Mountain mist silestone?

jaidog- I can relate to picking out a beautiful slab and only finding out from fabricator how extravagant the price was. I wasn’t either prepared for price quotes I was given for the slabs I have chosen. In the end, I cut the cost by working with a solid quartz, and purchased just one slab of the beautiful quartile I originally wanted and used as a feature. You can also find a solid ceasarstone quartz and use on most work surfaces, and use the beautiful slab you chose for island or feature wall. I attached my final results of quartzite and ceasarstone. I couldn’t be more pleased. Please excuse the mid construction mess though

NewHome2018: I like your idea, and your kitchen looks sharp. But, my wife doesn't want a solid surface wall although I wouldn't mind. We may do Taj Mahal Extra on the island and something different elsewhere. But we will need to buy the entire slab which would still be pricey.

Hoping the Taj Mahal we see at the fabricator looks as good as the Taj Mahal Extra we saw at the stone supplier.

Dekton has a new color that is based on Taj Mahal. I think it is Taga. The image on the Dekton website does not do it justice. You have to see it in person. Stunning.

I like with NewHome's idea of using the quartzite you love for a backsplash. I think it's absolutely beautiful and can't imagine finding something similar although I bet you could find a solid surface countertop with similar taupe undertones to go with it. It might help the other posters to see what other hard finishes you're choosing. Or if this is a remodel and you already have flooring in, attach pictures of that.

I also toyed with a brown/grey (taupe) warm look like you are going for and I looked at Caesartone Ginger and Wild Rice and I also really loved Walton by Cambria.

Just my two cents from a non-pro but my personal taste is that only one hard surface in your kitchen area (tile, backplash, countertop) should have a movement/pattern/veining. If you end up going with a natural stone for your countertop (eye-catching) consider picking other surfaces that are solid color (seemingly boring but don't compete with your stand-out finish).

If you're generally thinking taupes for your finishes, consider looking up Maria Killam's advice (great blog IMO) about taupes. Her opinion is that they can be a bit limiting as far as what accent colors go with them, but I think it's a great look, really earthy and natural. Cheers!

I had my heart set on Taj Mahal too, but couldn't get it to work with the budget. I ended up with Madre Perla quartzite. If you aren't too far from Wheeling, IL, check out Terrazo and Marble Supply.

My quartz is nothing like the beautiful quartzite but it has a lot of grey and brown.

It's called Kindred by Hanstone.

Dekton Taga looks promising based on photos I see online. Will try to find it in-person.

Madre Perla quartzite also looks promising. Obviously, we would need to see slabs in-person. Hope they have some gray in them and not just brown. We are about 45 mins. from Wheeling so it may be worth a trip.

Kindred by Hanstone appears to be too dark.

In total agreement with not having movement in both the backsplash and counter. I prefer to have it in the counter.

As far as colors in our kitchen: All cabinets other than island are simply white. Island is espresso (dark stain). Floors are white oak, natural to very light stain.

I also agree with going to different stone yards to find the slab you want. We also found that our fabricator was able to get the price of our slabs down when she told the stone yard that we could get a similar slab cheaper at a different stone yard. They came down in price and we were able to stick closer to our budget.

I liked that Madre Perla too. I love Dekton colors but all the little samples at the store when I checked them out were pretty chipped up on the edges. I've read that it chips easily even though the manufacturer says it's bullet proof. The colors I gave you are far too dark for your kitchen. I think you're on the right track with something that's a warm gray and light. Good luck!

Before you proceed with a Dekton or Neolith like product, you should search the forums for previous threads on problems that some have had with their installations. You need a fabricator that is very experienced in working with that type of material.

I purchased my quartzite from Daltile Stone. They have their inventory on line. There is a location in Elk Grove.

http://daltilestonecenter.com/ElkGrove/products.aspx?q=Granite

You will not find that in the rest of the copycats unfortunately.

I would try searching other vendors to see if they carry the same stone.

The price for the stone will most likely not change much, but the labor will.

There are a variety of differences on the price/SF on labor. There you will save some money.

I you really like the stone and do not find anything close I suggest you cut back on other materials to make up the difference in the stone.

