Alternatively - what is on the other side of the walls on either side of the vanity? And, are they either of them non- supporting walls with no plumbing running through them? If so, while it might be a PITA to do, you could have the 2x4s or 2x6s that frame one of the walls next to the vanity taken down, ripped to remove 1 inch, and then put back up again to gain that extra inch you need. A non-supporting wall doesn't HAVE to be framed with 2x4s or 2x6s. 2x3s or 2x5s will work fine - especially for an interior wall. Done right, once the sheetrock is put up, you'll never know that one wall is a tiny bit thinner than the other walls in your house. And, depending on how many studs would have to be removed and ripped - and how much electrical wiring needs to be removed and the replaced - is might not even be terribly expensive to do. Just do it BEFORE the sheetrock is put up on either side!

Yes, having the drywall does make it seem much closer to reality and easier to visualize. oldbat: having that ceiling raised makes such a difference, doesn't it? ali: years of spray foam walls? Wow, gotta hand it to you on patience. firsthouse: We wanted the wall facing the river to be as open as possible but the space constraints of a small kitchen dictated leaving walls, so someone here reminded me of Shainghaimom's pass-throughs and it seemed like the best of both worlds. The cabinets are being custom built out of white oak boards that my DH cut 20 some years ago and finished with light/med stain. a2: I know I've been bugging people on here for what seems like an awfully long time, lol! Also learned a whole lot from others experience like your big drawer for instance. Thanks to that I'll be making sure the drawers for my cast iron pots and pans is extra beefy. No heron tile... going with the Weaver tile of the marsh set into the solid surface countertop that I'm having put behind the stove. Here:

I love built ins but they are not for everybody. Love the ideas of a fireplace too. You could alsou drywall over the livingroom side of it then blow out the back and add doors it to use as a closet or built in shelving for the room behind it.

Fabricator here. Wouldn't be happy with this AT all. I would request for the owner of the company to personally make an appointment to view this job and see if it's up to "the company standard." My guess is it will not be once they're confronted. Like someone above said, Cambria is very choosy with their fabricators. We recently had a job where a customer wasn't pleased with the material, and Cambria personally sent a rep along with our install team to figure out the problem until the client was satisfied. Keep pushing until they get it right. The seams can be made MUCH tighter and lighter than that. It's sloppy work and you deserve much better, especially considering how pricey this material is. Honestly between all of the issues you've described, I would be expecting a redo on the fabricator's part.