Usually if colors look different in your home that they did outside at the stone yard the problem is your lighting . As for the real versus fake IMO a no brainer I always choose real. I like a polished finish on any real stone and I have never had to seal polished granite .

@eld6161 I am leaning toward very subtle veins also. Thank you for sharing. I don't like busy busy counter top. Have you had any issue with citrus on it etching?

I love my Caesarstone Lagos Blue kitchen counters - they're a warmish brown/grey. That said, I'm going to do quartzite in my bathroom vanity (if I can find the right remnant at the right price.) Here's my Lagos Blue:

@Carrie B Thank you for sharing. Lovely - I love that kitty cat too. Looks like my Ellie Mae

Also do you go to a stone yard to look for remnants?

L New, so far so good. I have found stains like tomato sauce, tea, coffee after the fact. None have stained.

When I cut lemons, I use a cutting board but I don’t think it would be a problem.

Elf and Carrie selected quartz, not quartzite...so no etching, staining etc possible as a rule...

@L New - That's an old photo, but I'm not home this week so had to find a photo that showed the countertop. I would have liked to have take a less messy photo!

Remnants are leftover pieces from a slab - often from a kitchen job. Those smaller pieces can often be used for vanities, etc., and are sometimes a cheaper way to go, though I'm getting quotes for up to $2,500 for a 60" quartzite vanity! And, yes, I make an appointment to go look at remnants at stone yards.

Gosh @Carrie B $2,500 seems awfully high for such a small piece.

Hi @Janet Campbell - As far as Quartz vs Quartzite. It is very confusing for me to make a decision. : ) There are threads where folks are talking about Quartz will etch and stain especially with lemon juice I read. Then I just found this article on Quartz vs Quartzite which seems to explain features of both. I have a few months to decide.. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/whats-the-difference-between-quartzite-and-quartz-countertops-stsetivw-vs~105050923

Then there is this article - that had me leaning toward quartzite ... http://usenaturalstone.org/definitive-guide-quartzite/

The Houzz article above has me leaning towards Quartz. : )

I am of the opinion that that are good features in both. Quartzite can take heat and you cannot set a hot pot on Quartz. Quartz does not stain as bad as Quartzite since Quartzite is a natural stone. Quartzite has to be sealed. I don't think Quartz does. I am thinking it is a toss up The one thing I am worried about is the part about the citrus and etching Quartz I have read a lot about. I use lemons a lot and we all cook around our island so I don't have full control of watching it all the time. . I would love to hear opinions from folks who have either. Have you had any issues with either choice?

I’ve had quartz for about 15 years. I don’t put hot pots on it, have never had a stain or etching. I’ve had no damage whatever except chipping around the edge of the sink, and it is only visible if I’m standing right at the sink. Some here have mentioned putting trivets under slow cookers, I never have. I have absolutely no regrets about my quartz. Quartz doesn’t need sealing... I have granite in both my bathrooms and always figured I’d get granite if I ever redid my kitchen.
However, I’m working on talking my husband into a new kitchen and will probably choose quartzite next time or soapstone!

Ours has been in for 6 weeks. azul macabaus and seems very durable. i love it. this replaced beloved yellow tiles and awful grout. we kept backsplash.