OOOOPS TYPO - I meant CARRARA - what's the matter with me, must be those adhesive fumes still off-gassing from the slab install!

Why is it that 5+ mos after my install I can see someone else's and I still get that feeling of wanting to lie down on top of it and smother it with myself??? Goodness, it's BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!

Just BREATHTAKING. With the black cabinetry especially. Congratulations.

absolutely beautiful. I am leaning towards black cabs for a section of my kitchen. Yours look great, especially with your darker floors. Are yours painted or stained?

Those countertops are magnificent. Now I'm wishing I got Calacatta Carrara Classic slabs for my kitchen. Really gorgeous.

Well the "pulls" don't do much for me LOL (I'm sure I'll have the same but I may upgrade to blue) :oP But the marble...my goodness you make me want to redesign my entire kitchen! It's drool worthy! (I think that's what the 8 year old is doing) :oP I'd climb up there to get a closer look too! (but my butt would get stuck in the cabinet) ;OP

OT but in reply to your support :) I'm looking at slabs at 2:30 this afternoon. It appears they have two that might work. Little different than the original but I've wraped my designers brain around them and I can make them sing :)

Beautiful. I have to stop looking at everyone's kitchens. I keep changing my mind.

Can us moms get a lock on that appliance garage? My 7 year old is a stinker!!!!!!! We'll let 'em out when dinner is done! LOL.

Absolutely gorgeous! (..and your son is absolutely adorable...!!)

Where did you get your slabs?

Ooooh.....this is one of those moments when I feel like I should have a marble in my kitchen, even though I know I cannot take care of it....

I love it! Wow-amazing-the contrast between the counters and cabinets is stunning! Congrats!!

Wonderful, wonderful. You must be and should be so thrilled. I think I would lie on it, and they'd have to pry me off.

Wow they're gorgeous. Love them.

Hi again!

mnhockeymom - yes, lie down on it, that's exactly what I want to do, haven't had the time yet! But my cheek did experience it last night. And, I drag my fingers over that curved end of the island every time I pass by... if I keep it up it might resemble St. Peters badly deformed/flattened toes in the Vatican soon! But, I'm not doing it for good luck or blessings or whatever all the tourists do it for there!

malhgold - Thanks for your kind words! The cabinets are actually stained, but it is very close to a painted look. We were actually going to go with a custom cabinet and paint them ourselves because I was getting frustrated on what I could find from cabinet shops. That was a challenge we were up for, but badly wanted to avoid. We wanted a really black cabinet, many stains are charcoal or semi gloss or distressed. Ours are called ebony on maple. We did decide to go for a burnished finish in the end, which wipes off a bit of the last layer of stain to give them a bit of depth. The cabinets are Westland from Canyon Creek and are inset style. Overall, it's a pretty nice cabinet, however, we pushed the limits on customizing and upgrading as much as they would/could do.

jan_s, jeannie_kitchen, homey_bird , cpang74 - Again, many thanks for your kind words. It's nice to know that my decisions weren't completely crazy!

remodelqueen - Thank you! But, remember, if you have (or had) a clear vision for your kitchen, stick to the main theme and let what you see here help with the details. No one else can know what feels right for you! As for the appliance garage boy, he was right back in there this afternoon, I think it's too much fun to be used for banishment, but what a great idea! LOL

marlene_2007 - Thanks so much! The slabs came from META in Seattle, by the Design Center. (I think he's adorable too, but I am biased!)

igloochic - Can you believe that's how they arrived from the cabinet company, just plain old masking tape? We were kind of surprised, but have come to live with it. Of course, a few have broken off to our dismay - tough to get inset drawers open with Blumotion and no pulls! And replaced with the more attractive blue tape option ;0) The floor was so out of level, 1-1/8" that the counters are about 37-1/4" high, seems too high for me to even try to get my butt up there so I wouldn't even think of attempting that feat - especially knowing the geometry my rear and that appliance garage!

I'm certain with your impeccable taste your slab saga will lead to something beautiful. So good to hear you are moving on!

rhome410 - as mentioned above, I haven't had time to lie on it yet, maybe we could have a party and turns laying on it, something like the reverse of a hot stone massage! :*)

Thanks vwhippiechick - you and I must have posted simultaneously! Have followed your progress for some time - you are one of my posting heroes! oops - heroine!

