Yikes - i gotta go (have my coat on, I don't know why I checked back after emailing Y about DD's dance class tomorrow). Merillat mentioned sanding sealer that is only used when sanding soft woods - it stiffens the wood fibers so you can sand smoother. Not usually used on oak. Sealcoat is a "sanding sealer" b/c it can be used that way but really I don't want you to sand the veneer much at all. I am telling you to use it (if you want) b/c I found it made the oak a little smoother w/o totally filling in the grain like a grain filler, and it is harder than poly, will make the finish more durable than poly alone w/o putting on lots of thick (multiple thin coats) poly. you thin (and clean) shellac with denatured alcohol. You can let excess dry in container and then throw it out. Rags can be thrown out (in small quantities) when thoroughly dry. Sealed in water you'd have to check with town about hazardous waste (same with leftover stain, paint). That's why I have multiple cans sitting in my garage LOL. Clean the shellac brush by pouring alcohol into clean PB jar, swishing the brush around - you can pour the cloudy shellac into your metal can with lots of water for disposal, or pour it into another container and let it evaporate. Pour more alcohol into jar, swish until clear. then wash brush in mild soap and water, hang bristles down to dry. It may dry a *little* stiff, but you should be able to soften it by flexing bristles with your hand. if they "crack" rather than flex, you've still got shellac in the brush and need to clean with alcohol again. you *can* just stain and apply the polycrylic if you want to, straight out of the can I'd do 2-3 coats (which may end up looking plasticky but you can try wiping off the last coat like I did on my island trim), if you use the wipeon stuff you'll need 6 coats minimum, and you're *supposed* to sand b/t coats to get it to stick so I'm really leary of telling you to sand that much. You can do 1 coat of regular Sealcoat over stain, sand *lightly*, then 2 coats rolled on poly (barely sand b/t coats). That *should* be enough protection - at least until you have kids and they kick their feet against the island LOL. I'll check back after 1 pm.

Frameless design or full overlay cabbinets have been around for decades. There is nothing ''wrong'' with the design of the cabinets. It's a poor counter fabricator who relies on having old fashioned partial overlay cabinets to bail him out of a substandard counter install. And if he actually installed counters on those cabinets with Liquid Nails as the OP says, then he isn't a pro, and deserves to learn the hack's lesson to get educated, or get out of the business. He should replace the cabinets and counters. If he won't do that, then he needs to not get paid anything, plus have complaints lodged publicly and professionally. If he's even licensed, which I would suspect not. The next victim down the line would appreciate you giving this guy the grief he deserves. He owes you. If you won't make the effort to hold him accountable, then you are doing his future customers a disservice by teaching him it's OK to do a crappy job as long as you can get away with it.

Yes, I can get the same sofa in a smaller size, I had those other 2 gray sofas custom made to be extra long to seat 4 people on each sofa instead of 3 (or 2). I wanted more seating in that area, but I couldn't put a U shaped sectional or 3rd smaller sofa there because of the post. After I decide on the other, new sofa and chairs, I'll put 2 chairs next to the 2 gray sofas. So there will be seating for 10 in that area, and then 3 on the new sofa, with 2 new chairs for a total of 15 places for people to seat in that room (so hopefully people will stop dragging chairs to that room (which is the main place the adults gather in the house.) On the other side of the pony wall, there will be a "live edge" dining table with 6 chairs, then 6 bar stools for the kitchen island. That adds another 12 seats for a total of 29 seats. So everything is sort of "planned", I'm just stuck on this 3rd sofa issue. Matching or no ? But yes, I can order the same style/fabric in a new, smaller size sofa. And yes, I was thinking a smaller, matching sofa, 2 "light/airy" chairs, (something with thinner legs, etc.) and a small coffee table. Then add a coordinating rug to match/compliment the new larger area rug (that I'm in the process of looking for now.) Also, if I get the same sofa in a smaller size, do I get the same pillows? (Each sofa comes with 2 pillows of choice {and the "choices" aren't great.}.) Thanks!

Oh I love the Sloan, too, Veronica! That was the other one I was considering. Overall I think the ID quality is excellent and Customer Service was very responsive and a pleasure to work with. One note: the sofa was delivered with the legs attached, but they weren't screwed in tightly (may have loosened during shipping), which caused a creaking sound until we figured out the problem. So be sure to double-check that the legs are screwed in all the way! Side Table is the Reeve Side Table by West Elm (https://www.westelm.com/products/reeve-mid-century-side-table-marble-h955/) and is a "marble veneer." West Elm has a matching round coffee table too (https://www.westelm.com/products/reeve-mid-century-coffee-table-marble-walnut-h520/), but I bought this one - which is the James round coffee table from Belham Living - first and actually like it a bit better. It's solid marble instead of veneer, and was about $200 less than the West Elm. I think it may be sold out, though, as I can't find it online. Found this one on eBay for $100 more than I paid: https://www.ebay.com/itm/143797146260?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=143797146260&targetid=1070198977085&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9011572&poi=&campaignid=11612591250&mkgroupid=113642466472&rlsatarget=pla-1070198977085&abcId=9300457&merchantid=6296724&gclid=CjwKCAiA65iBBhB-EiwAW253WwHcNI42fLpQ7h-AD2j-7dkyqjav8XDOKvzPd_vYYlv4J5naOQYwvRoCCJQQAvD_BwE Something I learned about marble and marble veneer is that you have to use coasters because liquid etches it!