Try Home Depot for the Dekton. They are a vendor for Dekton. Be sure to ask the designer there about their experience with their fabricator. Some do it better than others. Dekton is very hard and fabrication can be tricky. It can be done well, though. The edge selection available is less because of the difficulty of working with the material. The fabricator for northern New England is very good.

Thanks to everyone for their helpful comments. Our current plan is to look at slabs of Taj Mahal from a fabricator/supplier which will be lower-priced than the original ones. If we like them, we'll go that route. If not, we may be able to do the majority of our kitchen with just one slab of the expensive Taj Mahal we've already seen, and then wait for a remnant to finish the small remaining counter.

By the way, Madre Perla quartzite was the same price as Taj Mahal. And, I'm not sure I want to take a chance with Dekton. The fabricator we like does not use it. And, am looking for a place to view Allen+Roth Auric.

Jaidog, you should be able to see the Auric quartz at any Lowe’s. It is a very small sample that they have in store though. I can always try to get some better photos of mine if you think it may work for you.

CountrySunsets: Thanks for your offer. I just read some more about A+R products at Lowes and they don't seem to get very good reviews. Have you had any issues with your counters?

Taj Mahal will mix with more of itself, or with a plain man made quartz. Don't do it with anything else in mind. No more marble "looks" no more pattern. In other words.......in for a penny or a pound.

Don't go to a stone yard without your actual layout of the kitchen in HAND. With all dimensions.

Jan Moyer: Mix with what? Are you referring to backsplash or the remnant idea? Unclear.

Don't mix it with another REAL stone,, Not a marble, and not a granite , period. It is almost a guaranteed fail. Since nobody has asked, what is the flooring in the kitchen/house that wlll accompany the possible Taj Mahal????

Jan: Got it. Backsplash we are thinking of is a simple light gray porcelain with no pattern. No other stone/tile will be in the kitchen other than counter and backsplash.

Kitchen and adjoining rooms will have natural or slightly darker than natural white oak flooring. Kitchen cabinets are Simply White. Kitchen island is dark-stained maple called espresso. Appliances are stainless.

We just installed granite Monte Cristo. So very similar. Leather finish. It’s beautiful.

I just found a few photos of Monte Cristo -- looks nice. Any brown in your slab or mostly gray?

Lots of browns, cream, grey, even light grey blues. Here’s a quick pick, but will try to get a better shot as soon as I can clear away the island and counters due to work still being done on appliances.

Porcelain tile for splash? Pick it last after tops are in. A very pale gray GLASS elongated subway is nice with Taj. It a star in its own right, very translucently beautiful and multi tonal. I don't see the clunk of a duller porcelain behind it, frankly. Nor an oversized anything. Jmho. ONE star.

Jan: I thought a kitchen should only have one star (Taj in our case) which is why we are thinking of a more subdued backsplash. Here is a pic of the porcelain we are considering.

I haven't seen many glass backplashes I like.

Here is a better pic of Monte Cristo granite and I used a pearl matte Arizona Tile subways.

I would go lighter : ) if TaJ. And yes, plainer. Best is to WAIT. It can't be installed until tops are in, so no need for a commitment at this point ! Right?

I found this online. It’s called taupe white, and the stone yard has it as price level 3, where Taj Mahal is price level 5.

Here are 2 other slabs, same granite, same yard. Some variation in the amount of browns, grays and movement.

Bianca romano

Latest update: Spoke with my fabricator today. He will be able to do all of our counters with the exception of a small piece next to the fridge with one Taj Mahal slab. The missing section will be done once he gets a Taj Mahal remnant. Still waiting for a final quote, but this should bring down the price considerably.

Really appreciate all the suggestions and advice. Hoping the Taj will work out.

Jaidog- No, I haven’t had any problems with my counters. Granted, I haven’t lived with them terribly long- only about 3 weeks. We checked who the fabricator was before we bought. It was a very reputable company and they have been very easy to work with and very responsive. I dealt directly with them since purchase.
Sounds like you may have figured it figured out though with Taj Mahal. Hope it works out and you love them!

jaidog, so happy it sounds like the taj will work out. Beware though, putting a remnant from a different slab can be extraordinarily different than the one you have. Taj was my first choice as well. I needed 3 slabs though, and could only find 2 that had the coloration I needed. The other was olive green. Completely different than the grayish tones in the others that were supposedly close in lot numbers. I also ended up with monte cristo and couldn't be happier! I hope you find the perfect stone(s) for you!