Those counters are TOO GORGEOUS! I wasn't even aware of Calacatta Carrara Classic. Is it somewhere between Calacatta Gold & Carrara?

I love, love, love your kitchen! I now want to change mine to all black cabs and marble. It is my favorite! It looks so warm and inviting. Obviously your family feels right at home in there and has moved into the appliance garage!

Do you think I can build two kitchens in my house and have one with the marble and black cabs and the other with the cabs, granite, etc., I have chosen? I would love that!

I have been waiting for you to post the pictures so I could see how it looks. Have you chosen your kitchen "bling" yet or are you going to stay with your tape pulls? What a gorgeous kitchen!

Wowza! That is stunning.

Ohhhhhhh I could SO see that in my kitchen. YUM I just want to BE there. What a great combo.

So is the rest of your house getting "next-to-it" syndrome? Or are you stronger than the rest of us?

You know, every time I'm about ready to cave on my marble for the baking center I see a photo of marble that makes me realize I must persist. This was another moment (I actually reached out and TOUCHED the marble tile at HD two days ago, thinking I ought to just do that. I'm such a fool)
Thanks for the great eye candy and another sensual stone moment brought to us by Marble. Fabulous kitchen, really.

Wow, wow, wow -- lotsa WOWS! Those are some incredible slabs! I do remember your uncertainty, but girlfriend, you really got some amazing marble in your kitchen. It looks dynamite with your cabinets. I read your post about them being stained, so I'm hoping you'll add some close-ups of them. Your floors are gorgeous, too, and all the elements really seem so right together. Do let us know how the polished works for you.

You know, for all the fawning I still continue to do over my own marble, I've never lain on it. But I have kissed it, yes, I have! Five months later and I still think it's like the Siren's song calling to me. I share your thrill. Enjoy it.

Oh, Wow! Like Jan says, "Breathtaking!" I literally did gasp when I a saw it. Congratulations!

My Dear Marble Friend;

I am in day five of the flu and as you can imagine, feeling ickily drained. But I am so grateful some force pulled me over to the computer where I found the perfect palliative -- your incredible countertops!!! Holy cow is your kitchen going to be one for the books, Mindi. I am so excited for you! Seriously, you are the advertisement for polished. It's perfect. Simply perfect. As we say in Japanese, "sugoi desu ne!"

I mean WOW.

I'm sorry I never popped back into the previous thread about your hardware: I like the subdued finish toward which you are (were?) leaning. It will compliment the sparkle of the countertops without competing, and who wants anything to compete with those counters? I don't know where on the continent you are but whenever I'm there I am definitely coming by to see those counters in person (and see that darling son of yours!).

I am really looking forward to seeing more pictures (of everything -- kitchen and the rest of your house, which I suspect is also striking), Mindi. Following your journey is such fun!

Have a wonderful thrill Thursday morning when you first walk into the kitchen -- I bet the sight of those gleaming countertops in the morning sun will take your breath away.

-Brooke

Stunning! I have a friend who has polished marble and I caress it whenever I'm there. Yours is similarly drool-worthy! Congrats!

Judy

Beautiful!

And it looks like it's one honking big kitchen! What are the dimensions?

I thought I'd found the perfect onyx-looking granite for my Master bathroom, but after seeing that marble...maybe not...ummm

What a gorgeous cabinet--and your son is a cutie too!! Congratulations on a great job!!

Absolutely amazing. Congrats!!!

OMG that is just raunchy naughty porn! I can't stop looking!! And the moaning noises I'm making...OH BAAAAABY!

My original vision was black and white cabinets with marble. I became discouraged because I couldn't find a cabinet line I liked that offered black in anything other than a distressed look. I love Omega cabs and opted to go with them, but in all white. Who makes those beautiful cabinets of yours??

I can't even finish typing this post because I keep scrolling up to look at your pictures! Magnificent!

Oh $#@!&. That's purty. I can't wait to see it all finished... do you have a backsplash picked out? Your little boy is adorable, too!

I came back to ask about your backsplash and I see that someone else is already wondering. I ask because - for the life of me! - I am positively STUMPED myself. I don't want a backsplash that will overpower my Carrara, nor compete with it, nor fade into the background. What have you been thinking, Mindi?

