pps7-we had porcelain look slate in our last house and it did hold up great so that's what I have been leaning toward again. But - you are correct it is more pricey. Can you tell me more about your real slate? I'm concerned about the clefts - chipping, harder on feet, harder to clean? Any of those true? Do you walk barefoot on it no problem? I am thinking with the divots and clefts it might trap dirt more readily. ??? The coloring of natural slate is beautiful. I have looked at it several times over but too concerned with the above to make the jump. We will have significantly more flooring this time around so cost is definitely a factor. Thanks.

Yes, kick and scream and yell and pitch a fit :-)!!! Truly I would do that first (I have many times in the last 4 months), then after I calmed myself down (sometimes several days) I would try to see if the way they are are ok. I would try and figure out if I am mad because he did his way and not mine. Ultimately, you are the boss and they should be done the way you want them. You may be able to negotiate a better price since they were not done to your specifications. Can you sit between the lockers or are they too close? Really you should be upset, this is your house with all the heart, thought and effort behind it and not to have it just right can really make you mad and upset considering it is not an inexpensive adventure either. As I stated in another post, it's not the mistake because there will be many, it's what you do with the mistake that makes the difference. I cannot take credit for those words, they are my genius architect's words. Good Luck!!! P.S. Go with your gut, it is usually correct!

Marthaelena, can you help give me a more specific recommendation on what might look good? Because I started out thinking I could change materials and just couldn't hit on an idea that would work. Kitchen will be warm contemporary with medium stained shaker cabinets on cherry; dark granite or soapstone, and oak hardwood floors. The kitchen is at one end of the mudroom, and at the other is the back hall and then the laundry. Laundry floor is tile that relates to the kitchen backsplash but basic white slab melamine cabinetry. So I feel like a third look in between might be too much. I can see keeping the same color and switching from shaker to slab in the office/mudroom area, for example, but I have a harder time picturing switching to a different wood tone. Maybe something like this - maybe I paint my island and then carry that color into the mudroom? I am one of those people who cannot figure out how to put things together visually. I know what I like and what I don't when it is done, but I have a very hard time visualizing what will work and what won't. mnhockeymom, love your lockers. Who did yours - cabinet company or finish carpenter? I want something very similar with the bottom portion being deeper than the top, and then I'll have cabs with doors over the top. At the end of the run I'll have my spare refrigerator. We also have one locker with a door that is dedicated to shoes as we have many, many shoes and they all live in the mudroom. We take off our shoes as soon as we come inside so the kids don't have any shoes upstairs at all. DH and I have some but most are mudroom-based. Anita

My personal opinion, of course, but I like the look (style/color) of picture one the most.