Winnipausaukeefan, we didn't try buying it direct from Eastern, so I don't know how they would price it. Lowe's has been running a promo on it at $49.95 plus a free sink for a couple of months, and I think it's still running...only Group "A" colors were included, Caledonia, Luna Pearl, Ubatuba, and I think Blanco Leblon. The pricing included installation, a single bowl 18 gauge undermount sink (installation of that at an extra charge) and two holes drilled for faucets. They sent someone out to measure and template about a week later. Then, a couple of weeks for fabrication. We were offered the opportunity to drive over to Eastern to see and approve the slab, but we declined due to time constraints. They used two crews for the installation, since they had to haul the counter up a steep flight of stairs. Installers did a fine job, very careful about protecting our floors and walls! The counter is seamed in one spot, midpoint of the sink. They carefully color matched an epoxy compound, and worked the seam so it's practically invisible. We had a little issue with the granite backsplash...our existing 4x4 tiles were out of kilter, so the splash wouldn't fit properly all around the perimeter. Rather than tear out an additional row of tiles, they recut the backsplash to a lower height (at their expense) and reinstalled it within a week. We just needed to add a trim strip to cover the areas where there was a gap between the backsplash and the tile. All in all, they did a great job, and we couldn't be more pleased. I don't know if you can get comparable pricing by dealing with Eastern directly. Here is a link that might be useful: Eastern Surfaces

This is my personal opinion. I'm no expert about this. I think if the house is a blank slate style-wise, you can take it in almost any direction you prefer. Although you need to have a vision for the entire home to make this work. You don't want to end up with a country kitchen, super-modern baths, and a Craftsman living room. I guess I would start by asking myself if the lines of the home are more horizontal or vertical. Again, my personal opinion, but I think horizontal lines lend themselves better to more sleek styles like modern, MCM, or whatever. Just something more streamlined. While horizontal lines lean more toward traditional, transitional, and country-ish/cottagey styles. What do YOU like? What do you envision for the rest of the home? I'm sure you'll get better, more concrete advice from others. And it may be helpful to post this question in the Home Decorating forum, too. And probably time to start finding inspiration photos.

that new stuff isn't much different from what you currently have. I think you could find something better. if you have any aspirations of painting those cabinets in the future, white would work better w/that color flooring. If I had to rob a bank, I'd get the money and put it toward that bubble florescent fixture. Honestly, that is the worst thing I've ever seen. Please, splurge and get an electrician or a family handy guy over to remove that and give you 6 cans. you'll be amazed at the diff. if you can do the cans, at least get rid of that behemoth and do a flush mount fixture. are you DIY ? painting those cabs will freshen up that spot. even if it takes you two months, you could do it yourself for a few hundred. countertops,,check in pre-fab granite or quartz they cost about 300-500 for one 22"X9' slab. hire a fabricator to come and cut it for your kitchen (800 or so) do the legwork yourself, offer cash, and save big time.

I had cabinets over a peninsula and removed them - what an amazing difference it made to the space. Once I did it and one or two neighbors came over I started getting neighbor after neighbor coming over and wanting to see. Within two year I don't think a single kitchen on the cul-de-sac still had cabinets over the peninsula. I didn't recommend changing to a single height counter at the sink for 3 reasons You currently have the bi-level that hides the sink and any mess in the kitchen, Having a single level doesn't add a lot of useful space because it is dominated by the sink on the kitchen side and Tall furnishings in a small space gives the illusion of more space. I didn't ask last night if there is an access door on the living room side for the cabinet in the corner. If not - that is another inexpensive change that is worth its weight in gold. I really don't recommend over spending, changing what doesn't need to be changed because you will most likely upgrade from your small condo to something larger. These are generally not forever homes. The more you spend on this home the less you have to spend on the next one and kitchens generally have an ROI about 60% of what you spend. The other 40% is joy factor. It brings you joy and you pay for that happiness. Always balance the cost vs the joy factor and if the same dollars could bring you greater joy by spending it differently. A new kitchen / my next home or a new kitchen / a trip to Europe.