Here are some better pics of backsplash

I love everything about this drool:P

One more showing backsplash

Thank you. It looks so much like a quartzite here in New York but it was called Terra Bianca & the colors reminded me of the beach, gray like waves, some sand color & creamy whitecaps!I am going to see someone who has it in her home maybe tomorrow!My daughter comes tomorrow & I will see if she can post pics. of my kitchen & sample of my piece of quartzite!!Thank you & your kitchen is beautiful!!!

So pretty and elegant! The quartzite is beautiful.

Beautiful! Where in Orlando did you get the quartzite?

@niesa21 we got it at granite express. I have also seen it at granite ex in Jax fl

Thank you. I am near Orlando as well. Who did your cabinets?

Dr Nickelson company out of lake city, fl - if you want more info from
Them you can contact Mark his email adress is- mark@drnickelson.com

very beautiful!

Have you been happy with the duarbility of your quartzite? Have you had any issues with it being susceptible to staining, or did you find a good sealant? I have this same one picked out for my master bath. Your thoughts?

It has not stained at all but acidy stuff like tomatoes, lemons, etc etch the finish a little bit and this is after I have sealed it twice with two different sealers (the two highest rated sealers I found on amazon) but, having said that if I was to do it all over again I would still go with this quartzite! Also, The etching is only visible in certain lighting. I am still on the hunt for a good sealer! I've read online about a sealer that guarantees nothing can etch or stain it but still need to look into it more and see if they will come to my area. For a bath room I would think the only thing that could be harmful to it is strong cleaners? If it was me I would go for it!!! I don't think you will be disappointed! :) I hope this helps!

great job, beautiful kitchen

Beautiful.

I just have a quick question, any particular reason you decided to lose the apron style sink and go with a regular undermount? Beautiful transformation by the way!

@sarahburbach I love your kitchen! Would you mind sending me your email address? I am buying my quartzite from granite express in Orlando and wanted to ask you a few questions. Thanks! niesaw@hotmail.com

@sarahburbach , stunning kitchen! I am about to purchase Shadow Storm quartzite for our kitchen but am really worried about the potential etching. Do you happen to have an update since your post about the etching and sealing from May? Thanks!

Finally finished my kitchen started last Jan. not a DIY but I take forever to make choices. I love,love my counters & get so many compliments. It looks just like yours but here in NY it was called Terra Bianca!! Your kitchen is beautiful.

Beautiful, I think I'd do a different color on the island to beak up the white, like a light gray.

@jeanette Vey
I still have not found anything that will not etch the counters. I will attach a couple of pics looking at a spot that got etched badly so you can see what it looks like. The one on the left is eye level with it and the one on the right is looking over it. Hope this helps!

May I ask if you used a kitchen designer or interior designer for kitchen layout, etc?

@reneebev we used www.drnickelson.com to design the cabinets and layout of them and I picked out the colors, lights etc.

Beautiful!! Love the counter tops.

I appreciate your response but the changes appear to go beyond merely "layout", particularly the original counter seating area. The changes seem truly architectural. I am about to pull the trigger on major renovations but am torn. I wonder if an interior designer would be as "gifted" as a certified kitchen designer. My kitchen opens into seating area so, I want to do both at once to be sure they "flow" and complement.

Very elegant !

Wow! Lovely transformation, but your first kitchen was also very beautiful.

Absolutely GORGEOUS!!! ♥ it!

I love it! Lightens up everything and makes the detail stand out! Great Job!

Search for Tuff Skin. It is like a thick contact sheet protecting your counters. They are not cheap, I remember min charge was $450, and $25 per sqft San Jose, Ca. But it hold up my daily use and clean easily.

Love your transformation. :)

@sarahburbach, your kitchen is beautiful! My wife and I picked out the same exact stone, but the stone company has it listed as Shadow Storm Calcite. They say it’s similar to Marble and should be treated as such. Our concern is that we have 3 children and don’t want have to police the countertop every time someone sits down. Our biggest concern is the etching and I can see in the pictures that you posted, that our concern is real. Do you mind if I ask how long it took for the acid to etch the stone? Was there a spill of some sort and how long was it on the stone? I’m not trying to be too personal, but just trying to make a final decision on whether the risk is worth the reward. Thanks for any input and appreciate you posting your pictures. It’s nice to see what our dream kitchen would look like!

