instead of a white countertop how about picking up one of the light grays in the marblier? it will stll read very light and almost white and you won't have the problem of whites clashing because of different lighting

I agree with cpartist. I would NOT pair a warm white with the carrara. I have carrara counters and struggled to find the right white subway tiles. They had to be cool white or at least totally neutral.

I'd look at the light cool greys, too. It does not have to be VERY grey, just a little bit, and cool. If Caesarstone does not have the right color, look at one of the other brands.

I googled "cool white caesarstone" and found some folks in Australia describing a color called "White Shimmer" as cool white. I don't know if we have that here, though.

Cool and warm.... this can be tough to pull off with
whites. I think a grey white stone counter would go better
with your marble BS. But first my question:

Which do you like more the counter or the backsplash?
Let that be your guide.

If the marble bs is the winner find a counter to go with
it. It sounds like you were looking to match something
to go with the BS so I assume that is the winner.

Keep looking for a counter, you won't regret it. I know
has been a long time without a kitchen, it will be worth
it. Hang tough. Find what you love not what you will settle
for. I know it sounds harsh but you won't regret waiting
for the perfect counter. You can do it.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.
~boxerpups

Here's one that sammiecanada just posted. But sammie hasn't been back to give the name of the backsplash. I think it works because of the subtle vatriations in the BS tiles. It can be done, but it is difficult! And you have white cabinets as well, so that is another tone to consider.

Here is a link that might be useful: white Caesarstone/white BS

That is so tough! (We just put Carrera in our MB and I am really surprised how cool it is.) The Calcutta is an awesome suggestion, that stone is crazy gorgeous.

I think boxerpups has a great question - which do you love more?

I would at least think about finding a counter material you love and then once it is installed (with your lighting and your cabinets) selecting a backsplash to go with it. That way, the kitchen becomes useable and you do not have to make major decisions in a vacuum. I think I would want all of the context that lighting and cab color can provide. Good luck!

Amec - did you check out the thread started by Sammiecanada?? I think its titled "ceaserstone installed" or something like that. Its very pretty quartz that looks cool. And I think the back splash was marble. The quartz had a little sparkle to it - very pretty!

Did you already purchase the backsplash? If not or you can exchange it or use it in a bath at some point, do consider Calcutta although that too can vary from cooler to more gold, even when named Calcutta Gold.

You said you wanted white counters so you may not want gray which will make the White Dove even cooler. You don't even need to install the BS right away, but you do need counters and they take up a lot of real estate usually so focus on that decision so you can have a functional kitchen that makes your heart sing. For me that would be a white counter with some mica.

Pugrolls has a totally gorgeous grey quartz counter - maybe something like that so you do not have make sure the whites match?

Hers is "Stormy Sky (a grey color) by Chroma Quartz, a brand by Pental, a Seattle-based company. It was significantly less expensive than Caesarstone, but still comes with a 15-year warranty"

Here is a link that might be useful: grey quartz

Some calacatta mosaics

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Here is the calacatta d'oro mosaic I used in my bathroom:

amac514 - I am struggling with this exact same thing right now! I am putting white carrera on my master bathroom floor and have been trying to figure out which white ceasarstone will work with it for the countertops. I was planning on using the same ceasarstone in my kitchen too. I agree that the blizzard is a touch too much on the warm side. I have been leaning towards the organic white - it has a subtle pattern to it and has a light grey tinge. I was also thinking about pure white, but am worried about every little spec showing up on that surface and also not sure if it will perfectly match my white ceramic sink. I like everyone's suggestion for you to maybe do a light grey countertop - that will look great with your white cabinets. I am doing walnut cabinetry so I want the contrast of the white countertop.

