That's a busy slab. I would NOT try to find a vein-match. It won't work. Just go with a solid colour. You can work with a porcelain tile in a veined travertine look or a linen look in any colour you want. Just do NOT try to match the veins to the veins. It never works.

Thank you, Patricia. I will research Schluter to figure out what that is. I have never heard of it. What is your opinion of the first tile next to the quartzite slab? I assume the long edge of the tile would be vertical?

SJ McCarthy, thank you. I think I did not explain well. I would rather have a solid color charcoal gray that is the same gray in the quartzite. I keep taking tiles to the stone yard, but nothing matches the gray. Since I can't get a sample, I thought maybe I could go with a lighter color. The gray tile in the last picture is sort of mottled looking, not really a solid gray.

It could work and look amazing or look terrible.. to air on the side of caution and money, I would go either same style or white.

Ha, that is true! It might work or it might not! I am not sure about a white floor tile since this is a rural lake house. Previous owners put black marble tile everywhere...kitchen and 3 bathrooms. Had white veins in the marble.

I like the top tile but not the bottom. Which is which? What are you planning to do with each of them?

The top tile and the next 2 pictures are the same. They will be for the floor and the tile around the alcove tub. No window in the bathroom so lighter is probably better, but I really am rethinking about an almost white floor.

In the first photo, I like the top tile that has the soft veining, but not what appears to be a slab with the darker veins. The lighter tile will look great in the shower and on the floor. Light tiles make a room feel fresh and clean. Believe it or not, you will see every speck of dust and dirt on a darker floor.

Oh, sorry. Yes, the tile is sitting on top of the slab of quartzite which is for the countertop.

I just saw that quartzite at my tile place. It's a very cool tone, blue/gray with greenish grays.

Beth H, so you think the mottled looking dark gray in your picture would work? I like the color. Not too dark.

That slab is beautiful. My slab is mostly grayish white. I can't even get them to move the other stones so I can see the entire stone. I have been trying to get them to move it since January. They know I can't go anywhere else.

it's not that big of a deal to come in w/the truck/crane hook to lift it up for you. You paid for it, you should be able to see it.

And, make sure you see how they're going to cut it for your countertop. you have the right to say which part of the stone you want. don't let them tell you otherwise.

for example, lets say this is your slab and you need a 6' countertop piece fabricated. you have the right to say, "I want it cut just like this because I want this part on my vanity".

And You also should get all of the remnants. don't let them keep any pieces (unless you want them to). I used a small portion of my leftover for a floating make-up vanity.

i think your shower tile w/the white/gray should be fine.

I was posting those other ones for the shower floor (the darker herringbone, and outside the shower.

Thanks, Beth H. Love the small shelf with the mirror. What is the section to the right in your picture?

The problem is that they are the only one around except for one other company. I will not use that company again since they switched my kitchen slab that I chose. They found a cheaper one and used it to save money. It was not even close to matching with color or texture to my kitchen island slab. I was livid.

This fabricator doesn't take any money until they install. They had a partial slab that I found in late January, and they say they will not move the slab or give me a sample until after they have come out to measure. I have to put the floor tile down first, so we are at a stalemate. They won't measure until the cabinets are in place. Today, they started work at 8:00, loaded the truck, and will leave at 10:00 a.m., to drive 2 hours to install a countertop, then they will drive back and the day is over. They are really busy. I called again this morning...begging.

I just got a call from the stone yard. They broke off a sample with a sledge hammer. Now, they are saying it is marble, not quartzite! The other two partial slabs they had are marble, and now they say they can't be used because they are too scratched up. She also said I shouldn't use marble because it stains. I knew that, but they should put a sealer on it. It is not for the kitchen. Why are they telling me this now? January to October...

Grrrr! I have been waiting on them since January. I guess I am starting over. I hate living in this area. I am ready to move if I ever get the bathrooms finished.

Now, I am waiting on the plumber to show up or call. Since Wednesday, he keeps putting me off, but doesn't tell me until 5:00 p.m. that he can't make it that same day.

ok,,so about marble. yes it stains and etches, and no, a sealer won't do squat for marble. In the best of circumstances a sealer buys you time to clean up, before the stain sets. that's it.

