How pretty your space it. Inspiration images can be a huge help when you get stuck. Google images of kitchens with white inset cabinetry and see what look you like. The classic choice would be a Danby marble, and the equally beautiful, almost indestructible choice would be soapstone. That said, with a white background, you could choose almost anything.

Your backsplash choice happens a little further down the road when your counters have been installed. You need to be able to look at tile samples in your space, in your light before you choose.

Installing oak ( light red oak)flooring and undercabinet lighting

Do you have inspiration images? Are there surfaces you are already considering?

Husband LOVES the one above - ON larger slab , it appears quite blue

Well what is your life style? Start by answering that. Do you have a home full of kids or teens that will give that counter a run for its money? Do you spend a lot of time cooking/ baking in the kitchen? What other colors are you bringing into the home? Are you staining the red oak? If so what color? The cabinets are very traditional but I see one very contemporary light hanging down in the photo. I am guessing it is just there for nothing more than light right now and will be moved and replaced since it isn't centered over anything. Your faucet and hardware appear to be brushed nickel. Will your light fixtures be as well or are you considering bringing in more than one metal color?

the one he likes is River White. (aka Kasmir White, and some other names) it leans a bit cooler, but is a nice choice

slabs are quite varied, as you can see below, so make sure you see the entire slab before you commit.

have you walked around a stone yard and looked at everything available?

what do you like? do you want something with movement? Color? elegance? what floors are you getting?

do you want some a little more modern looking?

traditional ? this is soapstone and a marble backsplash

Transitional? I love this one. look at TajMajal quartzite or Sea Pearl

Christine, can you open up a bit more about what you like and what you don’t? That stone would not be my choice. As Beth points out, there is a lot of variability in this granite. I find it, even in its lightest form, muddy looking in the whole slab.

Do you want granite only? No marble, no soapstone?

Have you considered or ruled out quartz or solid surface?

Are there any other contenders so far?

We are traditional, and also like modern, 3 Boys are grown and out of house. I LOVE to cook, and finally switched to propane w/ kitchen redo-. Have ruled out nothing. Will consider everything. I like look of cambria, but it seems that everyone is doing a marble like style, and worry that we are dating the room. Will be adding pot light, and 3 pendants over island.

The only issue with the Cambria is that they can have blotches, which Cambria claims is fine.

Also, if you choose it, be careful of the colors. Sometimes they are very difficult to pair with a tile.

You really can do anything. Hard for us to pick for you.

Cambria has a ton of other choices besides the marble-look. I suggest you take a look at their showroom.

What about Silestone? I happen to have the Eternal Serena (and marble on my island. ) and really like it. comes in a charcoal too.

This is TajMajal quartzite. A true Quartzite. Some can have a lot more gray in it. However, it's a beautiful choice for your kitchen.

this is a Taj slab that was at my stone place. some have more golds, this one had more gray tones.

Sea Pearl Quartzite. greenish/gray tones w/the white. also beautiful. and a true quartzite. (a lot of stone yards label marble as quartzite. you have to do your homework)

This is your river white granite in a honed finish. they can also leather it.

Porcelain slabs have come a long way. i actually thought this was really Calacatta Marble. that's how real it looked. (the slab itself cost about 2K. so it's not that expensive)

There is nothing more traditional than marble and soapstone. They will not date your space, they will be consistent with the cabinetry and overall feel of the space. If you don’t want the patination of marble that’s fine.

Do you want a light counter material or a dark one?

Actually, what’s your timeline? If you’re not really ready to make a choice right now, just wait and think, And definitely look for inspiration images. Good luck with your search.

Had not considered silestone, or soapstone but will. Thanks. This is the last piece for kichen , and have to do lightng next

The marble look is timeless and transitions from traditional to modern as does soapstone. I think the granite your husband likes would date the space. There are granites that exist that will transition well if granite is what you want and most of those...guess what? Look like marble. Cambria is just a name brand there are plenty of companies doing quartz that exist.