You have to ask yourself how much you want to worry about your countertops. How comfortable are you with imperfection? The patina will not be uniformly worn. There will be an etch here, a stain there. I do not have marble myself - just repeating what I've heard - though there are those who love their marble.

My quartz is not technically a marble "look a like", but I do like it as it is warmer than some of the other lighter quartz.

LG White Pearl:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~58831076

Put in Carrara marble kitchen counters 8/2014. They are beautiful! That said I wouldn't do it again (and, in fact, there will not be any marble anywhere in our home again). Its not the etching or staining (we've had no stains; use a good sealer). Its the dents/scratches, which I guess you could have the entire counter honed down/refinished (take a thin layer off?) or fill in with an epoxy, but ugh. I dropped a fork from about 6" above the counter: scratch (that you easily see; you can feel the dip in - i.e., its not just on the surface). Ditto glass salt shaker from upper cabinet - that dent/scratch is obvious.

I remember someone (maybe Victoria Elizabeth Barnes (you have GOT to check out her blog about not getting marble in her 2nd bath reno floor - hilarious and informative for your question)) saying "my home isn't an art installation." I have 2 sons, husband and a dog. If I lived alone I'd definitely get marble again, but I don't and the easily damaged marble just isn't for me.

That all said I have been to Paris and seen very old countertops - perhaps the patina everyone talks of is all the scratches and dents running together? I.e., your first new car door 'ding' is very noticeable, but after many years you don't really see them as much.

Not sure my ramblings help! In a nutshell: you have to decide you can live with it not looking new very quickly - including likely permanent dents that are a very white color (and thus noticeable) - else you'll drive your family nuts policing it.

PS Where I live quartz was going to be almost $5,000 more than the Carrara, so I figured I could replace the marble in the future for less than getting quartz once. And while quartz is far more durable, it does still age. (Maybe I'll get Corian in my next - retirement - home!)

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