Hey, barncatz: Every word of consolation and support helps. I'm trying not to rush the BS decision, but I know I'll feel much better about the countertop experience once I'm not staring at these sliver add-ons. One of my very early inspirations was Majra's kitchen. She, just like pipdog, used the mosaics for a lovely effect. And this is why I spent so much time last year looking at mosaics. But the mosaics seem a bit too busy (for me) up close. The rest of my kitchen is a work in progress. Lotsa 9-1/2' walls that will need to be painted again (probably a cool white -- the next challenge!), and a ton of natural light coming in. Baseboards, pantry door and trim are all semi-gloss white, and ceiling is white. Kitchen is open to the family room: taupe walls with a white fireplace/mantel -- white trim throughout the entire house. pippiep: Matching grout it is, then! One decision down. :) I've marked out the areas that will require BS tile. As you can see, it's not very expansive, and each one not very large. So, I need to find the correct scale/dimension tile that will look right in these spaces. I think using larger (3x6) tiles in a herringbone pattern will leave me with a bunch of chopped up squares in the bartop and cutout window areas. At least with the newest elongated hex pattern, most of the hexes will be retained.

"Seems like I might be better off either finding a new fabricator altogether or just asking to pay less for what’s already installed..." Their doing it over is equal to doing the same job twice for the payment on one job, That's a 50% discount. If you could negotiate a 50% discount, they'd take the same beating with none of the commotion or work.

@karin_mt question for you...we have decided that we won’t be able to live with the inevitable etching associated with marble, so think we are going to go with quartzite. We were given a sample of a white quartzite called bianco-namibia. It’s been characterized as a “soft quartzite” which I know from reading these groups means it’s a marble. I did the stain test and it didn’t etch at all from lemon juice left on it over night. There isn’t really a sharp end on the sample, but couldn’t really get it to cut a glass bottle with its side (more crumbly which once again leads me to believe it’s a marble). But if it’s a marble, why doesn’t it stain and etch?

Then there is this article - that had me leaning toward quartzite ... http://usenaturalstone.org/definitive-guide-quartzite/ The Houzz article above has me leaning towards Quartz. : ) I am of the opinion that that are good features in both. Quartzite can take heat and you cannot set a hot pot on Quartz. Quartz does not stain as bad as Quartzite since Quartzite is a natural stone. Quartzite has to be sealed. I don't think Quartz does. I am thinking it is a toss up The one thing I am worried about is the part about the citrus and etching Quartz I have read a lot about. I use lemons a lot and we all cook around our island so I don't have full control of watching it all the time. . I would love to hear opinions from folks who have either. Have you had any issues with either choice?