Thank you so much to everyone for the advice. That's what I was afraid of...too many elements. It's an older home and I want to keep the "charm" of an older space. I was planning to use honed black granite for the counter tops. It's going to primarily function as a kid's bathroom. I am using the antique brick in a few other areas of the house. I recognize the riskiness here, but was hoping it would come across with a charm that is original to the home. The antique brick blends better with the other elements in the home than the carrara does. I'm still not sure how to bring it all together. I know that the white porcelain is timeless. Will the carrara/black and white bath be outdated, considering it's been such a popular choice the last couple of years? What about the subway tiles? [Traditional Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2107) by New York Architects & Designers Jane Kim Design [Eclectic Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2104) by New York Architects & Designers Jane Kim Design This post was edited by TXBluebonnet11 on Fri, Jun 21, 13 at 4:04

Don't you think that the more classic look you want would be achieved by the way you style your counter/faucets/vanity? Instead of the sleek contemporary bath you showed, it could be more like this:

I think you while you love the Carrera and your DH loves the Calacatta the post is really about the worries of having marble. Are you second guessing your marble? I only ask because I am counter searching and know the feeling in my heart as I peruse slabs trying to decide what will work, care, cost and love. "Also as you all know Marble is easily damaged and I'm expecting that with the Carrera. (Character) I don't know if I would feel the same about damaged expensive Calcatta. FYI they are both honed. I have to decide with the next couple of days. Help!!!..." Why not buy the carrera and put the extra money aside so that you can re polish or hone any stains that come up over the course of a few years. You get to have marble that I believe you have always wanted and you have a little set aside to pay for any damage that might come up in a couple of years. Marble has been around for a 1000 years. If you don't mind the patina, the occasional stains and the wear (imagine a pair of favorite jeans with mustard stains, holes in the knees and torn at the hems) you will ultimately be happy with your kitchen. ~boxer

@avaaustin The process of attaching fiberglass mesh to ceramic/porcelain tile differs from natural stone processing. Mesh on the back of ceramic mosaic usually doesn't have a layer of glue between the mesh "cells". At same time, the main reason of "resin backing" attached to natural stone is to reinforce it and fiberglass mesh is attached using a "glue" that is mostly polyester. It, first, adds an impervious layer to the back of stone and can significantly reduce the evaporation. Secondly, there could be problems with how well the bond is between the mesh and the substrate since dry set or polymer-modified mortars don't adhere to it very well. True porcelain tiles, whether sealed or unsealed, have >0.5% water absorption. At same time, marble is a translucent stone that will still absorb moisture as vapor even after an impregnating sealer is applied. I can't tell you whether Bulletproof sealer will help you in your situation. With properly installed water-in, water-out system and stone with no "resin backing" it is best to avoid any sealer. That's my strong opinion. Sealing the stone but not sealing the grout will not make any difference. Impregnating sealers are all considered permeable but if there is trapped moisture under the stone unsealed grout won't help.