I'm so happy for you about the cabinets! Yippee indeed!

What I know about granite you could put in a thimble, but it seems that around here there are some good deals on CL. Well, maybe it's something you can keep in mind anyway.

I can't tell you where to look locally, but I can tell you that you use the terms "precut, chinese granite". The apparently precut countertop widths (average debth) and they do so in huge bulk. We're using that in the rental. The choice in color I'm told is black/black & white/yellow or gold/tan. No huge waves of color...pretty basic, but still solid stone. The trick is you can't have any crazy cuts necessary or extra deep counters planned. Islands can be tricky apparently, but you can overcome that by doing an island with a raised side (so you use "normal" granite debth and the do the same on the other side that is lower or higher)

Congrats Brutuses and I am envious of your upcoming granite shopping. I didn't expect it to be much fun but really enjoyed the process. Oh my, some of those slabs were just so gorgeous! However I was on a budget and had to restrain myself.

I am very pleased with my New Venetian Gold granite which has the colors you mentioned. I like it with my off-white cabinets. I also have some sage green cabinets and NVG works with them too.

One problem with it is that it hides every crumb.I sometimes use my bare hand to feel around to make sure I've wiped everything off. Then again, not sure why I am complaining about that. Maybe I need a muffin. ;-)

Sounds like that dozen of muffins I'm making, won't be enough! Igloo, you're right I'd most probably run into a problem on a remnant when trying to find one for the island. It has to be basic counter height because we and our company are mostly older folks who can't be jumping on and off of high stools. HA! HA!

fussy chicken, I think I've seen that venetian gold you speak of and it's very pretty. I'm going searching right now for it.

Some of the popular ones with gold are Venetian Gold, New Venetian Gold, Kashmir Gold, and St. Cecilia. They are somewhat similar. Last time I saw the Kashmir Gold it was a very bright gold. Didn't look like the same stone, as is often the case. Same quarry/stone but different segment. When I first started looking it was more subdued. ** Never order your slab sight unseen ** The other three usually seem to look about the same. I don't believe any of them are in the higher price brackets. They are all available at Lowes around here, who makes deals with the locals to offer them at Big Box prices. So you might check Lowes for pricing. They had a good selection, unlike HD. When I was wandering the yards, my little place came in at a-third less (nice chunk of change) through Lowes, same fabrication shop.

Bru, call my friend Linda at AB&K in Greenfield and Mequon WI

Linda Laabs, Sales/Designer
Linda's interior design background has led her to a career specializing in kitchen and bath design. Her strengths in space planning, coordination of materials and home remodeling, are custom to each client's unique needs. Her designs have been published in local magazines. Linda was awarded 1st place in the 2006 NKBA Dreams to Reality Design Competition for residential kitchens under 250 sq ft.

Linda Laabs
Sales/Designer - 414.329.1882 x24

spam

Here are a couple of good browsing websites. The second one, Marble.com, has a great 3D tool to see how a pattern lays out on the counter:

Stone Gallery

Stone Gallery & 3D Counter Design Tool

Hi Brutuses, Another term you might want to try is "promotional granite". We are using this in our bathrooms. It comes precut in a 28"(?) depth. I think that is right. They cut the 4" off the end (to get to standard 24" counter depth) and then you have 4" left over for a backsplash (if you desire one). I think we could choose from 6 different varieties which included Uba Tuba, Sucupira Brown and Black Palmares. Those are sticking in my mind because they are what we are using, but there were also some with "gold" in them. I think the price was comparable to a remnant price. Good luck and congratulations on the good news from your cabinet maker. Jaymie

Oh shoot, I am on ANOTHER diet, I'll have to skip the muffins... oh maybe I'll have just half of one! While shopping there are a few granites in every yard that are "standard stock" colors, the ones home depot carry - probably because the color doesn't really change much from lot to lot.

Good new about your cabinets!

