Leathered and Honed Finish Countertops in Charleston: What Homeowners Should Know

Since 1995, the team at Eugene’s Marble & Granite, Charleston’s countertop fabricators and installers, has created and installed the finest granite countertops. We have over 30 years of experience and have installed over 10,000 kitchens with granite, quartz, quartzite, and marble in all finishes, including leathered and honed.

One of the more obvious style changes taking place in the kitchen design realm right now is the departure from high-gloss polished countertops, which are now quite common, to leathered and honed finishes, which are more like the natural stone in the quarry. A leathered or honed slab will have a soft and non-reflective surface which will hide fingerprints and smudges but will still reveal the movement and veining of the stone. Let’s take a look at what these finishes are, what some of the stones are best suited for, and what you can expect if you want to install them in your kitchen.

What Leathered and Honed Finishes Actually Are

Both finishes begin the same way that a polished countertop does: the slab is ground flat and smooth. After that, they split. A honed finish will not be polished, but will leave a flat, non-shiny surface to stop the grinding process before it starts. The leathered finish takes it one step further, and it is done with diamond-tipped brushes to give a texture to that matte surface, making it slightly raised and almost fabric-like to touch.

Leathered vs Honed: The Real Difference

Simpler of the two, honed is a flat matte finish, nothing more than the texture the stone has. It has a more even and soothing tone. Leathered gives a natural depth to stones that you can actually feel and reduces the visibility of fingerprints, water spots, and light scratches, and has a tendency to enhance the contrast of a light veined stone. By themselves, neither finish is more shiny or dull; rather, they are two distinct methods of finishing the same slab.

.

Best Stones for a Leathered or Honed Finish

Quartzite and granite are both hard, dense stones that can be leathered or honed to an excellent finish, and will hold up to daily kitchen use in either finish. Our quartzite countertops in Charleston come in a range of colors that show real depth once leathered, and stones with heavy movement, like Taj Mahal or Fusion quartzite, tend to look the most dramatic with texture added. Granite countertops also take both finishes well and are often the more budget-friendly way to try the look. Marble can be honed too, but it is more prone to etching from acidic foods regardless of finish, so it is a bigger commitment in a working kitchen.

Why This Finish Is Gaining Ground in 2026

According to most industry trend reports for the coming year, one major change in countertop finishes will be the gradual movement away from high, shiny finishes, which were very popular for years, and toward a more textured, honed, and leathered surface, giving the appearance of an “old” texture, but only worn in naturally, not given a shine. It’s a perfect match for Charleston, where much of the home construction is historic and coastal, and where a matte, textured stone looks more at home with the historic and shiplap trim and weathered woods than a glossy polished finish.

Maintenance Reality: What Textured Finishes Actually Need

The leathered or honed surface area is more textured than a polished surface, and therefore contains a greater surface area for oil and grime to rest on, requiring a good sealer as well as regular cleaning like any natural stone countertop. But in reality, this is a minor sacrifice and not a significant compromise. The good news is that the same texture actually has a better ability to conceal fingerprints, water spots, and light scratches than a polished surface, hence its appeal for kitchen islands that are used quite a bit, particularly in high-traffic kitchens.

Cost Difference vs a Polished Finish

Leathered and honed finishes will generally be more expensive than a standard polished finish on the same slab, as the leathered/honed finish is an additional step added to the manufacturing process. It varies according to type of stone and size of the project and the best way to compare is a free quote for the specific slab you have in mind.

Is a Leathered or Honed Finish Right for Your Kitchen

If you are looking for a natural lived-in style, you want a stone that has strong veining, a natural look, and want it to stand out, or you want a stone to look lived in without having to wipe all the time, then a textured finish is ideal. If you want maximum shine and reflected light, or you’d like to have the least amount of maintenance possible in a very heavily used kitchen, a polished finish is appropriate. If you have yet to decide on material and finish for our full kitchen countertops in Charleston, the remainder of the guide covers it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a leathered finish harder to keep clean than a polished one?

Not meaningfully. It requires the same sealing, cleaning process as any natural stone countertop, and its texture actually covers up the typical fingerprints and smudges left on the surface better than a polished surface does.

Can granite get a leathered finish, or is it only for quartzite?

Granite can be leathered or honed as easily as quartzite can, and can even be the more affordable option.

Does a honed finish scratch more easily than polished stone?

Scratch resistance is based on the hardness of the stone, NOT the finish. A honed or leathered finish on a hard stone like granite or quartzite actually shows light scratches less than a polished finish, due to there being no mirror shine to reflect the light scratches.

How much more does a leathered finish cost compared to polished?

It is usually more expensive because of the additional fabrication processes involved and is largely dependent on the type of stone and the size of the project. The best thing to do is to get a free estimate for your particular slab.

Will a leathered or honed countertop still show the stone’s natural veining?

Will a leathered or honed countertop still show the stone’s natural veining?

Yes. If anything, the added texture tends to deepen the contrast in stones with strong veining or movement, which is part of why it pairs so well with dramatic quartzites.

Eugene’s Marble & Granite has been fabricating and installing countertops across the Charleston area since 1995, with more than 10,000 kitchens completed. Our team handles slab selection, fabrication, and installation for granite, quartz, quartzite, and marble in every finish, including leathered and honed.

Curious how a leathered or honed finish would look in your own kitchen? Contact us today or request your free estimate to see slabs in person.

Read more about the material options behind this finish in our quartzite pricing guide, or explore authoritative resources from the National Kitchen and Bath Association and the Natural Stone Institute.