Since the years have flown (YES, it was nearly four years ago!), an update about how our LX Hausys Viatera Muse quartz counters are faring is in order. In case you are keeping track, I have been blogging about quartz counters on this blog for 196 months…who in the Fred Flintstone even does that!!!???
LX Hausys VIATERA Muse Quartz Countertops
What’s Special About MUSE?
Since we loved Viatera’s Minuet and Soprano in other DIY kitchen renos, I felt safe with the brand. I was even tempted to be super boring and go with Minuet again since we loved its timelessness.
Here’s what you’ll read about it on the site: “A divine spark from above results in a perfect blend of an alabaster white canvas thoughtfully intertwined with dark hued veins.”
Psst. Find my Claricomb candle on my Muse quartz counter (above) from Living Good Candle Co. on this new gift guide (don’t you love its design with the gold?)
If you’re not into scented varieties, the brand has a fragrance-free option called BARE BEESWAX:
Pure beeswax is sourced from multigenerational American beekeepers and blended with coconut oil. I love that the candles are made right here in the USA in Texas! Just in case you need a permission slip: BURN THE GOOD CANDLES, kittens. Do not let them gather dust, and don’t wait for a more special time. Times are hard; if candlelight calms your nerves, let there be light, friends.
Without adieu…back to Muse news!
Why did I spring for Muse and not stick with the safety of Viatera’s Minuet? CASH, kittens. It came down to both the price point of Minuet and how much longer the install would require.
Going with Muse over Minuet saved us 40%. Also, I knew it could help my followers shopping for quartz counters to have another option online to see.
But do humans even read blogs in 2026? Turns out Google still directs folks to my posts about Minuet (in our former kitchen reno). 11 years after we gutted that kitchen, folks are still emailing me for the resource info and specifics about the type of polished stone we used on the backsplash.
Reasons We Like This White Quartz
Our house can look rather fancy, but we remain scrappy DIYers who don’t tiptoe around this kitchen. I actually cook daily so everything has to be durable. Quartz is a wonderful workhorse.
I’m not seeing any stains, chips, or scratches after four years of use. I’d say I spend an above average amount of time in the kitchen since I work from home and have so many diet restrictions.
Need a countertop that’ll take a ton of abuse yet stay pretty?
If you’re considering authentic stone for your counters (calacatta, carrera, arabescato marble), make sure you understand YOUR habits and tolerances.
MUSE keeps being MUSE despite the USE and even with ABUSE.
Another quality I adore about polished white quartz? It is reflective and bounces light around.
If you’re after serene, ethereal, modern European country vibes, this may be for you since it definitely is more modern than Minuet.
Any Downside to MUSE Quartz?
Let’s go back in time to that day these counters were installed. I was a little displeased. The veining pattern was not what I expected from seeing the displays.
Additionally, Minuet has a busy delicate veining pattern my eye grew accustomed to seeing everyday. So when vast expanses of white in MUSE’s pattern moved into this kitchen, it was a surprise.
Nobody Likes Surprises, Right?
There would not have been such a surprise if I had visited the stoneyard and viewed the big slab so learn from my mistake! A small little square of white quartz aint tellin’ you the whole story.
That said, you could still feel a bit overwhelmed when it gets installed.
When the quartz slab is fabricated and cut into sections for your counters (typically around 25″ deep), it’s a different look than those great big slabs. The scale of the veining in Muse is big.
I expected more veining and less solid white in between those veins and had never seen MUSE installed in a showroom or someone else’s kitchen in person.
I may have chosen a different pattern because what I love about busy veining is how forgiving those type of patterns are on a daily basis.
JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION:
Bear in mind that expansive sections of solid white quartz may appear more synthetic or sterile than when the material is natural stone. That said, our kitchen needed to lighten and brighten:
Ya know? Expanses of white are more welcome here than the black holes that were existing here.
When Is MUSE a Wise Design Choice?
MUSE turned out to be a good option for this Georgian’s DIY modern French kitchen reno.
Many of the design elements we incorporated were rather traditional and Old World…which is great except a mix is what we were after.
For a look that isn’t stuck in an era or too one-note, adding a more contemporary element can create a much needed tension. The less traditional choice of MUSE brought an edge to counter a balance of conservative choices.
Is it WIN or LOSE with MUSE?
MUSE still feels like it was the right choice for this kitchen with calacatta gold marble subway tile backsplash, pale blue-grey cabinets (Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray at 66% saturation), gilded iron light fixtures, skirted farm sink, and country style (Perrin & Rowe) faucet.
I admire how MUSE works harmonizes with the warmth of the natural stone (Calacatta Gold marble) backsplash and with cool greys of nickel hardware. The standard edge profile imparts a more modern, minimal, simple look.
People can be so timid about mixing their whites, and maybe it is that I have done it for so many decades, it doesn’t phase me. I like a low contrast look that isn’t perfect matchy. And I like when there aren’t jolting moments visually.
My only disappointment is that it isn’t Minuet! Minuet’s delicate veining pattern is what I preferred and expected. So do think about whether you should splurge on a choice that you love but costs much more than other options. Psst. I’m thinking about using Soprano at our snowbird kitchen:
Hopefully sharing this update of four years with MUSE helps!
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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