Have you considered a quartz such as Cambria Torquay? Silestone and cesarstone have similar patterns. I used Torquay and love it. Easy to clean and don't have to worry about etching as you do with marble. Picture attached for reference. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Amanda,
Go pick out your granite color first.
Go to a yard and see what you think. Or a granite dealer, see if you like anything.
Then pick your wall color and accents.
Granite is an investment, choose what you like, mabey even a pattern.
Paint is cheap, and it will be easier for you to choose your paint color after you choose your granite.
Personally, I would get the marble, and be careful with it.
It doesn't stain that easily if it is well sealed. People have been using it for thousands of years.

Kashmir white or a River White. We have Kashmir and love it! We have creamy cabinets, dark wood floors, and Revere Pewter walls, which is a warm greige

This post was edited by edb2n on Mon, Mar 17, 14 at 20:31

just an fyi- I was told today that the stones from India (ie, Kashmir, River White, etc) are harder to come by right now.....something about pulling the plug on exporting them or some such. Whatever it is, they said they just aren't able to get them right now. If you find some you like, grab them!

I saw a lovely white granite from Canada that was called Bethel White, it was more white than the River White that I saw, but YMMV.

I agree with the others that Kashmir White would be very pretty. Another option could be something like White Delicatus:

Or if you want a marble look without the worry, take a look at a quartzite like Super White or Luce di Luna

I love the White Delicatus granite counters! I also love the Cambria Torquay counters.

I chose white macaubus quartzite which is a natural stone like granite. It has blue/grey lines and rust colored lines on a white base. River white granite is pretty and was my second choice. Don't get super white if you don't want marble. Some stone yards call it quartzite or granite, but it's actually a marble according to some experts here on GW.

I love my bianco romano and so does everyone who sees it!

Strayer, do you have pictures of your white macaubus quartzite counters? The pictures on the Internet are beautiful.

Nakavi, do you have pictures of your bianco romano counters? The pictures on the Internet are beautiful but the tiny sample at the store did not look like the pictures.

I would love to share but not sure how to post pics. I'm at work and I may have to wait till I get home? Can I post from iPhone?!

If this works I'm embarrassed it was so easy.

We went with Fantasy Brown Quartzite in our walnut kitchen. But I think it would look equally beautiful in a kitchen with white cabinets. And don't let the name fool you either. Look for lighter colored slabs. We found some FBQ that was very "stripy" with heavy bands of brown, cream, white, pale green before we came across this lighter version which we love.

I just had my granite installed yesterday... I haven't seen anyone mention it before, but I have Himalaya White.

The lighting is a little off on the images because our electrical isn't complete at the moment.

With a Blanco Truffle Sink

Picture of the whole slab

Here is the Macaubus on my island. My kitchen is still being worked on. The perimeter counter is different. I really love Bianco Romano, River White, and there were a few others at the stoneyard that I almost chose. Some granites are more speckly and some have more of a flow or movement. I wanted the movement and a lot of the river whites I saw had that.

If you decide to look for white macaubus call around first because not every stoneyard will have it. Sometimes they say they do, but when you get there you realize it's something else. And some of the macubuses have super dark black lines that go every which way. It took me a while to find the slab I wanted.

I love all of these pictures of the white counters! So beautiful! Also thank you Nakavi for learning how to post a picture so I could see your gorgeous counter!

Nakavi,

My kitchen layout looks exactly like yours. I have always hated how there is no window above the sink and instead looks into the living room...and there is not a lot of natural light. But, I LOVE your kitchen. Would you please post a few more pictures? :) We are just getting started planning a remodel...

Amy Banta - read the posts. The posters have named their pictured counters if you would just read the posts.