@ziggyruhere
That etching happened from the kids playing with play-dough that I had made them. I'm assuming it was the Salt or cream of tarter that was in it that made it etch like that?! It was on the counter for probably 1-2 hours? Honestly I'm totally over the etching! It doesn't even bother me anymore! There is little etching all over the counters from fruit, etc. and I hardly notice it. I was very concerned about it and wasn't even considering marble as an option because I have it in my bathroom and it has stains and etching all over it. This hasn't stained at all. I don't know if it's the sealer preventing staining or if it's the stone and is harder than marble? It's defiantly more of a soft stone. The edges around the sink have chipped slightly if a pan has banged them or stuff like that. (Not noticeable unless you look closely) I think a granite person can fix that easily tho? I am still very glad we did these counters! They look beautiful and make cleaning and cooking in the kitchen fun! Let me know if you have any other questions!

White cabinets- magic eraser will be your new best friend :-)!

@sarahburbach were you able to get big enough pieces of the quartzite to cover the counter area or did they have to use multiple pieces with a seam? Wondering if you have a seam what it looks like.

@Amanda Dunne-Porter
We used 4 slabs total for the counters and backsplash so yes, there is a couple seams . Here are a couple of pictures of it. I hope this helps!

Beautiful work!

Thank you! Looks amazing!

Ugh. I am a wood guy. The white looks too sterile even though there are some interesting elements.

What color did you paint your cabinets? We are using Shadow Storm as well and I can't decide between White dove and super white.

@kseaman20 The color is called low gloss blending white.

Gorgeous! Night and day difference.

Hi Sarah, how's the chipping after a few months. I found a similar Terra Bianca, but in my testing of the sample it chipped quite easily. No etching or staining, but worry about edges getting rough. Your kitchen is stunning!

@lkwilson_1013 -Oh it's fine... I've pretty much gotten over little chips here and there... It's the worst around the sink but nothing noticeable unless you look for it. If I was to redo it I would put in a sink that overlaps the counter verses going under it. I figure if it ever chips where it's really noticeable I can have a granite expert fix it.

Thanks for the honest feedback Sarah. My sample is so soft and if yours is chipping too I think I'm too obsessive to go with it. Very depressing, because both my DH and I loved the look.

Hi Sarahburbach, we are preparing to remodel our small kitchen. I love marble but have all the usual concerns especially since in all honestly, we are pretty messy and not so careful. But, in our search, we ran across some shadow storm and the beauty of the stone is tempting me! You have already been asked many questions about your countertops but can you again please tell me if you think the SStorm etches or chips a lot, a little? Also, are your counters polished or honed? they appear to be polished but can't tell for sure. We would want ours honed in hopes of showing any etching less. Do you think to hone the stone would detract from its beauty? I love all the sparkles and would not want to diminish that-fabricator says it will be ok but wanted your thoughts. Thank you so much and by the way, your kitchen is amazing!

@justdreamin
They don't chip a lot but I would recommend doing smoother edges vs. more sharp edges as it seems like that is the places where it is most easily chipped. And I've also gotten used to not slamming heavy stuff down (a hot pot of water, etc) because it seems like it could chip it a little. Yes, the countertops are polished. It's hard to say if it would lose sparkle being honed? They do etch easy but honestly it's not noticeable unless your at a certain angle and certain lighting. (You pretty much have to be looking for it to see it) I've heard that honed stone stains easier than polished which to me sounds like it could be more of a disaster than etching! I hope this helps!

@ sarahburbach thanks for your reply. This is a hard decision to make! Quartz is actually quite a bit more expensive than the SStorm but of course, it should be more worry free. Hard to chose between beauty and easy!

stepi ... in California that is easily a $100k+ kitchen based on metro area construction costs....not just in Switzerland.

Very nice results!

What a transformation!

Nice work.