A review for VIATERA Muse white quartz counters (from VIATERA/LXHausys) chosen for our DIY kitchen renovation was in no way rushed when I shared this unsponsored recommendation last year. I test a material for a fair amount of time before offering an educated opinion on such a big investment. Now that the years have flown (YES, it was almost three years ago!), the review continues with the full, time-tested scoop.
VIATERA Muse White Quartz Countertop Review
Why Did We Choose MUSE?
We knew we wanted white quartz countertops after loving both Minuet and Soprano in prior kitchen renovations. That said, I was tempted to choose Minuet a second time since I honestly had no complaints.
From the Masterpiece Collection, Muse is lauded: “A divine spark from above results in a perfect blend of an alabaster white canvas thoughtfully intertwined with dark hued veins.”
Why not stick with a sure thing and go with Minuet? Why even bother to google “white with grey veining material inspired by natural stone” contenders? The price point at the time.
I didn’t want to overspend (I think the quote was 40% higher) or exceed the budget. Additionally, I saw an opportunity to help other remodelers shopping for quartz counters for their kitchens and baths.
My posts about Minuet in our former kitchen are wildly popular, and I can’t tell you how many created a similar kitchen with the polished marble subway and Shaker cabinetry.
Best Qualities of This VIATERA White Quartz Countertop
Durability is at the top of the list. The durability of this material is hard to beat!
No chips, no visible scratches after three years of heavy use, and no staining whatsoever. I am a real cook and baker who spends an above average amount of time prepping and working in here. These counters take a ton of abuse and keep looking pretty.
While I love the look of natural calacatta, carrera, and arabescato marble, I may be too lazy and obsessive to live with those vulnerable stone countertops. There are always lemons and limes sliced here along with occasional spills from red wine and marinara. I like the fact MUSE keeps being MUSE even with ABUSE.
I also appreciate the reflective bright white that bounces around so much light. It was a serene, ethereal, modern European country mood I was after for this kitchen. An all-white quartz would likely feel too modern and sterile. The large scale veining of MUSE means it feels more contemporary than a more dense veining pattern (such as Minuet).
Another feature of this particular quartz color/pattern I appreciate is how it is so understated and neutral. I can imagine this pattern looking great with any cabinet color, including warmer tones. MUSE would also be stunning with stained wood cabinets and trim.
What are the Cons of MUSE Quartz?
The day the countertops were installed, I was a little surprised at how the veining pattern was not exactly what I expected.
I was so accustomed to the delicate, busy (and forgiving) grey veining of Minuet in our prior kitchen that seeing the vast expanses of white in MUSE was a shock.
Any Surprises With This Quartz Countertop?
This brings me to an important issue to bear in mind when choosing a white quartz countertop: a small swatch of a white quartz color and even detailed photos from the website won’t always prepare you for how the product looks in your kitchen.
Even if you view the whole slab of quartz in a stoneyard, you may still be in for a temporary freakout. Why?
When the slab is cut into the sections for your kitchen (typically around 25″ deep), the pattern may not appear as what you pictured. The scale of the veining also makes a huge difference.
With MUSE, I expected more veining and less solid white in between the veins. I had never seen MUSE installed as counters in a showroom in person. Seeing a slab or partial slab is not always enough info. This may have swayed my decision since one of my favorite characteristics of Minuet is the veining which hides sins/scratches/crumbs and mimics authentic stone.
The larger sections of white–and this is only my humble opinion–diminish the material’s authenticity a bit. While I am aware that natural marble and stone can indeed be bright white in nature (solid bright white marble without veining was chosen for bath vanities in a former home), solid white quartz without veining may have a synthetic look to these eyes.
That said, this kitchen needed to be lightened and brightened:
Why MUSE May Be a Great Choice for Your Design
MUSE was the right quartz choice for our DIY kitchen renovation because so many of the design elements in the design were traditional and Old World.
What I was ultimately after was a more ageless, timeless, modern French look with a mix of old and new. The more contemporary and less traditional feel of MUSE provides some tension and edge to the other more conservative choices.
Final Thoughts about Choosing MUSE
MUSE looks amazing in our DIY renovated kitchen with calacatta gold marble subway tile backsplash, light blue-gray cabinets (Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray at 66% saturation), gilded iron light fixtures, skirted farm sink, and French country style (Perrin & Rowe) faucet.
I love how MUSE works with the warmth of the natural stone Calacatta Gold marble backsplash and with the cool greys and nickel hardware elsewhere. The standard edge profile imparts a more modern, minimal, simple look.
The low contrast in color with the farm sink is also pleasing since there are no jolting moments for the eye. I was after a very gentle, quiet, understated mood which we achieved.
My only disappointment has nothing to do with the product itself…more veining and a smaller, more delicate veining pattern is what I preferred and expected. (Bear in mind, my favorite white quartz is Minuet which we selected for our former kitchen. I also loved living with the the warmth of Soprano in our snowbird house which also has more gentle veining.)
Hopefully sharing this information will allow you to avoid such surprises!
Thanks for reading, and feel free to ask questions in the comments or with email.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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