Cheap remnants or prefab that will work is how I would go. I would also see if the granite fab shop will do the sink cut out for cheap if it is needed. For prefab, it will already have the sink cut out for standard oval sinks.

The windows are Kolbe & Kolbe. The factory rep was at the construction meeting Thursday with the architect and GC. He told us the coating on the inside between the two sheets of glass (titanium, I believe) worked especially well and was often spec'd on commercial windows. I cannot find it on their website. The cost of the coating was extremely low. I'll glad to share the cabinetmaker's plans. They will give more specific measurements. Everyone has been so generous and helpful with our design, I am thrilled to pass it on. Our window is at countertop level. Rather than using the countertop for the sill, the GC recommended using the same design Ericka used. The window has a sill and the counter is about 1/4'' below the sill. I am hoping to replace my IKEA bb counter (1 1/2'') with soapstone (1 1/4'') at some point. The difference in counter height will not be a problem. If the counter was the sill, it would be much more difficult. Not because the counter couldn't become the sill, but because the front edge would be 1/4'' higher than the cabinets. It would need some kind of trim or special front edge to compensate. I like the look of Ericka's windows and marble counters very much! The renderings are done with my PC software, and have been tweaked just a bit since these. It will give you some idea of how the windows fit behind the cooktop. Here is a link that might be useful: Kolbe & Kobe Casement Window

I have a viking 30 inch vdsc that has been installed for about a year and a half and am happy with it. I chose this range because I wanted a black range and I wanted dual fuel, we have to use a lp tank and did not want to have both the range top and oven dependent on the tank. I am a cook-something-quick-and-easy-that-my-picky-kids-and-picky-husband-will-eat-5-days-a-week cook so did not need a super high powered cook top, I almost never go above med-high. I do use the simmer a lot and it is not the best so I bought a simmer plate to help get an evenly low cooking surface. The burners are closed and have been very easy to clean but I have not had any overflows or cooking mishaps that would get anywhere near that part of the burners. The black, shiny surface that is below the grates of the viking does show every little bit of dirt and I do clean it frequently using soap and water and a dry rag to buff out water streaks. The oven seems to take a bit longer to preheat than my old stove and because it uses the broiler to help preheat you cannot stick items in before the preheat is done or you will burn the tops (I still sometimes put items in early but keep them on the bottom rack.) The oven also cooks a little differently than I am used to, cannot really explain how or why but it does leave most items moister which is nice. If you have concerns with how a viking cooks I would recommend finding a dealer that offers demonstrations, the dealer I bought from had demos all of the time.

I am a fabricator. You are doing the right thing by taking the time to find what you really like. For what its worth Typhoon Bordeaux is one of my stock colors and makes for a beautiful kitchen without being too busy. The only watch out is that the fabricator, if he's good, will involve you in the layout of the parts on the slabs to insure BEFOREHAND that you will find the grain transitions at the seams acceptable. another word of advice; don't allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the choices and fuss over miniscule preferences of one over another. The reality is that any material, even quartz, is going to look at least a little different than what you expect once its in your kitchen. consequently, agonizing over two or more nice choices is probably wasted energy since any one is probably going to be beautiful.