This is the South Bay quartzite coping around the sun shelf of our pool. (please excuse the unfinished concrete deck - it will eventually be flagstone too!) We used the quartzite for all the coping, the spillover from the spa, and the dry stack which is above and below the waterline. Our pool builder is highly respected and has used this quartzite extensively for pools for the 'rich and famous' in our area and happily recommended it to us (though hardly rich or famous!!) We are in Florida so it has to withstand fierce sun and the salt water. It is very dense and hard, in fact almost indestructible, which makes it difficult to work. I can't imagine it flaking at all. It is also fairly light colored so never gets uncomfortable underfoot.

Wanting to use a Tabarka hand painted terra-cotta tile for our very small kitchen floor. Wanted to see if anyone had used this and if so how had it held up? Thanks!!

Thanks June. Hopefully the puppy will be trained within first 4 months that we get it, we can gate it upstairs where there is orange/normal 90's oak wood as their currently is downstairs, the area we are talking about then also do the fence yard and take it out all day (during the renovation- designer says floor goes in first) we were actually not going to even do the floor for a year to be sure we had plenty of funds for the mass amount of work we want to do- like the bifold doors and all new high end appliances and new European looking modern "hardwareless" flat cabinets/paneling on appliances, large island..anyway, I do think it will need to be done so we may as well try to do it all at same time...but ok, yes I see what you're saying about the puppy...maybe not realistic to keep it upstairs for the most part unless it just went outside...God help me! And yes, I suppose I could keep the retainer money we gave and have not used ($700) for the designer for the furniture steep deals after the reno if I need someone else or to just figure it our myself. I kind of wanted more opinionated with the design. I feel like the stress is all falling on us...I do see what she is saying about not doing the super shiny porcelain look verses matte. It seemed more striking before everyone started using it even mall shops and every hotel lobby. Thank you, June.

"Our contractor has granite in our quote, but the countertop place he uses did not show us any light/white/gray countertops in granite." Can you show pics of counters you like that are "light/white/gray"? These granites are commonly sold in most stoneyards, so if your countertop place didn't show you any, I wonder if it's because they see that you are really looking for a more uniform and white counter like a Quartz counter. Alternatively, simply tell your contractor you are going to another stoneyard. You don't have to use his; it's your money paying for the countertop that you want. The pics below are the granites Alaska White, Piracema White and Viscon (aka Viscount) respectively. They are popular and easily found. But if they are not the look you want, then look at Quartz, or as you mentioned quartzite. As mentioned above, with quartzite it is buyer beware due to the amount of mislabeling of marble as quartzite.