Hi, Thanks for your heads up. On the granite I selected there are some green spots that I don't want in a prominent space, particularly the 30" backslash behind the range. The fabricator is acting like if he can do this for me, it will be a big favor on his part. My KD said it happens all the time that someone wants or doesn't want a particular part of their granite on the island or used for the table. I appreciate your comments to make sure I'm there for the templating because then I can see exactly what they are doing. I find whoever is in charge of the job or that aspect of the remodel doesn't like me around watching. But the workers don't seem to mind me there and can be more helpful than the GC when answering questions. The GC even went as far as to tell me not to talk to the workers as it will only make the job take longer! So far my fabricator seems to have the same type of personality as my GC. But I'll make sure I'm there for the templating. Thanks again! Karen

That would be great! I just read a post from you in another tread. I'm looking forward to seeing it installed! So we set the templates yesterday using the Taj Mahal on the island and the sueded Black Pearl on the perimeter. Some of the left over Taj Mahal would be used as a new fireplace surround. Then I got home and looked around my kitchen. I just could not see the black pearl on the perimeter. I could only see the Taj Mahal on both surfaces. I approached my husband when he got home, and shockingly!,he agreed wholeheartedly. He feels there is no way we can go wrong putting the beautiful Taj Mahal on both surfaces, but that we might regret using the black pearl over time. We decided to sleep on it and revisit it this morning. I felt the same as yesterday. My husband said he didn't even need to look at the kitchen that his mind was made up that the Taj Mahal is the way to go. I called my fabricator this am to schedule another appt to template out the counter Monday morning. She knew we were not completely set on the black. Now I am the owner of one slab of black pearl. We are wondering if its big enough to replace the current counters in our lake house. Of course this was not a project we ever considered until now. The black pearl would look fabulous at the lake. I need to change my faucet as well. I went with a more traditional design to soften the perimeter. Now I can go a little more modern/industrial. I'm excited for that! I'll look forward to your pics!!

Thanks to everyone for your replies. We will be checking the layout on the slabs before they are cut. The fabricator is very close, and said that lots of people do that, so it shouldn't hold things up much. We had already bought the slabs when the fabricator came to give us an estimate, so we discussed then approximately where the best places for the seams would be. The slabs are on the smaller side, so it was a little more difficult to figure out where they were going to be. The granite does not have much "movement" per se, but it does have some pattern to it, and is not an evenly speckled material. We've dry-fit the sink and faucet and think we have that under control. The range is already in, so they know what they have to deal with there. Love the little bump out on the cooktop. We don't have the same issue with the range, but it's a good idea to know in case we ever do this again. Really love that granite. What is it? Redhead, also love your granite. It was on our short list of possibilities when we were looking at slabs. One of my good friends has it in her kitchen, and I always just love to look at the patterns in her countertops. The cabinet frames have been refinished and the doors are in process. After they are hung and the granite is in, I'll be asking for help with the backsplash (I know, not another one....). Thanks again for your help.

xoxosmon- I would say by the remarks in your last post, that you have some serious "red flags" that, if left to their own ends, will probably become "problems"... It's not at all unresonable for your expectations to be high, BUT - since it sounds like your Fabricator has little experience, I would be very....very careful. Check out some of their most recent...well.. OK, within the last 6 months - work...... Having only 6 months exerience doing Granite slab work, having a serious communication problem, is a bit disconserting.... hearing repeatedly from the owner that everything is "going to be OK"... brings back memories of Kevin Bacon's character in "Animal House".... "All is Well, Remain Calm... All is Well" (while everyone around him was in a stampede...) The last thing you want to be in, (figuratively) is the other famous scene Kevin Bacon was in - the "Thank you sir, may I have ANOTHER?" spanking sequence - which YOU may be the "spank-ee" I'm afraid - if you continue down your present course. Here's some FREE Professional Advice: In MY Opinion, you need to (at least) seriously talk to a few other competent fabricators that can communicate with you IN ENGLISH.. and... UNDERSTAND with demonstrable results, that they KNOW not only what YOU want, but also, WHAT THEY ARE DOING... Not a slam against non-english speaking people.... It's just that most mistakes in Fabrication are made because of either poor communication or a lack thereof...The detail was important to YOU... but not communicated well enough up the chain, so the same detail was NOT important to THEM... See what I mean? seen it waaaaay too many times sorry for the negative vibe, but I get called in to look at stuff that was done wrong - mainly - because of the things you are listing - this a problem that - right now - is preventable... It's better to do this right - ONCE - the first time, then have to do it over AND see you get charged for an inspection fee ($1500 to $3000 + expenses) to tell you what I just wrote... (just want to help you stay happy and save your money for other things) hope that helps kevin Kevin M. Padden MIA SFA Fabricator, Trainer & Consultant to the Natural Stone Industry www.azschoolofrock.com