I'm sorry you aren't liking your new granite. Were you not able to see your slabs before they were installed?

Beschenbach, your post sounds like it's the sequal to mine I just posted an hour or two ago.

I am hoping I will like my busier granite. It's at the fabricators waiting for install in a month or so, and I am wondering if the busyness will wear on me.

Did you pick your exact slab?

Without pics, it's hard to comment on it, but I would recommend taking a look at my thread (titled something like, "Countertop tastes changing in the middle of the reno"). There is really good advice on there, particularly about how sometimes we tend to needlessly make our kitchens practically our identity (helps with the perspective!), and sometimes the people who got what you think is perfect wonder if they should have got what you have :-).

I think it's natural for you to be analyzing everything right now as the renovation is up front and center on your radar. It's all coming together, and you are analyzing how it's working. But give it some time. Remember that things change A LOT when the whole picture is completed and the backsplash, flooring, paint, etc is added in.

In fact, the finished kitchen can change so much that I have 2 kitchens in my inspiration files that are unfinished - and it's in that form that I find the inspiration. They look so different finished that I didn't even include the finished photo in my inspiration file! So just wait till all the details are in to make a final judgement.

And photos would help :-)

Yes, I did see the actual slabs but it's different to see the slabs than actually seeing them installed.

needsometips - actually I did see your post. The funny thing is that the 3 granites we looked at were bianco antiqo, golden beach, and colonial dream! I actually really loved your golden beach slab, but I almost did respond to your post because of my situation.

Here's a pic of one of the slabs - my dh is sanding in the kitchen and the island is covered up so I'll post those later...

Beschenbach I can't wait to see what it looks like installed because I honestly am loving that slab!! Really loving it!

I really like the slab. I can't wait to see the photos of it installed. It's very pretty.

Hopefully it will grow on you.

As far as the dated part goes, let's just hope busier granites don't date as fast as is being predicted. One of the people at the granite yards told me that the granite that people are ripping out and replacing is the cheaper, builder grade stuff (which often is the stuff with uniform spots). Yours doesn't have that look to it.

That slab is gorgeous. like a painting!

oh no! that is a beautiful slab! not too busy at all! you just aren't used to it. it took me sometime to get used to my sister's granite. first granite w/movement i'd seen in person. and her's is busy. now after a yr or so of seeing it several times a month it doesn't seem that busy at all to me anymore.

yours is awesome - like the flow of a waterfall. nature. beautiful. can't wait to see it all in!

It'll work out fine. You can have a companionable relationship with your granite and a beautiful kitchen and still not be totally in love with it.

If you can think of it as a decorating meme? It's a very pretty stone and you might like it after you get used to it. When you look in a stone yard, sometimes its hard to track the scale and liveliness of a pattern when there is all that stuff going on in all those slabs.

It can be quite a shock when first installed in your house. But you picked it for a reason and it has a place in your overall vision.

Gosh, I'm looking for something like that to give my boring kitchen a pick-me-up. It has a nice amount of movement to make it iteresting without being overly dramatic. I think you'll not only get used to your granite but soon find anything plainer to be just plain dull.

The slab is beautiful. I hope it grows on you. Sometimes things like this take adjusting too - it is OKAY if it isn't love at first sight. Wait till everything is done and the completed look will be beautiful!

I think your granite is beautiful! When I first started looking at granite, a lot of movement didn't really appeal to me. Now, it's the one thing that I love about granite. IMHO, how can granite go out of style? Something that beautiful that comes out of the earth is amazing to me.

Oh, that granite is gorgeous! It's not too busy at all, but it is also not the boring builder grade stuff. It is simply gorgeous!

It actually seems soothing to me and I am not a fan of busy granite. It has warm colors and a nice flow. Liked pharoah's comment, like a painting. Beautiful.

Oh, that's a truly beautiful piece of granite! I love the peaceful feeling it immediately evokes, and the colors are fabulous. IMHO, the movement is perfect. When the slab is cut and installed horizontally, you may find the effect of the movement is somewhat diminshed, and you may fall in love with it all over again. I don't know it's name, but I'd name it River of Peace. Hope it's just right when installed! I'll look forward to pics.

Oh, that slab is beautiful. I think, as others have said, your eye is just not used to it. Is your fabricator making sure to match the grain as best as possible if the counter has to turn a corner?

Can't wait to see more pics. I just scrolled up this thread to take another look at the slab, and it was even more fabulous on my second look!

It's beautiful! I chose something with no movement for my kitchen island, but in the master bath and one guest bath the countertops are similar to yours and I really love the movement. Colorwise, ours looks much like yours and I loved that I could use both brown and grey with it.

I hope you fall in love again!

Oh, I'm sure it's just the change, it's a beautiful slab and I'm sure once you've lived with it for a little bit, heard oohs and ahhs from friends, family and forum folks, you'll fall back in love. :c)

Oh my gosh, you guys are THE BEST EVER!!!!!!!! When I doubt myself about the granite I will read this thread! I'll post installed pics soon. Right now the island is covered in plywood because they are doing some work on the ceiling above.

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!

I don't have granite, but when my counter went in, I was not at all happy. It looked very white and stark. It really did take time for my eyes to adjust to it, and now I love it! I'm sure you'll soon appreciate how pretty it really is.

I went to a granite place last week to look at both granite and quartz samples. I am leary of granite with lot of movement for the same reasons as you, Beschenbach. I worried that it was too bold, too obvious, too trendy, etc. The granite guy pointed out that the bolder slabs would look more subtle once they were cut down and installed horizontally on a counter. When you're looking at entire slabs face on, while they're propped up in a yard somewhere, they can be very overwhelming.

