Thank you for your advice! I was worried about it being dated too soon, and I got voted down by hubby. Oh well, the plain ones are nice too! More versitile, since I don't know any other details yet. (It's new build, and haven't had design apt. yet, just trying to figure out things I like and don't). I do know I am not going with the standard undermount ss double bowl. I like single bowl, and not ss. I have ss and it is a pain. I really like some of the white kitchens I have seen on here, but worried that would be dated soon also. Most likely would go with a med-dark cabinets, maybe creamy gold brown granite, and maybe dark wood floors, but who knows. It all depends on the 'standard' and upgraded options etc. At least granite and 42 inch cabs w/crown and wood floors are standard. Thanks again!

Plywood isn't really smooth enough for a substrate with custom laminate counters. If you read their PDFs on "how to", none of the laminate manufacturers recommend it. They all recommend using particle board. I'm assuming that you could use MDF or HDF which would be more water resistant, but that does not solve the problem of the weak point, the seam, being right there at the constantly wet point and being vulnerable to penetration just from the normal usage of knocking it a bit. You'd still get water intrusion, no matter what substrate you used. And none of the substrates are waterproof. That's one reason that you choose a solid counter like stone or acrylic solid surface. It's waterproof. Particle board is a fine substrate for laminate when the laminate is used as designed. It's not designed to have a seam close to a water source like a sink. It's designed to have a sink drop into a hole and have that sealed with good old fashioned plumber's putty. If having a apron sink or undermount is on your list of must haves, then a solid counter is also on your list of must haves. They go together inseparaby, and trying to make laminate be something it's not is going to be a frustrating wasted expense.

Thank you guys! That's very helpful. I just did the quarter test and was able to fit in 4! CEFreeman, you are right, the granite guy said the counter top to the right of the sink was about 1/4" off. This was after he had already installed the granite and left. He shimmed up the back of the sink to fill the gap, but didn't shim the front. So, now the sink isn't level front to back. They had previously told us that the cabinets were level and we didn't need to do anything prior to the granite install. Unfortunately, we can't move the sink, as it was set in an existing base cabinet and we would have a gap underneath. Jhmarie, your granite and sink look beautiful!!!

The Kohler Vault is a stainless steel apron front sink that comes in a drop in style. There is a tall apron for farm sink base cabinets and a short apron style for standard sink base cabinets so make sure you order the "tall apron" style and make sure you order the drop in style - because it also comes undermount, and there is a single basin and uneven divide basin - so careful when ordering:) http://www.us.kohler.com/us/Vault-35-3-4-x-24-5-16-x-9-5-16-top-mount-single-bowl-stainless-steel-kitchen-sink-with-tall-apron-for-36cabinet/productDetail/kitchen-sinks/429136.htm You can probably get it less expensive online or through Home Depot. It is self facing, so very easy to install. The Ikea Domsjo is a drop in white fireclay sink and you are right - it may be too short looking. You can solve the too short looking problem by curtaining the sink, but that may not be your style. If you do the curtain, use a rod assembly that makes it easy to access the cabinet. Curtained farm sink: You can make this look more modern by using a modern type fabric like a geometric. The Domsjo is not very expensive for a farmhouse sink, but many report chips, pitting and sometimes crazing after a few years. However, by then you might be able to go with a stone like countertop. Then, later consider the Kohler Whitehaven (cast iron) - like the vault, it comes in two apron sizes. Like the Vault it is easy to install - just make sure there is enough face left of the front panel to work with a new sink. There are some granites that have come down in price and are competitive with higher end laminate. Also, I have seen some claim that laminate can now be made to do an undermount sink. I do not know how this holds up, and it could cost as much as a granite - but check into it. I got my quartz through Menards, and my neighbor got hers through Home Depot. While many have had poor experiences with Home Center stores, both of us had good experiences. My neighbor's was much less (LG Aria) at Home Depot. Mine (LG White Pearl sold as Flaked Pearl) was about the same as a K and B store - the quartz was less, but my installer was not cheap. However, when I encountered a problem, both Menards and their fabricator were very helpful and the problem was solved. You might check out home center stores and their quartz, granite and Corian. Beth H, a Houzzer on the Design Dilemma says there are "pre-fab" granites cut to lengths that are much less expensive, and then you pay a fabricator to cut the length and sink, and the whole process is less expensive. However, I have never heard of this in my, area and I have no idea how to go about it - but you can look her up and ask her.