Thanks for the responses. Rhome, I agree with you and I have trouble imagining what it would look like when done. It might look good, but it might also like it doesn't fit. The way it's laid out, the big upper corner cabinet with the 2 smaller cabinets attached becomes one of the focal points of the kitchen. One challenge that they face is that the 2 smaller cabinets are different sizes, which is not always apparent, depending on where you stand in the kitchen. Because the kitchen is big, your eye tricks you into thinking that the cabinets are the same size. Creekylis, I like the idea of having different counter heights, probably because I am tall and it hurts my back to lean over and work at the shorter surfaces. Not sure that they will go for that idea since all the base cabinets are in already and my friend was complaining about the cost of everything while I was there. The small piece of granite doesn't show the extent of the movement that the slabs have. I should have taken a picture while we were at the granite yard. It's beautiful and has a lot of movement. The slabs on hold are "book-matched", if that means anything to anyone. Does anyone have pictures of long stretches of granite with movement that has seams that would be willing to share a picture of the way the seams look? BTW, vjrnts, thanks for the pix of your butcher block. I've had a hard time finding pictures that focus on the granite-wood transition areas. Any other ideas (aside from wood) that they could consider to break up the runs of granite? The granite yard is scheduled to template next week. I've forwarded this link to my friend hoping he will forward it to his SO, but not sure that she will get it (they only have dial-up and are not big computer users). I'll print it all out and overnight it to her if I have to. Thanks again for your thoughts. Dan

Well my husband THINKS he is going to be butchering his small game on my counter...but i'm not so sure about that. It will definitely be used for cutting & chopping vegetables but I'm really unsure about meat. I am not even sure how you would keep it sanitary if you used it for meat. Right now I am mainly interested in how it is going to look and with the sale there is only about $30 difference between the 2.25" and the 3". I would love the thicker, but wasn't sure how it would look right next to the granite in the same island.

Twogirls, I think the way you have this laid out looks great! There are quite a few examples of kitchens with three materials in the FKB ('course, I can't think of any specifically, but I'm sure others will chime in, or you can search with that criteria). We were originally going to do three as well. I know you've been on GW for quite a while and so have probably done your homework on the marble (etching etc). Depending on your tolerance level, my only thing might be to switch the marble to the hutch, as mbarstow suggested. However, if I'm not mistaken, rmkitchen has marble and little kiddies and her kitchen is fab! Regardless of configuration, I say go for the three. Your design is beautiful and classic and the wood adds a warm touch. Can't wait to see the finished product! Eliz

Shoot...I've looked the best I can, but does anyone else remember a kitchen with Kashmir White that I'm pretty sure was honed...It had a few red Asian accessories I think. I've looked through 'categories' on the FKB but couldn't find it. Kitokeefe mentioned on the white granite thread that she has honed KW, but I can't find any photos of her kitchen either. Jbrodie, honed or satin-finish Kashmir White was my dream counter for my island, but the $2300 bid brought it to an end. (I think that was even for polished, which was probably less expensive, since more readily available.) Anyway, in my research I was convinced that it could stand up to my family after being properly sealed. If it didn't stay pristine, I was prepared to deal with a bit of 'patina' over time. Many people have honed marble (now even higher on my dream counter scale) and it seems to be fine...and most granites should be tougher and less absorbant than the marble. Try getting a sample to do your own stain testing. Try one bare, and one sealed...or try a few different sealers. I think the stone would take more of a beating than butcherblock...Will tolerate heat and won't dent as easily. It also depends on the wood species and how you plan to finish the butcherblock. We ended up with wood on our island and finished it with several coats of Waterlox for water resistance since we won't be cutting on ours. The finish is quite durable and protective...but not heat resistant, and we used fir, so the wood itself isn't very hard. There are dents already, but we expected them.