Suzie2003- There's a new service that helps homeowners in the exact situation that you are in - it's called StoneInspections.com You pay for their service, then e-mail them pictures of the problem, and they provide you with a professional opinion of what the problem is, or even if it's a problem at all - all within 48 hours of getting your info and payment. What they offer is called an "E-Report" that you can use to get the problem solved with your fabricator. They also have another service called "iReport" - where IF you have an iPhone using "face time" you can literally do a live phone conference and show the problem via your iPhone, and get your answers right away. Stone Inspections.com was born out of all the substandard Natural Stone Countertops that are being installed, and it gives a homeowner some leverage in getting a solution to a problem...... and there are LOTS of them out there!!! Your situation is a perfect one for contacting Stone Inspections.com hth kevin Here is a link that might be useful: StoneInspections.com

I use the acrylic (?) cutting board daily as well as the narrow tray for storing sponges and what not. I have saved the walnut board as a nice piece for serving cheese and crackers. The reality is it is so pretty I don't want to see it get abused as a cutting board. It is also very heavy and not that practical for keeping over the sink where it would have to be moved for washing dishes! Like the other stages owners who have posted up to the board, I also do not use the ceramic mise en place bowls. though they are nice for serving snacks! they are too heavy and large to use in food preparation. I also had my contractor hack off the rack hooks on the bottom of sink so that my silverware drawer could go under the right side of the sink. i have no regrets getting the sink though - it is a fantastic size and I love having the slanted platform for preparing fish and meat

My architect/designer sez these days Granite prices lower than nearly all the other solid surfaces and contributes to its popularity espec if u r not looking for esoteric colors. Marble, which i have alot of in our offices for multiple conf and other tables, even in a dark shade, is "delicate" in the sense that it is brittle and can crack etc, and in a lite color maintenance is brutal b/c it will stain (not an issue with, say, a dark wine color marble like we have but it does crack). I have seen some Granite Tiles used where costs need trimming and when done in larger tiles, and done well and creatively, the look is acceptable and grout lines minimal. So you may be able to compromise in one area this way...it is the long lengths of granite that set you back. Soapstone is a joy b/c of the touch, and if you like it oiled up black, stains not an issue. Natural colors of soapstone are lovely but we have only used that in dining area cabinet tops in bar-like areas...and natural is not good for kitchen. (It also is great in bathrooms, even flooring b/c it isnt slippery). But soapstone is a more old-fashioned/colonial like look...not slick and modern My favorite for counters is Stainless Steel!!! installed in 1993 i still love it. But i would then warm up the look by having the island be done in something else. Also St.Steel with dark wood cabs really look warm and approachable.

It is just fine unoiled. I have soapstone that is oiled in my kitchen and after the first couple of oilings, 4 years ago it is still dark. But in the bathroom it just stays this lighter color. It is a different variety and naturally lighter stone than in the kitchen. Both are soft as I can scratch with my finger nail. On the hardness scale that would be about a 2. There are harder stones, but I don't have stone tools so I stick with the softer varieties and fabricate my own stuff. The bathroom stone just gets wiped down and has stayed fairly consistent since installation 3 years ago. I have a remnant piece on hold for my DH's office I just put in. I used IKEA cabinets along one wall. I hope to pick it up in the next week. There is a ding in this remnant, but you can take ground up stone and make a slurry of stone and epoxy and fill the ding. Once dry you just sand it down and you can't really see the repair. Cookncarpenter really says it best when they stated ..." the nature of soapstone is a living surface"...