top one is very blue

bottom one is too dark if the island is dark also.

Hi Beverly, I didn't see the top one in person but did see another slab in it at another location and it did not look blue in person. It's Siberian White. I mentioned I would only do a dark island if we went with the lighter slab.

That white one is glorious. But either way, you'd need to build your colour scheme around your slab since it is the star.

The white one has too much movement and busyness for my taste. I don't want to be sitting or working at an island countertop that makes me feel it's in motion. You can't go wrong with the black one: it looks terrific and has lots of character; to me it's much more contemporary than the white one.

I prefer the white. I think it has the most movement that could be included in your template.

Where would you template the dark slab? I am not a fan of the rectangle shapes in the middle of this slab.

ETA kudzu, there are certainly two “camps” here. Those who prefer movement and those that don’t :)

Dark is not ever going to be my choice. One needs all the 'light' 'bright' one can get.

Jennifer, have you looked at other white slab options? I like the dark one, but I like the white one too. I did a Calacatta on mine, and a matte gray on the perimeter. (only partially done here...)

you might also look at Super White

Black forest granite. you could always get it honed or leathered

Beth what material is your island? Is it quartzite or marble? I love the look of both but quartzite is out of my budget. Every slab I have seen is about 2x or more the cost of granite. I know if I chose marble any etching would bother me. I do love your counter though!

my marble is treated with a sealer from their factory in Italy. it doesn't etch or stain. but, it wasn't cheap slab either. The quartz wasn't expensive. Silestone Eternal

a true quartzite shouldn't be that much more than the granite you've looked at.

as for the Super White. it's a dolomite. I have it in my bathroom. A lot more tolerant than a marble, but still needs sealing and prompt wipe ups. you do have more time than a marble.

Have you been to more than one stone yard?

what about Sea Pearl or White Macacubas? Both are true quartzite, harder than granite, and won't stain or etch. they shouldn't be double the price of that granite, unless you're looking at slabs that cost $900. these should be in the 2-3K region for a slab.(try dealing in cash to get a better price)

Thanks Beth! We have actually been to 13 stone yards between the Bay Area, Sacramento, and our small selection in Redding. You are almost spot on with pricing! The slab would be around $950. I would love quartzite but the fabricators here charge more to fabricate it because its harder and not very common in Redding. We would prefer that extra 2-3k go towards something else for the house when he have found a cheaper alternative that we really like. I haven't 100% ruled out quartzite though. ☺️

ah, ok. makes sense then. Well, the darker one is nice. If you've gone to 13 yards, then you've pretty much seen everything!

If you did the darker top, and a matte quartz in charcoal, w/all white cabs, is that something you'd like? It would look like this only in a charcoal color. (this is mine)

other options are porcelain. not too expensive. (more than 900, but then again, only the basic granites are going to come in at that price)

you mentioned texture. this is leathered. you will pay more for this, obviously.

this was a leathered black marble slab

I like the Nordic white but haven't seen it at any of the places we have been to. I think after posting this we are leaning towards the lighter one. Your sealer has me wondering if I could find something similar and have marble. This is a marble called Dalmata that we really liked but were too worried about the probability of etching or stains. I found this place in the Bay area that claims to prevent all etching and stains but I can't find any reviews of it.

https://www.moresurfacecare.com/pages/more-antietch-anti-etch

Oh and I used the wrong word with texture, I should have used pattern or movement. I prefer glossy not honed :)

I have this " Black Horse" on my island with White cabinets. My perimeter is White quartz with White flat slab cabinets. The island also has a waterfall. We used the bottom half of the slab and the rest went in a coffee bar area. Will try and post picture tomorrow to give you an idea of a darker counter top.

I see Houzz is back to it's glitchy self again. trying to load pics and the post disappears. lets try it again

Jennifer, the slab I got is from Antolini and its sealer is called azerocare.

It's like a thick coating on the marble. it's still polished and still looks normal, but the stuff really works.

i've had lemon juice, vinegar, tomato stains, even pomegranate juice that splattered on it. I freaked, but it wiped right up. no etching. and with plain marble, lemon or vinegar etches almost immediately. I wanted marble and if it looked like this, then I was ok with it.

I don't know about this other stuff you mentioned. Marble is going to cost a lot more than 900 for a slab with whatever sealer they're saying works.

Linda, your slab is stunning. I would love to see a picture when you get a chance.

Thank you so much for the information Beth, I really appreciate it and will check it out.

I like the white but I’m biased. White brightens my whole dark kitchen.

If you're ok with etching and stains, then yes consider marble. If not, stick to real quartzite or granite.

Yes quartzite is more expensive, but if you find a slab you love, it will be the star of the kitchen. Mine is. And if you divide that extra money up over the number of years you'll be in the house, I bet it will be very little per month.

Then cut back with your tile choices and for example your pull choices on your cabinets. There are some really nice pulls in Lowes for example!

Love the movement of the first slab. It kind of looks like the granite I had installed on my island. It’s called viscont white.

