Peggy, Don't be nervous it all sounds wonderful. Just look at this cover! And as for Marble if you love it get. People have a misconception about marble. Marble is as easy to clean as granites. And in some ways it is easier to repair than a Quartz. Children grow up quickly, and children can be taught not to use permanent sharpies on the island. Does Marble stain? Sure but 98% of the stains can be removed with bleach. YES good ole fashioned Bleach. Or peroxide. But not togehter please. Does Marble Etch? You bet but if once every 6-8 years you have it rehoned or polished it will look fantastic. Is marble hard to care for? Marble has been around for 1000s of years. Marble is as easy to care for as most granite or quartz. Some Old GW posts that talk about Marble. Honed marble countertops 3 years later? Photos? Experience? http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0515282622706.html Anyone regret getting marble countertops? http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0211001428927.html Marble counter top questions http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0215374910799.html Quartz counter top questions http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0316414017978.html The pictures...Here are some images of kitchens. Some with blue islands. Maybe they can help you. ~boxer Letendre Woodworking Chadds Ford blue bell White Kitchens (Google Image) Winning Windows Sorry this does not have a blue island but notice the blue accent chairs and overall feel of this kitchen. Lovely. by Capecod designers Daisy Pink Cup Cake website (blog) Point Loma A wood island might be a great option too. Blue Kitchen and Bath Ideas website Hardy Kitchen Cottage Devon Blue Bell The Annex Cambria Quartz Welsh Pool Kitchen Island with a Bench (google image) Oliver Here is a link that might be useful: White Marble Countertops

Here are a few I liked, all Benjamin Moore... Edgecomb Gray: Light gray, pretty true Coventry Gray: A little darker with a blue tint Gray Owl: Very light, slightly green Sea Haze: Same chip as Gray Owl, a little darker, also slightly green (but both are pretty true grays) Fieldstone: A bit darker, a green gray Revere Pewter: More of a taupe, really gorgeous on walls You could also do an actual color....our bedroom is Hampton Green, which is a very neutral green that sometimes reads beige and sometimes green. Potpourri Green is a light blue-green (think jade), and Wales Green is a light yellow-green that's almost yellow...I like both of those a lot. Grays are really hard to choose, though---you really need samples. Even the ones we had large chips of didn't look quite the same when we had sample doors painted. Good luck!

I am dealing with tile size and proportion with my small fireplace now. I would strongly suggest mocking both sizes up in person. I predict the answer will be clear to you immediately if you do that. Tile that is too big for a small space can look really weird because only a few tiles cover the whole space. There isn't enough tile repetition for it to look right. You could continue your counter top material up just behind the sink to take care of the window issue. Like this:

Condo, this is a new build so we had planned them. When the foundation was poured, they power troweled it. It took my husband and I 4 days to do. 1st we cleaned ,shop vacumed 3 or 4 times. Then applied the walnut with a sprayer, then the ebony sparingly. After the color was as we liked, we sealed it with a high gloss sealer and then applied wax.