That's unfortunate, but it seems like it going to work out better for you. I'm glad you're getting what your heart really wants. :)

Sounds like everything happens for a reason. You'll be so happy and the marble will be just as gorgeous if not MORE gorgeous than the SW. Plus, you are right- you were not 100% in LOVE with the slabs. Did you see that other post earlier that was calling out for you?

Soooooooooo Bee-it ....No SW...

...but please do not keep us wondering....Which Marble do you covet???

white? with gray?

I need to go and caress the slabs. Maybe this weekend.

Chaos is in full swing at my house right now. Boxes are piled over my head. Kenny Rogers is packing the first floor, and, well, his backup singers are doing the other areas. We won't talk about the potato cannon that accidentally shocked one of the "singers". uh oh. My dh forgot about that.

:)

MMmm.... caressing slabs- sounds fun! Sorry it didn't work out but I think marble is a better singer than SW anyway : )

Bee, I'm curious as to why since you loved it so much, you didn't go with Bianco Antico again?
Pardon me if you've answered this somewhere else.

Bee, that is a bummer, but I bet you will love the marble even more than the SW. You should tell the fabricator with the materials cost savings he should do the book edge on your island. ;-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Book Edge

eriepatch,didn't do the BA this time because I can't seem to find any that are like the one I have now. All the slabs I found had too much pink in them. I was going to do it though.

geez, my computer is dying and I have NO IDEA WHERE THE CHARGER IS!!! OH NOOOOO

unitl we meet again friends....tootles

you know we think alike. i got halfway through and before reading your Plan B -i thought to myself, "geez, she should just get marble!"

good choice. and your builder's "designer" is irritating the cr@p out of me. i can only imagine what she's doing to you!

Oh Beeeeeeeeeee... I'm so happy you're going to get the marble. I was so disappointed when you decided not to. Can't wait to see what you pick.

Bee, sorry you're going through the bait and switch routine--first with them selling slabs out from under you and now with the price. I must say, you are dealing with it with more equanimity than I would have managed (and yay you for putting your foot down and refusing to pay the higher price). Marble will be equally lovely, and my crystal ball says you'll love it.

I can so relate.

After drooling over Sochi's Quartzite Bianca (luce di luna) for so long, I happen to find a slab locally with a not-so-scary price tag.
But when I went to see it, my heart did not sing. The quartzite was a bit murky, more tan than white/grey. (The stone guy says most quartzite bianca is more tan than grey, not just the slabs I was looking at. It used to be sandstone in a previous life.)

As I sadly headed toward the exit, my beauty caught my eye.
Yes, I have been loving marble (specifically carrara marble because I like the quieter grey veining over calacutta), and guess what, so does my husband.
I never knew, with which he responded: "you never asked". :)

And it is a lower price-point than the quartzite, so I have a win-win-win!

But every time I see a stainless steel countertop, like ucgal's latest pix, I can't help but long for my lost love - DH just doesn't like ss in a home.

Amanda

Bee - I have an extra pair of rose colored glasses - wait, I think it is the red wine that I am drinking. I am still working on lyrics.
I agree - everything happens for a reason.
Glad you could find the silver (albeit white marble) lining!
Love your posts!

If I can live with marble and be happy, I know you can. It's hard to think of having anything else. Good luck with the packing and moving. I don't envy that part, but can't wait to see your new home and kitchen progressing.

Bee, I sincerely hope you are going with a different place for the Marble.. Seriously.. these guys don't deserve your business. Either they are incompetant or out to fleece you. Who knows what other slips may happen between the cup and the lip for the marble.. Not good karma overall..But marble will just be stunning :)

Happy for you Bee...they were just tying to squeeze a little (actually a lot) gratuity out for themselves. Hah--jokes on them. Glad you walked away and are getting the marble.
Oh suddenly they value this granite more than before so suddenly they can jack the price up?
Glad you put your foot down!

Bee,
I can't believe you were settling in the first place if that's what you really wanted.
Good for YOU!

Christine

Bee, glad you're going for the marble, and here's to finding some beautiful slabs!!

The whole bait and switch routine is cr@p....I'm getting that on something related to my cabinets, and it's the straw that's breaking my back. Good for you to standing up and saying NO.

Found My Charger!!!! With a couple of hours sleep, I swung by Dunkin Donuts to get the movers some much needed encouragement (you should see the china all boxed up in the basement), and I just wanted to hop on here before Kenny and the crew show up.

