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Store sold part of our slabs, freaking out. What do we do?

8 years ago

We are freaking out. We designed our entire color scheme, paint, cabinets, floor, etc around the quartzite we picked out for our countertops. Everything is already done and installed (lots of money and our own sweat equity). We are 8 days away from counter installation and just got a call from the store that they don't have enough left for our project. We've already paid them in full, but they apparently screwed up and marked the wrong slabs under our name. They have enough left to do our island but not the perimeter.

Now we have no idea what to do. I'm trying to do a national search to find similar slabs but can't find much that matches. If anyone has any ideas I would really appreciate it! We are a little desperate right now. Here's the slabs we thought we had reserved. It's called Roma Imperiale, but there's a ton of variation between different lots:

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

That is a mighty busy granite. A little goes a loooong way. I think I would chalk this up to serendipity and pick a much calmer granite for the perimeter that coordinates. It will let the island be the star that it needs to be.

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Comments (47)

Bunny
8 years ago
The store has some serious 'splaining to do. But, if you've already committed on the other things and it's unlikely a search will yield an exact duplicate, you may be SOL.

Honestly? I think it's a beautiful slab, but I don't think I could handle more than an island's worth. It would be too much on every flat surface. I'd settle for just the island and see if your store can make amends by offering a second surface at an attractive price.
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You can do this. It will be all right. But you need to plan, not just let this happen to you. I find lists and folders help. The thing about organizing is that you have to do it, not just wish it (VERY BIG GRIN). That means, somewhere between the health and safety of your children, and the next most important thing you do, you have to make organizing a priority, if you're going to maintain organization. The folders method is great because if you keep up with it, it only takes seconds at a time, and half an hour once in awhile. Making a few seconds to put away a paper a high priority isn't so hard, even with the demands on your attention that you have. Here's one way to deal with the papers: You can start by color coding the world. Find a filing area that's not in the zone where the remodel will take place, but is easily accessible from where you spend most of your days. 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Every time you get a piece of paper put it in the appropriate folder. Like the baby's immunization papers. Just slip them in the baby pink folder, and you'll have them to hand. A few times a year you can go through the folders and reorganize them. Like have a plain color (manila) immunizations folder that all the kids' records get filed into eventually, and your and your husband's last tentanus boosters and flu shots too. Within your kitchen box, make folders for each kind of inspiration: Color, cabinetry, light fixtures, etc., and have a big one for general "I like this kitchen". Go through your computer bookmarks and print the pictures that you want to show your husband and architect and file them appropriately. Make sure the name of the website and/or bookmark is on each page. Stick them in your folders. Make a budget. Do your research and figure out the absolute least each thing will cost you to get what you need and write it down. 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If I hadn't buried the folder under bags and mail, etc., and put it away when I got home, I would have saved myself half an hour and a lot of worry. The thing is, if you have your folders set up well, you don't really have to organize within them. Highly organized people do, but if you just can get the right paper in the right folder, and keep the blue folder in the blue box, you can find anything you want or need. If you get more than 20-30 pages in a single folder, it's probably time to split it into more specific topics, however. BTW, receipts and invoices should go in their own folder, rather than with their topics. Makes it much easier to figure out how much you're spending and on what. A few more things stand out in your initial post: Your husband works crazy hours, your children (lovely as I'm sure they are) have maxed out the number allowable for one adult to care for in a day care setting, so I'm sure they're a full time handful. 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Find some friends with remodelling going on and see if you can, with several adults supervising, take the kids to see what it's going to be like, hear the loud noises, and start to learn the rules. Budget for a $10,000-$20,000 (minimum) repair that you didn't know you'd need until they open up the walls. If it doesn't happen, you'll have that much more for some of the nicer wishlist things, or that much more to send your kids to college, or whatever. The real budget killers, however, are the things that are only a little more than you've allotted. This tile is prettier, and costs $12.50/sq.ft. instead of $10. That cabinetry is only $1000 more. A glaze is only $600. Etc., etc. All those onlys add up to a huge amount!!! That's why I suggested to label each item with the most you're willing to spend on it, as well as what you really expect to spend. 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makmartell
8 years ago
Beautiful! If they can do a quartz in the creamy background color of the slab, I think it would go beautifully together. And I agree - throw your weight around to get a good deal on the quartz - that's a major screw up they made.
nels1678
Original Author
8 years ago
So I'm game guys, but I need to find something that's not going to clash and so far I'm not having much luck. I'm mostly concerned about clashing with the texture. Color wise I'm less concerned. I don't necessarily want to go dark around the sink though as I want to avoid water spotting.
nels1678
Original Author
8 years ago
They've offered a lot of explanations, but buried in all of them was basically the truth of it. They reserved the wrong slabs.
gardener123
8 years ago
That slab is literally a work of art! Gorgeous!!

