Thank you sooo much for your advice!! I'm committed to this stone so passing was more for peace of mind than my decision. I was going to use soft scrub right away but kept pushing it off 'next thing I do after this' over and over - when I finally did it the soft scrub product I used only faded it a little - Really upsetting! Then I saw the soft scrub gel on the shelf and decided to let it soak a little before scrubbing - when I went back to it the gel had completely dissolved it -, NO SCRUBBING, no etching, and most important NO WORK!!! YAY! My quartz passed the Sharpie test!!!!!! Thanks Joanne for your tips, they worked - I should know this, but I don't remember the exact composite of my counter - I have for gotten by now - I'll ask again - but that's irrelevant as it works, it really works!!! Nika, while the sharpie test is extreme I use them all the time and though the house rule is no sharpies for kids, the 3 ft tall picture of a man drawn by my 2 yr old at the side door is evidence that rules w/ 2 yr olds aren't always golden! Mr. clean sponge isn't all that strong compared to a sharpie- hmm maybe I should try the soft scrub? 5 months for a remodel, that's nothing, I have you beat by lots!Way to long to admit in print Rachel

I have Silestone installed in April 2002, so I've had it 7 years. It has held up very well. I am very pleased with it. I have two very tiny nicks in one area of the countertop. I'm not sure what caused them but you can only see them from an angle, I doubt anyone notices them. I also have an undermount sink and the edge of the Silestone around the front of the sink is slightly rough. You can't see it, but you can feel it. Otherwise it is perfect and I don't baby it at all. I would get it again.

I am not an aqua or light green type person. I am into earth tones. The kitchen was pale yellow, it reminded me of a baby's room and my bedroom was light green. Just not me. The basement bathroom was bright blue - gone. Basement bedroom was orange - gone. Spare bedroom spruce green - gone. I like my color in my accents, not on my walls. I may be boring, but I like browns, greys, sage, creams, burgundy. Pastels are not my thing and brights don't suite me either. I want calm and relaxing when I get home. I'll change up my pillow, throws, light shades etc. But I am so sick of light oak I cannot even tell you! They are dull and are a bit worn. If I don't paint or restain them, they will need to have the doors and drawers refinished. My last home had oak floors and cabinets. Painting the kitchen....the wall that the columns are on lead to the dining room. Don't you think it would look odd to have that one wall a different color than the rest? I am concerned about painting the cabinets and having to touch them up, but I don't think I like them with the color of the counter. And I have already bought my slab. So I a committed at this point. I can't wait to get rid of my country backsplash! It is the ugliest thing! Can you see the random houses set in the tile? I have been waiting to tear that out since I moved in 4 years ago!!

Have you looked for remnants? In a market like NY, you should be able to find some high-quality remnants. Most of the Pental colors are sold by half slab. Did they check if Misterio is one of them?