Real thassos is expensive, as is statuary (also likely too veiny for you). Have you tried bianca venetino or gioia venetino? Depending on where you are, you should really go to a place the specializes in marbles. There is one place by me that only carries marble, limestone, travertine, and onyx (and doesn't sell directly to the public), but it has the best selection and has slabs in 2cm and 3cm and matching tiles from the same lots (in 12x12, 18x18, 6x12, 6x6, hex and square mosaic, pencil, and moulding). It's pretty incredible, and I cannot imagine it's the only one of its kind. Just try to find a wholesaler that carries a lot of marble, and I'm sure you'll find another option. Also keep in mind that if you're interested in honed versus polished, honing generally mutes the colors which can make the whites less vibrant (which reads grayer sometimes).

Isn't that funny - one person's "stain" is another person's "gorgeous." Calacatta Gold isn't for everyone. canuk and autumn, it's great that you don't like it, most people can't afford it anyway. But for those of us, like carsonheim, who love it, nothing compares to its beauty. One thing's for sure, they are very different stones, both of them lovely, but very different stones. The slab you've shown is whiter than Carrara but similarly priced. You'll get less movement and more linearity from the bargain slab, but you can't go wrong either way.

I also have honed Carrara marble on my island and love it. Everyone literally says wow when they walk into my kitchen. It's been installed for a few months, but have only been using it for the last month. I will admit that I have been babying it a bit, because I've been a little nervous about it staining. However, we have had some spills, drips, etc. and all have wiped right up and some have even been wiped later and it still is clean/stain-free. I don't think I have any obvious etching yet. Perhaps a small scratch or too, but I actually think that was done during the fabrication. I really do love it and I'm sure it won't "babied" as much as time goes on. It was sealed before and after installation. And I also clean it with just warm water and sometimes a little dish soap. Here is a picture before we moved in.

Two different stone yards here in the UK and my extended Italian family have told me carrara is harder than the others. It's to do with the veins which are actually impurities ( well, different chemical compositions). The veins and darker areas are weaker. Carrara has more, pale white/ grey areas while calacatta has broader veins. The dark marbles with light veins are the opposite way round. The light veins are the stronger bit Within Carrara itself there are different grades c is a slightly cheaper grade but cuts better apparently. CD is more like crystals of compacted sugar. It can be crumbly. Cd has more defined veins out of the two and whiter white background All the above is literally to be taken with a pinch of salt though because if you want marble, you know what it's going to be like. The hassle at its fragility is for the fabricator to contend with. The only thing I'd say about being able to feel the veins on the leathered slab is you are exposing the weakest areas. And that will impact YOU on use. But again, us Marble types tend not to care about minor or major patina! btw, I'm getting Carrara! I'm quarter (less than!) Italian. Family actually from Carrara on paternal on grandads's side. The rellies still living over there , except one ( she wanted butchers block) all have Carrara. I keep asking for pics but the ones they send just don't show it in a good light at all. Tho there kitchens are rustic. Working kitchens. Not there to highlight a what is cheap stone in their region of Italy. They love it but it's purely a cheap, practical surface for them. Put my nerves to bed I'm telling you!