i personally would not mix real stone with fake counters.... JMHO

if u are set on quartz, then go with a tile for b/s... it will look much better.

Fireclay has some beautiful tile for b/s!

Beverly, that countertop is pretty, but a little too much going on. I'm leaning toward something a little more clean looking.

I think that's the challenge for me. I would like some subtle variation because I worry that something too solid might be boring, but worry that too much variation wouldn't look good in a small space. I like the quartz in the second picture. Do you think that would look good with white cabinets?

"Fake" and "real" just don't play well together. I'd keep my backsplash simple. It's your "star".

Just remember that the size of the slab posted is 56½” x 120” ...so the amount of actual veining will be minimal in most surfaces. It's nice to have the artistic veining if you have an island.

I agree with Dilbert12 get what you love. Do you like movement or solid? A solid color will not be boring as things will change in your kitchen. From a bowl of lemons to a bouquet of roses or purple dish towels or green herbs..But all these items I mentioned would look great with a marble like pattern too. Only you can decide what you love.

I think a subtle quartz counter top material with your Carrara herringbone backsplash would look very nice. I agree with you that the fake squiggly veining is not my preferred look. You can get either a white or gray quartz with a mottled surface which would provide a good contrast with the marble backsplash. Look at Caesarstone Airy Concrete, Cloudburst Concrete, Flannel Grey, Alpine Mist, Clamshell, Fresh Concrete, Frosty Carrina, Georgian Bluffs, London Grey, Organic White, or Sleek Concrete. All of them have very subtle swirly patterns (no obvious veining) and are varying shades of white and gray. Get samples and try them in your room with samples of your cabinets and the backsplash tile.

There are also lots of other brands (Silestone, LG Viatera, Hanstone, Cambria) if you don't find exactly what you like from the list above. So many choices, but you'll find something you like!

Thank you so much for all the responses and suggestions! I've reading your feedback, here are the options I like:

1) Solid white backsplash in an interesting pattern (something like a diamond shape or crackle wavy/irregular subway tile) with marble-looking quartz countertop.

2) Marble herringbone backsplash with solid white or light gray quartz countertop.

COOL CONTEMPORARY · More Info

or:

3) Marble herringbone backsplash with large vein, but subtle quartz countertop (MSI Calacatta Verona).

Ward Parkway Dine In Kitchen · More Info

4) Slab backsplash and quartz countertop in the Calacatta Verona.

msi calacatta verona backsplash and countertop with white cabinets - Google Sear · More Info

What do you all think would look best in a small kitchen with no island? I know I have a bit of "analysis paralysis" so I really appreciate everyone's help!

I like your last option. I like a slab backsplash and matching counter.

I did a kitchen with a quartz called Lagoon, which is a light gray with just a little vartiation, like short stretches of gray-on-gray veining. It might fit the bill for you perfectly, but you'd want to get a sample together with a sample of your backsplash to be sure that the grays match tonally.

I got it at lowes, so it might be Alan + Roth, but not 100% sure...

Lagoon is a great choice for a subtle white/gray quartz!

When you say Lagoon, do you mean the Silestone Lagoon, or MSI Gray Lagoon?

you can mix them. just make sure the whites work w/each other.

Torquay

caesarstone pure white

cambria weybourne

an this pale gray would be beautiful w/the marble.

Love them all! Thanks!

to kpenni--I was referring to Silestone Lagoon. I'm not familiar with the other one.

Take a look at kompy's Silestone Lagoon with her marble backsplash. Beautiful!

what-color-white-cabinets-with-silestone-lagoon

Great suggestions! Thanks sooo much! I think I might actually be able to sleep tonight :))

Ordered samples of all your suggestions. Can't wait to see them in my kitchen!

Hi Donna C, Looks like the name of the second backsplash is called "SAHARA BLANCO 8X18".

Sorry it took me so long to update. My whole design took a major turn from what I was originally thinking! After looking at tons of samples, I couldn't find a quartz that I liked enough, so I decided to get Super White Quartzite. It was just installed and when I got home and saw it, it actually took my breath away, it was so pretty! We don't have kids and don't drink red wine, so I'm hoping it won't be too worrisome. From what I understand as long as we keep it sealed and clean up any spills right away (which we do anyway), we should be ok.

It is a really light grey with some veining, so I think I need to go pretty subtle with the backsplash. I was originally leaning toward the herringbone, but I think that would be too busy with the Quartzite.

I'm thinking an elongated white subway tile, 3 x 12, elongated light gray glass subway tile, or maybe the wavy elongated subway tile.

I'm a horrible decision maker, so it might be a while before I finally decide on the backsplash. I'll post some pictures of the new countertops. I hope once you guys see the countertops, you might have some ideas for the backsplash. Thanks again for all your help! This site has been invaluable to me!!!

I somehow stuck one of the pictures of the new countertop in the middle of my post, but I'm scared to delete it because I don't want to delete my whole post. I'm not very good at this technology stuff, so I hope you all can figure it out.

Thanks Karen Rose! I love your backsplash. And I like the contrast. The only thing I am concerned about is going that dark because we don't have an open concept kitchen and it's pretty small, so I don't want to make it look any more enclosed. We also have dark cabinets we're refacing to white Shaker, so I'm a little paranoid about anything dark.

Donna C, I'm so happy you're going with the Super White! You're going to love it! It looks even better than I thought.

Here are some pictures of tile I found at Floor and Decor. I'm going to go a couple more tile stores tomorrow.

This is marble

This is a light gray (called snow) and a medium gray glass

What do you all think?

Thanks!

Thanks!!!

I like the plain glass, either white or gray. The marble is too busy with the quartzite.

Thanks Diana Bier! I was concerned the marble might be too busy even though it's pretty. I was also considering the new wavy elongated white subway tile, white beveled subway tile, and a couple others. Here are some more pictures. Please let me know if you like these better than the glass. Thanks again!!!

This is the wavy 3 x 12 (not sure if you can see the slight waves in the tile add a little more visual interest)

This is polished 3 x 12

This is white beveled

This is 6 x 12 white polished

I prefer a solid white tile to glass, but that's just my opinion. I'm not a bevel fan either, so I'd go with the wavy or plain tiles, if those are your choices. I do like a crackle tile too, so if you could find one of those it would add a subtle texture.

Thank you all so much for the advice and suggestions! Gosh, this is so much harder than I thought it would be. Since I switched my countertop, I think it would be good to start a new discussion and specify that it's about the Super White Quartzite since my original question was about quartz.

Diana, I appreciate your feedback. Do you think white is better than gray given that the countertop is light gray with darker gray veining and the cabinets will be white?

I think either one could look good--it's up to you. White will blend in with the cabinets, and gray will contrast with them.

Thanks so much Diana Bier! I think we're leaning toward a polished elongated subway. Simple, clean and a little more updated than traditional subway.

Wanted to give you an update on what we've selected so far. Got the Super White Quartzite countertop, and decided on White Thassos Herringbone tile backsplash. Just need to decide on grout and what color white to paint the cabinets. The Thassos is looking pretty white and we want to use a light/soft gray grout to have low contrast between the tile and grout. I also want to make sure the cabinets don't look dingy or yellow compared to the backsplash. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! You guys are the best!!!

Here is a picture of the backsplash:

Here's the backsplash with both Warm Gray (lighter one on the left) and Platinum (darker on right). Hubby is making another board with Frost (it's lighter). Once he finishes, I'll post that too.

Here is a close up

Super White is a dolomite, not a quartzite. I also have it in my bathroom.

I like the lighter one on the left in the bottom pic best.

If it's Mapei warm gray, I also used it for my grout

Thank you!

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