When Warner Brothers reached out to M. Teixeira Soapstone in 2023 about the Food Network Studios in New York City, the ask was simple: repair a few chips and cracks in existing countertops. What followed was a nearly two-year journey that ended with approximately 1,000 square feet of honed Perla Santana quartzite installed across two floors of one of the most recognized culinary stages in the world.
From Patchwork Repairs to a Full-Scale Transformation
The project started small. Another vendor had originally installed Dekton countertops throughout the studio, and over time, chips and cracks began to appear. Our team was brought in to address the damage, and from the beginning, we were upfront: while we could improve the appearance, the nature of the repairs meant the results would never be seamless.
Over several months, we worked intermittently to patch issues as they surfaced. But patchwork solutions have limits. Eventually, the decision was made at the corporate level to move forward with a complete countertop replacement across both floors of the studio.
Choosing Perla Santana Quartzite Over Engineered Alternatives
Material selection for a project like this isn’t straightforward. The studio initially considered staying with Dekton, opting for a color that more closely resembled natural stone. After a series of in-depth conversations about the demands of a high-visibility, high-use production environment, it became clear that an engineered surface wasn’t the ideal fit.
We introduced several natural stone alternatives. Soapstone was considered but ultimately ruled out because its color didn’t align with the studio’s visual direction. The finalists came down to three options: Taj Mahal quartzite, Perla Santana quartzite, and Eclós, a newer engineered surface by Cosentino.
What followed was a uniquely immersive selection process. Full production setups—complete with studio lighting and cameras—were staged to simulate real filming conditions. The team evaluated how each material interacted with light and with food itself. Color contrast, reflectivity, and on-camera performance all played critical roles in the decision.
In the end, the choice was clear. Honed Perla Santana quartzite offered a balanced visual response on camera that enhanced the presentation of food without overpowering it. Quarried in close proximity to Taj Mahal quartzite in Brazil, Perla Santana shares a similar geological origin but brings its own distinct character—warm ivory and beige tones with subtle crystalline movement throughout the slab.
What Is Perla Santana Quartzite?
Perla Santana quartzite is a Brazilian natural stone known for its creamy beige background, soft golden taupe tones, and delicate veining. It’s a true quartzite, formed under intense heat and pressure, which gives it exceptional hardness and durability. With a Mohs hardness of 7, it resists scratches, heat, and etching far better than marble or most engineered surfaces.
In a honed finish, Perla Santana quartzite takes on a smooth, matte texture that softens light rather than reflecting it—a quality that made it particularly well suited for the controlled lighting environment of a television studio. Its neutral warmth pairs naturally with a wide range of design styles, from modern minimalism to more traditional aesthetics, making it a versatile choice for both residential and commercial applications.
Sourcing 40 Slabs From a Single Lot
With the material selected, the next challenge was scale. Consistency across approximately 1,000 square feet of countertops, islands, and backsplashes required sourcing roughly 40 Perla Santana quartzite slabs from the same lot—no small task for a natural stone.
Working directly with the quarry in Brazil, our team reviewed multiple block options, exchanging detailed imagery and approvals with the Warner Brothers and Food Network teams until everyone was confident in the selection. Once a lot was chosen, timing became critical.
Brazilian stone factories typically shut down for the entire month of December. Meanwhile, the project schedule—carefully coordinated around the studio’s production calendar—required material to be in our New Jersey facility by mid-January. That left a narrow window to process the stone at the quarry, prepare it for export, ship it internationally, clear customs in New York, and transport it to our shop.
The slabs arrived in late January, just in time to begin fabrication.
Precision Fabrication and Installation
The scope of work was significant. The installation included expansive kitchen islands, countertops with mitered edges, dramatic waterfall features, and overhangs with full returns. Every piece required precision fabrication to ensure tight seams and clean lines across a large, continuous surface area.
Beyond fabrication, the project required complete demolition and removal of the existing Dekton surfaces, along with structural adjustments to cabinetry bases to accommodate the new Perla Santana quartzite installations. All of this took place inside an active production studio on Park Avenue, where filming schedules dictated strict working windows. Every phase—from templating to demolition to final installation—had to be meticulously coordinated with studio operations to ensure zero disruption to ongoing productions.
Despite the complexity, the project was completed not just on time, but four days ahead of schedule.
The Result: Natural Stone Meets Broadcast-Quality Performance
The transformation speaks for itself. The honed Perla Santana quartzite brought a refined, natural elegance to the Food Network Studios while performing flawlessly under studio lighting and camera conditions. Every seam, edge, and surface was executed with precision, delivering a result that meets both the aesthetic demands of a world-class culinary set and the functional requirements of a high-traffic commercial environment.
This project is a testament to what’s possible when material expertise, global sourcing relationships, and meticulous craftsmanship come together. From a quarry in Brazil to the most famous kitchen sets on television, Perla Santana quartzite proved to be the right stone for one of the most demanding installations we’ve ever completed. Explore more of our work in the commercial projects portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions About Perla Santana Quartzite
Where does Perla Santana quartzite come from?
Perla Santana quartzite is quarried in the state of Ceará in northeastern Brazil, the same region that produces the well-known Taj Mahal quartzite. The two stones share a similar geological origin but differ in tone and veining character. Perla Santana tends to lean slightly cooler, with soft ivory and taupe tones and wispy, feathered veining, while Taj Mahal is generally warmer with more golden movement.
Is Perla Santana quartzite durable enough for kitchen countertops?
Yes. As a true quartzite—formed when quartz-rich sandstone is subjected to intense heat and pressure—Perla Santana rates approximately 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. That makes it harder than granite and significantly more scratch-resistant than marble. It also offers strong resistance to heat and etching, which is why it was selected for the high-use environment of the Food Network Studios.
What finishes are available for Perla Santana quartzite?
Perla Santana quartzite is available in polished, honed, and leathered finishes. For the Food Network project, a honed finish was chosen because it softens light rather than reflecting it—an important consideration for on-camera performance. Polished finishes bring out more of the stone’s natural luster and veining, while a leathered finish adds a textured, matte-suede feel that also improves slip resistance.
How does Perla Santana quartzite compare to engineered quartz or Dekton?
Unlike engineered quartz or ultra-compact surfaces like Dekton, Perla Santana is a 100% natural stone. Every slab is unique in its veining and color variation, which gives installations a depth and character that manufactured surfaces can’t replicate. Natural quartzite also tends to perform better under sustained heat exposure—an important factor in a working kitchen environment. For a broader comparison of natural versus engineered options, see our stone countertop buying guide.
Does Perla Santana quartzite require sealing?
While quartzite is naturally dense with very low water absorption, periodic sealing is recommended to help maintain stain resistance over time, especially in kitchen applications where exposure to oils, wine, and acidic foods is common. Routine cleaning with mild soap and water is typically all that’s needed for day-to-day care.
Can Perla Santana quartzite be used for commercial projects?
Absolutely. Its combination of hardness, heat resistance, and visual consistency across large lot sizes makes it well suited for commercial applications such as restaurant countertops, hotel surfaces, and—as this project demonstrates—broadcast studio sets. For large-scale commercial installations, working with a fabricator who can source slabs from a single lot is essential to maintaining visual consistency across the space.
M. Teixeira Soapstone is a leading importer, fabricator, and installer of natural stone surfaces, specializing in soapstone, quartzite, and marble for residential and commercial projects. To learn more about Perla Santana quartzite or to discuss your next project, contact our team,request a quote, or visit one of our showroom locations.