Hi! I'm not sure if this is the look you're going for but I had the same dilemma with Kohler Biscuit! I wanted a light bathroom but it couldn't be white, so I went with a tile that has white and then cream veins in it for my accent tile because I also had Biscuit Kohler sinks and a tub. Then I saved $ by going with a Daltile CrossCut Porcelain tile that mimics a marble (the polished version really looks amazing! I think it's called San Michele and the color was "crema") and the same product in bigger 12" x 24" pieces for our shower. I was nervous that those big tiles would look to modern but they are laid in a 70/30 pattern and the marble/veining looks really pretty while also giving it a slightly updated look. Basically I covered the most square footage with the less expensive tile (I think it worked out to right around $6-8 sq/ft) and then use the accent tile (Cloud 9/Del Greco, it was called) more sparingly b/c it was more expensive. Our marble countertops and the tub surround are then Breccia Oniciata marble. It's a creamy, dreamy marble that - importantly to me! - ISN"T white or light based so that over time, it will age well. Here's a few pics - you can see the porcelain on floor, the accent around tub and sink backsplash and then the marble. and then a link to the Cross Cut tile b/c it was the biggest savings. Can provide more info if you're interested. Let me know if you'd like me to get more specific information or the names of any of the particular tiles! Good luck! I lived in analysis paralysis for months and months. Once I pulled the trigger, I just moved to the "love" stage! Here is a link that might be useful: Crema tile (look for that color on this sheet)

I know this is an old thread. But I know I read old threads when I am trying to make a decision. We put soapstone and marble and wood floors in our kitchen in 2007. So we are going on 8.5 years and I LOVE IT ALL. My kids have grown up with it. We don't baby any surface. To be clear, my style is not slick and modern. I have antiques and an older home so I like traditional materials and I don't mind a "lived with patina"-but having said that I don't think my stone has much of a patina at all. The big island is soapstone. It has a few scratches-mostly from house-sitters and the kids dragging heavy pots across it or cutting directly on it like a cutting board.. But if I oil it (which I do maybe 2-3 times a year) they fade. I did search for a long time and I picked a soapstone that was know to be harder than others with minimal white veining-so this could make a difference. I think we could have the top polished/honed again and it would look brand new. But I think it looks fine. Maybe in another 8 or 9 years. I love it everyday! The carrara marble is around the sink in the most used food prep area of the kitchen. It is honed. I just had a repair company come out (only because we had to do some other work in the kitchen and hubby asked about it) and they honed it again and cleaned it up. It looks brand new (I didn't think it looked bad before). There are a few little pits and chips that cant be fixed-but I don't think they are that noticeable. I just sealed it after the guy left. It was never really sealed before. I have gotten a few stains and I have always gotten them out. I have had etching but I learned how to get that out myself (I use sandpaper-yes and it has worked beautifully for me). I love it every day! We are about to ignore all practical advice again and put marble in our master bathroom. I hope we have as much luck with it as we did in the kitchen. In the next few weeks I hope to post photos of our 8.5 year old finishes.

I just wanted to follow up on the countertop I chose. I loved the look of shiny white marble but knew that our family would ruin it. I ordered a sample of okite, as I mentioned above, and the veining was very green. I happened to see another sample at Ikea that had no green veining. I asked whether I could see a full slab and they told me the name of the company that supplied Ikea's product. I went to their plant and asked to see the slabs. For some reason, they did not want to show quartzite slabs, but only wanted to show granite slabs. It must have something to do with the commission. When I insisted, they let me see the slabs. Some had green veining, some had a lot of black veining but some had a very white background and a small amount of black veining, just like marble. I chose the slab and they were installed about 9 months ago. I LOVE THEM. They are stain-proof, etch-proof and beautiful. The veining does not look as authentic as marble, but it is close enough for me. I will post a picture later (my kids took my camera) Thought you might want to know to look for Zodiaq/Okite Bianco Carrera

I agree with jmck-nc.....a mosiac rug on the floor for the checker board tile would be appealing to the eye....I would not use it on the walls. Even using it as a square pattern around the shower faucet would be cool! Maybe somthing a little more .......traditional....that will outlast time....see the link... Here is a link that might be useful: Neutral border, low key