Thank you both! gemini - it is IMPOSSIBLE to tell colors on the Heath website. We are lucky to live fairly close to the factory and went out there to check out their overstock inventory. Found some colors that spoke to us, but they were nothing like the colors on the web. That's the nature of these things. But like you, I can't keep my hands off them. They are going to be a royal pain to install, though (seconds are cheap since they aren't exactly uniform in size). rhome - Thank you for that perspective. We're at the stage now where we have to make 25 decisions a day and it seems at every step we get a new opinion. Ah, well. In the final analysis it all comes down to what we like best...

We did concrete for our kitchen and large island. We poured in place. Ours we left rustic because it fit our style but concrete can be finished in many different looks. The edge forms we used were the square edge but there were other options available. I love ours. We just got our CO today so haven't "used" them yet but they sealed very nicely and any liquid just beads up.

ugh.... we are just at this point now and realized that our new counter/breakfast bar is 12' with the sink cutout dead center. My wife is stuck on an undermount and we really wanted granite... we will, of course, be getting a few fabricators to bid it. But is it feasible to do the seam with a cutout at the seam? The front edge of the sink seems a bit vulnerable to me. Also the current layout has the dishwasher adjacent to the sink and I guess we'd need to get the cabinet built with a support at the seam. If we can seam at the sink it would be small, just the length of the front setback (breakfast bar transitions to countertop there)... how well does the bullnose normally line up on a seam? Do they polish it on-site? Are we better off getting used to NOT granite? The 12' counter is not negotiable in our design.

Hi Daisychain01! First, let me compliment you on your beautiful island! You have inspired me! I'm building my own island and now, having seen yours, I think I may go with maple for the top! And how very clever of you to think of looking in antique stores to figure out a way to get your drop leaf! I may do that too, although I'll have to hire an expert for that; my DIY skills aren't up to that. I applaud your decision to leave it natural. Gorgeous and functional!