Do you have any photos of the cabinets you're considering? I know you mentioned white cabinets but what kind of white? Bright white or a softer white?

I have dark cabinets with Hanstone Kindred, which is more a taupe color.

My sister in law had Summerhill at her old house. I wasn't too crazy about it, but it did make the corner seams less visible because the pattern was more random, unlike the veining in Brittanica.

@Brandi I actually have the ability to choose a bright white or a warmer/softer white so I have some flexibility on cabinet color based on what tone the countertops go. :)

@chocolatebunny123 thanks for the real life feedback -- I was thinking that Summerhill would be less challenging compared to the Brittanica to align seams.

Hi @Beth H. : I will be going with gold fixtures (Brizo Luxe Gold). The cabinets will be a transitional shallow-cutout shaker cabinets in some variation of white. The floor are the original hardwood oak floors (stained brown). Let me see if I can find a photo:

This is a photo of the kitchen pre-reno. The appliances will also be replaced (despite how amazingly retro they are!).

If I go with a busy countertop, the backsplash will likely be subway tiles. I know, not very exciting, but I tend to prefer my more "bold" design choices in decor that can be swapped out (I'm too chicken to commit to something too stylish in a more permanent application, heh).

I posted a few other pictures, and some porcelain choices. did you see those?

personally I think the summerhill is too 'faux' looking and really busy on an island

this is a nice porcelain that was at my stone place. it's not that expensive either.

@Beth H. :Sorry just now seeing all your wonderful suggestions! Is the thicker porcelain you mentioned called Neolith or Dekton? I actually like the way both of them look but my contractor mention that even with a great fabricator, he's had two homeowners complain about cracking/chipping issues and that the repairs were still visible after the fact. =\ Have you heard otherwise? If yes, that would be the ideal solution to my problem because it does look quite beautiful and it would be more durable.

I'm also open to quartzite/granite (or other stones) but I'm nervous about etching/water marks despite the sealant. Have you had any issues with yours? The ones you linked are beautiful!

Edited to add: I'm not as concerned about matching veins on the waterfall so much as the perpendicular turn for the peninsula. =\

no. it's not those brands. similar, but no. They had just gotten in those slabs last summer. ( that slab I had pictured was only $2200 ) my stone/tile guy told me they are thicker than the other porcelain, and the design was very good. you know how some of them get blurry close up? these were not. I actually thought it was a real marble slab, that's how sharp the lines were.

as for the peninsula turn, you're going to have that issue with whatever veining slab you get. I'd talk it over with whomever is cutting your slab and find out if you'll need more than one to make it look good.

I get what you're saying about changing directions though. this looks like one slab for this entire corner area

you want this^,,, not this ! :

this is my calacatta w/the zerocare factory sealant. (it's Antolini)

They don't do it on every slab. But yes, it does work. I've had lemon juice sit on it, and other stainable foods. it wipes right off.

they did a demonstrating of the sealer (again, it's applied at their factory in Italy. when they cut the slab here, it has to be cut w/fresh, running water, and nothing else) for me on a spare piece w/oil/vinegar/tomato sauce, lemon juice, etc. none of it etched

it's a diff piece, but he used the same stuff,,,see how it's etched up in the top left on that one? nothing on the lower one.

As for quartzite,,True quartz is stronger than granite and will not etch or stain. period. The issue arises when stone yards mislabel slabs as being quartzite, when they are not. Like Super White. (which I have in my bathroom) It's a dolomite.

That's why I mentioned Taj Majal. It's an actual quartzite and will be fine. So is White Macaubas and Sea Pearl.

The marble on your island makes my heart flutter. It's exactly the look that I want but I'm just so scared of the etching/staining. I'm intrigued by this zerocare so I just found a local retailer that carries Antolini to see if I can check out the sealed slab myself. Thank you for the suggestion.

I was actually surprised by how the porcelain countertops looked so much better than any quartz I had seen in terms of mimicking marble but the cracking/chipping gives me pause. I wonder if your thicker porcelain slabs fare better?