Always always always ask about remnants. I found several stone yards who had ordered a slab for one kitchen, then that customer changed their mind. They'd have a slab just sitting there, and they would have already paid for it. Often they'll sell you that slab at their cost just to get it off their books, and just charge fabrication (which is the most expensive part.)

That's how we did our first kitchen.

good advice here,

you might also want to consider a different surface/stone for the island if you do find remnants that you like but it is not enough for the whole kitchen.

Hi Brutuses,
I recently redid three bathrooms, and put granite vanities in all. I found a fabulous granite installer who took me to his shop, and let me pick from among his 'remnants' for a really great price. One of my vanities is 99" long and another is 72" long, so don't think of remnants as small necessarily. Based on his yard, they are often just the top or bottom half of a slab. Of course the choice was as varied as any granite yard. I think all three of my bathrooms, including labor and five sinks was something like $1700. I found him by hanging out at a local granite yard here (meaning I went about 10 times in search of granite I loved), and finally was able to get a few names from the owner of really good granite people. One of them was this guy. Just an idea that may help you...
Lynn

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. You've really given me quite an education. I didn't have the first clue how to even start looking for stone.

threedgrad, I'll definitely call Linda.

squirrel, I'll also check out those web sites.

Thanks for giving me allt he names and "terms" used for different types of stone that are bargains.

I have the name of a fabricator who does all of Armstrong's work here locally. I'll call him also to see if he can refer me to a stone supplier that I can get a good deal with.

Thanks again and I'll keep you posted of course.

Brutuses, since you are in Louisiana, you should be able to find someone who will do it for less. We have friends who recently did theirs (in your area) and it was about 40% of the price we paid. They told us that it had come down significantly in that area, if you shop right, since the subprime boondoggle and stone yards overbuying secondary to Katrina (in Florida, too). I don't know who did theirs but I could ask.

We used slabs on the kitchen counters. As an after thought we made a kitchen office area with matching cabinets but we used granite tiles for the desk top with a wood trim. There are websites that explain how to use granite tiles as your counter top and ways to finish the edges.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.rd.com/17870/article17870.html

patricia, I would appreciate you finding out if you can. I will definitely follow up.

judie, we were going to go the granite tile route, but then we realized the island has a curve at the corner that couldn't happen with tile. However, the tile is still an option if all else fails. LOL

I told DH when we get the cabinets installed we can then do a template to see just how the corner of the island affects the flow of traffic and if we find that corner can be square then we may very well go with the tile. However, I really think the curve at the corner would look the best so that's what I'm hoping for anyway.

Bru, do you have any pictures of thee cabs with which you fell so in love?

Some small square tiles around the curve rim (cut from the tile) might be a nice detail on that corner. Or the whole rim in a small grid of pieces, or wood.

I'm going to have to check out the remnants. I asked one place -- when looking for marble for my bathroom -- but they said 'no,' as they can always make use of the small pieces, even if for door thresholds. Maybe granite is a different story. And times are tough now! I've also 'heard' that the desire for granite is also slowing. The pieces I saw around were pretty small and choppy though.

Brutuses, I will call them if they do not return my call. I tried earlier but they are probably out shopping or gone to visit their grand's. I left a message but if I do not hear back soon, I will call again.

Brutuses, you can also angle the corner rather than round it, if the slabs don't work out.

oceanna, here is the link. It't the third in the row of photo's. It doesn't show much, but you might be able to see the color OK. The doors show up white, the wood around the door shows more of the actual antique color. Of course they are much more beautiful in person. That fancy style is not the one I chose. Mine will be more of a flat panel door. I think that's what it's called. If you click on the photo it will enlarge.

Here is a link that might be useful: link

I agree with shopping around and asking about remnants. We saved some money on our bathroom granite counters by removing the old counters ourselves (not hard at all), sealing the new counters ourselves, and paying cash.

I also let them know we were shopping around and asked for their best price. They wanted our business and also threw the three undermount sinks in for free.