With that incredible marble I'm thinking something unusual for a backsplash - would a shade of gray glass tile work with it? I'm thinking it would pick up those glorious veins in the stone.

I have to say, although I am not normally a lover of granite and marble, your kitchen counters are incredible. No wonder you are so happy! It is a truly magnificent look with your beautiful cabs.

As lagrant says, the ultimate in kitchen porn, hee hee!

It's absolutely gorgeous!! Is it called Calacatta Carrara? It doesn't look like regular Carrara... Or it is Calacatta?

The problem I have with what you have done is that you have now prompted me to think about revising my whole kitchen design. . . again! (Ok. But only because of the need to preserve my mind and budget, I promise I won't go out and try to copy your entire kitchen into mine.) But wowee! If it's looking this good at this stage I can only imagine what your completed kitchen will look like. When you post the finish, just be sure to attach the photos in a plain brown e-wrapper. Super kitchen porn it will be, I'm sure! :)

Mindi,
That is divine!! simply gorgeous.

I hope you are putting in crystal pendants and a glass backsplash to match the crispiness of the white marble.
:)

Dont use any warm tones in the backsplash ;)

I love it!

Oh is that just magnificent (and with those black cabs--divine!!!)!

I couldn't look and NOT post - absolutely stunning!!

mindimoo,
OMG, that is one of the most B E A U T I F U L white marbles that I've seen. Its absolutely gorgeous, and I love,love,love it with your black cabinets. Reminds me of rmkitchen's lovely marble.

That is SO gorgeous! I love the combination with the black stained cabinets! I have that combination on my island also as a contrast to the perimeter, and love that too! Wow! I had better cool it with the exclamation points before I use them all up!

I also love jkom51's suggestion of smoke glass backsplash. It should be relatively easy to get an idea of what it would like by just putting a glass shelf against the wall, adding colored paper behind the glass to get a feel for the final effect.

This is why 5 mos after my kitchen was complete, I am still lurking this forum. To see counters like yours. I can't take my eyes off of it!! It makes me want to search the stone yards again looking, touching, rubbing, etc.

This is truly addictive.

Simply Beautiful!!!!

Hi Everyone,

Thank you all for your very wonderful and positive postings! I've appreciated your suggestions too!

Yes, it is a wonder when I wake up and see it in the morning sun, and yes, we finally are getting some sun up here in the NW - it's been a long winter!

You all have made me feel better about spending the extra money for this material. We had no idea when we picked it that it was 4 to 5 times the cost of Carrara material only! But, my husband and I both knew we had found a special lot and when we received the pricing back, he was the one to say -"we need to go for it!" In his mind, he felt we would be crazy to spend less money and think about what was missing (what could have been) every time we walk into the kitchen. We plan on staying here at least until we retire and probably longer, so we could pro-rate it in our minds.

taliaferro, egganddart49 - As for the origins of the stone, here's what I know from the professionals who've worked with me on this project and what I can remember from Arch History....

Wikipedia "Carrara is a city in the province of Massa-Carrara (Tuscany, Italy), famous for the white or blue-gray marble quarried there." I was told that Calacatta comes from one particular mountain and that the Gold is quarried in one area and the Classic in another. The Classic is what was used for the most famous of the "white" Roman statues. It typically has a white background with black and grey veining. Mine has a little more of the gold-brown tones and the fabricator thinks through the years the Gold and Classic quarries are getting a little closer to each other. It is not from the same quarry as Carrara - it has the pale blue-grey background that the Wikipedi definition mentions - and that was why we spent the extra $ for the Calacatta.

mustbnuts - I think we may have found a hardware solution, but I'm going out today to confirm. The finish we selected is called old silver and it looks like a well used piece of silver with a bit of tarnish. As soon as I know, I will post a picture.

Claybabe - "next to it" syndrome, understand that, we lived it for 16 years at our old house - and, I'm in the business! No, we actually have the rest of the main floor done. The kitchen was the last piece after moving here three years ago. I was really only referring to some furniture in the family room that is a mishmash of a couple new pieces with leftovers from our last house. The remodeling "c'est fini" on the main floor, but I need to spend some money on the interior goods.