The Pure White Caesarstone was used in the House Beautiful 2010 kitchen of the year and it didn't seem blinding and there was plenty of lighting there. It was used with dark cabinets and a ceramic backsplash. Real carrara is running gray now but the 2 X 4 marble subway tile from Crossville matches the Blizzard much better. Only slightly cooler than Blizzard and some of the tiles are the same color. Do a search for "Unicorn" on their site. Same creamy background as calacatta. Also, Home Depot just got a very reasonable priced marble line in. They have a a very pretty white marble subway tile with different tones of white from pale beige and pale grays mixed in that would match the Blizzard. More interesting than cararra. I'm using the same combo in my kitchen and have the same issue. It was less than $7 a sf. in the 3 x 6. Also, other well priced mosaics in that group in the same marble.

The Pure White Caesarstone was used in the House Beautiful 2010 kitchen of the year and it didn't seem blinding and there was plenty of lighting there. It was used with dark cabinets and a ceramic backsplash. Real carrara is running gray now but the 2 X 4 marble subway tile from Crossville matches the Blizzard much better. Only slightly cooler than Blizzard and some of the tiles are the same color. Do a search for "Unicorn" on their site. Same creamy background as calacatta. Also, Home Depot just got a very reasonable priced marble line in. They have a a very pretty white marble subway tile with different tones of white from pale beige and pale grays mixed in that would match the Blizzard. More interesting than cararra. I'm using the same combo in my kitchen and have the same issue. It was less than $7 a sf. in the 3 x 6. Also, other well priced mosaics in that group in the same marble.

Wow. Thanks everyone!

I am in a bit of trouble I think because the cabinet color is DONE - he is already spraying the White Dove - which is a warm white but that is good - there will be so much cabinet on view in my small kitchen and I don't want it to be cool - too sterile.

The backsplash is ordered and paid for but I don't think it is in yet - could probably stop it.

The question posed is dead on - what is my first love? I thought it was the white countertops but I am becoming obsessed with those long (2X9) Carrerra tiles. It is different and little updated from the same old thing. We live in a historic part of LA and the renovated houses in our area all pretty much have the same kitchen- very traditional - marble or granite counters with white or colored backsplash. I was jazzed to do something a bit different. My style with this house has been about using traditional materials but with an unexpected element. The tiles are perfect in that sense - and will elongate the small boxy kitchen a bit - and I have planned to do one whole wall in tile (the one with my hood). Clearly I can't have a counter that fights the wall...

I chose the Carrerra for backsplash because I want the blue/grey tones so - while I love the Calcutta as a solution - I'm not sure it is the look I want. Perhaps I should go back to the tile store and look again.

Oh, I really need to get back to my former life. This is such a nightmare!!!

I so want the Blizzard to be OK - I went back to look at Ceasarstone samples today - it just looks too warm to me with the Carrera...my designer said it is same as mixing carrera top with white subway but I disagree because there are so many colors of subway.

I could MAYBE do the concrete ceasarstone color but then am I in trouble with the cabinets? UGH!!

My designer is saying let the tile come in and then we can pick the right countertop - but am I already dead in the water with warm cabinets and cool backsplash?

I vote for a pale gray because pure white is a bi--- errr..umm... bear to keep looking spiffy when it is on a vertical surface. The pale gray would still give you the crisp cheerful light look while still keeping it from being all white on white.

I've seen Caesarstone Misty Carrera counters with a Carrara mosaic backsplash. It looked pretty nice , but the cabinets were a high gloss white, a bit on the cooler side. You may want to give that combo a look and see if it works for you.

I don't think you are dead in the water with warm cabs and cool backsplash - we did warm white cabs (SW dover white which is creamier than white dove) and carrera counter in our masterbath and we love it (we did pull in some pure white with basketweave tile floor and subways). I know that is NOT super helpful since it is a bathroom not a kitchen, but I wanted to be encouraging!

I don't think White Dove is as creamy as you think - I think of that color as a warm but greyed white. I think the cabs and backsplash will be gorgeous, it's the counter that's tricky. Would you consider stainless steel counters? Is is totally in line with your "vintage but modern" vibe and is the ultimate neutral... I would have totally done SS counters but DH "couldn't picture it." (sigh)