I'm gathering from your message that your primary concern is an undermount sink, followed by a strong preference to avoid grout lines?

Below is a thread on non-granite slab countertops that will accept undermount sinks:

As to grout lines, I'm no Bill Vincent, but I've read enough of his posts to say tile requires grout and if the lines are too thin there will be problems. He can elaborate, I'm sure. There is an acrylic grout which is more $$ but also more stain resistant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Contertop options for undermount sinks

Thanks, zobeet. I am trying to balance the cost of a countertop that will accept undermount farm sinks and the sinks themselves. A KD told me faucets can not be installed directly in manufactured solid surface material such as corian, so that will nix the undermount farm sinks.

If you're asking if it will look ok to mix granite tiles that match a grantie slab, I would have to say no. I really don't think this will look right. If you want to mix a granite slab with Ikea BB, that could look ok, but I think there needs to be a "purpose" for where the change is. I seem to see these sorts of countertop changes on one end or the other of the island, not so much in the middle of the island as I think you're suggesting.

Also, I think the 2 sinks would look better back to back like that if they were both the same size....especially if you're changing countertop materials at that point. I think it will look like a mistake if the different countertop is say 6" from one sink but only 2" from another. If I'm understanding what you're trying to do correctly.

There is no purpose, other than budget. ;( I have big doubts about the looks, malhgold. It neither makes sense nor looks good.

Using all BB may be a better alternative. It could be upgraded later, especially if water damages the sink-BB point. The prices I have are for QS oak or cherry cabinets. Painted maple may be less expensive and that would be nice with BB.

My KD's house has a large island with undermounted sink and granite tile. The stone tile (or rectified porcelain) would allow you to use very very tiny grout lines. Hers are almost invisible (dark granite, maybe ubatuba), and looked simple to clean (she said it was a non-issue with the miniscule spaces between tiles). They did a wood trim piece around the edge, stained a dark color, and it looks quite beautiful. I don't have a photo, but it really is lovely. They did it themselves.

claybabe, thanks for the encouraging example! I forgot that I actually have a few clipped pics of under mounting a sink in granite tile. We are not DIY, especially DH, but the GC easily could do it.

Would or could joining the seam of slabs be the same process be used to join the granite tiles?

No way. Practically speaking, not only can't it be done, but even if someone HAD the patience to try it, it wouldn't be a very good idea. The resins they use to join slabs is actually stronger than the stone itself. With the slabs, the thickness of the stone makes it strong enough to handle any deflection or vibration in the countertop. Once you start using the much thinner tiles, the stone will crack before the movement affects a resin joint. If you want easy to clean grout, use Laticrete's Spectralock Pro. This is the ONE PLACE in a residential installation where I don't believe Spectralock to be overkill.

Bill, thank you. I appreciate and value your experience and insight. It sounds like you believe tile to be an acceptable low-budget alternative to granite slabs.

I can be a klutz. How would tiles hold up to pot-abuse?

Yes, I do, and no problem. If set properly, they'll take almost as much abuse as slab will.

You might wanna take a peek:

Here is a link that might be useful: my gallery's countertops section

I have nothing to add, LOL, but cotehele the layout look good! Just curious, what happened to your washer/dryer?

Bill, thanks again. I bookmarked your gallery, finally. My cousin does custom tile all over the U.S. I hope he will come and do it for me.

Mom, hi! How is your kitchen coming? I haven't seen any pictures lately. I moved the washer and dryer into an expanded passage turned laundry room between the garage and the house. For the love of Pete, I don't know why I didn't think of doing that months ago! Cabinets will have to wait; I am putting a couple of oak kitchen cabs in for now.

Wow, great place for the laundry! Lots of space too. My kitchen remodeling is either moving at a turtle's pace or not at all. DH and BIL are now going to be putting up the wall between my dining room and kitchen. So God knowns when that will happen, LOL. The guy we were going to hire hasn't shown up or returned calls and we don't really have the funds right now to hire a firm.