Steer clear of ColorQuartz. I bought five slabs of Akoya Pearl Quartz from International Granite and Marble (IGM). This quartz is made by ColorQuartz. Their sample was incredibly beautiful. It looked like real stone. It was to be delivered and installed while I was gone, therefore I asked IGM if I should come and approve the slabs before I left. They said no, because it was man-made, they would all look like the sample. They delivered and installed while I was gone. The material that was installed was of incredibly poor quality. It has little specks all over it. It looks like it is covered in freckles or made of tapioca. I called IGM and complained. They came to my home and looked at it and agreed with me. They said it would be up to ColorQuartz to refund my money or replace it. I called the local ColorQuartz rep. He said it was awful that the quartz looked so bad. He said he would do something that day or the next. He did not. I then called and complained to the ColorQuartz VP of Sales. He literally told me he didn't care. Repeatedly, he just said, "I don't care". I never heard of any sales person ever before say such a thing. IGM is no longer returning my calls, so I am not too pleased with them either. If they are a good company, they will drop ColorQuartz. I paid $6121.61 for those slabs. I am attaching photos. The one on the right is the actual, the one on the left is the sample.

My crazy deadline of trying to finish this remodel by the end of July was really stressing me out. Yesterday morning, I decided that I would choose some color of Ceasarstone. I simply had not seen a granite that went along with my vision or that I just loved. I learned that some marbles probably were in my price range, but for a couple of other reasons, didn't seem to be the right choice. I was on a mission to choose a Ceasarstone and had my mind made up. Since my DH was home for the day, I engaged him and said that WE were going to choose TODAY. I took some backsplash samples and we found one that we both liked, brought it home and the boys liked it too. I am happy because I think it will be an easy surface to maintain, it is light and that works for my smaller kitchen. (and I don't have undercab. lighting) My sister said it reminded her of our grandmother's old formica tabletop. (Which was red and we have happy memories of it), but I am going to own this decision (and try not to re-think it), but mostly, embrace any of its "fakeness!" We chose Ceasarstone Nougat. I came back today and see that it is the same as gracesantacruz! We also have a beachy feel to our home and my seaglass collection was my original backsplash inspiration. I just want to say thanks again for sharing your pictures and for the comments and encouragement (erikanh) As another comment on this thread, the fabricator said that 3 years ago they did a very small portion of quartz countertops, but these days it is about 50% of their work. Also, I ran across this article about a kitchen of the year to be displayed in New York this summer with Raven Ceasarstone countertop. http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Caesarstone-1011570.html I think the Raven has an elegant look.

I generally don't worry about pot lids because they don't have much heat capacity - something may be very hot but be low in mass so the amount of energy stored in it isn't significant. When placed in contact with a large cool mass, it will only raise the temp very slightly and will cool off quickly. I generally also don't worry about pots that have had something boiling on the stove. They won't be much above 212 degrees. But say I took a steel baking pan or my cast iron enameled pot out of a 400 degree oven - I'd put that pot on my rangetop or on a pot holder or towel. And the same goes for the heavy cast iron lid which can hold more heat than a regular pan lid. I also avoid putting a glass baking pan or hot glass lid directly on the counter - because I worry that the temperature shock to the glass from loosing heat unevenly to the stone counter might cause a crack. Perhaps that's an unnecessary precaution, but better safe than sorry. Our counter is quartzite but I would treat granite the same. Quartz I might be a little more cautious with because of concern about scorching the resin.

We have Organic White in our kitchen and two bathrooms. It was installed in January 2014. It is super easy to care for and there are no stains. (Once in awhile, it might get something on it that looks like a stain (or those little black marks from the bottom of a pan), but it always comes out with Soft Scrub Gel -- and I've only had to use it 3 or 4 times in 2-1/2 years).