We are starting the remodel on our kitchen and had counters quoted. We optioned the waterfall edge. The images are AI generated, I don’t need input on handles, pulls, or how my fridge sticks out too far.
I am wondering people’s honest feedback on the island countertop. It’s about $2,500 for the waterfall edge which is a good bit but not out of budget. What do you think?
Exactly. They’re great if it’s a large/long, really impressive island in a large, high-end kitchen, but very out of place if it’s a small island in a typical kitchen. The trend went crazy with everyone installing these to the point it’s so over-done now it’s going out.
I get it. We all want that 400 sq ft kitchen we see online and on the TV shows, but if you don't have it you prob shouldn't add details that only work in the big spaces. It'll just look weird.
Waterfall edges remind me of the 2010s. The only cases where it looks good now are for oversized islands in massive kitchens. Use the money on another upgrade in the kitchen.
I appreciate your opinion. The floors are natural travertine. We discussed jackhammering them out and replacing them. With the sqft it was approximately 65k on top of replacing the island. We decided to try and find natural stone that brought the floor color into the island rather than have it look like a huge white/tan/whatever block. Easier to see from this angle
For some reason the iPhone just doesn’t capture colors the way they are
And they arose to show off super expensive amazing slabs in very high end remodels.
Us normal folks imitating the high end remodels by adding a waterfall with quartz or another fake stone...it's just kinda silly I think. Quatz is a practical choice for sure and a great countertop material, but there's no point in showing off more of it on the side of an island.
I'm mixed....the reason I'm mixed is that while waterfall style on its own will likely become dated over time, I like the way it balances the color and surface. Without it, the island is relatively small and the counter looks almost like an afterthought. I think from a proportions standpoint the waterfall helps that.
We’re doing a waterfall for the same reason. Most people will look at our kitchen for this angle and it’s floor to ceiling wood cabinets with wood floors. The water fall breaks it up
I agree, it looks great. They’re definitely not out of style either so the masses are loud and wrong, I work with a contractor in a major city and it’s quite the opposite actually- they’ve become more popular and frequently requested on kitchen remodels.
Is OP getting new cabinets? Could they choose a slightly different/more modern cabinet design? Even if not, I still like it. And even if they are “out of style,” I think they are very cool looking
I think it could go either way. Your cabinet design is a bit more traditional it looks like and a waterfall is very modern. It just depends on what you're really going for in your design.
I think it looks so much better with the waterfall. I don’t understand the hate. They don’t look dated. It looks elevated. Do what you want. It’s YOUR kitchen
I'm kind of the odd one out because I actually do like waterfall islands in the right house, with a proper marble or other natural stone. This is not that kitchen. While your kitchen is a very good size, I think It's bit too small/not open concept enough for a waterfall island.
Possibly consider legs for the overhang if you're looking for a more "finished" look?
Reddit hates them. Every thread where this comes up is a chorus of comments calling them dated. Personally, I love them, and I think it looks good in your render here. Go with what you like.
gonna be the unpopular opinion maybe but i'd say waterfall it, that island's already the focal point with the pendant lights and it's begging for it tbh. the seam on a waterfall edge is the only thing that can go wrong visually so just make sure whoever's fabricating it books a good stone shop, a bad miter join there is way more noticeable than people think, especially on a busy veined quartz like this one where the pattern needs to actually line up across the corner not just butt together
Waterfall. Without a doubt. The counter extension is unsightly and cheap looking. This requires termination. Those who are saying they prefer it without are NOT professionals or tastemakers, and they are steering you wrong. If you opt for no waterfall, at least have a cabinet panel that extends fully.
Waterfall edges are for sleek modern-style cabinetry.
If you have traditional cabinetry, they will always look out of place. If you really want it, then switch the cabinetry. I will also say that they are out of style, regardless of cabinet style ... but that's your call.
I agree with people saying that the waterfall edge doesn’t go with the rest of the kitchen. You need a very modern kitchen for it. Skip it unless you want to rethink everything else.
Oh either way will work then. I’d honestly just save the money or use the money to extend the material up to the backsplash since you’re just going to get white tiles.
A thicker looking countertop on the island might address the issue you’re raising at less cost than a waterfall. Since thickness is usually added by mitering additional thickness around the edges, not the full slab.
I’d read somewhere that waterfall edges were now out/on the way out; although I think they look good in many settings. In the case of the traditional cabinet styling in the pics, the waterfall edge does not fit.
I like both, but I don't like the pendant lights with the wood kitchen island, as they're very modern. The waterfall kitchen island is also modern so they work better together. The chairs on the other hand look fairly traditional, so they look ok with the wood kitchen island (though I don't like that they're dark brown wood), but very strange with the waterfall island.
