Wow. What a beautiful transformation. I'll be revisiting this when we are ready to remodel our kitchen.

Gorgeous. Though I may have to stop looking at your kitchen because I don't think my family would be kind to marble.

@romy718

or anyone else who can help!!!!

After a LONG story... ( we had to move out for a month and live in a hotel).....I have narrowed it down to these 2. The Encore tile did not work with my counters, and was out of my budget.

Please just pay attention to the 2X8 tile, and not the marble or decorative pieces. Originally wanted a subway tile, but think the 2x8 may look better (?)

Left one is a handmade Mexican tile. It has depth, variation and more interest.

The one on the right is machine made. Still has a shine but no depth.

A- May look more like stacked bricks...and is more irregular due to the fact that it is handmade.

Or should I continue to look?

Thanks in advance!

Hi Jem0223 - I replied on you thread so others could see your kitchen pics & give their opinions.

Hi @jem0223 - love the backsplash tile on the left! The handmade tiles bring texture and interest and with white cabinetry and mostly white countertops I think the variability of the handmade helps prevent things from looking too one dimensional. I think tile B is running the risk of exactly that - because it's quite flat it could make the kitchen look too uniform. Just my opinion.

Umtinately though I think if you love one of these, stop looking and go with it. If you don't love them but they "will do" and you're exhausted from looking, my advice is don't do either. I'm deciding on bs myself right now and I'm so sick of hunting and dragging samples around I keep almost falling into the trap of settling for something that would look fine but that I really don't feel excited about. I have to remind myself I will look at this for years so I better love it :).

Post pictures when you're done - I'm really looking forward to seeing it!

Very pretty! LOVE the remodel. We are doing our backsplash and are using the same tile. Do you know what size spacing for grout you used on the backsplash? Can you also post a closeup of a section of the backsplash? Any pointers before we start that part of our project? Thanks in advance!

Hi Kris,
We did a 1/8” grout line but I believe a bigger grout line (3/16”) is recommended to prevent lipping. We do have some lipping behind the range although I didn’t notice it until I looked for it (after reading about the larger grout lines.)
My recommendation before starting is to unpack your tiles and lay them out so you can see all the different colors. You’ll want to mix them up so you don’t get too many of the same color in a row.

Thanks!

Sorry to bother you again. Do you know the brand and color of the grout you chose? Thank you!!!

No bother at all. Glad to help. The grout is Tek Antique White. Make sure they use caulk and not grout in the joint between your countertop and the tile. Grout will crack. They used grout in mine and had to come back, dig it out and replace it with caulk.

@romy718 I LOVE your kitchen.

1). where did you get your living room curtains.

2). also I read that the backsplash can have a "dusty rose, glass blue and mint undertones". is that true?

3). Also if you could give me a little help. I have "cocunut" cabinets with a grey island. Calcatta elegance quartz counters. It appeared more off white to me in the store. Not sure if i went too "white" against my cabinets but it is what it is now 😀...so im having a hard time blending everything together but i think this silver crackle will be the key component. Please let me know your suggestions. *unfortunately the lightning is very bright amd sometimes makes the cabinets look "yellowish". Btw did you ever look at "storm crackle" by encore?

4).And would u suggest a more off white or grayish grout with my colors?

I included the adjoining family room we just remodeled also to give you an idea of the grey and my "modern farmhouse " concept

Thanks!

Very pretty kitchen and family room.

1. My drapes were made by a local designer in the Chicago area, Britt Carter.
2. Yes, the silver crackle tile has all of those undertones. The overall look of the tile is silver/gray in natural light and taupe with artificial light.
3. Once you get some accessories on your countertops, I bet your countertops will blend into your cabinets.
   If your lighting still seems to bright to you, there are many posts on house discussing warm vs cool lightbulbs.
   When I was picking my backsplash tile, I spent many hours on the kitchen forum. It can be overwhelming.
   It was good research, but I had to get tile samples to see how they blended with my countertops, cabinets & lighting.
4. Pick your tile & then pick your grout. I used Tek Antique White.
   Best of luck. Picking a backsplash is a challenge - it definitely was for me.

