As long as you come to terms with the fact that it will develop a patina, I'd also say go for it. Ours has only been in for 3-4 weeks and it already has a couple of tiny etch marks and one tiny chip (the chip may have been there previously - they had to fill in a few of these and it may have been missed). Sealing should keep it from staining but it will etch from all those things you mentioned above (and mouthwash, harsh soaps, etc). Even so, I love ours and wouldn't trade for anything. I gaze at it lovingly at least once a day. If you can, choose the piece yourself. We were able to and got a really bright piece with a gorgeous pure white streak running through it. Granite is nice too and I love our kitchen granite, but I have never gazed at it lovingly. There is also a quartz (manmade) product that mimicks the look of carerra but is suppose to be more durable. Can't remember the name at the moment. HTH tchbls - will we see pix soon?

Breathtakingly beautiful slabs! These marble shower walls should be the focal point of the bathroom and the rest of the room understated. I, too, support the suggestions of using a relatively simple white floor with grey grout (instead of a white hex, what about rectangular white tile set on a diagonal herringbone pattern?), either dark wood or a warm grey for the cabinets, and definitely installing the marble so that the pattern is vertical. Your bathroom will be stunning!

Mine is venatino. I was told they come from the same quarry but are classified by appearance. The background of the venatino is whiter where the background of carrera is more grey. My slab has a mix of spots and finer dark veins with some more subtle broader ones. They reminded me of ink squiggles and blots on old parchment. I thought of da Vinci and I was sold. And in the end, that's really what matters -- finding a look that is special to you. No one else may see my marble the way it hit me.

Hello 2littlefishies, Thats a great question-calcareous stones or any stone that has calcium in its makeup will always etch. It is just a chemical reaction.The calcium neutralizes the acid resulting in a dull spot. However if you compare etching on a highly polished surface to a very matte surface depending on the stone their will be a difference in the look. Also if you knew at what level your surface was finished or honed to or at. It would be possible to use a series of abrasives to remove the etch and match the finish of the existing surface. There are some companies or folks who will use acids to etch stone. In some cases they are going after a particular look.In other cases they are taking a shortcut to produce a honed finsh or reverse a slab that was delivered incorrectly(such as polished and should have been honed). Or a customer changed their mind after the polished slab was delivered and installed. First their are many different types of acids having various strength's and properties. From weaker citric acids up to hydrocholoric acids and beyond. I have seen these types of finishes (using acids)done and they never seem as uniform(blotchy) as when abrasives are used. Because stone will contain various mineral components and depending on the acid used some minerals may be adversely affected . I have seen veins become pitted and or eroded though the use of acids. Acids seem to leave the surface rough and the pores open attracting and holding soils. An example of this would be an etch on your white or light marble countertop or around a commode will if not refinished will turn dark or black overtime as it holds soils. Using progressive grits of diamond abrasives and finishing with an aluminum oxide wet slurry produces one of the most uniform matte finishes I have seen. While honing to a matte finish may make the etching less pronounced it can make the surface more susceptible to staining agents. Using the proper impregnating sealers applied correctly and maintaining with ph neutral no rinse cleaners will extend the life of the sealers and protect the suface from staining. Impregnating sealers will do nothing to protect the surface from etching however. There are some new products on the market to protect marble from etching and staining. They are coatings something I have never felt was appropriate for stone surfaces. In the past these coatings made the stone look like plastic and phony. Have a look at clearstoneusa and drytreat. We all know dry treat as they have been making stone sealers for a long time. They now have a product called vitremela for marble.Both these products are quite different. Because they are new there are pro and cons to each. These type of coatings may not be for everyone. At this time dry treat offers no warranty on their product as it has a life of under 5 years. Clearstone offers a warranty with their product. Both products can be polished or honed. I hope my answer wasnt too long.