Agree that it should take center stage on the island, and a quieter quartzite on the perimeter will really showcase it. I imagine the folks at the stone yard will be in a generous mood...
Nothing Left to Say
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
That's a big mistake on their part. But I agree that it's an opportunity to let the island shine and choose something quiet for the perimeter.

How about something like ceaserstone linen?

I think you need samples of a bunch of cream Quartz options to take to compare to the slabs they still have and to the rest of your choices.
gardener123
8 years ago
Honed Crema Marfil Marble
banana suit
8 years ago
They definitely screwed up. From the prespeftive of someone who works in the service industry you will get much further quicker asking them what they can do to correct the mistake than going in fun blazing from the start. Any reputable business will want to rectify this asap as calmly as possible.
rebunky
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Well I think that slab is a showstopper! Gorgeous! I would be happy with it just as the island myself, but I would expect a discount for sure. I thought that light grey slab next to it in the photo actually looked kinda nice with it! Reminded me of Lisa_a's which I think hers is honed steel grey. I have a polished busy granite on my island with leathered solid granite on the perimeter. I don't mind the textures being different.
nels1678
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks a ton guys, seeing all the kind responses really helps! The quartz idea is great, I hadn't even considered it. It'd give us more control over trying to match the color and might be plain enough not to clash with all the drama in the quartzite. We're also considering just going back to the drawing board, though that's almost unthinkable given the months we spent searching through slabyards!

So far I've been really calm with them on the phone, though it was pretty tough when they were non-committal about buying a matching slab if we found one at another supplier! All I can say is it's good I was the one talking to them and not my wife! O_O
eam44
8 years ago
Nels, I agree with LWO that this is a happy accident. Have you already chosen and purchased backsplash tile with that stone in mind?
beachem
8 years ago
I think all the recommendations are dead on about having the island be the star since the slab has so much movement.
nels1678
Original Author
8 years ago
Don't have a backsplash picked out yet. Had we been able to use that slab we were considering copper tiles but that's probably back to the drawing board now too.
divotdiva2
8 years ago
look for a cream or light gray quartz or quartzite for your perimeter and maybe keep the backsplash fairly neutral in color and with larger tiles also. Otherwise it will compete with this slab (island).
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
8 years ago
Again, LWO nails it. Reread her post.
desertsteph
8 years ago
that is an awesome slab!

I agree with lwo - let it be the star. I'd probably get dizzy if it was all around me anyway.

But, I certainly wouldn't let the slab people know it was a 'happy mistake'. it's a real 'shame on them'! This has happened several times to posters here and they didn't all work out to be a blessing in disguise.

People spend a lot of time looking for 'just the right slab' and then lots of money for it. Now you have to go running around again and make more decisions you thought were settled already. And it could cause a delay in finishing on time. They should pay for doing this to a customer. I think someone offered them more for 1 of your slabs - the excuse that they accidently didn't reserve the right slabs had been used too many times.
User
8 years ago
Wow. Such a pain for you. I agree with others though -- I would have wanted the showstopper stone on the island and the rest to blend. But, that is said not knowing you or your space. Good luck.
just_janni
8 years ago
that slab is gorgeous. I think it will look even more spectacular just on the island.
cawaps
8 years ago
I was also thinking crema marfil might be a good match, or a quartz in a similar color. I think that going with something with very little pattern is a good strategy, not only in a "let the island be the star" way, but also because coordinating both color and pattern is going to be a lot harder than just matching the color.