Oofasis - Yes, I will post photos of the stained cabinets soon. I have some good points racked up with a client of mine who is a prof. photographer and he is going to shoot the kitchen when done.

Oofasis, jkom51, amanda-t - I have selected the backsplash, even before the slab and we are going to stick to it. It is a Thassos (white sparkly marble) 3" x 6" brick with beveled edge.

http://www.pentalonline.com/swatch/akdo/akdo.html

They also carry it in Calacatta, but we want the focus to stay on the counters and cabinets. It will be clean and simple.

RMKitchen - Brooke, are you feeling better yet? Hope so, 5 days is too long! Thanks for your comments, as always! If you ever make it out to the Seattle area, you are welcome in my kitchen anytime!

rachelen - We got rid of our nook - that's where the bay window is, they were tall windows and we raised them up to counter depth. I love looking out at the backyard instead of the front while I'm at the sink. The overall dimensions are about 12' x 19'6" and it's wonderful! The island is plenty of casual dining area for us and our dining room is really going to benefit from being used more - regular weekday dinners are now going to be in the the dining room - fancy that!

lagrant - LMAO - kitchen porn, now there's a potential thread title for you!

The cabinets came from Canyon Creek in Monroe, WA. They have grown to a fairly large company and may be available in other locations. We also looked at Omega and KitchenCraft, but I also didn't care for their distressed black look and the charcoal stain was too transparent for what we wanted. The Canyon Creek is an ebony stain on maple and is available in a solid body stain with satin finish, burnished and distressed. In the end, we chose to go with the burnished, which is almost solid black, but a small amount of wipe through on the last coat of stain. We figured it would be a bit more forgiving of dings - we do not and will not live in a museum! The only other option we considered was a custom paint grade cabinet and painting them ourselves - my husband has some history of painting and we did it before at our last house, first painted the kitchen white - then 9 years later painted them ruby red. But, we really didn't want to take on that project if we could avoid it!

kitchenkelly, houseful,jaedwards, trudymom, lnersesian, marthvila (plain brown paper wrapper - LOL), cat-mom, loves2cook4six, napagirl, nuccia, susan4664 : Thanks all of the kind words! You can't know how many of your posts on other threads has helped me make decisions on my own kitchen !

Beautiful kitchen!!!!

mindimoo - the backsplash you've chosen will be TO DIE FOR!!! Absolutely the PERFECT partner for your marble - it will frame it and showcase it in the very best way.

Can I just tell you that I can't shake this overwhelming desire to lie down on your darn island (maybe that's because my marble is looking a bit cluttered w/ junk from the kids being home on school break....) - OH, an your hardware selection...it sounds divine - can't wait to see it all together....will there be any crystal in any light fixtures - perfect jewelry for that space!

Oh, how'd I forget that question!

pharaoh and mnhockeymom - Lighting has been difficult for me, with a black and white palatte, it could go so many different directions and I don't want to date stamp it!

So now, I'm leaning towards a simple shape, and probably mercury glass if I can find it. I know there are some reproductions available, but I'm going to try to find antique, so it might take a while. I'd rather go antique so it isn't so perfectly shiny. Or, I might buy a reproduction and clean off the lacquer finish and do a little damage on my own. Love, silver shiny - but maybe not so perfect!

Great suggestion on the crystal and initially, I considered it, but it's not really us.

OH WOW!!!! It's AMAZING!! I think I would crawl on top with a pillow and blanket and never leave!! BEAUTIFUL!!

OHHHHHHHHHHHH, i wish i hadn't looked at your backsplash! It is OMG gorgeous! DH and KD would kill me right now if I change our plans. But it is so beautiful! Your kitchen is going to be absolutely gorgeous!

A gorgeous paring of marble and dark cabinets! I want - with back to back sinks on my island- :)

Mindimoo-
I love your counters! What a beautiful statement they make in your kitchen!

I missed your "process" but whatever it was...the marble is worth it! Beautiful veining on your island. Gorgeous!

Now you're a "marbler," too! (Calacatta Oro, here)

Stunning kitchen! Great job! Enjoy!

Beautiful! I think you have the faucets I was thinking about purchasing for our remodel- and they look great- you just help me make up my mind to get them:)