Oh I love the diagonal movement. BEAUTIFUL!

Gorgeous! Congratulations!

Thanks guys :)

They said they can cut my long counter on the diagonal, or somewhat on the diagonal, to make the veining more linear. I wonder if we want to do that or not? What do you think? here's our layout again... The marble goes on the perimeter so there's a small piece to the left of the range, and then the loooooong span of it with the sink....

{{!gwi}}

That is a great one...Very pretty.

Not sure what to think about the layout on the slab. Now that you mention it, I do think the diagonal veining might get busy when cut narrow, if cut straight... If they cut it somewhat on the diagonal, you will still have some nice movement remaining.

I like the diagonal movement. It's very pretty. I'd have them cut it straight so the movement is diagonal. Plus it would save more of the slab for other things like window sills or what have you.

The slab is beautiful - good choice! If the long countertop is laid out on the diagonal will there be a seam at the sink? Will it require more slabs if the layout is on the diagonal? Obviously you would want all the surfaces flowing in the same direction. Will the desk top be out of the same marble?

If it were me, I would leave it on the diagonal - the movement I am seeing in your slab looks spectacular as is. You have a particularly beautiful piece of marble there, imho.

The veining is sufficiently irregular that it would never look truly linear anyway, even if the fabricators tried to cut it that way, so why ruin a good thing.

Mine is on the diagonal and I can say it does not look busy. The veining is irregular, too, though it mostly flows in one direction. My kitchen has a lot going on and that was one more thing! I fretted over that, but it's fine.

I'm sure you've got great fabricators...but I didn't get the warm and fuzzies from mine so I insisted on seeing the templates laid on the stone as they planned to cut them BEFORE they actually cut them. It took 4 visits for them to get it right. I am very glad I made them take that extra step.

I was adamant about the fact that I wanted all the flow to go in the same direction across the kitchen. Initially, they had everything laid on the marble every which way. If they had cut it like that, I would have had seams come together like a V and that's not how the stone flows. So it meant jockeying some pieces around. It seemed like an obvious request to me, but they thought I was crazy! You can stand in one corner and look across all perimeters and the islands and see that the veins of the stone all go the same way...not zigzag at seams.

You may want the zigzags, however, so be sure you plan it out that way. Plan out your pieces on graph paper and shade in your "pattern." Cut and place your pieces like you want them. That's the only way it will flow the way YOU want. (In fact, I would scale counter cutouts to an 8 x 10 print of the slab and template the print!) I apologize if I'm overstepping my bounds and telling you something you already know! :)

You have a gorgeous slab! I really hope you can capture that chunk of veining in the upper lefthand corner (island?)...and I hope you get a counter out of that mid-right to lower middle-running vein. Mmmm. Mmmm. Scrumptious!!

That's really lovely stone, and I'd leave it on the diagonal, too.

Thanks folks! You are making feel very good about my choice. I was being a worry wort... "it's too cool" "it's too grey"... etc. I am so silly! But really I am very pleased :)

jb1176- It was the salesman who suggested cutting it on the diagonal. They reserved two slabs for me (nearly identical) and I have already signed my contract and paid my 1/2 deposit, so at this fabricator they charge by the square footage used, not by the slab. There needs to be one seam, and we're planning it to be to the left of the sink, above the 9" pull-out. The desk (along with the island) will be cherry plank tops.

:)

laxsupermom- as just noted, unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) since I'm only paying for sq footage, I don't get the leftovers for other projects :( In fact I had them quote how much it woulod be to make sills for the two openings (above the sink run) into the living room, and it would have added $575. Bummer! I figured if I REALLY want those after its all installed, I can find some remnants in their yard (maybe even from my own slab I guess) and have them made later.

:)

momto4kids- thanks for the advice. My fabricator (Gerrity) actually suggested that I come back to approve the layout before they cut! I have to say so far I have been extremely pleased with them. They have really bent over backwards to tret me well and they seem very thorough. Anyway- I'd planned to do as you suggest (make a model with my photo) at the very least, and I will most likely make the drive again (2 hours each way) to make sure it's all good before they cut.

Yay!

I really like the diagonal from purely a design point.

Another vote for cutting the marble straight, so the veining is on the diagonal. It's beautiful!

I would cut it straight and lengthwise. I like the diagonal movement -- the slab has a soft, wispy or dreamy feel -- cloud-like. None of the veins are that strong or broad, so I don't think it will get too busy. I think it will create a flow. Is it already honed? If not, the color may soften a bit more.

Your fabricator sounds great -- the salesman? Not so sure. ;-)

GORGEOUS slab! This will look sooooooo beautiful in your space! I, too, love the diagonal movement and would work to emphasize it. Oh, you're going to enjoy this counter so much! :)