I think JaG hit on something that's always been fairly significant part of my offerings, and that is optimization. I've never said you couldn't grow in this or that. I may point out the probable shortcomings of a particular soil, but I never say you can't grow in it. I often say you can grow in a bucket of marbles, if you want to stand over it and water every 5 minutes. The same is true of a heavier soil - if you want to water in sips with distilled water & can devise a plan for ensuring soluble salts levels don't get too high. The point is, I've always been about two things - optimizing and simplifying. If I am a help, it's usually to those who wish to optimize growth or improve performance of their plantings. I'm little help to those content with the way things are. To many, me included, only a little improvement is a lot - kind of like using premium fuel in your car so you can squeeze out just that little bit of extra acceleration or top end speed - only in this case, the 'little extra' ends up being cheaper when you make your own. I figured what I had learned about soils could be helpful to others. I registered with GW in '02, and in '05 I posted the first soil thread. I'd mentioned the importance of aeration time after time, and how bark-based soils could be so much easier to grow in and more plant-friendly, and received a LOT of criticism and ridicule for trying to upset the apple cart. Eventually, a few started to see that what I was saying made sense & tried it. Now, there are at least six people growing in bark-based highly aerated soils - and I think at least 2 in the gritty mix. ;o) Some people have made very large advances in the amount of satisfaction they get from their growing experience as a result of changing to a more forgiving soil. Others have incorporated the 'aeration message' into their way of thinking about soils and have been pleased to have done so. The simplicity part comes into play because it's difficult to over-water a free-draining, well-aerated soil - you really have to work at it. That the soils I use have only 3 basic ingredients each, is also a form of simplicity. No .... not as simple as opening a bag, but those happy with simply opening a bag are not the ones I'm trying to reach anyway. The satisfaction isn't necessarily commensurate with the size of our forward strides. More often, it's in the perception of our progress. The people I care the most about are those who are happy to be moving forward and who are willing to do just a little extra to ensure that their progress is steady (no matter if it comes in leaps and bounds or that it comes in baby steps) - they're all kindred to me. ;o) Al

I also love the white macaubus, I ordered the same quartzite for my kitchen, due for installation in about 3 weeks. Oddly enough I also had a blue countertop in my previous home, it was corian a Mediterranean blue with big whit specs (prettier then it sounds). Apparently the new owner didn't share my appreciation for a blue countertop and ripped it right out. If you plan on staying there for a long time, get what makes you happy, if resale is a consideration, I'd go with the white, although I'm partial to the white of course! Have you considered perhaps an unattached island only in the blue or a blue backsplash to pull that beautiful color in? If there was one thing I learned from hunting for the perfect piece of granite for nearly 4 months was that a piece of granite can look absolutely beautiful but perhaps not in a (or my) kitchen, hence my decision for not purchasing wild sea green, a beautiful stone that gave me the warm fuzzier until I saw it online in a kitchen, I knew I'd grow tired of it quickly. Plus the macaubus stones I know are at from inexpensive so choose carefully! On a side to, I need help determining if a light colored wood floor will be too weak with white macaubus or if a darker wood would be a better contrast or if it's not even relevant(?). That will be for a separate post! Oh and i think walnut cabinets would be good with whote macaubus. Good luck!

well I have to go with the corals since I have a 6yr old and if there is not some kind of pink in there she would freak out and wouldn't have anything to do with it. (personally I LOVE the greens and blues) which is what we had in her nursery but she turned 3 and her brain turned to pink and pink only which meant we had to turn around and redo her room.. Lesson learned

I just posted a question about London Sky using the slab tinker shared in the original post...so, the London Sky slab that was being considered is a quartzite, not a quartz? People at the slab yards have no idea have no idea what I'm talking about when I ask if they have a quartzite called London Sky. Did you finally choose the Madre Perla? We love it and are strongly considering it but I wish I could see London Sky in person. We're set on Brazilian cherry floors, a rich blue island with mahogany countertop, white perimeter cabinets with quartzite countertop, just not sure which one. Not worrying about paint or backsplash yet. Would love to see photos of your finished kitchen! This was my original inspiration photo - minus some of the bling - I just want a grayer but still warm countertop for perimeter: