The Rising Demand for Honed Granite Countertops in Luxury Home Design

Fratantoni Interior Designers • June 13, 2017

Explore the rising demand for honed granite countertops, a top choice for luxury homes, offering a matte finish with timeless elegance and durability.

Honed granite countertops are becoming an increasingly popular choice for luxury kitchens and bathrooms. This material offers the same durability and resistance to stains, chips, and heat as traditional polished granite but with a more subtle, matte finish. For homeowners who appreciate the beauty of granite but prefer a softer, less reflective surface, honed granite is the perfect alternative.

What is Honed Granite?

The Aesthetic Appeal of a Matte Finish

Honed granite undergoes a polishing process that stops before the final buffing stage, resulting in a matte or low-gloss sheen. This finish lacks the mirror-like shine of traditional polished granite, giving the stone a softer, more aged appearance. The matte finish is especially popular among homeowners seeking a casual or farmhouse-style look in their spaces.

One important tip when selecting honed granite is to visit the warehouse and view the actual slab that will be used for your countertops. No two pieces of granite are identical, and seeing the full slab can help you choose the one that best suits your design vision.

granite countertops

Pros and Cons of Honed Granite

The Rising Demand for Honed Granite Countertops in Luxury Home DesignPros of Honed Granite: Appearance and Maintenance

Timeless Aesthetic

Honed granite offers a flat, matte finish that appeals to those who prefer an understated look in their home design. Unlike polished granite, which deepens the stone’s color and adds a dramatic flair, honed granite has a more muted color with less variation. This subtle appearance makes it ideal for those who prefer a consistent, understated movement in their countertops, without the bold contrasts often found in polished granite.

Durability

Structurally, honed granite is identical to polished granite in terms of density and porosity. This means it is just as resistant to stains, scratches, and other potential damage. Some honed stones, such as Absolute Black granite, are especially popular because they do not require sealing or special cleaners, regardless of whether they are honed or polished.

Cons of Honed Granite: Challenges in Maintenance

Visibility of Imperfections

While honed granite provides a beautiful, understated look, it can also make natural imperfections in the stone more visible. Without the light-reflecting glossy finish to distract the eye, any natural fissures, pits, or marks in the granite become more noticeable. If you’re considering honed granite, it’s important to request a sample of the stone to see how it looks when honed, particularly if the stone is prone to small pits or fissures.

Maintenance Considerations

Honed granite, although durable, can be more challenging to maintain compared to its polished counterpart. The matte finish is more absorbent, making it prone to showing fingerprints, watermarks, and spills, particularly on darker stones like Absolute Black. These marks can temporarily darken the stone, creating a polished appearance in those spots. While these issues can be easily wiped away, they do require more frequent cleaning to maintain the countertop’s appearance.

Choosing the Right Granite for Your Home

Selecting the perfect countertop material is a critical decision in any luxury home design project. Honed granite offers a unique blend of durability and aesthetic appeal, making it a top choice for those who want the elegance of granite without the high shine. However, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons to determine if this material aligns with your lifestyle and maintenance preferences.

honed granite countertops

Arizona Tile

Work With Fratantoni Interior Designers — Top Luxury Interior Design Firm in the US!

For expert advice on selecting the best countertops for your home, contact Fratantoni Interior Designers today. Our team of professionals is ready to help you bring your vision to life with unparalleled expertise in luxury interior design.

Photo Source: Pinterest & Arizona Tile

From Dated to Dreamy: How to Tell When Your Luxury Home Needs a Remodel

By Jessica Fratantoni • October 22, 2025
A luxury home should reflect your lifestyle, elevate your daily routines, and leave a lasting impression on every guest who walks through the door. Over time, even the most exquisite spaces may no longer align with how you live or the level of sophistication you expect. That does not mean your home has lost its beauty or value, but rather that your lifestyle, preferences, or expectations have evolved. When this happens, a luxury remodel led by an experienced interior design firm can breathe new life into your space and help it feel extraordinary once again.  Fratantoni Interior Designers specializes in transforming luxury estates into highly personalized environments that feel current, refined, and beautifully curated. If you are wondering whether it may be time to update your interior, these signs may help guide your decision.

Choosing the Right Luxury Interior Designer: Why Experience and Vision Matter

By Josie Fratantoni • October 17, 2025
Designing a luxury estate is more than decorating beautiful spaces, it’s an art form that requires balance between creativity, functionality, and timelessness. The right interior designer understands how to interpret your lifestyle into an environment that feels both elegant and personal. For homeowners seeking an unmatched design experience, Fratantoni Interior Designers has become one of the most respected names in luxury interiors nationwide.

The Return of the Grand Foyer: Designing Entrances That Impress

By Jessica Fratantoni • October 8, 2025
In the world of luxury interior design, first impressions are everything. The moment someone steps into your home, the entryway sets the tone for the entire experience. At Fratantoni Interior Designers, we believe the grand foyer is more than just a passageway. It is a statement of elegance, craftsmanship, and architectural artistry. Our team designs luxurious foyers that reflect your home’s personality and create an unforgettable sense of arrival.