Have you seen seam location and a placement of those seams? Everyone has a budget. But consider the length of time you will own your result.............

There may be a DOZEN Taj remnants is your area right now. Find that remnant now is my advice. Look at where the seams if any, are currently planned with YOUR fabricator. Make certain you will be happy. Once cut and polished is to OWN all. You want and need enough material for a beautiful result. It very often means two slabs to avoid odd seam locations. Or just bad flow where they are needed. Cutting stone is just like cutting a patterned fabric. Don't skimp.

Fabricator said there will be one seam in the middle of the sink.

So glad you can use the piece you love. However, Jan is right about that last remnant. Find it NOW. All Stone is unique and that last piece can ruin the whole job if it isn’t right.
The stone you love is gorgeous. I held out till I find the green/grey I wanted. All the “close” ones weren’t going to make me happy. Glad it’s working out.

Everything will be great with your install. And I wish I had your confidence as maybe I could have saved a little by ordering less stone. I do adore our installer but I was so afraid of this issue below that I ordered extra. My installer is fantastic and does not like to waste but with certain patterns extra is needed. I had veins rolled to match and seams to flow to look invisible so there was not a choppy look. I am certain this won't happen to you but I saw this last spring and worried. It is always good to learn all you can so you make great choices and have your dream kitchen.

[countertop install needs opinions please[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/unhappy-with-quartzite-countertop-install-need-opinions-please-dsvw-vd~5358057?n=59) June 19, 2018

I also have concerns that things may look choppy. So, I've asked my installer to show me exactly how he will be cutting the slab and where each cut piece will go. With that info, I should be able to tell if we'll get a choppy look or not. Will definitely nix the idea if we end up like seams shown in boxerpal's pics.

Oh holy night, boxer. That is AWFUL! A very good cautionary tale for being an educated consumer

Because of photos like the one that boxerpal showed above, I was very involved in laying out my fairly busy quartzite. Once the slabs were transported to the fabricator, they took photos and laid them out on the computer and we were able to eliminate parts of the stone that I did not like, and come up with the best seam solutions. It was difficult to see small nuances in the stone, so it was very helpful that the slabs were in the yard to double check the layout. You mentioned that you will have one seam through the sink, but in case you also have an L-shaped corner, I recommend a Euro/French miter if you want a cleaner, 90 degree corner. Some folks on here have posted photos of very curvy inside corners and were disappointed that the stone did not follow the inside angle of the cabinets more closely. I personally like a crisper inside corner so asked my fabricator to miter the corner. No matter how much you like or trust your fabricator, do not leave anything to chance. Make sure you are home during the templating and be very clear with them on your edge treatment and whether or not you want a flush, positive or negative reveal on your sink. Do not let them proceed until you sign off on the drawings and are happy with your seam placement. Good luck - I love your slab!

Take a look at a marble called “Calcutta Oro” the right piece will have warm tones in it such as gold and carmel as well as gray.

I have had both quartz and granite in a home remodel. Both are about the same in pricing. Depending on the location (kitchen, bath, lighting, cleaning) Quartz i prefer in kitchen for the properties of heat, scratch, both need sealing)

i RECENTLY USED MATTE FINISH, LEATHER TEXTURED GRANITE IN A BATHROOM!!!

Amazing, spotless look, and Very Modern.

The warmth comes from the color combinations. Quartz came be manufactured in any combo.

Wow! I really like those counters!

The counters look GORGEOUS!!! I hope you're happy. That color is amazing.

Jaidog.....gorgeous counters !

Wow that is one of the nicest looking counters I have seen! What a beautiful stone. Well done!

Love it! Just beautiful. You’re not doing gray tile, are you? Did you say that upthread? I lovely warm cream color would be perfect.

I’m redoing our bath and wanted Taj Mahal, but the only slabs the fabricator had were marked with red streaks. I love the variables in real stones but that was too much for me!

@my_four_sons: We debated about the backsplash tile, thinking we may go with gray. But, my wife chose a tile that is mostly cream colored with a slight gray tone. I posted a photo of it earlier in this thread dated 11/2.

That’s beautiful!