Can you post the other material choices for your kitchen? Without seeing them it's hard to know what to suggest. The slab looks like it has cream, brown, taupe, and gray, and any of those might work for the perimeter color depending on your other choices.
Buehl
8 years ago
Ditto what others have said! I think it's a work of art - but too much would have made it too chaotic overall and robbed it of its uniqueness.

Blessing in disguise! But I agree with DesertSteph - don't let them know that! See what they can offer you...maybe a deep discount on another slab (or all slabs)?
nosoccermom
8 years ago
Cream or perhaps even grey for the perimeter. I like how the grey appears next to your slab in the pic you posted.
nels1678
Original Author
8 years ago
New info: Turns out they are at least 0.5" short in depth on the island too. We might be able to make it work so long as it still slightly overlaps the cabinet pulls, but I'm nervous as they haven't sent me exact dimensions yet and we have absolutely no wiggle room in what remains of the one slab. Including a quick picture of the cabinets and such. Still have a lot of finishing work to do!
nels1678
Original Author
8 years ago
Should mention, we are probably going to go mesquite on the exposed truss webs to match the floor. The Countertop basically the has the cream of the maple cabinets and the darker swirls of brown that match the floor. My wife loves kind of aqua blue/green, so we're thinking of adding some color with these pendant lights:

http://photo.foter.com/photos/pi/321/strata-art-glass-pendant-light-earth-sea-and-clouds-seem-to-unite-in-this-brown-aqua-and-cream-art-glass-pendant-light-its-breathtaking-beauty-is-not-fully-realized-until-lit.jpg
Bunny
8 years ago
Oooh, those light shades are beautiful. Someone else did a DIY mesquite counter top and it's one of the most gorgeous things I've ever seen.
User
8 years ago
Wow. It is going to be beautiful.
rebunky
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Wow! I love your sleek slab cabinets. Very pretty. Oh boy and now they are too short in width? They kinda dropped the ball on this one didn't they? That must be so disappointing. Sorry. :-(

Did you have any overhang planned for the other side?

I remembered someone who had a similar granite or quartzite. Oh good I found it. It was gwlake's and called stone wood. It was supposedly a quartzite too. If the slab just won't quite fit and they cannot get anymore of the one you picked, maybe they could find some stone wood and give you a BIG discount.

Here is gwlake's Stonewood compared to your Roma Imperiale. I just realized they could be the same stone but just called a different name?

Pretty close.
rebunky
8 years ago
Here's the link to gwlake's.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3519143/my-stonewood?n=23
nels1678
Original Author
8 years ago
They do in fact have some stonewood there, though it's sort of a last resort for us since it's sort of duller looking and we don't like the veining as much. We also know of another slabyard nearby that has something similar called mocha river. It's even more dramatic (maybe too dramatic?) though.
cawaps
8 years ago
Okay, now I'm just livid on your behalf.

I think rebunky's suggestion is a good match. Or you might want to look at rainforest brown marble (I think I've read that it is really a serpentine).
User
8 years ago
Yeah - okay - does anyone else see a winking parrot ? #Rorschach
nels1678
Original Author
8 years ago
My wife loves rainforest brown marble! We were just too scared to attempt it with small kids. Are serpentines typically more kid-safe than marbles?
rebunky
8 years ago
Lol nightowl, I saw more of a bullfrog!

