They keep changing because of the different species that pick out at different times.

Syles change because HGTV has convinced people that kitchens are the new skirt length. Gosh knows you wouldn’t want to be seen with 2008’s Uba Tuba. So people ripped it out because ”fashion TV” told them to spend money and fill up the garbage dump. Except, now that green and leathered stone is once again ”hot” in 2024, you are seeing Uba Tuba return. It’s affordable and bulletproof.

who is it that "told " you this .... granite is a personal preference thing because it is naturally occurring...people interpret color/ pattern in many ways..... much depends on the adjacent complementary, or contrasting surfaces. Granite use is somewhat infinite in the results due to the various selections for cabinet surface/ backsplash tile/ wall color/ floor choice. Even "dated " granites can get a refreshed look for example w a different backsplash. Pick the granite that you like to look at as it will be at eye level every single day.

Look at quartzite in addition to granite. A number of light and 'white' colors options with pattern movement.

Is there a granite that is white with occasional gray streaks? I feel like the whitest granite is something like Pitaya, but that has black speckles in it.

I am thinking white with occasional gray streaks isn't granite.

White is not a natural "granite" color, geologically, unless you're talking something speckly like Luna Pearl. Which is gray speckly, with some white.

Our first house had Baltic brown in the foyer. Indestructible even with snow/salt getting tracked in.

Our second house had Luna Pearl kitchen counters! It was pretty hardy, but not the best look in a 90's colonial with med/dark stained oak cabinets.

Didn't love either of them, even though they were on trend at the time.

As mentioned by another user, I like Pitaya. It's a mild color that isn't too busy. We're going to install it in our future laundry room and in one of our spare bathrooms. This is the slab we got. It's on the lower price point which is a plus. Happily, we received a discount as the corner was missing. That worked for us because we aren't going to be using very much of the slab for our project.

And here are some Houzz pics I found of it installed:

Sherwood Bright Craftsman - Craftsman - Kitchen - Portland - by Northland Design & Build | Houzz

Parade Home 2020 - Contemporary - Bathroom - Austin - by Pietra Granite | Houzz

Something like this.

Maybe they are saying granite speckles are now out of style.

Is Pitaya low porous and stain resistant without frequent sealing and resealing?

Actually the first granite I ever saw installed as a countertop was Luna Pearl, and it was in some contemporary kitchens in late 1970s and 1980s houses, in vintage design books that I have. I think at that time you literally had to go to a place that made sheathing for buildings or fabricators of headstones and monuments for cemeteries.

Are you flipping a house, concerned with resale, or doing a rental and is that why you are wondering what is in style? If not, I would choose a countertop based on the level of upkeep you want to deal with and what looks attractive to YOU.

I am a fabricator - "Granite" which includes a wide variety of different kinds of stone (not to be mixed up with other rocks like Marble and Limestone which have dramatically different material properties), has an astounding number of different looks. There is also a wide variety of material properties in "Granite". The look of a particular stone is and it's suitability for a particular project is a subjective evaluation. However, the evaluation of the suitability of a stones material properties should be done objectively. What "In" varies over the years like any other decorating fad. Personally I'm thrilled to be doing so many white kitchens that look more like a dentists office than a warm kitchen. Some years down the road I'll get to sell granite to many off those people again. Todays white kitchen is the shag carpet of the 1980's.

I was told that the most timeless granite pattern is white with occasional grey streaks.

That's what's trendy right now -- a hint towards marble.

No, it's not timeless. Yeah, yeah, ancient Greece, but it wasn't popular in individual homes back then, and it disappeared for centuries before coming back /being touted as "timeless".

If you really want timeless, your best bet is solid white -- maybe white Corian. Your other best bet is to look at your house and ask yourself, What fits with this house's style /time frame?

Syles change because HGTV has convinced people that kitchens are the new skirt length. Gosh knows you wouldn’t want to be seen with 2008’s Uba Tuba. So people ripped it out because ”fashion TV” told them to spend money and fill up the garbage dump. Except, now that green and leathered stone is once again ”hot” in 2024, you are seeing Uba Tuba return. It’s affordable and bulletproof.0

Yep, if you chase after what's trendy, you're going to want something new every five years or so. That's not good for your wallet or the landfill.

Pick from slabs at a stone yard that you love - even in the same “pattern” slabs can vary. If you can get a notch or two (or more!) above the cheapest, you’ll have so many more choices. Go to the stone yard and just look - don’t have a price sheet (yet) and pick out your top 3 or top 5 - then choose from those what’s in your budget. YOU have to look at it every day - it may as well bring you joy! We had Bordeaux in a home that we only got to live in for 3 years (wildfire) and remodeling our new to us kitchen we walked up and down the isles and gravitated towards Bordeaux again - even though we had the whole yard to choose from. Brings me joy every time I look at it!

If you love it, if it's not too 'out there' it will stand the test of time for you. Shopping for fixed elements in a home should not be done with a look to the latest fad according to the HGTV crowd. Most will only make that sort of purchase/change once--if ever. Getting what's hip won't server you well.

Style isn't just random. It can also be evolutionary. We've done that. We've experienced the drawbacks. We're moving on to something not available or considered in the past. This doesn't stop.

jaxo- that slab is not granite. It is also NOT timeless. IME it’s become the default “can’t think of anything else” counter top. I had granite in a few homes and whether it needed sealing (very easy) or did not, it was durable. Find a natural stone with some life in it. After leaning towards a plain Corian, (only because of my vision problems), I’ve found a slab of real marble, Danby Imperial that may work. In my area, it’s cheaper than quartz or Corian too.