I really don't like granite. It's too speckeldy, too pretentious, too cold, too ostentatious, too expensive. And maybe it's just me, but doesn't most of it just look like rust stains? I also researched all the other countertop choices. Throughout our homebuilding we've tried to remain focused on our twin goals, Durable and Low Maintenance. And so we've come back to granite. What I found out is that granite showrooms only have a tiny selection of slabs onsite for you to look at. And most of those are ugly speckled rust stains. BUT, when you've found a company you want to work with, they'll hook you up with the huge granite yards where you go to pick out a slab and they send it to the installer. In our case it's a two hour drive to a huge city where there are a half dozen granite yards and acres of slabs of granite to choose from. You walk around for a couple of hours dragging your husband (who really doesn't want to be there and doesn't like anything unless it's cobalt blue) and your kids (who are fighting over a piece of gravel they picked up in the parking lot) and suddenly you turn a corner and find The Perfect Slab. And you hear a heavenly chorus that swells to drown out the sound of the kids squabbling and the perky salesperson who doesn't have a clue what you're really looking for (you couldn't tell her because you weren't really sure either.) And tears of relief and joy spring to your eyes, your husband drops to his knees in shock when he hears the price, and then you're done. Then you get to choose a backsplash!

What are good wall colors for this combination? I'm installing a Calacatta Novo countertop with white high-gloss IKEA upper cabinets and Voxtorp walnut look base cabinets. Using simple 3x6 white subway tiles for backsplash with gray grout and Rawtech white tiled floor (looks like light concrete). I'm thinking of introducing some greige to shake things up instead of a more typical white like Simply White or Cloud Nine (which looks great in the pictures above!) - Worn Leather Shoe, Upper West Side, or Quicksand looked interesting in the Benjamin Moore online program. Any tips?

@Lisa I do have a question for you! The thing that concerns me about Cambria is the heat comments. I would never put a hot pan on any countertop. BUT what about things like an All Clad Slow Cooker? Moccamaster or Nespresso Coffee maker? Instant Pot? What things like this needs something under them to use? Air Fryer.. I would think Vitamix would be fine? I think it would look awful to always have something under the coffee make or Vitamix. The other things are not kept on the counter. I have never had to use something under them with the granite countertops. I don't Have to go with quartz. If I do go with quartz it will definitely be Cambria. I thought about going with marble but I am a messy cook! I still want to see your blue when I go back to the beach. (My husband seems to be set on Cambria white! But that might be more due to him being tired of ldiscussions about the countertop.)

@Nikki M -- I am in the exact same predicament that you are. So far the most realistic I've found have been from Cambria. If you're looking for white with some contrasting veining (which I assume you are, based on your like of marble), check out Bentley (which also has the advantage that it can be bookmatched). I know you are looking for light, but the darker colors from Silestone also seem pretty realistic. Some of the samples I looked at were terrible...they either had that pixelated look that you alluded to, or they were so overly smooth at the edges of the veining that it looked really fake.