Taj Majal quartzite looks nice w/this stone. You're going to need to take a few of these tiles w/you while looking for counters. The issue will be the white tones. instead of doing white on white on white, how about a nice solid charcoal or a black? you could do a leathered or honed black granite or a soapstone.

this is also a solid white quartz surface. just too much white

another with plain white quartz

@Beth H. - thank you for your comments.

I don't think we want to have dark counter tops. The kitchen is open to our family room. The minimal wall space in the kitchen will be painted a light blue color, as will the walls in the family room.

We were thinking about:

a) white cabinets and island

b) the Calacatta gold marble 3" x 6" tiles for the back splash

c) light(ish) counter tops on the perimeter and island (perhaps with some grey coming through

d) medium brown hardwood floors

We thought about using walnut for the island surface, but decided against it due to maintenance issues.

If we didn't want to have dark counter tops, are there any other options? Thanks!

Do you have a countertop showroom in your area? GO! Take your sample of backlash, look at their samples, and then actually view the slabs. Quartz/quartzite come like that, just like granite and marble. Then marry it all.

Personally, I think it's flirting with danger to choose a backsplash before countertop materials. You're asking a very large feature material to blend with a fairly small one. Can be a rough road. Maybe consider going the other way? Countertops first, then backsplash?

Can I ask what you ended up going with? I am having the same dilemma. Thanks!

Ashley: If you're having the same dilemma, you're picking out of sync. There are lots of countertops, but there are a kajillion backsplash choices. Pick a splash that goes with a top, not a top that goes with a splash please.

@Ashley Curtis -- we chose a Taj Mahal island top and counter top, and paired it with a custom 3"x6" subway tile back splash made by Pratt & Larsen. It adds a level of warmth to an otherwise white kitchen. Couldn't be happier.

@equanimity- do you have photos of your kitchen? Sounds exactly what I’m going for

Equanimity,,,very pretty. do you know the name of the white on your cabs?

and what color is the P&L tile?

@Beth H. -- yes, the cabinet color is just "White". And, the color of the Pratt and Larsen is W78.