Yes, I was wondering if it would be a problem. We currently only have ceramic tile and there are roman shades over the 2 banks of windows and it just seems to me that the sound level is more elevated than in my daughters place where she has vinyl sheet floor. I wondered if I added granite c-tops if it was going to be even worse. golddust...that is 'too' funny about your parrot. Sounds like he was the inspiration for one of the latest coffee commercials (can't remember the brand, but love the sound effects). So, it is good to hear that it is not an issue. Having had that cleared up I realize that it could all just be me. I have bi-lateral hearing aids and the sound is just probably being amplified.

I am a fabricator. There are often at least a few options for seam locations. Seam locations in homogeneous material (little or no movement) aren't important if the fabricator is skilled since such seams will be hard to spot unless looked for. There are various opinions on seaming at a sink. We don't do it for the following reasons: 1. The sink would normally be the busiest place in the whole kitchen so why put a seam there. (note if the sink is a drop in then most of the seam would be covered by the flange on the sink and the rails remaining after a drop in cutout might be too thin to allow moving the part without seaming.) 2. The vacuum cup/ratcheting device used to make excellent seams cannot be used to seam the sink rails. This doesn't make it impossible to do a great seam at a sink but it definitely makes it more difficult. 3. Fabricators like seams at the sink because it mostly eliminates the risk of a cracked sink rail which can easily cost the fabricator a couple of thousand dollars. Good for the fabricator but not necessarily the best option for quality.

It looks very fresh and new. You can absolutely tie them together well and it will look fabulous. I know how hard it is to have a vision in your head, and then how sad it is when what you end up with doesn't match the picture in your head. But I'd recommend trying to regain some perspective. No one has died, it's done well, and it's going to be beautiful. There is no way in heck I'd pay money to rip that out and start over. However everyone is different with money and I'm sort-of cheap. I save forever for major projects like this and I've learned one has to be willing to roll with the punches on a major reno. Stuff always takes longer, costs more, and looks a little different than what I saw in my head....

(not a pro) I have a friend with a contemporary kitchen. Her island is two levels, and the upper bar is a big chunky piece of glass supported by cool metal posts (I think they're curved.) I can see something like that working with your Curva or Vetrazzo as it reads modern to me and the glass is so neutral. Not sure what you'd do on the perimeters, but a solid surface in a coordinating color (love the blue in your Vetrazzo) might be cool. ETA - since the glass is clear and supported by posts (not something solid like a short wall), you can see the lower island top - so your star counter can still go there and be quite visible.