Your kitchen isn't all finished and you're focusing on one thing at a time. Let the kitchen take shape, then personalize it and let it look 'kitcheny' and homey, then look at the overall appearance, not just the bits and pieces. There are some granites out there that are too wild and tumultuous for me...I think they'd put a knot in my stomach to look at them every morning, but this isn't one of those. I agree with the others who say it has enough movement to be interesting, but not too busy. I bet you will find little areas of character that you start to love...So much to discover in a granite like this one.

Best wishes...Can't wait to see!

I love the granite you choose and once the kitchen is completed, it will look great! We can't wait to see pictures.

DON'T PANIC!! My kitchen isn't done yet, but I did a new kitchen about 10 years ago...and I am reminded that at the end of the project, when you start to add fabric in the window treatments, color in the accessories, etc., it will all come together. Your granite is beautiful!!!

Wow, I think it is beautiful and I am honestly not a fan of granite with alot of movement. In fact, Im going with a boring Verde Peacock. :) I like yours because all the movement goes in one diagonal direction--its not all crazy like some I've seen. Really, Ill bet it looks awesome in your kitchen. Cant wait to see pics!

Besenbach, my granite is similar to yours. I love the diagonal movement on my big island. I had a Corian island before, and the solid color looked plain and boring. I like your choice! You picked a beautiful, natural material-- it will look great!

Oh you can't hate that...it's just too beautiful! We'll perk you up--post pictures as soon as they stop standing on the island! You made a fab choice!

OK, here are some pics. The one thing I do LOVE about my granite is that it can be covered in a layer of dust/dirt, and you won't see a thing!

Island:

Oh, it looks beautiful in your pics, esp the last 2 w/ the sunshine streaming through your windows! The whole kitchen looks so peaceful and cozy. It's gonna be just gorgeous when you get it all finished!

It looks FANTASTIC and is a great choice because it unifies the colors on the perimeter and the island. I also love how it picks up the color in the floor. I read somewhere that having similar colors on horizontal surfaces (floor and counters) is pleasing to the eye. I love seeing the movement on the island-- it's interesting but not crazy wild. Well done!

Oh that's beautiful!! I'm sure you'll come to love it. It's just a shock. I love your island. What color are your cabinets? Very pretty.

I agree with others - it looks really nice. Give it some time and I think you will get used to it.

That is a beautiful stone. Are your doors and drawer fronts on yet? I think what might be throwing you off is the unstained wood everywhere mixed with the stained and painted cabinetry. It's busy looking now, and draws your eye to that tan color in the granite instead of the dark browns and white. Once your cabinet fronts are completed I'll bet those counters will look different to you. Just wait and see. :)

That granite is beautiful!! And it looks so great in your kitchen! I think you made a fantastic choice!

I love that granite, I think you made a great choice. Once the cabinets are in and you can see the space as a whole, I'm sure you'll see why you chose it.

I love your granite also, seems like everyone does. I also agree, that is not going to date. How can something so natural & beautiful go out of style ? It's nature at it's best!

Beautiful! And it looks like your fabricator did a great job! I love the flow on the island.

Oh wow...I think it is beautiful too. It really reflects the light and casts a bright, happy feeling in your kitchen. I'll bet you are eager to see how the rest of your kitchen is going to look. The island is fabulous!!!

I really like your granite---I think it is beautiful!

I would not classify this slab as "busy." And I am a person who really, really shies away from the more, say, colorful, busy, overstated kitchens. The vast majority of kitchen pics in magazines and books that I tab are pretty classic and understated.

My own kitchen will hopefully have creamy white cabinets, some type of granite with creams, brown and greys and/or black in it with no heavy striation, yellow oak floors (to match the rest of the house), and a very understated backsplash. I am marking this color in my file for future reference because I think it might be a good it.

I don't think your slab is heavily striated at all--the darker color in there (it looks grey rather than black in your picture) is really not present in showy, loud streaks, hence the reason why I really like it.

Your granite is beautiful. I'm not even usually a huge granite fan and I love it! I hope that you are more and more happy with it as days go by. It really does look perfect for the feel of your space. I look forward to seeing pictures of your beautiful completed kitchen soon.

Your kitchen is shaping up to look absolutely beautiful. This stone has deep veining that gives your kitchen warmth, character, and life. It's not overly busy, if it was a stone like some of the Crema Bordeaux i've seen then it's a different story. I hope you enjoy your new countertop and learn to appreciate more the unique design and pattern of granite that mother nature has given us.

I absolutely LOVE your granite. Which one is it .
Please please tell me. I am in the processing of choosing granite and this has just the right amount of movement
Thanks
By the way your kitchen is gorgeous

Simply stunning.

Your kitchen is beautiful! I have the same granite except mine is honed not polished. I never would have picked something so "busy" except I was limited because we have a 10 foot island and I didn't want a seam, so I had to go with the limited options at the stone yard that were big enough.

Well, once it was installed, I fell in love with it! I think you will love yours too. It goes beautifully in your kitchen. We have creamy white cabinets and I just think it warms the space up so much. We get tons of compliments.

I think once it is all finished, you will see how well it all comes together. I really like how it looks in your space. :)

I DO love your granite. It is so pretty and the island pattern choice is wonderful. It will look fabulous once everything is done!

I love your granite. It looks great in your kitchen. Keep in mind your kitchen is not complete. Post some new picture once everything is completed including the installation of the dishwasher.