Is that last picture of the Stonewood they have? If so I would pass on it too. I don't like that because it doesn't have any of the pretty greyish blue color swirls which will tie in with those gorgeous pendants.
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Luckily few will see it from this perspective. Oh gosh - now I see a poodle.
Bunny
8 years ago
I see a lantern-jawed, cone-head cyclops.
nels1678
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Haha, that's actually one of the ones from the other slabyard! :) Honestly that's probably where the sink cut out would go anyway if we used that slab. You are right though rebunky, it doesn't have those nice greyish blue swirls.

Looks like tonight is going to be a waiting game since they haven't sent us the exact slab dimensions for the island. We can't go less than 42 15/16" deep. That's the cut off without the pulls sticking out. Prefereably we'd be at more like 43 1/2"
Wendy
8 years ago
grimacing face

kitchen: flowing as one space · More Info
rebunky
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Poodle! Lol nightowl. Yes, but I see 2....and they're dancing. ;-)

Conehead cyclops! Yep. Oh goodness, you guys just gave me the giggles.

Glad you have a sense of humor Nels, but I know you are not laughing over this whole mess. I certainly would be livid if they sold my slabs that I had already paid for.

If they don't compensate you big time, and find you something else you love just as much, I would get my money back.

I really love the rainforest brown, and think that would look great in your kitchen. I am not sure, but I sort of remember someone here had it and said it was not as difficult to care for as other marbles.

Oh and here are the two dancing doggies! Oh goodness we are a silly bunch!
Buehl
8 years ago
Buehl
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Rebunky - the one on the left sort of looks like C3P0! (Without the extra point on the right)
cawaps
8 years ago
I think we're getting more than a little off topic with the Rorschach test. Can anyone else weigh in with experience with Rainsforest brown? How hard is it to care for? Is it like marble?

Nels, you might want to start a new thread on the subject (do a search first; I'm pretty sure it's been discussed in the past--there must be a reason I knew it was serpentine) if you are interested in pursuing rainforest brown.
isabel98
8 years ago
I have imported rain forest brown on several furniture pieces and used it in bathrooms. It's durable although I have never used in a kitchen, I wouldn't hesitate because it's so heavily patterned even if it stains or etches would be difficult to discern. I would try to get the original stone though…far more beautiful. IMHO
Meganmca
8 years ago
Kinda think it's serpentinite--and Rainforest Green is what sixtyohno had & she said it did really well in her kitchen (now sadly ex-kitchen). No clue how related the two stones are for real, other than being serpentine/serpentine-ite. My understanding is they fall between marble & uber-hard granite. Some yards list as marble, some as granite (but that's true for so many things!)
nels1678
Original Author
8 years ago
Heya guys, so update today:

Sent several emails and left a message since they still haven't told me the exact dimensions of the island counter they can make from what remains of the one slab. I ended up finding the email address for the cad guy we talked to and asked him. He replied at first but sent me different measurements and then didn't reply after that. I ended up finding the email address of one of the co-owners of the company and sent her a message letting her know we aren't happy. We'll see where it goes from here. We are 5 days away from install day. Anyone want to take bets regard how far over schedule this goes? I'll send some of my mesquite floor left overs to the winner for barbecue purposes. :)
Karen Eagle
8 years ago
Mercury, the planet is in retrograde now. It goes direct on the 25th. You will probably hear something then.

"It's because Mercury rules communication, clear thinking, truth and travel, so when the planet goes retrograde
— which means that it looks like it's going backwards in the sky — all
those things go backwards. They start to get ugly and tangle up"
CEFreeman_GW DC/MD Burbs 7b/8a
8 years ago
Your stone is IN.CRED.IBLE. No wonder someone snagged it.
I can see it all over, but I also like the idea of the island. I'd change my island to fit that stone. Of course, I'm one who rips her cabinets out every couple years, evidently. Last week I cut my peninsula off.

Anyway, it's a work of art. Stand firm and get something equally as fabulous to compliment yours if you go with just the island.
Russ Barnard
8 years ago
I am really only adding a message so I can get updated on what happens.. lol.. nothing to add though.. except yea.. I saw the parrot! lol

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