Yeah, so are we...Then again we were fairly green during the building process (almost wish this was our SECOND custom build, not our first) and the flooring guy seems like he goes with a set few things and sticks with them. We probably should have pushed harder with the tile or at least tried to pick counter and cabinet first THEN tile. It certainly seems like this tile has put us in a really weird spot as far as the counter goes. We absolutely love quartz, just can't seem to find a price that works for us. Obviously Ikea's $40 price would be absolutely dream come true, but the big boxes like Lowes and Home Depot, even on sale, are coming in around 60 or 70 with theirs, which puts us quite a bit over on cost. We noticed the gold in the photos as well...Though some who have seen it it person like the way the gray piece mixes with the cabinet color and feel it does pick up a little of the floor as well. Hoping maybe the grey might be our winner though I do worry about coordinating backsplash and paint if we go that route. Ugh.

Decision made!!! I talked to my KD and we've opted for eased edge. Our options for tile treatment for top radius or crescent were to end the tile short of the door molding, which would leave very small gap of wall showing. Plus we'd need bullnose tile, which was not ordered and there's no guarantee that the next order would be from the same dye lot. If I'd thought of this earlier in the design process, I could have reduced that run by an inch or two to make it look right but that's not an option now. The cabs are in. = ) We're used to a knife edge; we had porcelain tile counters on our island, which were much sharper than the fabricator's eased edge. We used it to rip out coupons, it was that sharp. We never chipped any tile, never broke a plate or glass either. Fingers crossed. I think this is my last decision!! Oh, wait, I do need to buy new induction friendly pots and pans and dish towels but those are relatively easy decisions compared to this.

for the handles, may I suggest something to pick up on the hues in the flooring? A little more copper toned. you have light cabs, light floors. I think throwing in a dark ORB w/o actual copper highlights would be too much of a contrast. IMO. cypress park Sandra, I like the porcelain one better than the other one. Does the backsplash have to be done immediately? If the tones in the porcelain tile you picked clash w/the ivory tones in the counter, it could be a problem. However, I did find some copper toned ones that should be avail. these are porcelain/SS, and treated so as not to stain or tarnish. I LOVE these for your kitchen. timeless and gorgeous. They are probably not super cheap, but it would be worth it for me. http://www.miusartmosaics.com/arabesque-lantern-beacon-copper-tile-in these would also work. the site is here: maybe they have them in stock.http://www.westsidetile.com/arabesque-tiles/ i like this one too. notice the copper faucet. beautiful w/the glass mosaic. if you got the cream countertop, this would look amazing w/your floors. this last one is a copper colored slate/quartzite.

I love the slabs you are looking at. Beth is great at this and has very good taste and knows her color schemes! I too like the tempest with the stone and cabinet choice but it has what you like best. Just because we all think it looks great does not mean you love it. Maybe you do need to look at more. Look at all of Beth's beautiful pictures. You want to be sure and you should LOVE your choice. I just went through this myself and this house we are building will most likely be my last (scary thought) so I understand where you are coming from. Get the stone that you jump at immediately and love. Maybe Beth and AJCN can fly out and come with you :)