@karin_mt So let me ask you a few more questions then: Does genuine quartzite scratch and chip in that kind of fashion? Would it be reasonable to assume that I would have at least 100 little chips (not natural pits... chips that expose white) and scratches ranging in size from consolidated micro scratches to big gashes several cm long two months after we moved in if this was actual quartzite? Would it be reasonable to expect that to happen all over the stone, even in extremely low traffic areas, on a genuine quartzite slab? Is there any reliable way to test the stone that is installed on my counter to see what it is? ie whether it is actual quartzite or a marble? If so, how would I do that or who could I contact? I just find this to be extremely simple: I paid a small fortune for this stone because I thought it was beautiful and dynamic and all of the research I did on Quartzite as well as the info I was given from the slab yard indicated that it was harder than granite (which I have had in 3 other houses and NEVER seen anything like this on) and beautiful like marble. Thus the cost. So I am not a geologist, but it really seems as simple, at least to me, as it has scratched and chipped in a random, ridiculous fashion so it must not be the quartzite that we paid thousands of dollars for because quartzite does not do that. Where am I wrong?

cjc123, sabjimata, flwrs-n-co, jkom51, mtnrdredux thanks! We are really enjoying the new space. It is so much more functional and easy to work in. Ginger25 and jenhp: "Blizzard" is warmer than the pure white or organic white from Caesarstone. I think it works better with the rusty Danby marble than those purer whites. Here are some closeups of the Caesarstone, as requested (these are in artificial light): You have to get REALLY close up (3 inches in this case) to see the fine speckles. From farther back but as close as a foot, it reads solid white: Elba1, the uppers are 37 inches tall. The trim between the cabinets and ceiling is under 2 inches, just enough to tie the cabinets to a little bit of a crooked ceiling. There is also a 1 inch light rail underneath the uppers, to hide the under cabinet lights. The ceiling is 8 feet. I thought about incorporating some glass, but I wanted to avoid breaking up the space, for a more contemporary look. If my ceilings were higher, I would have considered a top glass section as well!

Fwiw, I just mixed faux-marble quartz (Lagoon) with a Carrera backsplash and at least in it's pre-grouted state, I'm really happy. It was hard for me to find a backsplash that worked well with the grey-ish tones of the Lagoon, mostly because my cabinets are painted taupe. Anything that "matched" the cabinets seemed too brownish for the counters. The Carrera blends the two perfectly. I think it also works because I wound up using a very small-scale herringbone pattern, so the patterns in the marble tiles are less pronounced. Fwiw, I don't see the calacutta tiles that the OP posted working with a greyish quartz that's similar to Lagoon, and I'd also be concerned about pattern overload with a subway tile. But having worried about the fake-next-to-real problem, I wanted to at least add my experience that it can be done. One of the prettiest kitchens on here, done by a pro, is GW user @kompy, who used a different marble subway with Lagoon counters, and it looks stunning.

Hello Germain Wong, We're so glad to hear that you are considering Cambria Quartz for your current project. We'd be happy to offer some thoughts regarding the Cambria designs you are considering. Swanbridge, Brittanicca, and Ella are all great choices. We think the best way to decide on your final selection is to see slabs in person, or to order samples that you can compare against other material samples for your kitchen. To find a dealer near you who could show you full size slabs of the designs you are interested in, please visit the Dealer Locator Tool on our website. Typing in your zipcode will reveal a full list of partners who could assist you. For samples, you can order 12x12 and 3x3 tiles on our online shop here. Samples are always complimentary, we simply ask that our guests cover the cost of shipping and handling. Although Ella looks more similar to carrera marble, it is not a stark white. For a crisp, snow white, we recommend Brittanicca. Swanbridge is beautiful (attached is a photos of the design used in Wit & Delight's studio,) but it too is a bit more off-white than the others you have mentioned. Any other questions? We're here to help!