Everything is beautiful in your pictures. I would like to know more about limestone as a countertop material. It must be porous and did it take a special sealant? Does it tend to scratch? Love the neutral colors of everything.

Thanks,
JB1176

Thank you, JB1176!

Well the countertops are newly installed so I don't yet know how they'll perform over time. What I do know? They are likely to stain and etch over time. My copper sink and range hood will darken in some areas and lighten in others over time. I am okay with these things because my favorite kitchens are not only old-world, but they are old, lived-in, and as comfortable as that beat-up leather sofa we've had for years. I decided (with help from the knowledgeable and helpful folks in this forum) that I liked the material too much to be afraid to use it :)

The countertops were treated twice with an enhancing sealer at the fab shop and I will seal them a few more times before I use them. They are honed, so any etching will be less noticeable. There are poultices that can be applied to stains to minimize them and even remove them completely. This particular limestone is very hard and dense; it is often used for cladding for buildings and as paving in commercial applications. So, I think it will be pretty bullet-proof in terms of scratching and the like. But, if it does scratch, I'll think I'll be okay with that.

I'm actually looking forward to learning how they'll perform over time, and what they'll look like as they age.

I can't answer your question but wanted to say that your house is stunning. You have to post a link to the finished photos when you are done.

Is the fireplace antique stone or new? Stunning!

What IS it about faucets that causes such a bottleneck in the process?!

No advice to offer, I'm just amazed that so many of us seem to have Faucet Issues. You'd think that basic workhorse would be less of a problem!

Good luck finding a solution - hope it all works out in the end!

Well, we're narrowing the ledge from 8" wide to 6 1/2" wide on the side behind the sink and bought a different faucet. I'll post new pix once the counertops are reinstalled. Meantime, the Typhoon Green Granite Coffee Bar countertop was installed and it is stunning :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Il Poggio Secco

Good luck with the faucet fix.
I just wanted to comment on your wonderful countertops. The limestone is lovely, but oh how fabulous is the coffee bar!!! I don't blame you one bit for being thrilled and excited about them ;)

Uhh... do you have a pic of the faucet? That may help out if we know what is look like.

This was the original faucet which we can't use because the + connector.

Here is a link that might be useful: mico seashore in orb

Here's a link to the new faucet we bought when we realized we couldn't use the mico. Sorry, I don't know how to post images in the body of the message.

Cleo 2007 - the fireplace is an Isokern with a cantera surround... all new. the cantera is a volcanic stone like pumice or tufa, it comes from mexico.

Thanks Diannalo, I can't wait to see the bar after the sink and faucet are installed. Nothing famcy, but it will pull it all together :)

Here is a link that might be useful: the replacement faucet

Well, I'm drooling over the pictres of your home! It looks exactly like some of the places we visited in Tuscany, while following the "rooster" trail for Chianti.

I'm amazed at the detail you've managed to include. If I ever win the lotto........

Thanks flahagan; you're sweet. :) We are definately going for the Tucsan farmhouse (not villa) look. The house will actually come in right around $315 thou; not as extravagant as one might think....

Pegkip,
I'm drooling over the pics of your home, just like flahagan! Love the stone on the outside. I'm also envious that you can build such a nice home for 315K. That wouldn't even pay for the exterior in Napa Valley!

OT... Can you tell me more about your fireplace, please? I know you said it was an Isokern fireplace with a cantera surround, but I can't locate one. Do you have any contact info? TIA

napagirl - we are GCing the project ourselves, so we are saving quite a bit that way. The stone is limestone quarried locally, so again, not too pricey.

Here's the
Isokern website. You'd have to contact them to see if they have a distributor in your area. There are lots of places that carry Cantera products in CA here is one with a nice selection of fireplace surrounds
Cantera Stone Art

We were able to directly connect with a supplier from Monterrey who gave us distributor pricing. It makes a big difference to not have to pay all the markup that is added to support all of the middlemen and women as well as the fancy showroom!!