Been used for centuries. Use non-acidic cleaners like MB Stone Care. Take the easy precautions (true for any shower surface) and ensure proper ventilation (and use it), quick squeegee and wipe with micro-fiber towel after use. Of course the most important factor for longevity is not the tile or stone on the surface, but how the shower was built (methods and materials). And yes, pay attention to the quality of the marble. It does make a difference. Like anything else, you will pay more for quality.

The home depot associate (tile specialist) suggested 1/16 spacers but use a flexible mortar to allow expansion/contraction. (I may not have said that correctly.) I will get advice on specific thinset and grout from my contact at the tile shop (who was a tile contractor). Thanks everyone!

Strong statement. The rest of the room should be a soft white tile with soft white walls. Let the floor stand out. Everything else white, except the faucets and hardware. You might consider those to be a matte black. The layout and shape of the white tile is unlimited. But, I'd always keep it a neutral color with the same color as the tile grout.

yes, the large white porcelain tile would work w/just about everything. (as long as you get a vanity top replacement at some point. the creamy yellow doesn't go w/the brighter white) I understand that floor tile is in other parts, but redoing only the shower only to go back in at a later point to redo the bathroom floor seems like a waste. You already have the bathroom torn up. taking up that ceramic tile is messy and dusty. You're already going to have a tiler in the bathroom doing the shower, so have him to the floor at the same time! This bathroom tile doesn't have to match the other tile in the laudry room or kitchen! You could do a dark charcoal floor tile and the white wall tile. (the black or charcoal would look perfect next to the laminate flooring) for example, I did this porcelain charcoal tile for a clients bathroom redo. the shower floor is also a porcelain tile in a herringbone design The shower curb is a quartz backsplash. they come in a 9'X6" piece. we cut it to length and took off 2" to top the 4" shower curb. You can buy these for $60 or so. here's the shower floor You could do a solid white wall tile in a 12x24, 24x24 , 18x18 or similar size. (the larger the tile, the less grout to keep clean) similar design inexpensive porcelain black and white basketweave floor tile. for inside and/or outside the shower floor or do a larger square cool tile for outside the shower. the black or charcoal would look perfect against the warm reddish laminate flooring. (lowes has this) you could also do a larger hex tile in a marble look porcelain. matte black large hex. paired w/white tile, and whatever else you plan on doing in there, is a good neutral then, get a pre-fab white quartz vanity top. (youre in Calif? you can find these all over the place for cheap) Dal Tile Ash Gray larger hex floor tile. it's warm enough to coordinate w/the mahogany lam.