Jennifer, cpartist hit the nail. Are you going to be in the house for awhile? spending another 1-2 K on the slab you want to be the star really isn't anything in the long run. Now, if you really like your first two choices, then pick one of those! there is nothing wrong w/either of them. However, it sounds like you're a little on the fence. find the money from one of the other projects. for instance, tiling the backpslash. Hold off on that for awhile. Use the money that would have gone for that and put towards a quartzite. Save up for 6 months and do the backsplash then.

And remember, a lot of places will give you a better price if you offer to pay in cash. If the slab is $2800, offer $2500 cash. The worse they can say is 'no'.

What is the black one? It's stunning!

Beth and cpartist, I think I will reconsider quartzite. Thank you for the perspective 😊.

Leslie it is called Arabian Nights Granite, also known as Black Forest. Most that I have seen look more like the black forest that Beth posted above so that slab definitely caught my eye!

Love the black one, but there are tons of options out there. I'm so not a quartz gal, but currently obsessed with Skara Brae....

One principle I have to keep in mind is that something totally striking and beautiful may be just too dramatic when installed. It’s good to separate love at first sight from something that may make for a better longterm relationship. ;-)

Kudzu9

While I agree with your statement, I also think if a dramatic slab makes you smile every time

you look at it then one shouldn't worry about long term. Anything can happen from day to day. I would rather love my counter top than wonder if I might still like it in 5 years or a potential buyer would.

My husband and I are photographers so bold and dramatic are very much what we like.

To each their own.

linda-

All I am saying is that there are a lot of things I find striking immediately, but later I find them not as striking. It’s one thing if it’s a sweater; it’s another thing if it’s my countertop. I’m not saying go with blah to be safe, but there have been several times where pausing to reflect for a few days has averted a design disaster for me. I can appreciate the striking beauty of many slabs; I just want to be sure I will be smiling after they are installed.

^^^^^ Totally agree

One principle I have to keep in mind is that something totally striking and beautiful may be just too dramatic when installed. It’s good to separate love at first sight from something that may make for a better longterm relationship. ;-)

Hogwash. First of all once the slab is cut and laid horizontal it automatically becomes less dramatic because you're not looking at a huge slab upright. The only time it's too dramatic is when you overdo everything else so it fights with all the other elements.

My slab was very colorful and dramatic. It looks like a watercolor painting. I moved in April of 2018 and I love it even more today than when I first found my slabs.

cpartist: chacun à son goût

I think the problem arises when a person rushes to a decision without considering all other elements. Including the style of the house.

^^^ Agreed 100%. Each room cannot be decided separate from the other rooms or even separate from the other elements in a room.

cpartist: chacun à son goût

True but the other issue is too many on this forum are too willing to shoot down any idea that is even slightly out of the ordinary when it comes to using a particular stone or color. How many times have we heard that if someone wants to choose a colorful backsplash or wall color, that they'll probably get tired of it!

It seems too many are all too willing to repeat the same old tired lines about keeping it all simple with the same colors, quiet stone, etc.

Frankly, I embrace anyone willing to step out of the gray/white/navy/greige/quiet stone/simple backsplash bandwagon.

CPartist, I think this is one of those "we see things from where we sit" situations.

You're an artist and are blessed with good vision and design sense.

All I know is, if I'd chosen something "wild", I would quickly come to hate it. That's based on knowing myself. So I agree with Kudzu because that mirrors my own personal experience.

I'm not into pushing anyone to do ANYthing just because it's expected. All Kudzu was doing was sharing something for the OP to think about.

It's one thing to know ones self and to know they prefer a calm palette, etc. My neighbor for example, dresses the same way her house looks which is in neutral colors with a contemporary vibe. And yes I dress like my house in terms of color and with a more classical vibe.

However to assume that an Op doesn't know themselves by everyone constantly warning them that they're making a grave mistake if they pick a busy granite or a busy backsplash or paint their cabinets a color other than gray, white or navy is hogwash.

The OP didn't ask if they were having second thoughts about it being a busy granite. They asked which of the two beautifully patterned granites we preferred. She already explained how it would be the star on her island with a quiet stone for the perimeter. Obviously she knows what she likes and what she feels will work for her.

Now if she had questioned the movement, then yes, I believe it would have been very appropriate to mention that if you're questioning it now, chances are you'll be questioning it in the future.

Jennifer Here is my Granite counter top. While it is dramatic we have the solid white perimeter

to make sure it is the star.

linda -that countertop is absolutely stunning. You win!

Linda, if I came over for a cup of coffee, I would not get any talking or drinking done...I would just stare at your gorgeous counter top! Absolutely beautiful!

They are both stunning. I'd go with the first one, the white. It's fabulous. I'd select a solid quartz in a light complimentary color for the remaining counters.

You have a lot of choices for the cabinets. I'd use caution, go with a white cabinet for the bulk of the project. I like the dark color to match island, but white would be fine. I don't think you can go wrong.. If you have any floor to ceiling cabinets, they should be white.

Good advice to hold on the backsplash until later in order to afford the quartz.

I think if perimeter is white with white counters the black is definitely a show stopper! Maybe even on a black island

You can't go wrong with either one. Both are equally impressive.