@romy718 thanks!

@jem0223 we are looking at London sky quartz and marble. I love marble but a little nervous about staining. Do you love your London sky? I’ve been looking for a countertop for 4 months....it’s crazy!
May I see a few more pics of your quartz? I haven’t seen a full slab, only. Very small sample.

@romy718 how are your countertops holding up? Looking at Danby and London sky quartz.

I still love the Danby marble. I have a few etches, mostly little water spots around the sink. I’ve gotten a little lazy the last couple of years.
There are so many more white quartz products available now, than there were in 2014-2015. I would still choose the Danby NOW but probably would have chosen one of the new quartz products back then. I was so afraid of the marble.

I’m just starting a master bath gut & reno. No marble - too many etching hair and make-up products. Yesterday, I chose a slab of Bianca Perla Quartzite.
There’s just something about natural stone.

Romy718
How is the scratching and staining on the Danby? I would do Honed to help with etching but more concerned bout possible deep scratches and/or staining? We have granite now, I use trivets and make sure I wipe up often and quickly even with granite (more of me just doing out of habit). I would plan on sealing marble initially and then follow recommendations there after. I have 2 boys (9 and 12) who, surprisingly, are pretty good with following directions if I tell them to wipe up if spill etc. my husband on the other hand needs some more frequent reminding (lol)!! I have a sample of the Danby, did some etching tests, it etched (no big deal-doesn’t really bother me) it did scratch easily but was wondering if you have many scratches that are deep?

I'm not Romy, but have danby as well. It does not stain at all - I am terrible at cleaning up quickly and have kids who are 4 and 6. We've had our danby counters for almost 5 years and have zero stains even with leaving droplets of red wine overnight. I also don't have any scratches, but it does have lighter white marks if something drops on it or a kid stabs it with a fork. I also have one dent in an edge that I am not sure of origination - it was either a flooring contractor or a kid accident on our nanny's watch. But they're not super noticeable IMO. The only downsides I've come across is lots of etching (we don't baby it AT ALL) and we have a couple burn? marks from setting cast iron directly on it - totally our fault. I think it's beautiful, fairly forgiving and love it!

I have zero scratches and zero stains. I have a tiny star (white) mark on the edge of my sink, from banging a heavy pot on the edge.
With Danby, you can remove the etching yourself, with a green scrubby & Comet. You’d have to do that entire countertop, not just one little spot. The Danby Marble website has a video showing you how to do the entire process. I don’t have enough etching that is visible (unless I’m looking for it), to do the Comet & green scrubby process & it’s been since 2013. I also have not had to reseal.

I always thought that the "scrubbing away etching" was compromising the seal but sounds like it remains intact.

Have you ever left something like tomato sauce or oil on danby for lets say 30 min or so? If so, sounds like it just etched and not stained.

Thank you for all of this info. It is helping me make my decision. I'm aware that there is more potential for "patina" (patina and etching I can embrace) and staining, just trying to get an idea of to what extent staining can occur.

Thanks again!!

Yes, you would have to reseal after scrubbing away the etch. I have left splatters of tomato sauce, coffee & oil. Coffee overnight, nothing. Tomato sauce & oil before going to bed with no staining & no etching. The etching I do have, I can only see if I bend down with my eye at countertop level & search. Or, if natural light hits the etch & I’m standing in a certain spot & looking.

Not tomato sauce or oil overnight, but coffee. Light spots of etching I can rub out
with a MR Clean white scrubby without marring the finish. If you did the Comet & green scrubby you’d be doing the equivalent of a light honing. You’d have to do the entire surface of that run of countertop or you’d see the areas where you removed etching. Therefore, you would be removing the sealant & need to reseal.
I’ve never done it. I don’t have enough visible etching. I don’t think I could embrace “patina.” I would rehone & reseal.

