Giallo Ornamental granite is a gorgeous stone that is known for its golden creamy tones. It is quarried in southern Brazil and is occasionally called Giallo Santo granite. Let’s take a look at what makes this granite so popular in the kitchen.
From afar this stunning stones overall color is its characteristic creamy color. It looks quite uniform from a distance and you cannot really see any large veins or mineral deposits. However you are able to see that the slab is mottled and littered with additional details – which invites closer inspection.
Up close to the stone you are able to see that despite the stones overall creamy color – the bedrock of the stone is actually white. This white can vary slightly in color from pure white through to a very light grey. It will on average make up between 30% and 50% of the stones overall surface area and is a great neutral and light backdrop to the rest of stunning minerals in this stone.
See how they blend into the room seamlessly with these wooden cabinets?
What gives Giallo Ornamental its stunning color is the abundance of golden minerals that are present. These minerals are usually a lovely light cream color and can occasionally be as dark as a light honey color. They will make up around 40% to 50% of a stones surface area on average and complement the white bedrock beautifully.
Dotted around the stone are an abundance of dark brown minerals. More often than not these brown minerals can be so dark that they appear to be black – but they are actually brown. They are usually found in very small deposits that are less than 1cm in diameter and will make up around 5% to 10% of a stones overall surface area.
Such a stunning stone!
To tie the black minerals into the white quartz there is a stunning array of light grey quartz in the stone. The grey quartz will make up around 5% to 10% of the stones surface area on average and can vary in color. It can be only slightly lighter than the white bedrock through to a soft and light grey color.
There is said to be a medium amount of variation in this granite. The main thing that will differ is the amount of brown minerals and the color of the bedrock. Some slabs can have a more golden bedrock and others can have a creamy bedrock – altering the overall effect of the stone.
A great example!
The dark brown minerals that are present can be abundant or they can be sparse. These two main factors combined mean you can have slabs that are quite dark and heavily patterned – or you can have slabs that are light and airy that look much more uniform. In reality the difference between these two extremes is quite slight – but we do recommend that you inspect any slab of this granite before you purchase it.
Another great giallo ornamental bathroom
This granite does not vary that much in rooms with different lighting conditions and is well suited to rooms with and without much natural light.
It is not prone to staining or scratching and will hide fingerprints and dirt thanks to its light color and mottled appearance.
This kitchen is elegant and luxurious thanks to these stunning countertops
How Much Does Giallo Ornamental Granite Cost?
One of the main things that attracts people to this granite (apart from its beauty!) is its price. It is a low end granite and a 3cm thick slab of Giallo Ornamental granite will cost roughly $30 to $40 per square foot. A 2cm thick slab should cost around $20 to $25 per square foot.
A great kitchen island
When you combine Giallo Ornamental countertops with dark kitchen cabinets there is a slight contrast between the cabinets and countertops. However this contrast is really quite soft and is not as strong as you would initially expect with a light granite like this. The darker minerals and the creamy bedrock allow them to blend in slightly. This means they will still be very prominent in your kitchens décor – but will not feel too out of place.
Simply stunning! Who would not want this kitchen!?
Strangely enough Giallo Ornamental countertops kind of contrast a little with white cabinets too. And while the overall effect is much more flowing and elegant than with dark cabinets – the lighter cabinets make the stone look darker in comparison to dark cabinets. We hasten to add that this does not make them look “dark” overall, and you will still have a lovely light accent to your cabinets.
How about using this awesome granite in the bathroom?
When combined with wooden cabinets that have a light or medium stain the golden earthy tones become one with the cabinets. The overall effect is very natural and flowing. The countertops are at their least prominent here as they are almost taken in by the cabinets. It creates a very subtle yet incredibly luxurious feel to the room which we love.
A couple of other granites are available that are great alternatives to Giallo Ornamental and while they all are slightly different we highly recommend you take a quick look at them. Check out Colonial Cream granite, and New Venetian Gold granite.
We would love to know your thoughts? Can we answer any questions? Leave a comment in the box below!
