You may find it too busy looking. Try something with much less lines.

IMO I’d only use it for counters and select a tile for vertical surfaces. You can go calm with white subway tile or add more colorful choice.

@oreet… That slab is not so busy, as it is linear. I prefer a more flowing pattern, but many people like the linear look.

However, Amanda isn't asking our opinion of the stone’s appearance. Her inquiry is whether the slab is genuine quartzite.

Amanda, the only way to know if the slab is quartzite…or marble, is to do a scratch test. Quartzite is even higher on the Mohs scale for hardness, than granite. Take a piece of glass, and scrape it near the edge of the slab. If it scratches, it’s not quartzite.

Also, will the stone yard give you a sample to bring home, to test for staining? It might be worth your while to ask.

I think it is beautiful if this is the star of the kitchen. As darbuka says we can't tell from a photo whether it is quartzite or not...

“we have white cabinets and looking to pick the same stone for countertops and backsplash. what are your thoughts?”

I don’t think this stone’s pattern will be suitable for both countertops and backsplash. As commented above, it has a very linear pattern. It is best suited to be the star on the island if you have an island. That is because with those straight lines, wherever the counter turns a corner, the lines won’t flow through that corner unless you buy 1 or 2 extra slabs to make sure the lines flow. And wherever the vertical-plane backsplash and horizontal-plane counter meet, the lines will not meet. All those lines directionally different I think you won’t be happy with.

If you do have an island, use that stone just on the island, and have the perimeter counters be unpatterned matte black, whether granite or Quartz, and backsplash of simple tile with grout to match closely the tile, to let the island counter be the star.

As others have said, we can't tell from the photo if the stone is quartzite. As the people at the stone supplier.

we are in a new york city apartment and its a galley kitchen with no turns or corners.

Just passed by stone yard and got a sampls. it passed the scratch test and the lemon test

Great news, Amanda!

And, should you consider using the quartzite for a smashing backsplash, and go for contrast on the counters, consider soapstone…which also doesn't stain or etch.

Since you’re in NYC, M. Teixeira, the largest soapstone dealer/fabricator in the US, is not far from you…in Glen Rock, NJ. We live on LI, Nassau County, and got our soapstone counters from them. Btw, we also have a galley kitchen, though a wide one.

Just in case, here’s the link.M. Teixeira

And, please, no plastic-y quartz against that beautiful quartzite, as M Miller suggested. Keep it real.

@darbuka we also saw slabs of their silk quartzite. decisions decisions… maybe this will be easier to bring up the back?

Ah, yes…that’s more pleasing to my eye. It’s gentler, for lack of a better term. But, this is your kitchen…which do you like?

Be sure to do the testing on that slab, too!

Make sure you TEST your stone. There really is no way to tell by looking (we sure cannot on here), and the slab yards will often mislabel marbles as quartzites.

@Chessie…read above. She’s already tested the first slab. It’s quartzite.

@darbuka @Chessie got 2 sample pieces and bringing it home to pour lemon juice on and scratch a wine bottle 😆

Lol…have fun!

Keep us posted on what you choose!

The 2nd one looks much creamier. Make sure you’d be happy with that against your white cabinets.

It is a beautiful stone and I am glad it passed the test. I love patterns found in stone but I am someone who does not like clutter. I think having this as a backsplash too might create more cutter. Are you thinking of doing this at an angle or straight?

Here are some other linear patterns of quartzite to give you an idea of what it might look like.

Victorian Modern - Home Remodel · More Info

White Macaubas Quartzite Kitchen · More Info

The new main character of Sensa: Quartzites · More Info

Bird Key Contemporary · More Info

Swing Home · More Info

Four Seasons - Brickell - Private Residence · More Info

@Boxerpal thank you! this is really helpful to see. i am not sure which direction i want it to run yet

Yes, my opnion about quartz is well noted here. Especially when used with natural stone. It makes the engineered quartz look that much more fake.

Quite frankly, having read your many posts, I was surprised at your suggestion of quartz…as a matte surface to use with Amanda’s quartzite, and that you left out soapstone.

Btw, there are many mmillers on this site. I couldn’t figure out which to hypertext. Even typing it as you do M Miller, the app isn’t bringing it up…not even recognizing it as ”in this thread.” 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Here are all the stone testing instructions, in one handy place!

https://usenaturalstone.org/how-to-be-your-own-stone-sleuth/

Thanks to all for your comments. We have finally selected our slabs and are so excited!

Beautiful stone! Looks a lot like some I am looking at. Have you had it installed yet? How is it holding up?

What is the name of the countertop you decided on. Is a quartz or quartzite?

I keep reading the importance of testing your slab, How do you test your slab at the yard.. or do you request a sample to bring home, but then it would not necessarily be from that particular slab?

Yeah, that is exciting to pick out your favorite slab and looking forward to getting the fabrication done. I just had my new bath counters done last week and we just love it!