@April Burch What type of Danby do you have? Olympian White? Mont clair? Imperial?

@rhonda2227 Mine's royal danby.

Thanks April!

April forgot to ask you is your Danby honed or polished?

This is so helpful to read! I am getting Imperial Danby installed and if you only knew how much agonizing I have done over the durability.......this is very reassuring:)

Keshet Starr

I am also feeling the same way, hence the reaching out to Houzz discussions! I think I am ready to green light the Danby. I just can't get it out of my head!

Scrolling through the danby hashtags on Instagram definitely helped solidify my decision! I've heard it's really the way to go if you want marble, and while I thought I would NEVER get marble, the quartz just didn't hold a candle to it once I saw it in person!

@rhonda2227 Honed, and that's definitely the way to go. I have polished marble (not danby) in my bathrooms and any etching shows WAY more there.

Beautiful!

Keshet Starr- I agree. Started out this full kitchen reno with quartz in mind for counter tops....I made the mistake of looking at the real stones. I fell in love with the marble. After seeing them, the quartz while very pretty and durable, just did not do it for me anymore.

April Burch- Thank you for the info! I have been told to get honed as well by stone yards.

Quick question for the Danby owners--do you put hot pans on the counter directly?

@Keshet Starr - I did at first and created two stains/burn marks with a cast iron skillet, so I stopped once I realized the problem. Regular pans may not have this problem, but it's a habit for me after learning that lesson with the cast iron!

So good to know!

Keshet- I am not a Danby owner yet but all of the warehouses I've gone to, to view the Danby, all have said they would not put any hot pans on it since it will do what April mentioned above. They also all said to use placemats under hot plates etc just in case.

Keshet- I'd love to see your countertops once installed....please send us installed pics!!

@rhonda2227 absolutely--I can't wait!

Post pictures your slabs, before they are installed!

Sure thing!

Beautiful slabs! Congrats, you’re going to love them even more on install day. Your cabinet choice will look great with them.

Thank you so much @romy718, I hope so!!

Those are gorgeous!!!!! Cant wait to see them installed!

Thank you so much @rhonda2227!!! I can't wait to see them in their home:)

Have you all happy with your Danby choice? Chipping, etching, staining? All of these kitchen pictures are beautiful.

Hi Tara. I had Danby counters for 6 years before moving this summer and am totally happy I went with it. I had a couple chips - 1 in the middle of the island that I think my kids made and 1 around a sink from a cast iron oven; tons of etching and zero staining (and we had very small children and did not baby it). I didn't love the etching or the burn marks I mentioned in another comment, but nothing else about the counters bothered me. I miss the look of it SOOOO much after our move - we now have a salt and pepper granite that I HATE. I just don't hate it enough to go through another renovation. I always looked at old marble counters and statutes thinking they were beautiful with or without chips, so if you have a similar aesthetic I don't think you will be disappointed. If you need perfect, I think any kind of marble might be a lot of work and potentially disappointing.

Thank you for your feedback:)

It’s been 8 years and I still love my Danby. I have lots of small etches, which are visible, if I am looking for them or if the right kind of light hits that area. Most of my etching is around the sink.
I am not completely carefree. I have white, translucent silicone mats that I put down for food prep.
No regrets.

Romy718, your kitchen just never gets old! Still as beautiful and on point.

Did you used to use silver pads? I thought I got that trick from you. Tell us about the silcone mats. Do they go in the dishwasher?

thx!

Romy, I still think about your kitchen. When I first discovered Gardenweb years ago, it was my first kitchen crush! Haha! I still adore your encore tile backsplash.

Thanks so much! Couldn’t have done it without you all on Gardenweb! I do have the silver pads & use them occasionally. I’ve upgraded to these silicone mats. I just wipe them off with soapy water.