Thanks Suzyq53 for your advice...work has stopped till we make a decision. Unfortunately, the 2 Everest slabs we saw had a problem. One slab had a crack in it so they said all slabs in that block would and the other piece not in that block had an area that didn't feel polished. The fabricator said it wouldn't affect the integrity of the stone but we would have to be ok with feeling a rough patch on the slab. I'm not ok with it. We may go to another place to view slabs although we were at the most popular place where we live. Natural stone is beautiful but as we have 3 children...15, 14 and 12 we thought quartz would be easier re less staining etc.

I'm copying a friends kitchen and trying to keep everything light. I haven't seen quartzite lighter than Everest of Bianca. Have you? My friend used quartz in the colours I first mentioned, CS calacatta nuvo on island and CS frosty carrina on perimeter counters. She has way more perimeter counters than me though so saved $ by using the frosty carrina...she has flipped the house so not her forever home. As I know what her quartz looks like I'm torn as it would be a 'safe' decision. Would love any other advice or more opinions. Thanks!

Oh, we also have a black marble fireplace (on right side of pics). We'll be having the salmon colour on it painted black...so will be solid black. Can't remove it (200 years old). That said it's part of our great room. Just mentioning as it may conflict with colour of island/counters.

Have you looked at honed Taj Mahal?

I hope you went with Quartzite as it is a natural stone. A good friend of mine did her quartzite in a leathered finish and they are beautiful! Quartz looks like a huge piece of plastic!