Madnap, I looked at the Thermador SXS 42" and the KA counterpart, and did a side-by-side comparison. Features-wise they stack up pretty close (the Thermador has better looking shelving, probably better lighting) in terms of capacity, organization and looks. The only thing I don't know about is how the noise levels compare. The almost $2K difference is price is too big to ignore. I'd rather put that into something else. I figure once I start using the fridge, I'm going to not even be able to see the shelves and the little differences. I'm trying to get the best deal on the KA. (I'm going for the non-dispenser, and panel ready model). Good Luck!

Your kitchen looks amazing!! I am currently building a Farmhouse. I have the cabinets picked out they are Brookhaven by Woodmode. The color is antique white. I have my heart set on honed absolute black countertops. I have read so many things about them and how hard they are to deal with. Do you like yours? Would you use it again? My other option is Cambria either cambrian black or sussex. The cambria is actually cheaper for me. Also, what size are your pendants? I bought the "harmon pendant" through Restoration Hardware and I couldn't decide what size to get. I got the 15 inch. However my cabinets havn't even been installed yet. My island is 7'3 by 3'7. Thanks for your help.

Thanks, I thought that posting it in discussions would be considered cross-posting, but it seems that some people do it. Maybe I will. As far as the stone, it looks like the same material and is honed. They called mine Ocean Stone instead of Ocean green. Here are some pictures of the slabs before install. I should try to take a picture of the island since the upper part is 10' long and really shows off the movement of this stone.

Surprisingly it's not too difficult to clean. I use a wet, soapy cloth, reach in, and wipe across the entire surface two or three times. Then I lean over to check how I did...usually OK b/c MWs always seem to clean easier than most other things. I do have a policy, though, that "if you splash/splatter in the MW, you clean it up"...especially for my DS who likes to make Beefaroni for a snack when he gets home from school and used to forget to cover the bowl. It only took a couple of times b/f he learned...he's now very good at covering items in the MW. I admit I was a little worried about cleaning since I'm fairly tall and I thought leaning over to check the ceiling of the MW would be difficult. While it isn't as easy as a MW mounted @ counter level or higher, it isn't that bad. Overall I think it's much better than a regular MW mounted on a shelf below counter level. With a regular MW, you'd always be leaning and reaching in when using it, w/the drawer it's only occasionally when you clean it. Lascatx...that's what it overcooks. If I put the broccoli on "warm" when done, it overcooks it. If I take it out of the MW when done cooking & put it in the WD it doesn't end up overcooked. While I don't really dislike broccoli in general, I hate overcooked broccoli.