Bru, any updates? Did you get a chance to call Linda at AB&K in Greenfield and Mequon?

threegrad, no updates. I've had to switch gears and haven't had time to get back to the counter issue. That's my life, jumping from one thing to the other, with priorities changing literally by the minute. I've had a couple of cats very ill and it's been back and forth to the vet with them, then trying to do other things. It's crazy!! The animals have to come first so that means everything else gets juggled!! LOL

Bru, I understand that! This past week I was at the vet with my cat Princess. On Monday night I noticed that when she shook her head she almost fell over. I thought she had had a stroke since she was struggling with walking so much. Tuesday morning I took her into the vet who thought she might have an ear infection due to the large amount of bacteria in the ear (as seen in the sample through the microscope. So she still is a bit unbalanced but much perkier. Plus the tips of her ears were a bright pink but after the anti-biotics they are back to the off white of her skin.
What's going on with your cats? Are you happy with your ve? I used to go to Bluemound Animal Hospital in Brrokfield and the prices were much more reasonable than many other vets. Plus I think they have a multi pet discount.
I will pray for your kitties tonight!

threegrad, glad your baby is OK. I had one with a stroke once, but she's recovered pretty well. Just walks a bit funny and she has no balance so when she jumps it's a pitiful thud. LOL I tell her not to, but she doesn't get it. LOL

The two cats who I've been dealing with are Toni, who was having unexplained seizures and Godiva who had a bite wound that went unnoticed (she has long multi colored fur). Toni was hospitalized for 3 weeks while they monitored her. Seems she had a fever sometime and the tests taken didn't really tell what could be wrong. So the vets took their best guess and treated her with 2 different antibiotics to knock out different types of bacteria and even one for medicine for blood parasites. Toni had one seizure while at the vet that they noticed. Then after 2 weeks the fevers stopped and no more seizures were noticed. She never stopped eating or being a happy cat through all of this. So now she's home and I'm watching her closely, when she'll let me. LOL

Godiva's wound was initially diagnosed incorrectly and after a week I realized it and brought her back to the vet. He still didn't realize how serious it was. So after about 4 days I decided to bring her to one of his associates and sure enough she right of way realized it was a deep tissue infection that needed a much stronger antibiotic. So I started Godiva on that medication, but then she developed a fever and seemed to be going down hill instead of up. So back to the vet we go and this time they kept her for a couple of days. They gave her an injection of pen. and some fluids and that seemed to get her over the fever. She was vomitting also so they thought the strong antibiotic was causing it. After two days in the hospital she came home and has been doing fine. She's back to eating and taking her meds and the infection definitely looks better. However, I can feel that she's still running a fever on and off. The bloodwork did show the infection was really bad so I guess that explains the fever. As long as she's eating and able to keep the meds down they we'll continue on this course. The vet said it could take 90 days to clear up the infection and then it might not be cleared.

I know all too well about this type of infection. I lost a cat to this infection a while back. He was bitten and I didn't know it till it was too late. It was on his stomach. Being an outside cat and me not petting him everyday (he wasn't cuddly), I never noticed anything wrong. Then one day he was lying on his side and I could see the wound. It didn't look that bad so I started him on some Clavamox and then after a week it didn't get better I brought him to the vet. The vet didn't realize the seriousness and to make a long story short, after 3 vets and wrong diagnosis and medications, by the time they figured out that he had this deep skin infection, he couldn't be helped. He had been on medicines for 8 months and then 4 new medicines that were indcated by the biopisies. It was all to no avail. I even brought him to specialists at the vet school and they all sadly concurred that Mouse would never heal.

So I'm praying Godiva's outcome will be different since we caught and started the correct treatment, early.

Oh yes, my vet gives him great discounts. If he didn't I don't know what I'd do. Because of that, I can't say who he is because he only extends these discounts to me and one other rescuer.

