Hi Jem,

Fellow Danby lover here! Just had my Olympian White installed about 6 weeks ago.

I have 2 "L"s in one of my countertop runs. The fabricator did use a separate slab for each L, so that the veining would be running in a matched direction (he actually did each L area without a seam, just cut the "L" from a slab).

Since the marbling in Danby is linear and flowing--unlike granite, which can be more speckled--I think it would stand out quite a bit if the veining wasn't flowing properly. My fabricator actually refused to even consider doing it that way, it was his way or find another fabricator.

My previous granite countertop was not matched--several remnants were used and they went every which way. It never bothered me, but it was a brown, speckled type of granite. I think marble is a different story, especially Danby with its flowing lines.

Will be interested to hear what others say. Please post slab pics!!

Can they just cut the L out of the slab. It will run the same way, but one will be running the long way and the other won't but it will be going the same direction. So you would probably want the linear pattern on the long run.

Madeline616~do you have pics of your new counter tops? PLEASE POST! I'm dying to see what it CAN look like. I have talked to 3 fabricators & not 1 will leave it w/o cutting, even if it comes out of ONE SLAB. They say marble is too soft, may break transporting into the house. Its a small kitchen, counter only 91"x70", 30"W, but maybe too large to leave w/o cut. I will have to look up Olympian White.

Ratrem~I was thinking I might have to find a slab big enough for the whole top & might be cutting it close. Our home is older family farmhouse & small budget, so two slabs aren't a possibility.

Hi Jem,

Here's my (unfinished) kitchen sink area with one of the L-shaped corners. The counters are really fabulous, but the lighting, ugly drywall, and junk aren't doing them justice. I"ll post finished kitchen pics as soon as backsplash, window treatment, etc. are finished.

And just so you can get another look at Olympian White, here's the stove area:

Also, if you want to check out my slabs, they're posted here. Just scroll down the page a little:

Here is a link that might be useful: Slabs

Madeline616, Your counters are GORGEOUS! Mine would not be nearly so elegant, but I will love them if they are half as nice as yours. Thanks so much for posting pics. Can't wait to see it complete. What did you do for backsplash?
Thanks for the link to slabs. Did you ask your fabricator to use 511 on your counter as sealer? I have read it is important to continue to use the same as the fabricator uses originally. I hope the fabricator uses something top-notch.
We are now not going until Friday, so I will post pics if I find a slab that will work. Thanks for taking the time to share pics & advise.

jem -

make sure to bring a diagram of your layout to scale so the stone folks can review it and discuss the best options. in case it is helpful, i also have an L shaped counter, pic of layout on slab and shot of counter (photo of counter is old counter before edge corrected but you get the idea....)

the seam is centered behind the sink, the counter was made with 1 slab plus enough for 2 small counters on either side of stove.

Hi Jem,

You're very kind! I'm sure your kitchen will be fabulous, and I can't wait to see it!

Behind the stove we did the Danby slab backsplash, but for the other run of counters we're doing an arch herringbone pattern in a very light barely green color made by Sonoma Tilemakers, in the link below.

It was a hard decision--we almost did an Arabesque or an Ann Sacks glass, which are both awesome--but we went with the herringbone because it's classic and beautiful.

Cat- I love your marble!! Yours was one of the pics that convinced me to release an earlier slab of Calacatta Gold and hold out until I found what I really wanted :).

Here is a link that might be useful: Arch Herringbone

Hi Jem,

You're very kind! I'm sure your kitchen will be fabulous, and I can't wait to see it!

Behind the stove we did the Danby slab backsplash, but for the other run of counters we're doing an arch herringbone pattern in a very light barely green color made by Sonoma Tilemakers, in the link below.

It was a hard decision--we almost did an Arabesque or an Ann Sacks glass, which are both awesome--but we went with the herringbone because it's classic and beautiful.

Cat- I love your marble!! Yours was one of the pics that convinced me to release an earlier slab of Calacatta Gold and hold out until I found what I really wanted :).

Here is a link that might be useful: Arch Herringbone

Babushka cat, Thanks! I have loved your warm counters & sweet pictures of your felines for a while! Adorable! I remember seeing the circle on the slab, then your cat sitting by it. Did I say "sitting"? I mean "posing".
They look polished in the slab picture, but look honed in your kitchen, am I seeing it wrong? I am longing for something as soft & velvety as they look. What is your slab called? Thanks so much for showing me how they laid it out. I think I will be lucky to find a slab large enough for my "L" in one piece.

Madeline616~I love herringbone design, as well. That is so dramatic, nice focal point. It will look great w/your counters.

Thanks, GW'ers! I feel better armed with your knowledge & experience. Now to find something I like. Fingers crossed. DH is about to MAKE me pick something to stop thinking/talking about it. Funny how obsessed we become. Such a big decision & I must live w/it forever.

Hi Jem,

Sorry I posted that earlier message twice, don't know how that happened.

Forgot to answer your sealer question. Yes, sealed with Porous Plus 511 many, many times both in the fabricator's shop and in my kitchen. The stuff is amazing! My fabricator hadn't used it before, but he bought 4 quarts at contractor's price, which was waaaay less than my price.

my marble is calacatta crema delicato. original slab was polished, i had it honed during fabrication. yes, soft and velvety is exactly what they are like!

I made it down to look @ slabs twice since I last wrote. I'm still undecided about a slab, but 2 are being held. I decided I don't care for the "gold" in Eureka & Imperial, @ least in the ones I viewed. I found a slab of Olympian (Madeline616~sought it out after I saw yours) & it was all gray & soft, which I loved. Then realized it was the back of the slab & front side is pretty "dotted". My REAL question at this point is about the horizontal wavy lines, which I'd call fissures, but I don't know that is what they are for sure. They are very white, crystally. Are they an imperfection? I know they are just part of these selection of slabs, but I don't know if they will bother me or if everyone will think I got a BAD SLAB of stone.
Does anyone have these? I assume fabricator will tell me if they are unacceptable, but will they LOOK unacceptable. I kept running my hand over them & wonder if I will always seem them that way.

Also, wondered if the unfinished side can be honed by fabricator, but salesman thinks there are only a handful of fabricators that can hone a ROUGH piece. Honing a polished piece is simple as roughing it up, however, saw marks may be too much by hand.

We were scurrying so I didn't take ANY pics. What was I thinking? Just curious, how long did it take you to find the right slab? I'm getting DOWN about it. I am NOT under time constraints, but I just WANT it done. DH is getting a bit weary, so I am just trying to play down the search.

Thanks for any help on the "fissure" issue. I am not sure I appreciate them. Have not seen them in any other type of Danby, just the Olympian.