Photos are current counters

Looking for more like this. Lol yes that's my cell phone case.

You are not going to find a granite that looks like that. Quartzite maybe.

Have you thought about Quartz?

left to right Rococo Minuet and Everest

Absolutely no Quartz. I have been told what I have is a type of new quartz and there have been a LOT of problems with it.

I would take a trip to a stone yard [they are open in my area so check with yours; some are by appointment]. See what calls to you. Granite is going to be most indestructible. Just don't have the vein-y look of marble. Quartzite can be good if you find a good stone but I have steered away from it for fear of being one of the unlucky ones. It's also more expensive. Maybe others will chime in with some that are close. Best of luck.

I am sure you are frustrated!

Soooooo frustrated!! I am going to go on line to see who has what and read the comments on the reviews. Not going to take anyone's word without checking. We live in a very small town (Bassett, Virginia) So I will probably have to go across state lines to get anything. We had Lowes come out to give us an estimate on May 25th on Sonoma?? Granite $80 a foot Sales Associate didn't know if that price included installation!!🤬 I have called twice, finally got the associate, said she has been trying since June1st to get the information from the measuring people they use. said she just got it and is try to read it off an email🙀 Can I say boy I feel confident in the job going well, NOT!This is why I am going to do my own research, and make sure I feel comfortable and confident with whomever I pick...
What really is so disappointing is the original sub who installed the counters and cabinets won't call me back. We are going to extend the existing counter and add 2. more cabinets. I Love my house and my little town and want to support local, but I have to be comfortable with the professional doing the job and it's just not happening here now.

Sharron:

You apparently have a solid surface countertop that is an apparently discontinued color. It could be some home brew polyester for all I know. You're not going to find it on anyone's color chart offerings these days though.

Darn sure don't want it again.

I agree, what you have now (shown) is definitely not quartz. It would not scratch like that. Quartz is really the only material with a “marble-like” appearance that’s not marble. Good quartz is pretty indestructible, except for direct heat. Nothing wrong with granite, but you won’t find any that has veins. Either way you need to be able to either go into a store and see it in person, or order samples from various companies. Cambria and MSI will mail samples.

Thanks

Agree with Joe...that is NOT quartz. You have acrylic tops or a polyester/acrylic blend. Brands that do acrylic are Corian and LG Hi-Macs. No one makes the polyester stuff anymore, fabricators hated working with it. Dark acrylic tops and poly/acrylic both show scratches horribly on dark colors. Go with quartz!

I’m looking at quartzite and there are some beautiful options. Have to be careful with quartzite because some marbles are mislabeled as quartzite because they look so similar, but true quartzite is actually harder than granite and supposedly doesn’t scratch/etch. Get a sample and do some testing on it (lemon juice, wine, try to scratch a piece of glass with it) to be sure. White Macaubas and Taj Mahal seem to be popular “true” quartzite options, but always test a sample to be sure you’re getting what you’re paying for. Avoid the “Fantasy” (Fantasy Brown/White/Gray, etc.). From what I understand, these are not true quartzites. Link on quartzite: https://usenaturalstone.org/definitive-guide-quartzite/

BUT, there are some lighter granite options. They will still look like granite with the mottling vs. veining of marble, but there’s a reason granite has been used so much in kitchens - it’s durable and affordable compared to a lot of other options. Look at Alaska White, Aspen White, Colonial White, White Galaxy, White Ice, White Storm.

Good luck! Hope you find something you’re happy with!!

Thanks

Viscount white is a nice granite to check out. It’s also called Silver Cloud

This is my granite, newly installed. White ornamental.

This is a copy of the description of the work we had done.....For the counter it says... Install New Living Stone Top.
Unfortunately doesn't say anything else.

Is it one of these? Maybe Starry Night? Looks like an acrylic similar to Corian.

https://www.livingstonesurfaces.com/colors/

Livingstone is acrylic solid surface, like Corian. Dark colors in this material are notorious for showing white scratches. I once begged a lady (multiple times) not to do it. Her tops looked like yours but in Corian Brand. Very dark, black with white specs. A few days after installation, she calls me and says, "My tops have fine scratches all over it! You didn't tell me it would SCRATCH this easily"!!! I guess I needed to press harder....what's a designer to do!? Ughhh. I tried but she wouldn't listen to me. I even let her take a knife to my sample!!!

If you want something durable and stands up to everything, quartz is absolutely the way to go. You don't know what you don't know.

You need to research ALL countertops and then make an informed choice/decision.

$80 per foot is about right. Usually that is installed.

With respect to countertops, you get what you pay for. You go cheap, you get cheap.

You may need to find a general contractor to help you with countertops and installers.

"If you want something durable and stands up to everything, quartz is absolutely the way to go."

Engineered stone does not "stand up to everything". I've posted pictures of large repaired chips and etches. Soap trapped under a mat can wreck it: posted that picture too.

While it's difficult to scratch, if you do, you're in trouble. I'd have the above-pictured top in great shape again in an hour or so.

A hot pot on estone can be catastrophic. A hot pot on the above tops may buff out, but at worst you'd lose your cutting board.

"You don't know what you don't know."

Correct.

My general contractor is the one who got me in this mess.:(. he won't return my calls either. Seems like once they get the money 💰 that's it for you! We moved from out of state to this house and the contractor was "Highly" recommended by our Realtor. I am a retired Real Estate Broker, so I 🤷 thought I would be ok trusting in the recommendation of my Agent. Big learning experience, I hope my journey will help someone else to do extreme due diligence.

I wish my designer had guided me and shown me with a knife and a sample. You can believe that I would not a had it installed.

Yep!

Sharron:

Are those knife marks please? Since they're concentrated in such a small area and appear to be fairly straight, they appear to be. If so, this would contrary to the manufacturer's specific instructions. Consumers aren't supposed to use knives on granite or engineered stone either. Trivets and cutting boards please.

Like estone and granite, Livingstone is a fine product, but shouldn't get the blame for customer abuse.

Joe, The client I described above? She had pfaltzgraff dinnerware...you know, the ones with the rough bottoms? She said THOSE scratched her Corian tops. She said that sliding several things on her tops scratched them, but her Pfaltzgraff dishes were the worst.

Who sold you the top? Your General Contractor? Or another vendor? Unfortunately, unless you get a good, experienced salesperson/designer, that can help guide you, you're on your own with researching products. Even good sales/design folks don't know everything there is to know. There is SO much to learn in this industry. If I wrote down everything I've learned over the years, I'd have a disclaimer contract a mile long. Why are you blaming your GC and realtor for your color selection? Am I missing something?

bethanykimes,
I believe you are right. Living Stone....Starry Night.

Sharron, since you mentioned your desire to support local businesses, and you are in Virginia (as I am), let me mention another option, a stone that is quarried in Virginia, not terribly far from you. This is Soapstone, the durable natural material used for ages in lots of science lab countertops, and popular for a certain kind of kitchen look and experience. It won't be white, but some if it has white-ish veins, and the color is lighter if it isn't finished with an oiled surface.

You will need to research this to see if it's for you! Some love it, some hate it. Here are some starter links:

http://cvhomemag.com/soapstone-an-old-rock-with-a-new-purpose/

http://www.nelsoncounty-va.gov/Organization/alberene-soapstone-company/

https://jewettfarms.com/2019/05/15/is-soapstone-right-for-your-kitchen

https://www.soapstones.com/soapstone-countertops/

Not knife marks, my reply was in reference to The Kitchen Place. My parents taught us to use cutting boards from an early age.