There are a few pictures in this thread. I looked at it once at a yard and it was very pretty!

Here is a link that might be useful: Antique Brown

I'm curious - will there be eating on the island? I ask because if you fear etching, etc., that's not just caused from prep but from people eating, drinking and setting things on the island. That's one of the reasons I'm NOT putting marble on our island.

We have white cabinets ( not stark white), with honed absolute black granite on the perimeter and honed marble on the island. When the counters were first installed I couldn't figure out how to clean the absolute black; grease splatters weren't really coming out. Since then the grease "stain" has disappeared and I find them easy to clean. No fingerprint issues at all.
Here's the thing: you can't just wipe up a spill with a paper towel. Well you can but the counter will look streaky. I use a hot sponge but without any dish soap because the dish soap often leaves streaks. If I feel like spending the extra time I use Method Granite cleaner with a microfiber cloth.

My black absolute is not jet black. I've seen some that are - maybe those are the ones that show more obvious fingerprints? Ours is more like a soft black and it has been enhanced by the fabricator.

We recently had a small slab of honed absolute black installed as our fireplace hearth and I've been touching it quite a bit, still no fingerprint issues.

Thanks for the thread, Senator. Interesting pictures, though the "leathered" counters look same as honed in the pictures. Guess as some said, you have to see it in person.

Babs, yes, there would probably be minimal eating at the island, we tend to sit at the table for family meals and serve buffet style, so food is plated before sitting down, and the island would only be used occasionally--probably mostly for guests having a beverage and sitting and chatting with me while I work in the kitchen. I've become a "compulsive placemat user" with my polished Antique Brown in the other kitchen's similarly used island, so feel well-trained to minimize accidents with the marble. For whatever occurs, I am prepared to embrace, and I think any etches will be minimally noticeable, given the honed surface, and the lighting situation in the room. Worst-case, I think a freestanding island would be relatively easy to refinish, though I think I would just let it patina naturally.

I should have mentioned that the island with marble will be a secondary island, and the main work area of the kitchen will have a small island with the same countertop as the perimeter. In thinking about how my family uses our kitchen, I think the most potential for etching would be with food prep rather than the occasional eating at the secondary island. I see your logic though, for a kitchen where the island is frequently used for dining, there would be just as much risk of etching as on the other countertops.

Thanks cmm6797, lots to think about.

I am really learning a lot by hanging out here! For so many years I had ceramic tile countertops, and so longed for counters made of a solid surface material. I always thought of granite as being indestructable and maintenance-free. However, it seems that many granites have their own set of special care needs--especially the ones without a lot of movement--which is what I need, since I "must" have some marble in there somewhere.

It is so funny how many people on this forum (like me) love the look of the marble so much, but know the down-side with etching, etc., but we have got to have it anyway, and we go through so much agonizing over it. Seems almost as if we need a "Marble-Lover's Anonymous" support group or something!

I just remodeled my bathroom with leathered antique brown. See my other post below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Leathered Antique Brown with Calacatta Gold Honed