Late yesterday afternoon, my local fabricator (the one who did the current BA kitchen) called me after I emailed her for some advice. Long story short, after a phone call to he importer she has realized that she has some of Super White from the same importer, same group that came in on THAT ship, it's a "higher" lot number which only means it's whiter than the ones I saw (more like the original photo I was sent. Her price is $75 per sq foot. I'm going to go see it, but you know, I'm still leaning towards the marble. However if these slabs are singing, I'll die. This means I will have to call the builder and once again request a "new vendor". The fabricator would never actually do work for this builder on any type of regular business since I'm out of their service area anyway. But they like me, I'm a repeat customer, I've referred many people them, and hey getting mentioned in a National Magazine doesn't hurt either! So, if I can escape from Kenny Rogers and the band today for about an hour, I might head over and see what she's got.

Well, the guys who crate extra fragile stuff will be here shortly. They both look like two guys I wouldn't want to run into in a dark alley. However the younger one commented to me yesterday that he loved my neon green/birch tree wallaper in the powder room......He's looking for decorating ideas. :)

gotta run, thanks everybody for all the positive feedback. I'll let you know what happens......

Good luck, Bee! Either marble or the SW will be fantastic. You can't lose either way!

Safe moving vibes.

Glad you found the charger before it got boxed up. You really don't have a bad choice -- just need to find a slab that speaks to you -- or sings, and get it done.

Just shoot me. I saw the slabs of SW at my local fabricator. I think I need to see the slabs of marble (after I hear the quote from the builder's fabricator) and then make a decision.

Of course the fabricator with the SW would have to be approved to be used. I'm not sure if it's worth "fighting for", so I think I'll get the marble prices, and go see them and then decide.

The SW is gorgeous though. I'm thinking it might be a little "sharp" looking. I'm not sure of the right word, but you know how marble has a soft look to it, this seems different.

I'm doing "elegant-modern".

Here's some photos of the same slab. Lighting wasn't great.

It has a kind of glassy appearance to it.. very cool modern looking. I think Marble looks warm. Kind of like a very fair actress in a darkish wispy chiffon dress.

I think both can look Modern Elegant.

Yes, it does look glassy.....I love it! I think elegant modern says....shiny countertop, not honed marble. At least to me! I have been following your saga with this stone bee! There is something very beautiful about those slabs!

That SW is lovely!

"fresh out of $1000 bills" LOL

I have a hard time seeing granite in its swirls! I dislike specks.

It's shocking how marble-y it looks!

LOL Bee.. isn't that always the way? Remember, my granite I originally wanted was gone too by the time I got around to purchasing and then I found something even better. You'll know which one for sure that speaks to you when you've see them both.

BKW those slabs are beyond beautiful and this is from a marble owner/lover! If that had been available to me seven years ago and the price was right I would have thrown myself on the slabs and not moved till they were placed on top of my cabinets!! Good luck with all your decisions!

Bee, I LOVE those slabs!!! Gorgeous!!! You won't go wrong either way.

I thought you might like seeing my marble, which is quite gray.

I've been known to caress slabs of chocolate, or perhaps brisket, but not marble.

those SW slabs are great and i think they convey a more modern elegance than the marble as well. i would be very happy with either!

For whatever it's worth, Super White is also a little more durable than marble... it won't etch (not as big a deal if you are going with honed finish but if you want that glassy polished look, marble will be more difficult to maintain)... and also what you can't really see in those long shots is the depth that is often in the stone due to translucent deposits that is often part of Super White which I personally think makes it more interesting than marble (though I am a huge fan of marble too).

I am for the fancy edge marble. Here is why.
Truth be told, I am pouting at the way you were treated.
How dare they??????????
They expect you to pay an additional $1700!!!!

Bee, Which do you love more? Marble or SW?
Whatever you get is going to be gorgeous. You have
impeccable taste and talent for design. I know it will
be magnificent.
Even though this has been a few days, I am still a little
mad at them for treating you this way.

~boxer

Bee, IMHO those slabs of SW are worth fighting for. That SW looks very marble-y, but with a glassy modern vibe. Since the SW should be less prone to etching than the marble, and is so lovely, I would grab it. That is some of the prettiest SW I've seen. I would totally buy it if it was in my area.

Only have iPhone. No Internet for laptop so I will be brief.

Took dh to see SW slabs. He's in love too. Can't post the better photos now, but will soon.

These are the winners. Builder is ok.

Thanks for all the well wishes. Very sad to leave house yesterday. Lots of tears shared with neighbors. Saw photo of the couple posing with SOLD sign who bought house. They look very young and nice. I believe "hipster" is the word.

Bee

I felt teared up when leaving our first house and still feel an ache when I drive by. It was not perfect, but it held so many memories and felt so much like ours that it still shocks me 6+ years later that it is someone else's and we have no right to walk in the front door. It did not help that it was prettier than our next house and that we bought "potential and location" with our second house. In your case, you are getting wonderful from the get go...

As much as I love marble, that SW really is a great batch. Perhaps you can negotiate with the $1,700. I would take the cheapest edge and find a way to make it fit my budget somehow. No offense, but that kicks BA's and marble's butts.... It looks dreamy and the fewer worries about etching really make a difference to me.