I have the same on all three, but not in any of the slabs you're looking at.

This is not going to be decided from pics in someone elses house . Waht possible help will that be ? IMO that is the simple answer to a busy stone use it for all those areas . But we do not know anything about your space . So if you want help deciding lets see your kitchen and pics of the stones you are thinking of since I for one do not want to go hunting for pics .

My island is 6x6. The color of the cabinets is biscotti maple.

Two more stones

With a 50K counter budget, sure.

I'm doing a very busy bold dark granite on my island, countertops, backsplash, and window seat. Eliminates worrying over "will the backsplash match?"

While I like all the counters choices because they are pretty subdued, if I were to use one for everything it would be Taj. Quartzites with veining need to be lined up in some order that makes sense, whereas an overall pattern has some forgiveness.

On my monitor all samples look like they have gray. I’m only familiar with Taj which can run creamy/beige or it can run gray, depending on the lot.

Personally, I don’t care for the gray with your warm-toned cabinets. Are they indeed mostly gray?

I imagine you could use a soft white tile to match the background of the quartzites if you choose to go in that direction.

@HU910663146. Yes the backsplash would also be the same color and material.

@Norwood Architects, that is exactly my fear. Choosing one material will keep the whole kitchen uniform and cohesive with the updated and clean look I am going for. Hoping to make it “ fun” with some colorful decor while keeping the option of a clean timeless look. Maybe I am over reaching LOL

@ eld6161, I agree with you with the gray. The colors on the quartzites that look gray are actually more green. The Taj is very warm and creamy and it looks very pretty with the cabinets but for some reason I feel I want something I won’t find in every home I visit. Taj has become the safe choice kind of like the agreeable gray in paint color. So like everyone else is my safety card.
I feel green and maple look pretty like in nature.

I would go with the Taj Mahal simply because it is a proven stone that "never" has any issues. I have been reading here for 20+ years and only remember 1 person with Taj Mahal that had the staining issue on the edges, that is usually seen with the white/gray quartzites.

I've had Taj Mahal in 2 kitchens, a fireplace and an out door kitchen. The Taj mahal backsplash in the outdoor kitchen is exposed to high heat, grease and smoke from the built-in grill that is a few inches away. It takes the abuse and cleans up well, even when I don't clean it that often and the smoke and grease have accumulated.

Excelente point

I voted for Taj in your other post for a few reasons:

1. It typically has some warmer tones in it

2. I've never read a post where someone has had issues with it (I haven't been around nearly as long as chispa!)

3. My new reason since reading this post - if chispa has used Taj in two kitchen, a fireplace + an outdoor kitchen, it's obviously a great stone (the rooms I've seen posted from chispa's home have all been BEAUTIFUL - amazing taste!)

My kitchen renovation was delayed due to health issues + issues related to two bathroom renovations. Four years ago (when I first started thinking about renovating my kitchen - which was right after joining Houzz 😂), my inspiration photos all had the common theme of combining rift sawn white oak + white painted cabinets in some fashion.

No one was posting new/renovated kitchens with that combination back then. HOWEVER, for the past 12-18 months, a great many kitchens have been posted that combine rift sawn white oak - and quite a few used white uppers (my design was rift sawn white oak lowers + island with white painted uppers).

I've thought about changing my design - but I still LOVE my inspiration photos.

So, I began to think about how my kitchen would look like everyone else's kitchen - but then I realized that I still don't know anyone that has that combination of kitchen cabinets (or anyone that is planning a reno using that combination). I have one friend who has Taj installed.

While Houzz (Garden Web? Is that a permanent change?) has a lot of users (and people who just lurk around in the background) - no one in my extended family (= my three sisters/my many nieces and nephews/my many, many cousins/aunts/etc.) uses Houzz. None of my friends use Houzz on a regular basis (a few have found some ideas - but they just looked for something specific - and didn't hang around reading a lot of posts).

I don't think that I will run into a lot of kitchens that will look like mine when finished.

It's similar to how MANY kitchens were being posted with navy/blue islands + white perimeter cabinets + faux marble quarts countertops (many using a dramatic vein type slab) when I first started using Houzz four years ago. However, I don't know anyone that has that combination of materials in his/her kitchen (my sister has a blue island - but she doesn't have white perimeter cabinets or faux marble quartz countertops).

Anyway - Taj is popular for a reason - it's very durable + it looks very nice. It is also expensive due to its increased popularity. I think our view of how many kitchens have Taj installed is skewed because of using Houzz.

I prefer the Taj Mahal because it appears calmer to me. If you like more drama or a bolder look, the others may be best. They are all very pretty.

A question about your beautiful cabinets. I am looking at getting Schuler (aka: Medallion or Yorktowne) cabinets in Maple wood with Biscotti stain. Are your cabs from one of these companies and what door style did you choose?

I am going to purchase my cabs through Lowe's home improvement store.

I think trying to do a large island, an L-shaped expanse, and walls using any of the stones with large lines will end in tragedy -- you'd be lucky to get just counter layout that you were happy with! If you want one of those, use a simple white backsplash. The Taj might work for all of them, but I think you'll miss the lightness of the current feel if you run tannish stone up the walls. I'd still go for some kind of white or cream splash.

@Chispa: Taj Mahal is beautiful and it seems super reliable and well liked. Definitely a contender in my kitchen right now.
@Dani. I know is impossible to see what’s in everyone’s kitchen but I still want something with charisma but timeless.
@ Laurie: yes my cabinets are from Lowe’s Schuler Maple Buscotti. I think the style is call New Haven.
@acm: I am with you I think when I first started I had a vision of white to maybe creamy countertops. Somehow gray and sea foam green started to come into the picture.
Worst! My husband told me today that he likes black on the island 🤣
So more to think about and consider.

Not my kitchens but two of my favorite inspiration kitchens.

Yes!!!!! That’s what my gut is saying.

this is my current kitchen (in the process of moving) Taj Mahal on counters and backsplash. I love it. I will say, in my new house we are using Mont Blanc quartzite and a tile backsplash. While I liked the look of using the Taj as the backsplash, it never had a warmth to me.

What color are your cabinets in this house?

What color tiles and cabinets in the new house?

Fabiola, in the pictured (current house) counter and backsplash is Taj Mahal quartzite, cabinets are SW Malabar, walls are 50% Nomadic Desert. In new house counters/island are Mont Blanc quartzite. Backsplash TBD when counters installed. Walls will be Aesthetic White, cabinets Modern Gray, island will either be Foggy Day or Waterloo.

Very pretty!! I would love to see pics of the new kitchen. Congratulations!

The size and layout of the kitchen can make a big difference when using the same stone as counter, splash, and island. In someways it unifies a small kitchen, and in others, it can over whelm.

Kendra, how do you think it will look in my kitchen?

I was going to do a very moody black, but my designer came up with some renderings that I HATED! She saved me from making a huge mistake. I went Taj Mahal on island, perimeter and backsplash. It is gorgeous! My cabinets are walnut and afromosia. The creamy beige, taupe and brown looks dynamite. Watch your lighting temperature. My 3000 overheads can skew it a little gray at night. The warmer 2800 under cabinet lights and pendants warm it up!

That’s wonderful!! May I see a picture of your kitchen please ?