and the Illusion of Thickness

Thickness doesn’t have to dictate the visual impact of a countertop. Fabricators can use mitered edges (where two slabs are joined at a 45-degree angle) to create the illusion of a thicker surface. This approach is popular in modern kitchens seeking a bold, statement-making appearance without the added weight or expense of a solid 3 cm slab. Homeowners who want visual depth with design flexibility often choose this technique to combine practicality with an upscale finish.

Design Considerations and Structural Support

Choosing the right quartz thickness involves balancing aesthetics with practicality. A 3 cm slab delivers a robust look that complements traditional and transitional designs, while a thinner profile can enhance modern, open concepts. However, each installation must consider cabinetry strength, overhang length, and intended use. Large kitchen islands, for instance, benefit from thicker quartz to prevent flexing, while smaller bathroom vanities may achieve the same visual impact with a thinner cut. Working with an experienced fabricator ensures the thickness aligns with both the structure and the style of the space.

Choosing What’s Right for Your Home

Quartz thickness influences more than surface height. It affects how your space feels, functions, and endures over time. A thicker countertop offers substantial weight and longevity, while thinner quartz adds visual lightness and design flexibility. The best choice depends on how you use your space and what look you want to achieve. But before making that choice, you need to see the slab for yourself– and you can do that when you stop by our showroom! Contact KG Stevens today to set up an appointment and see the difference that quartz thickness can make.

Designing a kitchen that will look stylish and function beautifully for decades requires choices that can stand the test of time. Trends come and go, but investing in elements that offer both enduring appeal and lasting durability means you won’t feel pressured to remodel every time styles shift. 

Quartz countertops are a smart foundation for a luxurious, future-proof kitchen, combining a wide range of timeless design options with impressive performance. By focusing on simplicity, versatility, and low-maintenance materials, you can create a kitchen that still feels current years from now, no matter how your tastes evolve.

Future-Proofing Your Style

Simplicity is the key to future-proof kitchen design. Bold patterns might look great and trendy now, but you only have to look at what happened to granite to see that busy patterns can look dated as trends die out. The heavily-flecked granite in reds and grays that was so popular in the 90s is frequently compared to ground meat today; not a fun comparison! 

Instead of choosing a quartz with a strong pattern, something simple and refined will always look timeless. Soft veining in subtle colors will look as elegant in a decade as it does today; matte black and soft gray will always be in-style. Even a bold color can feel timeless when it’s a simple slab; letting the hue, not the pattern, make the statement keeps the kitchen looking fresh.

The same is true of edge designs. A complicated double ogee edge might look sophisticated now, but will it look fussy when you redecorate? What if you choose a minimalist style in five years and suddenly that edge feels out of place? Meanwhile, a simple straight edge or gentle bullnose curve will always look unobtrusive. Some people love to redecorate and refinish; others don’t. It’s all a matter of your personal preferences!

Maintaining Your Quartz Countertops

Quartz’s minimal maintenance needs are another reason that many people choose it with the future in mind. Unlike other stone countertops, it never needs to be sealed. You can clean it with regular dish soap and water; there’s no patina to scratch or pores that water can sink into. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to protect your quartz and keep it looking and functioning great for decades. 

The first is UV exposure. The resins that bind quartz particles together in a quartz countertop are impacted by the sun, so don’t expect an outdoor quartz countertop to last forever— and pay attention to quartz that has natural sun exposure in the kitchen. Today’s windows do a great job of blocking UV radiation, but not all older glass windows do. 

You also need to be somewhat careful with hot pots and pans, Quartz is extremely durable and will be fine if you have to quickly something down that you’re going to pick back up again, but if you put a really hot pot down on your quartz countertop and leave it there, it can cause bubbling or other problems with the resin. Trivets and hot pads are always a good idea. 

Create a Kitchen You’ll Love for Years

Future-proofing your kitchen with quartz countertops means choosing a material that offers lasting beauty, dependable performance, and the flexibility to work with changing styles. By focusing on timeless patterns, versatile edge profiles, and proper care, you can enjoy a kitchen that feels just as inviting years from now as it does today. 

At KG Stevens, we offer an extensive selection of quartz options and expert fabrication to ensure your countertops are as functional as they are beautiful. Reach out today for a free quote towards a kitchen that’s designed to last.

If you have a small kitchen without the room to expand, don’t despair! The right renovation can make your space feel so much larger, and it all starts with your countertops. With thoughtful design choices and the right materials, even the most compact spaces can appear brighter, cheerier, airier, and bigger. 

At KG Stevens, we’ve been helping homeowners get the most out of their space for years. Today, let’s take a look at how small kitchens can feel so much larger with the right choice of materials. 

Creating Visual Openness with Quartz

When you want to make a compact kitchen feel bigger, you want stone countertops– and specifically, you want light-colored stone countertops. Why? Simple. 

The polished surface of pale-colored stone is light-reflective, meaning it bounces light around the room and helps brighten up even the darkest corners, creating the illusion of more space and openness throughout the kitchen.

Quartz is ideal for this use; it is physically lighter than natural stone, and comes in lots of different colors, including pure snowy white if that’s what you want. Because quartz is manufactured, there’s far more control over its consistency and patterning, giving you options that can help open up the space.