Hmm, I really like the way Sea Pearl and White Macaubas quartzite look. I'll call a few local shops to see if they carry slabs. I didn't even bother looking at natural stones after I brought home a sample of marble and was dismayed by how EVERYTHING etched and stained it, lol. But now I'm going to give these harder quartzite a chance. Thanks for giving me a more focused approach when I go to the stone yard. :)

I had an Antolini representative tell me not to get their product! This was at a big presentation here in LA. I'll keep it vague to protect the rep ... the rep was form another country and I also speak that language, so maybe he felt comfortable telling me what he really thought of the product. I told him I had Taj Mahal quartzite and he said not to spend money on the azerocare product and stick to Taj Mahal. Said I wouldn't be happy long term with azerocare. I have no reason not to believe him ...

@Beth - I am interested in the Azerocare - Is it true it can only be used on a polished surface and not a honed one?

well, I've had it for 6 months and don't have any complaints, chispa.

I suppose if anything ever happened to the sealant, I could have a marble refinisher come out and completely sand off the sealer to get down to the natural marble again.

the only thing I do notice is slight scratches in the finish. (it almost resembles a poly clear coat when viewed at a side angle w/the light) To me it's a small price to pay not to worry about lemons/citrus, hot sauce, oil or tomato sauce. All of which my messy son manages to spill on top of the island.

chispa,,, you don't have to dime out the rep! what did he tell you? And btw, there is no reason what so ever to consider that sealer for something like TAj. Taj won't stain or etch to begin with. no need to baby it w/zerocare. And if that rep told you differently, then I'd be suspicious about his knowledge of natural stone!

Cici, as for the porcelain, everyone is always worried about chips and broken edges, but if you hit anything hard enough, the corner is going to chip! marble would definitely be fragile. Just don't swing your iron skillet near the edges! And for the record, I chipped a piece of granite years ago when I dropped something heavy on it, so it really doesn't matter what the material is.

Why not put a section of butcher block on one side of the L-shaped counter? No matching needed!

designgirl,,,yes,,,I believe it says only polished marble/stone.

I have noticed scratches on the finish, so it's not fool-proof. But, my son and husband cut up lemons all the time on that island. even though I keep a cutting board on it, they're messy and the lemon juice squirts over the board. I've found dried lemon juice spots 8 hours later and they clean right up w/dawn and water. No mark at all!

Felizlady,,,i was going to mention that too! I saw the end of an island w/the butcher block and though it looked really cool

Beth H, no he never suggested the product for Taj Mahal. I told him I had TM currently and was doing research on new products for a new construction kitchen. We chit chatted about his country and stone products. He then stepped closer and told me not to get the product and stick to something like TM. Said something like "not everything is a s a good as its marketing" and I wouldn't be happy long term. It was really noisy and they were about to start the azerocare presentation so he had to step away.

hmmm, ok. I wonder what I have to look forward to! lol.

there was an issue when they were cutting the stone. it ended up w/efflorescent residue on it. they went back and forth w/the stone yard and Antolini. ( they had sold one other slab before mine and it was cut and installed, by another fabricator, weeks before mine w/no problem) . They had to give me another slab (there were 23 slabs cut from this one block of marble and all of them had been treated) and cut it again. This time they used fresh, running water and it turned out fine. Apparently here in SoCal, fabricators are required to use recycled water when fabricating. Since this sealer is very finicky, only fresh water was supposed to be used to cut it.

I'm wondering down the road, like years and year, if I ever want it to return to natural marble (even honed) if I could get my marble guy to just grind it all off. the sealer looks more like a topical application, rather than a penetrating type. It's almost as if there is a very thin clear coat that lays on top of the stone. that's why I see faint scratches, like you would a clear coat on a car or wood table.

@Cici Chouse - I share your feelings about most of the quartz marble look a likes look very fake to me . My neighbor got the LG Viatera Minuet, and I must say it is pretty realistic (she even got it in a honed finish). You may want to check that one out. Have you ever considered soap stone. Another friend of mine has that with white counters and a white backsplash (wood floors) and it looks great. She NEVER oils it, and puts hot pots on it, etc. She loves it and it has served her well.

here's a piece of Minuet,,,right side. little one. big one is Zodiac and left is cirrus

@Design Girl @Beth I’ll have to check LG Minuet! I was hoping for more bold veining but i do like that the Minuet has more grey “coverage” and less white blank spaces with just a few random squiggles.

Thank goodness for Houzz and the lovely commenters who generously provide their time and feedback!!!