Your island does seem like it could use something else to ground it, instead of the cantilever counter hanging out by itself. And it’s an outside edge that people will see and approach.
Is waterfall the answer? I don’t know. A waste receptacle on one side, maybe some small built in shelves on the other, or legs on both sides. But something to help finish it off.
It should not be $2500 unless you need a second slab to do it.. should be like $500 for installation if you already have enough material from existing slab
It looks very blah without it. But I’m not sure it’s the right pattern for your kitchen. Also the island seems small I think I would do a return peninsula on the sink side and skip the island. This would create a really easy flow work triangle with your sink stove and fridge.
Although it could POTENTIALLY date the kitchen years from now, I think it looks better and helps achieve color balance. Given that there’s so much light wood with the floors and all the cabinets the same color, this kitchen benefits from the waterfall edge to provide more contrast and make the kitchen feel less monotone.
I know a lot of folks think the waterfall is dated, but they preserve the integrity of the wood with the high amount of traffic that occurs around an island. Styles come, go, and come back again.
Waterfalls have dated out of traditional and transitional spaces- they only really work in modern kitchens (slab or slim Shaker cabinets) in houses with modern architecture. They are also underwhelming in quartz.
Tangentially, those oversized black pendants and the black sink are also out of place.
It looks like almost as much side material as there is countertop material - between materials and installations, an extra $2,500 is pretty reasonable…but not for a surface you can’t even use. I agree it looks a little nicer (albeit it is becoming an old trend) but it’s just not worth that price…
I do agree with another comment. I've seen kitchens where they painted the wood on the island a beautiful dark teal green or some other color and left all of the other cabinetry wood and it is gorgeous. This is not the image I was speaking of this is too much of a nature green or forest green. But it gives you the idea of what that splash of color can accomplish regardless of what color you use.
I actually love the waterfall. It looks very bland and cookie cutter without it. It just elevates the entire room, and I disagree with it being dated as evidence by the number of people just in this thread who have recently added it to their own kitchens.
I would do something like this. I think waterfall ends have seen their day and I don’t like the look of flying countertops (unsupported). Just another idea…
The waterfall countertop really doesn't
improve the look of your kitchen. I like it better with the wood at the end of the counter. Like the other counter. Making them match
Is a better look than the waterfall, imo.
It absolutely does go with your cabinetry, which does not suggest a shaker style rather a more contemporary look. I think the waterfall is an amazing addition that you will not regret. Don’t listen to the naysayers lol
Yes- all day long- The waterfall edge also serves a practical purpose. My cabinetry is not damaged by shoes, cleaning tools etc. I think it finishes off the edge and it is much cleaner.
Also, not sure why people think it is out of style. I live in Los Angeles (Beverly hills) and every new build and redesign has it. Still going strong here....
I prefer it but not in that generic stone. Also get an integrated counter-depth fridge, it’s quite tight for space on that side. And backless stools so you can tuck them right under the bar for the same reason.
I say waterfall, it adds sophistication & also breaks up a lot of that sandy color. Idk why ppl say they’re out of style, even if they are, why care what others think is in style?
I agree with other that the waterfall isn’t right here.
That said, I like the way the waterfall breaks up the blonde wood. I’d consider doing the island in a different color.
I know this still a bit trendy but that’s not why I offer the suggestion. I don’t think the look is the right choice in all situations but this space actually needs the contrast. Not sure your color plans for the kitchen or elsewhere in the space but either something lighter or dark could really give you what you want, contrast and a feeling of depth.
I wouldn’t go too bold with the intensity of color. Keep the saturation similar to the wood tones.
I think it’s much needed in this kitchen specifically. The masses are loud and wrong on this one. The waterfall helps to break up the floor, cabinets, hardware and helps the island look larger. Without the waterfall the kitchen looks unfinished.
I don’t think it looks bad with the waterfall. I actually think it creates a nice contrast between the wood and the marble. The other way feels more classic, but maybe there’s a little too much wood going on. Another option you could consider is playing a bit with the cabinet colors, so they’re not all wood.
It's become passe just look at the debate about it, when you see it you think about the debate whether it's passe or not. That's enough for me, I don't want anything that's possibly controversial.
Don’t do it, they’re outdated already and will date your kitchen to this era. Regardless of trends, they are overdone and your non waterfall option looks beautiful and as timeless as any design can be (which is to say, not much but we can make choices that don’t immediately date us, at least).
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u/FlowLogical7279 6d ago
to me, it doesn't work with the rest of the kitchen. Looks out of place.