On marble, it's just too soft. marble is a 3 on the Mohs scale, quartzite is an 8. a true quartzite won't even need a sealer.

But since this is for your bathroom, maybe the marble would be fine. just keep some hand towels on the vanity to wipe up water and toothpaste. yes, even water will etch marble! Ask me how I know!

You only have two stone places around where you live? wow.

any chance of your stone place being able to order something for you?

What about prefab bathroom countertops? have you looked into those?

They look like these. already cut to countertop size with finished edges. only sink/faucet cutouts need to be done. this is marble in the front, in the back area some granites.

Oh, and that wall in my pic is my shower. If you click on my name, go to master bath redo, you'll see it.

I have Super White on my vanity and marble on my floors. the marble tile is etched just from water and overspray of products. I do have a runner in front of the vanity.

As for the Super White, it's a dolomite. marbles cousin. It is a bit heartier and stands up to more abuse than a true marble. Maybe look into having that?

where you see the bench is where I've since put in the floating vanity shelf.

Love it. As soon as I saw your shower, I thought about Delta's LED pendant raincan light fixture. I love the plants in your bathroom too.

I have never heard about pre-fab counters. We have two large cities, Tulsa and Oklahoma City, both 2 hours away. I will see if anyone is selling the pre-fab counters in my state.

big cities should have them. If not, then you should be able to find a remnant to fit a bathroom vanity. The prefabs come from China and cost is from 400-650 or so for a long piece.

some places like home depot even sell prefab vanity tops, but their options are limited.

Floor and Decor may also have some.

Home Depot is the only place within two hours that sells the pre-fab, and the colors are horrible.

I need three bathroom countertops, and the largest is 52". I should be able to find remnants, but I can't even find fabricators who have remnants.

Nobody has a website and the fabricators don't advertise, at all.

I found six places in Tulsa, but none of them have quartzite remnants.

I can only find stone suppliers. I will make a list of suppliers this weekend, and call them on Monday. Maybe they have a list of fabricators near me.

Even Google maps didn't have anyone listed near me. They didn't have the two fabricators that are a half hour away from me.

What is your opinion on glossy vs honed in a bathroom. My kitchen has leathered Sea Pearl quartzite, and I love it. I prefer matte colors usually, but I doubt I would like leathered bathroom countertops.

I have the honed marble on my floors. when marble etches, it's less visible on a honed surface.

On my vanity top, the Super White is polished. I have also sealed it. most things wipe up w/o issue. I have a small spot that etched. I can't really see it, but I can feel it.

If you like the marble, then get the marble. just know you'll have to baby it, won't be able to use standard cleaners (not even 'green' cleaners. found that out the hard way) and will have to embrace patina over time.

Even Porcelain slabs are getting really good now.

This is Crystal Ice. It's a porcelain surface. looks real huh! ?

Porcelain surface:

this is porcelain, calacatta. beautiful in person. you just have to have an installer that knows how to install this (like a giant tile)

I have never seen porcelain countertops. I am guessing people around here don't have the knowledge to install it.

it's installed like a giant porcelain tile. instead of adhesive, they use mortar. (just like they would on your floor). the entire surface get's coated with mortar that is trowel on, as does the back of the slab countertop. imagine doing a giant 48" porcelain tile on the floor. it goes on a countertop in the same manner. instead of blobs, the entire back of the surface is coated with thinset, similar to what's being shown on this tile.

the main diff between porcelain and say, granite, is the porcelain requires 100% coverage w/the mortar. granite can get away w/a few blobs of adhesive.

that's basically it.

these can also be used in your shower to avoid pesky grout lines! (not these exact slabs, they have thinner panels for the shower)

That is amazing! I assume the color goes all the way through and that it must sit on top of plywood.

yes to both. some people say the corners are easy to chip, but they normally will round them off a tad.

heck, i accidentally cracked my quartz edge w/a cast iron skillet, so, it doesn't matter what the product is. pretty sure you won't have to worry about that in a bathroom!

I got a sample of the quartzite. It does scratch the glass tile very easily.

Tomorrow, I will tests with lemons, etc.

The wall tile is sitting on the quartzite against the white paper.

Next week, I will go look for floor tile.

that's pretty. looks like Infinity.

It does, but it also looks like several other slabs.