I have Cambria Beaumont on my largish Island (with Delta satin brass faucets) and I thank the kitchen gods every day that I chose it. The veins have an amazing depth that Britannica doesn’t have. You almost have to see both slabs to realize the depth difference. But it isn’t a subtlepattern, and it doesn’t look remotely like marble. I can’t get photos to post any more, but be aware few pictures do it justice

Following for feedback. Still on the hunt for countertop.

Have you looked a granites IMO pretty indestructible and comes in some very nice whites and the graining is much easier to work with in changes of direction.I do noyt like the limtations of quartz and would always choose a natural stone over quartz. I have clients with 5 kids they have had the same white granite on their counters since we installed their kitchen 22 yrs ago.Still looks like new and took lots of action

A good fabricator should be able to match your seams very well. Personally, I'm not a fan of the Sumerhill... looks too "fake" to me and overall a little too busy. I do like the warm Britannica, the bolder veins are beautiful and neutral enough that I think you'll love them forever. Britannica also reminds me of Skara Brae, which is probably the only quartz that ever made me oooh and ahhh.
LOL.

@Cici Chouse - This is a link to the a thread a few weeks ago where the OP was worried about her cabinet paint color not matching her PORCELAIN COUNTER - If you scroll through the photos the porcelain is gorgeous. She said the product itself was less expensive, but the fabrication was more so it ended up costing the same as quartz. However, the result is very realistic from the pics. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5844475/new-white-counters-don-t-match-kitchen#n=111

@MizLizzie I also considered Beaumont but was concerned it was too yellow/brown for white cabinets. What color cabinets are yours?

@Patricia Colwell Consulting I would love a white-ish granite but got scared off by how some stone yards mislabel softer Dolomites as granite. I may see if I can find the true quartzite like mentioned above by Beth (although who knows of the cost of quartzite may be to prohibitive heh). :)

@Design Girl thanks for linking that thread! It didn’t come up in my searches for some reason but I love her countertop! I’ll have to look into the porcelain counter she used. It’s beautiful but I just keep hearing so many stories of it spontaneously cracking after proper installation (and not just along the edges!).

I feel like the Goldilocks of countertops lol.

I would encourage you to look at soapstones, if you remain kind of flummoxed in your search. Yes, I know, not white - but there are many different varieties, and some have more veining, or are paler gray or greenish if not oiled - and would be very period appropriate for your house. You can then add some white via accessories, like trivets or a pastry board.

Plus soapstone is very kid -friendly!

cici I hear you! Talk about spinning wheels and getting nowhere.

Sea Pearl Quartzite.......Painting cabinets white...Sherwin William Resose Gray Walls. Sea Peal has gray and hints of green. Best of luck but natural stone always looks better than man made in my opinion. $1,700 per slab and $2k installed. Good price - good luck its tough chosing.

I would go for quartzite 100x over quartz.

I agree love our quartzite. Natural stone for the win, we get elderberry syrup, wine, lemons on our’s and it’s held up great for over a year with 4 small kids.

Cambria just came out with a few new patterns which are on their website if you want to look. I really liked a few. I got a sample of White Macabus quartzite, tested it and it didn’t etch it stain and feel like that might work for you and the look you’re going for. I’m personally going with Cambria Annica I think. I didn’t want grey and I like the flecks of purple. Need to go check out the full slabs.

I also have a 100 year old house. Since you are going with period appropriate finish materials (white shaker cabinets, wood floors) I would avoid the synthetic countertop option. I think quartz or porcelain might stick out like a sore thumb. A marble-like quartzite, or granite sure would be lovely. I get why you would worry about marble with kids - although in a period home a marble counter top that showed the occasion etch or ding ( or temporary stain) probably would just add to the charm. And as delicate as people assume marble to be I’ve seen plenty of old marble counters that have handily survived generations of toddlers. Personally, I went with soapstone, which is from what you said is likely too dark for you, but the harder varieties _are_ super kid friendly and as a material it feels right in an older kitchen.

Here are my summerhill joints I think they were done great! Our fabricator said they have a computer program that scans the slabs and decides where the cuts would be ti best match I know there were comments about summerhill looking too “fake”, I felt that the design was so dramatic it wasn’t in the category of “marble look alike” , it was in a category of its own

How thick should the slab be?