Once again I so appreciate the compliments on our kitchen from all of you. This kitchen forum is where I learned of our granite, about stacked cabinets.... So I am very grateful. :) We really love the Miele coffee system. We were not huge coffee drinkers but now enjoy a cup or two quite often, it's so simple to use. It's nice to also have quick access hot water for teas, hot chocolate.... Our ceilings are 9' 1 in the kitchen area and 11' 1 in the great room. I really love how the stacked cabinets turned out. Haven't figured what decorations to put in the glass cabinets at the top yet. The cabinets up there are dark but do have lights inside to display stuff. The paint color is if I remember correctly is called Wrightstone by ICI Paints. Any suggestions for lighting to add more bling above the island would be wonderful as well as what to put in the upper glass cabinets. Thanks again.

Thanks bee, vida, and doonie..I appreciate the compliments. You don't know how many times I second guessed myself when making my choices, so it's nice to read those comments:) doonie-you're going to love that sink! Oh..And I miswrote about what my backsplash material is called. It's Crema Marfil 2x4 subway. The tile guy said it's marble. I didn't know that, just thought it was pretty. Mairin..I referred to your pictures so many times when it came to those lanterns, just trying to figure out how yours were hung so high. We never actually got to hang them because they came way before the electrical was in. And I was down to a week left on the return policy to figure it all out. Stressful! I would get my husband up at 2 in the morning and we would stand there holding this heavy lantern up and measuring etc...Ha Ha..good times! It finally dawned on me that your ceilings were higher. And that one foot would have made the difference. Here's a link to what I ordered instead...I am really hoping I like them....It's so hard to tell from just a picture!! Here is a link that might be useful: bellacor pendant

Thank you thank you !! You guys are so wonderful in helping me !! So we might actually just go with the slabs, but before they cut it, I will go to Chicago tomorrow morning at 7 and see the actual slabs with my measurement templates on. I think this way I can really see what I am getting and whether I like it or not. Will also bring a cabinet door with us !! Hopefully it will turn out great ! And if that's the case, they can install it this Friday, amazing huh ? I do see the note on backsplash, I am now planning to use this granite to do the backsplash between the cooktop and range hood. Would that be too busy ? I am not doing backsplash in other parts in the kitchen yet (except the standard 4 inch ones)

CL777, totally understand... your kitchen is not small at all, its bright, airy and open, very nice.. i still think you should bring a sample of your cabs to put up against any stone u choose...it really will help u decide... my advice to you and anyone trying to pick granite is: You will know it when u see it.!!! i did the same thing and looked at least 30 slabs if not more..some i really liked but i just could not pull the trigger, i just didn't LOVE it. and when u are spending that much money, you better love it. .when i saw mine, magma gold/sedna (2 names for same stone), i knew that was it, i did not want to look anymore. the counter guy wanted to take me to another slab yard and I said "nope, this is it"....trust me, u will know!!! another thing i did which really helped me decide is put a incandescent light up against the stone.. you really get the true colors of the stone. with fluorescents you don't.. that's if you are in an indoor slab yard, of course... bring your cab sample, paint sample, floor sample and anything else u have because it will all help u decide!! best of luck, i know its a tough decision :)