Ugh!! It is REALLY annoying when stone yards mislabel stones!!! Just be honest and let us decide if we want to deal with the consequences. There are plenty of people out there that know nothing about etching, staining, and would never think or know to test it. Therefore, there would still be plenty of potential buyers out there. I had the same dilemma when I was shopping but with Superwhite. Most stone yards were labeling it as a quartzite or granite and every single sample I brought home etched and stained. One stone yard was up front and had warning labels on all of their stones that were marble or anything that could stain or etch more than your average granite. Keep looking...you will find a great alternative!

You changed the photo at 10:13 and that changed everything that follows. Be careful or you and we aren't going to be able to keep things straight. My favorite is still the one Mayflowers posted because it has such a lovely color. The green will compliment the red in the cabinets while accentuating the softer tones in your floor. It has movement without being busy or loud. Stunning. The soapstone and costa esmeralda would do well too, but they are darker and you have clearly not entertained that idea. I'm going to try to ignore this thread now. I've said all I can say. Thank you kksmama for finding something to remember in it. It isn't original. I think any good designer, the pros and the experienced amateurs here, will all tell you the same thing. I'm sure I've read it all here before. And now I'm going to vent a little and try not to lose the playing nice factor altogether. My frustration here is that I don't feel the OP is paying attention. Maybe they just don't get it and I can't explain it any better. The suggestion to get a pro involved and looking at these in person has been made more than once. I think its time to heed that advise. It takes time and effort for us to open up multiple screens and look at them and then comment on them thoughtfully. When the comments appear to be ignored, or at least not beneficial, and followed only by another set of photos that show we aren't making any progress in the process, I have to stop. I suspect others already have. Good luck.

Amanda: thank you for sharing those images, they are night and day! The countertop turned out so beautiful. I can see why you love it. Mama goose: thanks for the comments. I think I am one of those people that is just OK with knowing marble will etch. It's still beautiful to me. That is interesting that you haven't sealed it and it isn't staining! They guys at the yard are trying to sell me a Dupont sealant that has a 15 year warranty. Idecor and others: thanks for your honest and optimism (Linelle!). I reached out to the owner of the fabrication shop that we are designated to use and told him I was worried I wouldn't like the color or size (its 9 ft prior to being cut and I have room for 10 ft). Up to this point, I had been using a salesperson that covers my builder's account but she just made it seem like 'it is what it is'. The owner said he would try to help me and has already 'found' some slabs in their personal inventory. I am going to go look at them tomorrow. They are supposed to be over 10 ft long so I am optimistic.

I prefer the first one. I can tell you from experience that once the slab is horizontal on your countertop and cut up, it won't look quite as busy, but will give just the right amount of visual interest. Plus the first one looks more high end. The second one looks like what goes in every tract home.