European Estate Elegance: How to Create a Home That Feels Collected Over Time

By Josie Fratantoni • October 2, 2025
At Fratantoni Interior Designers, we believe that true luxury transcends trends. While our European-inspired interiors are renowned for their sophistication and timeless appeal, our expertise extends to every high-end design style imaginable. Whether your vision is a grand French villa, a modern desert masterpiece, a Mediterranean estate, or a transitional residence, our team has the experience and artistry to bring it to life. Our award-winning luxury interior designers specialize in creating custom, one-of-a-kind homes that blend elegance, comfort, and personality to perfection.

Why Curves Are Taking Over: From Arched Doorways to Rounded Furniture

By Jessica Fratantoni • September 23, 2025
For decades, straight lines and sharp edges have dominated modern interior design. Today, however, there is a new movement sweeping through luxury interiors: the return of curves. From sweeping arched entryways to soft rounded furniture, curved design elements are redefining the way spaces feel and function. At Fratantoni Interior Designers , we have embraced this rising trend. Curves introduce elegance, fluidity, and a sense of warmth that speaks directly to affluent homeowners seeking timeless interiors. As we move through 2025, curves are no longer a passing trend but a defining feature of sophisticated design.

How to Create the Ultimate Luxury Hosting Spaces: Designing for Entertainers

By Josie Fratantoni • September 16, 2025
For many homeowners, a luxury residence is not just a personal retreat, it is also a stage for unforgettable gatherings. From intimate dinner parties to lavish galas, the modern entertainer seeks spaces that seamlessly combine beauty, function, and sophistication. At Fratantoni Interior Designers, we specialize in creating homes where every room has the potential to host guests in comfort and style. Entertaining is both an art and a lifestyle. Affluent homeowners understand that the way a home is designed can either elevate or limit the experience of gathering. Our expertise lies in crafting interiors that reflect both elegance and practicality, ensuring each event leaves a lasting impression.

The Psychology of Color in Luxury Interior Design

By Jessica Fratantoni • September 8, 2025
When designing a luxury home, every choice contributes to the overall atmosphere, from the scale of architectural details to the textures of fine fabrics. Yet, one of the most powerful tools in interior design is often the most subtl e: color. Colors don’t just decorate a room, they set the tone, influence emotions, and even shape the way people interact with a space. At Fratantoni Interior Designers, our team h as spent over three decades crafting luxury interiors that speak to the individuality and lifestyle of our clients. With projects spanning from Scottsdale, Arizona to New York, Florida, Texas, and Hawaii, we’ve seen firsthand how the thoughtful use of color can transform a residence into a personal sanctuary or a statement of grandeur. In this blog, we’ll explore how color psychology plays a role in creating timeless, high end interiors and how affluent homeowners can use it to elevate their living spaces.

Designing Luxury Home Bars & Wine Rooms: Entertaining with Style

By Josie Fratantoni • September 3, 2025
The Allure of a Luxury Home Bar A luxury home bar is not just a place to mix cocktails; it’s an experience. It symbolizes hospitality, comfort, and elegance while making a powerful design statement. Unlike store bought bar carts or prefabricated cabinets, a custom-designed bar blend s seamlessly into the home’s architecture.  Why Home Bars are on the Rise Convenience & Privacy: Hosting guests at home eliminates the need to go out while maintaining an upscale atmosphere. Lifestyle Enhancement: A home bar elevates the everyday, turning a simple glass of wine into a curated ritual. Resale Value: Custom bars increase the appeal of a property, making it more desirable to luxury buyers. Design Impact: Beyond function, a well-designed bar can rival the kitchen as a focal point.

Layering Textures for Luxury: How to Create Depth & Warmth in High-End Interiors

By Jessica Fratantoni • August 28, 2025
 When it comes to luxury interior design, the difference between a beautiful space and an unforgettable one often lies in the details. While scale, layout, and lighting set the stage, texture is what gives a room soul. The art of layering textures transforms interiors into warm, inviting sanctuaries that are as refined as they are livable. At Fratantoni Interior Designers, we believe that texture is the bridge between elegance and comfort, making your home both visually striking and deeply personal.

How Millwork Transforms a Room: Walls, Ceilings, and Built-Ins

By Josie Fratantoni • August 20, 2025
 Luxury interior design is not just about selecting the right furnishings, fabrics, or artwork, it’s about creating a sense of permanence, refinement, and craftsmanship that elevates a home from ordinary to extraordinary. One of the most powerful ways to achieve this transformation is through custom millwork. Whether it’s striking wall paneling, coffered ceilings, or bespoke built-in cabinetry, millwork design defines a space, enhances architecture, and brings unparalleled depth to luxury homes. In this blog, we’ll explore how millwork walls, ceilings, and built ins can reshape your interiors, offering both aesthetic beauty and functional value. If you’ve ever wondered why high end homes feel so distinct and timeless, the answer often lies in the details of architectural millwork.