Jennifer, thanks and thereâÂÂs no harm in looking so go for it =) Hollysprings, thanks for your input! =) ItâÂÂs not what you think. I go to high end showrooms and search internet websites as well ��" I get the name and price of the slab IâÂÂm looking for and start my search again with the private sector rather than the box stores or the very big high end shops. I was originally looking for the exotic carnival countertop when the gentleman said he doesnâÂÂt have that specific one but has a few other exotic types I may like if I liked the Carnivel. I have luck finding most of what IâÂÂm looking for in the smaller private sector. IâÂÂve used similar countertop service providers in the past with no issues (IâÂÂd like to think IâÂÂm able to tell armatures from professionals), IâÂÂve also walked away on quite a few when IâÂÂm not confident in their services. Although I am excited about the price, it is not at all the driving force. IâÂÂve gone as far as coming close to ordering from the states very expensive slabs but decided against it since pictures are not always accurate. Bottom line is most of the time items are expensive due to the very high mark-up costs and a little shopping around helps. My Uba Tuba 16x16 granite tiles in my foyer cost over $20 per square foot special delivered at home depot and I paid just over $4 per square foot (installed myself) and no- not china. Baltomom, yes I was afraid it wouldnâÂÂt be the best match despite how much I loved the granite itelf. Holly-kay, thank you! =) Snookums, yes itâÂÂs black in that area. And yes I really love the granite and just wanted re-confirmation that it will go with my cabinets. Not included sink space, is 20 linear ft of countertop space considered more than average countertop space?

This is nearly identical to the kitchen I will have - we're building right now so I can't comment on how it works in "real life". But a friend built a house with a similar layout and she loves it. I received a lot of negative comments about the layout - it is very different from the typical G shaped kitchen, but I think it will work great for our family. I made the island 10 feet long and 5 feet deep, which to me is more space than I've ever had to work with - but I'm no gourmet cook!

Search for some of @KarinMT's posts - she is a geologist and has written quite a bit about quartzites vs. marbles and Super White in particular. Here is one of her published articles " What about Super White? Super White is one of the stones that is frequently caught in the quartzite vs. marble mystery. Most commonly, Super White is dolomitic marble. That means it won’t scratch glass and it will etch with acids. Some Super White has minor amounts of quartz mixed in with the marble. But the rock is still marble and will act like marble. When doing the glass test with Super White, be sure to test a few different areas to get a sense for the overall rock. Is it all the same? Or are there some parts that are harder or softer?" Be absolutely sure to test several areas of the slab(s) in question and understand you have a marble.

The color looks like cherry. I can't tell about the grain.