Hi crzy, You have a really similar color scheme to what we are going with, minus the glaze. We are also doing cream cabinets with a Calcutta gold backsplash. All the soapstones I looked at (and the selection was very limited in my area) were too busy and too green. I also *thought* I had settled on Jet Mist honed granite, (so pretty!) but when I saw it in person, it was too busy with the marble. Also, the gray shade was too "cool" with the warm cream paint and marble. To my surprise, what I finally settled on is Zodiaq quartz in Mystic Black. It is not too shiny, too dull, or too busy. It doesn't have the plastic-y look and feel that some of the other solid surfaces can have. It doesn't show fingerprints or water marks. It is kind of a dark charcoal color. I know there are some beautiful BLACKER soapstones out there, but they were not available in my area. I think in a smaller kitchen, the 2cm looks really nice--maybe even better than the chunkier 3cm if you don't really have any long runs. I know all about the addiction--I started having wrist and neck problems from all the scrolling and clicking hours. Even now, when everything is pretty much settled, I don't want to miss a good tip I could incorporate, so I check every day! Happy planning!

You have "post formed" counters where a single sheet of laminate is applied to the top and wraps the front edge. Those are made up in standard size blanks (by machine) which are then cut to size to create the overall shape. With that method you have no seam where th the top face meets the front. The seams you have are the only way to make that counter configuration with post form tops. A "hand built " top is the only way to avoid those seams. That would be a square edge, or a bevel edge. In that case the shape is made first, then laminate is applied to the top. Then it is applied to the front edges. It changes seams in the top but you then have a seam along all top edges. Hand built tops cost a good bit more than post form.

As you can see, being even a little bit off on something that is supposed to match can look awful. This is one of the reasons why some clothes meant for Saks end up at Stein Mart or TJ Maxx. This seam would look best if it were matched, but would look WAY better than it does now if they had left it random. Since you have an agreed upon layout, I would stand my ground and make them fix it. The problem is that you may not end up with book matched slabs that match the rest of your counters. You may have to choose between book matched slabs and matching materials. Personally, I'd go with matching materials (if there's some of the original bundle left or turning one of the sections around). Either way, it has to look better than what you have now. And as others have said, I too think that seam is very poorly done. When I looked at your photo before reading the text, I thought that the seam was the point of contention. For a $3k Home Depot granite job, perhaps its par for the course. For something that was probably north of $15k, absolutely not.

I can't imagine chiseling 2 pieces of granite and then stacking them on top of each other thinking that they would somehow look cohesive. Did you decide to laminate for a thick edge late in the process? (i.e. after they had already chiseled one "layer"? If so, then you are stuck, if not, then I would say it's a do over, because anyone in the business should have laminated first, chiseled second...) I guess alternatively, you could try to chisel it some more around the seam, but I am thinking that should be done by a pro....