Stone isn’t just about color, the finish you choose completely transforms how it looks, feels, and performs. At Evolution Design in Cache Valley, Utah, we offer a wide variety of finishes that suit different design styles and lifestyles.
If you’re unsure whether polished, honed, leathered, or brushed is right for your space, this guide will help you make a confident decision.
1. Polished Finish
Best For: High-shine lovers, modern kitchens, and elegant spaces.
Polished stone is glossy, reflective, and smooth to the touch. It brings out the depth of color and pattern in granite, marble, and quartz.
✔️ Pros:
- Luxurious look
- Easy to wipe clean
- Enhances stone color and veining
❌ Considerations:
- Can show fingerprints and water spots
- May become slippery when wet
2. Honed Finish
Best For: Soft, matte design aesthetics and low-glare environments.
A honed finish is smooth but not shiny, giving the stone a subtle, velvety appearance. Popular in bathrooms, fireplace surrounds, or rustic kitchens.
✔️ Pros:
- Great for soft, natural aesthetics
- Doesn’t show smudges as easily
- Less glare
❌ Considerations:
- Slightly more porous
- May require more frequent sealing
3. Leathered Finish
Best For: High-traffic kitchens, cozy textures, and fingerprint-resistance.
Leathered finishes are textured but refined, created by brushing the surface of honed stone to create soft ridges. Often seen in stones like Black Pearl granite.
✔️ Pros:
- Textured grip — great for islands
- Hides smudges and water spots
- Unique, natural feel
❌ Considerations:
- Harder to clean deeply textured surfaces
- Can slightly mute the color
4. Brushed Finish
Best For: Outdoor areas or design elements needing tactile texture.
Brushed finishes are more heavily textured and ideal for outdoor benches, hearths, and rugged design elements.
✔️ Pros:
- Excellent traction
- Adds character and raw appeal
- Great for outdoor projects
❌ Considerations:
- More rustic appearance
- Harder to clean
Maintenance Tips by Finish
- Polished: Wipe with a soft cloth and pH-neutral cleaner.
- Honed: Clean with stone-safe products and reseal more often.
- Leathered & Brushed: Use a soft brush to clean grooves; reseal as needed.
Which Finish Is Right for You?
- Want sleek and glossy? Go polished.
- Prefer matte and understated? Honed is for you.
- Need a textured, family-proof surface? Try leathered.
- Designing a rustic or outdoor element? Brushed makes a statement.
Still unsure? Call or shoot us a text to schedule a free design consultation so you can come and feel the difference in person.
Visit Our Northern Utah Showroom
Every stone looks different depending on its finish. At Evolution Design, you can see and touch actual samples in our 10,000 sq. ft. showroom. Whether you want ultra-modern or cozy-rustic, we’ll help you choose a finish that fits your lifestyle and aesthetic.