Honed, polished or leathered? Choosing a finish that lives well

A finish is not a coating. It is how the surface of the stone itself is worked, and it changes everything: colour depth, sheen, feel, even maintenance.

Polished is the classic: mirror-gloss, maximum colour saturation, the deepest blacks and the brightest veining. It is also the most forgiving to clean, though it will show etching on reactive stones sooner.

Honed is polished's calmer sibling: smooth but matte. Colours soften a shade, fingerprints disappear, and light stops bouncing. It is the finish of choice for floors and for anyone who prefers stone that whispers.

Leathered sits between and adds texture you can feel: a gentle, rippled surface that hides water spots brilliantly and gives dark granites and quartzites a soft, suede-like character.

Most designs in our collection are stocked in at least two finishes, and the preview toggle on every design page shows the difference. But finishes are tactile by nature, so come run a hand across all three.