A good fabricator will be able to cut it so that the veining runs the same direction, even w/the L. Always check the template of how he proposes to cut the stone to make sure you are satisfied w/the outcome. Don't let them cut it unless you've signed off on it.

you don't want this:

If there isn't enough material to cut this correctly, you made need another slab. Check with the fabricator.

If you are doing a tile backsplash, do not get the 4" piece up the back. and if you plan on keeping what you have, find a different countertop.

Also, Calacatta is a marble, not a quartzite. One of those appears to be a White Macaubas quartzite.

Possibly a jumbo slab of the Ella could do the entire L without a seam

Oh my, I definitely do not want to seem like that. And yes, we are getting rid of the backsplash and doing something else once the counter and cabinets are done.

Beth H. The stoneyard is calling the second and third slabs Calacatta Quartzite . Are these the ones you are thinking might be a cross cut of white Macouba us?

Calacatta is a region in Italy where the marble w/the same name is quarried. Perhaps there is a type of quartzite that comes from that region? I've only heard of it attached to marble (and quartz that tries to resemble the look). However, stone yards commonly rename their slabs whatever they want.

If it's true quartzite, try the scratch test and the lemon juice test on a small piece (down on the edge or ask them if they have a leftover piece from the same lot of slabs).

lemon juice will causing etching on any calcite (marble) deposits. squeeze a few drops and let it sit for 5-10 mins. wipe away. any etching? if so, you have marble or at least a slab w/marble (calcite) deposits.

take a glass tile and try and scratch the surface of it w/the edge or a piece of you slab. granite and quartzite will scratch glass. if it's marble, it's softer than glass and won't touch it. it will leave a powdery residue instead.

Do some research on the particular natural stone slabs you are considering. Ask the country of origin and any other names the stone is known as.

Manmade stones with directionality are best for counters with no corners or seams. The production process is not a reproducible printed tile type that results in the ability to have a perfect seam match. Two consecutive slabs will be as close as you get, but are not bookmatch perfect.

Quartz is chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry cake batter that is being poured into a mold. Even if you pour at the same height, angle, and rate, the results will not be “the same”. As long as you do not have expectations of a perfectly matched seam, they are fine choices to use.

If you want perfect bookmatched seaming, you need to select bookmatched natural stone slabs, and buy the extra square footage needed to produce bookmatched seams.

Most situations with most materials, the good can be had without the expense, or self stress of the expectations of the perfect. But you need to interview your fabricator on the front end. Your expectations can not be assumed to be shared. And neither can their skill be assumed.

The most disappointing results happen when expectations don’t match abilities. Verify their skills personally, and and your expectations in writing. Up front, before you are given a quote. Perfect does come at a greater cost than good, so you want to be sure that that is out in the open from the beginning.

The Cook’s Kitchen and BethH are giving you important information. There are too many Houzz discussions about how to fix poorly seamed countertops — and being disappointed in the materials purchased. All stone yards call colors whatever they want and whether something is marble or quartz needs to be tested so you really know what you are buying.
Make sure to SEE the layout before letting the fabricator make a single cut in your slabs. And be prepared to buy another slab so you have the veining match up, as you want it. Take your time, question everyone and everything so there is a happy result at the end.
Both slabs are gorgeous.

Thank you for all the words of wisdom! I will definitely spend more time with the fabricator discussing the seams, etc. I will also expect a layout/template signoff. I'd rather know what is going to happen and be good with it than be surprised.

Now to pick a slab. I've seen both the Ella and the quartzite in person. Both are nice, but I am leaning towards the quartzite. The stone yard insists that this is a Calacatta quartzite and not marble, but, they cannot give me a piece to test from this exact slab, only remnants from another slab by the same name. How can I test the actual slab before buying? The piece they gave me is testing out well so far. I put vinegar on it tonight with no etching after 1 hour, going to buy a lemon tomorrow to see what happens. Will also do the scratch test, but, again, this is not on the actual stone I have tagged.

We have what is termed Calacatta Gold quartzite in our kitchen; and it is indeed the crosscut version of Macaubus White. One the stone veterans somewhere in this forum over the years said it's a Brazilian thing. If your sample isn't etching by now (using vinegar), that's a good sign. This article is a must read, written by our unofficial resident geologist Karin Kirk. And in [this GardenWeb thread[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/countertop-geology-part-5-marble-quartzite-and-other-favorites-dsvw-vd~2438427), Karin discusses the bottle test. Good luck!

Following

OK, checked with the fabricator and he will come up with layout before I commit to the slab. The lines of the slab will all go in the same direction on every surface, horizontal across the room, even where it turns the corner at the "L". I'll see what it looks like once he draws it up and make sure to either approve/disapprove.

Now I need an opinion. Is this slab to "busy" for all the different surfaces in the kitchen? There is no island, but, we use the "L" counter as you would use the island. OR, should a kitchen like mine have a counter with a consistent, overall pattern throughout? Thanks!

Doesn’t look too busy to me. Rather gorgeous!

I like it. I am building and my cabinets will be Chantilly Lace too. That is a beautiful slab. Hang in there, I just went through your exact delimna. You can't go wrong with either slab. Your kitchen is going to be amazing!

So, I went back today to look at the slab again, and I noticed another dimension of color. Does this look green to you guys? It is the Calacatta Stone. Would you still buy it? My thought is that I want a white kitchen with a counter that is not super white but had a little bit of movement. I thought the Stone was mainly grey, white, cream and charcoal, which I am fine with. Don’t know what to think of the green! Also, if I go with it, will it alter what I can doe with color in the rest of the house, or will it still be considered neutral?!?

They are calling it Calacatta Quartzite. I asked questions (thanks to this community:) and they said it is from Brazil. It looks similar to a Macuabus white I saw at another stone yard(minus the green tones), so maybe they interchange the names? This has become so confusing!

they prob think that adding a name w/ 'Calacatta' in it (that people know what that is) will make it more 'friendly' towards buyers. As I've said, Calacatta is marble. From Italy.

As for your quartzite, see if the corner of it scratches glass. If so, it's a good quartzite. see if it etches if you drop lemon juice on it and let it sit for 5 mins. No etching? good. If it won't scratch a glass tile and if lemon juice etches it, it's marble.

Hi psaag-

I'm late to the party here... but find my self looking over same choices. What did you choose?

So, after much back and forth, my contractor convinced me to go with a more “organic” pattern in countertop because of the odd layout of the kitchen and how the movement of the counters would look. I really like the way it turned out! Here are the details of what I did:

Countertops: Vicostone Misterio - no seams!

Cabinets: Shaker White - Chantilly Lace

Floors: Natural Red Oak

Walls: Agreeable Grey

Appliances and hood: Stainless Steel

Wow! It looks fabulous! The backsplash really complements the countertop and cabinets. I’m sure you love it. Very, very elegant and classy.

Very nice! It looks so much lighter and brighter--great choices.

Yes, I love how it turned out! I can't say it is exactly what I had in mind at the beginning, but, in some ways it is better.

I did learn a lot from the process... one is to not over-think things as much as I did - the remodel took way too long because of me! Also, it is important to get advice from professionals, for sure!!! They will know things about products that I just would never have figured out on my own until it was too late. Some of the issues that were avoided (like the seams in the counter-top!) were because of all the great advice I got here.

Hi..love your kitchen. could you tell me your backsplash? thanks

Thanks! The backsplash is a marble herringbone from The Tile Shop.

https://www.tileshop.com/products/hampton-large-herringbone-marble-mosaic-tile-658498?g2=application&c=backsplash&sc=