Here is the quartz he found that I like the look of:

Our kitchen - note, there will be a cobalt blue stove in the back.

Here is one piece of marble that I thought was maybe a possibility, but I was thinking more white would look better - this is so gray. Thoughts?

beckysharp said it best in the last thread, Marble acts like a neutral, like a Persian rug. By marble in this sentence, I am assuming we are talking about relatively white ones, no crazy (gorgeous) violet veins or some such.

Remember the marble will be horizontal, that changes how you perceive it. Google images of whatever marble that is with white cabinets and you will get an idea of how you feel about it.

Yes, a basic marble, white background with gray veins, ideally some brown as well.

Here are some available about 4 hours from me... any of these jump out?

https://www.stonelandinc.com/inventory/carrara-marble-honed-3.0/

Beautiful kitchen, I would go for the real thing. Your heart was set on it...don't settle. The gray will break up the white nicely and it will look fabulous with your blue range.

jrb, I like the first one of that bunch, but it shows only 1 slab left.

I like the third one down the best. The only one I don't like is the first. I don't care for the dark spot.

The ONLY way to select marble, a product of the earth is to get in the CAR. No natural stone selection can be made without doing exactly that. You touch/feel. You look at every slab in that "lot" you need. You go armed with your dimensioned kitchen layout. With your cabinet finish sample in tow as well!

Period!!! and that's the only way to select natural anything.

The slab you desire by your description is Calacatta; there's nothing basic about it, much less the price tag. Carrara marble is a grayer white background, very classic in it's appeal. You are the only one that can decide for your space whether you choose marble or a quartz and be happy with it. There are no other stone vendors in your general area?

I'd add you are way late in the selection process? And now in a rush to meet a template date.........:(

I second or third people's recommendations that you need to visit stoneyards in person to find the marble you want.

Even within the specific variety of marble, some slabs will just speak to you more than others.

I went with a marble called French Vanilla and there was one slab that I liked more than the five others leaning against each other. I found it at the second stone yard I visited.

Yes I realize I need to go in person to see them, but I want to at least know there are some possibilities before I drive 4 hours each way to look. I almost drove 3 hours to a different place today and thankfully found out before I went that they don't have anything like I am looking for in stock.

Thanks luckyblueeye... I've been struggling since yesterday with what to do, but I do feel better about letting the quartz go to someone else tomorrow when the hold is up and finding a real marble.

The marble you like looks to be Venatino, which is beautiful. It is mostly gray, but with white cabinets would look very nice. The quartz is lovely too, but you need to decide whether you can live with marble or would rather go with the quartz.

The quartz is pretty, but it doesn't look like real marble. If you have your heart set on marble and are going in with a clear understanding of its benefits and drawbacks (which, from your previous thread, I think you do and your are), I'd let the quartz go and pick one of the marbles.

Why do you insist on marble? Because of the material itself or maybe the uniqueness of the patterns? There are some amazing marble-looking quartz options from Caesarstone that offer the very look you're looking for but they are not unique. However, they are much easier to maintain, more durable, and most likely less expensive. Tip: if you opt for quartz with veining, choose a slab, don't choose it from a sample, and make sure you like the seams (the veining should be consistent).

I have looked at quartz and while I think some is really nice, it still looks "fake." I am putting some quartz in some of the bathrooms and may do it in the butler's pantry but in the kitchen I really want natural stone. Looking into quartzite as well, I was under the impression it was a lot more expensive but if it's not I would consider that.

You can't expect it look the same. It's a " style feel" , and one with an easier care in most cases, especially if one is OCD about natural patina of use......and marble.

That is all it can be. It's manufactured cake batter : ) stirred, swirled or sprinkled with gizmos. Love it or leave it, just as with any other surface natural or man made. There's no "perfect" one size fits all.