Let Quartz Reflect The Light

Lighting plays a key role in how large a kitchen feels. Quartz surfaces, especially in polished finishes, reflect both natural and artificial light, helping to amplify brightness throughout the room. 

Because quartz reflects light so effectively, it can work in tandem with well-placed lighting to brighten corners and counter shadows, helping the entire kitchen feel more open and airy.

Choose Simple, Clean Patterns

A consistent, low-contrast pattern works best when you’re trying to make a small kitchen feel bigger. Highly veined or bold-patterned countertops can be beautiful, but in a compact kitchen, they can sometimes draw too much attention and interrupt the visual flow. 

The goal is to create a surface that feels open and uncluttered. When the eye can move easily across countertops without hitting visual interruptions, the entire kitchen feels more expansive and less confined.

Slim Edge Profiles Maximize Surface Area

Edge profiles might seem like a minor detail, but they can subtly influence how open your kitchen feels. Chunkier or ornate edge designs can feel bulky in small kitchens, calling attention to the thickness of the surface rather than the overall space. 

Choosing a slim, squared edge or a simple eased edge helps maintain a clean and modern look. These minimal profiles draw less attention to the boundary of the countertop, keeping the eye moving and preserving a sense of openness. With quartz, you can maintain elegance while choosing a thinner profile that fits the room’s proportions.

Match Countertops And Backsplash For Flow

Another technique that enhances spaciousness is using the same quartz material for both the countertops and the backsplash. Extending the quartz vertically eliminates the break between surfaces, making the kitchen feel taller and more cohesive. 

This approach creates an uninterrupted flow that keeps the design feeling open; using one consistent material for both elements reduces visual distractions.

Design With Confidence And Impact

Small kitchens require thoughtful choices, but they also offer opportunities for impactful design. By choosing quartz countertops that reflect light, feature subtle movement, and support a clean color palette, you can transform a compact kitchen into one that feels stylish and spacious. 

At KG Stevens, we specialize in helping homeowners find quartz countertops that work beautifully with their space and goals. Contact us today for a free quote and let us help you make your kitchen feel more expansive.

When you’re considering your kitchen countertop choices, there’s a lot to think about. There are the obvious elements like durability, looks, and how a particular stone will function within the rest of your kitchen. But there are lifestyle considerations, too. 

For example, if you have a busy family with children, quartz countertops are often ideal thanks to how easy they are to keep clean. But that’s not the only lifestyle where quartz countertops can make life just a bit easier. Today, let’s talk about a design feature that doesn’t always come up in initial countertop consultations, but is extremely important: universal design.

What Is Universal Design?

Universal design focuses on creating environments that are usable by everyone, regardless of age, mobility, or ability. In the home, this approach ensures that living spaces remain accessible and convenient over time. As physical needs evolve, whether due to aging, injury, or disability, it becomes essential to have a kitchen that supports ease of use without sacrificing style.

Aging in place, the concept of staying in your home as you grow older, is a key consideration in universal design. Features like lower countertops, easy-to-clean surfaces, and ample workspace help people maintain independence and comfort. 

By incorporating universal design principles, homeowners can future-proof their kitchens while ensuring they remain inviting and practical for all family members and guests.

Why Quartz Countertops Enhance Accessible Kitchens

Quartz countertops are an excellent choice for accessible kitchens due to their durability and low-maintenance nature. Engineered from natural quartz crystals and resin, these countertops resist scratches, stains, and heat, making them ideal for everyday use. Their smooth, non-porous surface is easy to clean, reducing the effort required for maintenance, which is an important feature for those with limited mobility or strength.

In an accessible kitchen, ease of use is another primary concern. Quartz countertops can be customized to various heights, allowing for seated or standing workspaces. Lowered sections provide a comfortable surface for wheelchair users, while rounded edge profiles can prevent accidental injury. These thoughtful adjustments ensure the kitchen remains both functional and safe without compromising the sleek, modern appearance that quartz delivers.

Style And Customization Options For Every Home

Beyond functionality, quartz countertops offer a wide range of design possibilities. Available in an array of colors, patterns, and finishes, quartz can complement any kitchen style, from contemporary to traditional. Whether you prefer a polished, glossy finish or a more subtle matte surface, quartz allows for customization that reflects your personal taste.

For those integrating universal design, choosing a countertop with a contrasting edge color can improve visibility for people with low vision. Light-reflective surfaces can also enhance overall brightness, making the kitchen easier to navigate. With quartz, homeowners do not need to sacrifice beauty to achieve an accessible design. Instead, they can enjoy a surface that enhances the overall aesthetic while meeting practical needs.

Long-Lasting Value And Peace Of Mind

Investing in quartz countertops provides long-term value for any home. Their durability ensures they withstand the demands of a busy kitchen while maintaining their polished appearance for years to come. By choosing quartz countertops and incorporating universal design principles, you create a kitchen that is both welcoming and adaptable– and if that sounds like your next home upgrade, we’re here to help. Reach out to KG Stevens today for a free quote and consultation for your accessible countertop project!