@colleenoz. I not too sure what you mean in your post, to be honest.... @ingeorgia. Yes, I'm happy with what I got for it. I sold it honestly, making it quite clear that I did not not its age or what it may have previously been used for.... What I meant was that I feel for the person who bought it, if they have bought it based on the potential mis-information of the seller. Cheers

Yes, both dark and light granites can be honed. My friend has a lighted colored honed Bianco Antique and it is beautiful. I don't know what she sealed it with. But after three years there are no stains.

There was a thread on this topic some months ago--see below. There are some good photos of niches. Our project is bogged down, but I have a few additional comments since I posted... Because we have to watch our pennies, I'm shopping in bargain places. One problem I have encountered is that oddball lots of tiles often don't include bullnose pieces as well as regular field tile sizes. The niche that we have roughed in will require some cute tricks to make ordinary tile edges seem attractive and classy; we don't want to just snip tiles and leave raw edges. DH, my sweaty equity, did not finish the niche smoothly when he created it in drywall because we knew we would cover it in tile. Now, we're thinking that we might not do the tiling right away and he'll have to pull out drywall tools and make a proper corner edging around the niche. This kind of "go back and do over" gig is getting very frustrating. [Meanwhile, I've found a smashingly exciting tile that of course only comes without trim pieces. It's sitting right next to me, thinking. Unfortunately it has a decidedly unfinished raw edge and will require tricky handling if we choose to use it. I just covered it over so I can't see it tempting me there on the table. Have to be more practical. ] Tile shops do carry a metal edging that can be used to finish off edges when no bullnose is available, but I haven't seen examples of it in actual use on a range niche. Would love to see a sample photo to reassure me. Also, remember that if you choose to work with a thick tile or a remnant of some kind of rock from countertop on the back of the niche, that will cut down the depth of the niche shelf. If you want the area above range/cooktop to be an artistic focal point, I humbly suggest that you either make a niche OR some kind of tile design but not both. If you choose too fancy a niche back, the items standing within the niche will compete with the tile design for viewer's attention. Mine will be a working kitchen, so we're planning to put oil bottles, vinegar bottles, salt shaker, etc. there and they are supposed to get top billing. Don't forget that you can suspend a second shelf in the niche if there's room. Here is a link that might be useful: Niche topic thread

I have white diamond which is considered porous but it means nothing as apparently we have a good sealer. I have a family who spills stuff and doesn't wipe it up. I find dried/stuck on stuck everyday, honey, coffee, strawberry juice,. protein mix, etc and everything just washes off. Our granite is 2 years old and has the original sealer put on in the shop.