Never have a stone’s finish altered at the fabricator’s. You should only use honed or leathered finished that come that way from the quarry.

My I ask why? Our fabricator does not change the finish actually it’s picked up by stone specialist from the warehouse and then taken to this pace brought back and then my fabricator will pick it up to install .

Because 98% lack the very expensive tools that give an even professional result. The results of field honing are usually poor.

I’m not a fan of trying to talk people out of something they’ve got their hearts set on, but I’d encourage you to choose polished marble. I have a matte finished marble on our fireplace surround, but I would only ever have polished on horizontal surfaces. I actually would never want it in the kitchen or bath, except that our vanity came with carrera. Marble is beautiful, but stains so easily. Quartzite is a bit better, and the macuba types have similar color and veining as your marble (unless what you’re looking at is mislabeled). I personally think considering performance should be as high a priority as the beauty. If it doesn’t hold up for you, the romance will fade quickly. Just my 2¢.
JFTR, it is very pretty!

Would you ever do something like roll out cookie or pie dough on your counters? If so, you'd want the smooth honed finish rather than the slightly textured leathered finish.

I have honed Carrera and it's a nice finish.

“I’d encourage you to choose polished marble.”

@Therese N - the reason not to have a polished finish on a marble counter is that etches will show more glaringly on a polished finish than on a honed finish. Also, many people don’t like that a polished finish on a counter is very reflective, showing the lights overhead, or any nearby objects in its surface. As to your concern with marble staining, the homeowner should apply sealant to her marble to protect against staining. Sealant won’t prevent etching, but will prevent staining.

I had a honed finish on my marble in a past kitchen and loved it. I don’t care for that leathered finish unless it’s a real bar top.

IMO polished real stone is the ideal When you hone stone it opens the pores to oil and acid stains why do that. I also have never seen polished marble etch unless you leave acid sitting on it for a long time. I have a huge marble board I use for pastry it is 40 yrs old was polished when new and is still looking new you wipe up spills, you do not cut on it and enjoy it polished

On that I agree - between the two, the honed finish is far better.

What color cabinets did you go with?

I have leathered white marble countertops - a year now. Not super careful. They’ve done great. Stunning. And people love touching them. I think my fabricator did that, but they are a VERY good fabricator.

It is a Brazilian marble- pretty hard, and only etches when really exposed to acid for a long time (we tested before we bought.) but it is NOT quartzite.

I love your leathered marble countertop! I went on Houzz to figure out what type of polish to do on the edges. Did you do honed or sprang extra $$ for leathered?

Love

Which leathered marble is this? Looks perhaps to be Shadow White?

Honed for sure. Leathered is very divisive, lots of people hate it.