Congrats on the great kitchen news! I can't help you with the granite, though. I'm a Silestone gal myself ;^P

Brutuses ~~ Your cabinets are a beautiful color! I love white glazed and cream cabinetry, and recently chose a similar color cabinets with a neutral granite. The granite I chose is called Giallo Ornamental. Please excuse the bare windows--we just moved in one week ago! (BTW--I am from Metairie!--but now live in S. Florida) :

{{gwi:1685699}}

petunia, thanks for the photo. Your kitchen counter is kind of what I'm looking for, something neutral.

Brutuses my husband works for a granite company as in they import granite and marble from all over the world. Sta Cecilia, New Venetian Gold and Kashmir Gold are great choices that will work. But the most inepensive ones are Ubatuba, Butterfly(green with gold specks) and Tan Brown (dark brown).

Where do you live? If my husband supplied granite to one of the fabricators in your area he might be able to request them to give it to you at a good price.

For example a fabricator in Central Florida does kitchens at $30+cost of granite.

Hope this helps

Brutuses: another thing to think about with granite is maintenance -- the blacker stones are denser, and therefore less porous, than the lighter stones. They do not stain. Most of the "black" stones (AB, Black Galaxy, ubatuba, verde butterfly) do not need to be sealed or re-sealed, while all of the lighter varieties do. Just FYI.

Also, I found when I shopped for granite that the chinese pre-cut/pre-formed slab shops turned out to be a lot more expensive than just finding a slab at a regular granite yard and then having a fabricator make my counters. The chinese precut places added all sorts of surcharges for different things like undermount sink cuts, and extras like my window sill and making a cutting board out of the leftover material. Perhaps it was just the prices in my area were out of whack, but I do think it would be worth your while to comparison shop. And remnant shopping is an excellent idea, too!

Petunia,

What is your wall color and trim color? Beautiful kitchen by the way!

Brutuses,

Your cabinets are lovely. If you ever get a chance, look in House and Home magazine out of Baton Rouge, they usually have dealers and fabricators advertised from BR, NO, Lafayette, Mandeville/Covington areas.

Shannon

We have the New Venetian Gold, which I love with our light painted cabinets. We got it at Lowes for a very reasonable price. They have an annual sale, so we waited about 4 extra weeks to take advantage of it. We had to drive downstate to their suppliers to pick our own slab - glad we did because it was nice to have that choice, and it also gave us a chance to look at other options.

louisianapurchase ~~ :-) Thank you. My wall paint is Colorwheel's Aria Ivory. It is possible that you may not find it under this name as it could be a color made by them for my builder.

Bru, I share your love of pets especially cats. I have lost 5 cats over the years. The three of these I had since they were kittens died at Ria 15 1/2 (liver disease), Leo 17 1/2 (euthanized months after he had a stroke - still have doubts about this decision), Zorro 18 1/2 (stroked out). The other two were feral or strays. One was white Miffy - we found him with a severe ear infection at the bottom of some stairs while watching my son play softball - he died of a rare form of feline leukemia (my other cats had had shots. The other black cat - Mickey Mew - died of an intestinal infection that spread quickly. He was such a character although Ria was the biggest character - almost human. Ria would answer the doorbell. He inspected new art when it was hung on the wall. Ria attempted to turn door knobs to exit a room. And he even tried to turn light switches on. Crazy. He let me and the kids dress him in baby clothes and push him in a stroller. But he was psycho kitty at the vet - screaming, peeing, biting. Ria inspired my son's first word - Key he said pointing at Ria the kitty - at 7 months old. At least twice my husband and I had to come home from an outing when two different babysitters called us to say that Ria the cat would not let either of them into Greg's room. Amazing, he was.

Here's a great story. A lady mail carrier in the Phoenix area was on a different route than normal yesterday. She looked up and saw a baby near an unscreened open 2nd floor window. The baby crawled out and fell directly into her arms. Talk about the power of God, the presence of angels. Wow!

Take care Bru and I hope your kitties improve very quickly!

Your Ria sounds like he was a wonderful cat. Some are so very special and I sometimes think they are reincarnated people. HA!

That is some story about the baby. You know that's nothing short of a miracle.