msrose: the Taj majal is gorgeous and right in line with everything I am drawn to for my countertops (I am also remodeling my powder room which also has the travertine floors). So, I think my travertine is the same as the one you are considering. We installed it about a year ago. I absolutely loved it until I started planning my kitchen and powder room remodel. I, too, considered wood as my alternative, but ended up with travertine because of 1) cost and 2) pool. The kids are constantly running in the house dripping wet. Regardless, at this point, I honestly wish I had chosen wood. It is sooo much easier to coordinate countertops, paint, and backsplash tiles with. In addition, I have read on numerous design blogs that the travertine is associated with the tuscany look which is trending out. I am not a trendy person, but we will likely only be in our house for another 8 or so years and need to be considering resale value. With all this said, I love the warmth of travertine and still think mine is beautiful. I will post a link for you in a mintue from a color expert regarding travertine that you might find helpful. Best of luck!

Thanks, no wonder I trouble finding them. I saw so many references to anthracite sinks, I didn't realize that was the name of the color rather than the material. I guess it is silgranite sinks I am asking about, and so far I have found blanco that come in black (antracite), metallic gray, biscut and white. I do believe there might be one in a brown color that I saw but I am not sure and can't find it again. Maybe not, it might have been swanstone, which I don't want. Anyway, any comments or photos of the lighter colors or photos of the black with the light counters would help. If I am not going to go with the free ss sink included, or the upgrade to the black silgranite, I need to figure in that cost. They do not offer the other colors with the purchase of the counter top so I would have to get my own. Sue

I had Caesarstone Honed Pebble installed in my kitchen (and a bathroom too) over three years ago and I love it. I did not want a polished counter in my kitchen, it was too shiny for me. The matte is so soft and calm looking imo. I also love how my counters feel. The matte finish is so silky and smooth compared to the polished. I did a lot of research before I got them, like alerievay1, and my advice would be to read the info from your specific manufacturer as to how to clean your counters, since it will likely differ from their polished counter recommendation. And get samples to test. Big ones if possible. It's so much easier to clean a larger sample than a smaller one. I was able to borrow some large samples from a nearby counter shop and the ease of cleaning of these samples compared to the smaller ones I had already gotten was surprising to me. I'd get samples of both honed and polished in the color you like, along with samples of other colors you're not interested in but can use to compare in general. I do see fingerprints and smudges, but not that often. Mainly on one side of my island where people tend to lean on it a lot. Those easily wipe away with a wet sponge or dishrag. They aren't glaringly obvious though. They are subtle and only noticeable at certain angles or when the light is just right. I do not have an issue with water spots. I have CS raven (polished) in one of my bathrooms and water spots show a lot more than on the honed pebble. As for staining, I have no real issues with stains. I was concerned at first since I'd read how honed quartz stained so much more than polished quartz, but relaxed pretty quickly once I realized my counters were super easy to care for. To clarify the staining, I should say that on occasion I've had "stains" not come off right away. We cook a lot of Indian food and sometimes turmeric stains the counters and leaves a bit of color behind. I'll wipe the counters down and all the color doesn't come off right then. It'll be subtle but still there. But by the next day it's gone or goes away the next time I wipe the counters. So I now know not to worry, all "stains" are not permanent. I've seen this a few times w/red wine too but it's rare. And again, the "stain" is never permanent. And I don't use some fancy cleaning method. Usually just a wet sponge. On occasion I spray method cleaner on my sponge or dishrag and wipe with that too. Here's an older picture of my kitchen. Still looks the same :-)

Lysol is HIGHLY ACIDIC - pH 1-2 which is the top of the scale. You should only ever use a specialised pH neutral cleaner designed for quartz. This particular product will remove any issues without damage or fear of doing the wrong thing. Caesarstone does recommend to use Soft Scrub with Bleach, though they also recommend and in the warranty information. NOT TO USE BLEACH or anything that is over pH 7.5 which this product is. Soft Scrub not only contains an abrasive that will Dull the surface gloss over time but as the same pH as Oven Cleaner! Also the third ingredient is also listed by Caesarstone AS A BIG NO! NO! and voids the warranties. ALL MAJOR MANUFACTURES list Sodium hypochlorite as a chemical to avoid, it will damage the surface finish and will void the warranties. I think that Caesarstone should revisit their care and maintenance instructions. Given that using their own recommended products VOID their own Warranties..... so what happen when you do claim on the warranty?? http://www.caesarstoneus.com/media/34059/caesarstone_countertop_care.pdf Under the warranty information use of this product WOULD VOID THE WARRANTY!