That's just beautiful stone! I'm so envious.... I was looking for a white granite just like that! one of the suppliers I went to (three states away, even, I was on a HUNT!) had a tiny sample, but no slabs and no idea when they'd get any. I looked everywhere! I ended up with Carrara Marble, which I love, but your granite is exactly what I'd originally envisioned. Can't wait to see the finished product! Are your backsplashes slabs as well? Interesting templating. That is what my husband does in boatbuilding (and has done here when cutting cabinetry parts to fit wonky old-house walls, like the cover panel for teh refrigerator!) But our counter installers used a computer program: they took digital photos with special labels affixed to the counter area, and used a program to lay it out.

Hi All! Thanks for the great comments! Brooke - LOL! - Don't you just love it when they get that first burst of defiance? I think that makes you a SWMBO (She who must be obeyed)! Your boys are adorable! My son won't pose for anything lately without making a face -must be an 8 year old (I'm almost 9, Mom!)thing! Or, it's the fact that he is sick of remodeling :-)! And your puppy! One of my best friends named her son Genki - japanese for samurai warrior? I did order samples of a couple pulls, but not sure how they'll look. DH doesn't like cup pulls and not sure about cupboard latches either. Here's the link to the simple pulls I ordered - 2 diff. sizes in old silver finish: http://www.knobs4less.com/Liberty-Kitchen-Cabinet-Hardware/libp10210osc.html Truthfully, I'm not in love with them, but they don't have the drawbacks and foo-fooey details most others do. I also really like the imperfect quality of the finish, look aged. However, I think I'd like to have solid brass with some sort of nickel/silver finish - and, for the price, I'm thinking these are not brass. I did like the look of the marine ice box latch on the other thread.... hmmmm..... I think our problem is we think we can find something different if we keep looking. Truthfully, I found some very expensive ones I really liked, but we need so many, I can't justify the cost to myself. Same problem with lighting! I can't seem to find pendants I like! DH wants something simple. But I sure love your Dining chandelier! I think we just need to get out there and look more, there are certainly options. Problem is, we could go so many different directions. Oh, you will love this! My friend who is the fabricator, sent me an e-mail last week after the slabs arrived at their shop: "I'm going to steal your slabs from the shop and run away....... x K" - she loves the Calacatta too! cpang74 & rhome410 - Thanks - don't hold your breath on Monday, it might take me a few days to get the pics up! pbrisjar - Thanks to you too, I've often read your postings and followed your progress as well! Cute puppies there, for sure! Only 4 more days..... Thanks again all, you have been great support during this fun project!

That would be great! I just read a post from you in another tread. I'm looking forward to seeing it installed! So we set the templates yesterday using the Taj Mahal on the island and the sueded Black Pearl on the perimeter. Some of the left over Taj Mahal would be used as a new fireplace surround. Then I got home and looked around my kitchen. I just could not see the black pearl on the perimeter. I could only see the Taj Mahal on both surfaces. I approached my husband when he got home, and shockingly!,he agreed wholeheartedly. He feels there is no way we can go wrong putting the beautiful Taj Mahal on both surfaces, but that we might regret using the black pearl over time. We decided to sleep on it and revisit it this morning. I felt the same as yesterday. My husband said he didn't even need to look at the kitchen that his mind was made up that the Taj Mahal is the way to go. I called my fabricator this am to schedule another appt to template out the counter Monday morning. She knew we were not completely set on the black. Now I am the owner of one slab of black pearl. We are wondering if its big enough to replace the current counters in our lake house. Of course this was not a project we ever considered until now. The black pearl would look fabulous at the lake. I need to change my faucet as well. I went with a more traditional design to soften the perimeter. Now I can go a little more modern/industrial. I'm excited for that! I'll look forward to your pics!!

What beautiful granite! We had to take our appliance garage out before our granite install....but it looks like yours can accomodate the height of the slab. Ours were existing cabinets and hubby had some work cut out to remove the garage and get it re-installed! Hope you post pictures after the granite it is.