https://www.bcstone.com/blog/what-is-bookmatched-stone/

It typically means purchasing two consecutive slabs of stone which adds to the cost of the installation.

Book matching naturally highlights the location of the seam and is only as good as your installer.

Thanks for the feedback. Beverly, we purchased the two consecutive slabs anyway already.

Jan, any tips on how to find out which way it will go? Should I ask to see past work? Is this too big of a risk? Also, have you seen these in person? If so, is a good install worth the seam for the dramatic affect? Any thoughts on how hard it is to clean a seam behind a stove if it isn’t ever truly invisible?

"Which way it will go depends the layout, your kitchen plan and the slabs. You begin a layput of a kitchen based on function. That means appliance locales, storage, all of it. Not slab drama. Where is your KITCHEN PLAN?

Seems your buggy is out front of the horse.

The fabricator needs to layout the slabs and show you exactly each pc will be cut from the slabs (typically a CAD type program) and how the pattern will match up and you approve the drawings/pictures. This is not to be left to chance. Take pictures for your own records and if the fabricator does not do this all automatically you have picked the wrong fabricator.

Jan: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6137609/stone-counter-layout has my plans

Millewoekman: I will call today and ask about the CAD program. So far they just sent me pictures of the slabs with painters tape in a layout that I don’t think is so great and leaves my waterfall not matching my counter….which is what made me think of book matching so I could get more length from the stone….but not if it is going to look bad bc I picked a bad fabricator 😬 thank you for that feedback.

Follow up: my husband just pointed out to me how the waterfall is in the correct place 🤦🏻‍♀️ I was looking at it backwards. In this case I’m thinking it isn’t worth the risk w book matched pieces and potentially messing it up.

I would ask him for pictures of the pieces lined up...basically they do a CAD drawing of your counters and photoshop it with pics of you granite. Your slabs aren't perfectly bookmatched but such is nature :) From what I can see on your other post, it looks like you might get a better match from the other corner but then you lose the drama on the backsplash. Try to find pictures of waterfall counters done with natural stone and see how they look if not perfectly matched. If it bothers you, you can just nix the waterfall.

A well done seam will not collect dirt or be very visible nor will it collect dirt.

Thanks Cheri. So are you saying might be better to leave as is? It’s such a small space the drama might not be worth it anyway (especially bc we will unfortunately have a few outlets in there as well). Unfortunately we have to have the waterfall now bc otherwise the cabinet won’t be flush w the end of the wall (we intentionally left it 1.25” from wall for this purpose). End of the day, if I have to pick, the waterfall drama is more important to me than the book matched back splash drama.

Waterfall "drama" only looks appropriate on slab /plain doors and drawers. Looks less so on shaker and more abundant trim. Everything has a better best context, and you have given your post very limited information : ) for anyone to advise anything. Context matters.

Hi Jan I agree about the slab doors. I provided a link above to my kitchen plans and showed some photos of the cabinets installed already. I’ll post the link again. It’s a small galley kitchen w white slab doors and brass hardware. I know it’s unusual to have a waterfall where we put it rather than on an island. My goal was to make our small apartment have something a little unique so I didn’t feel like I was living in a rental and so I could feel like I really made this my own/my home.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6137609/stone-counter-layout

If there is something missing from the other post I linked please let me know what else would be helpful for you to see in providing some guidance.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6137609/stone-counter-layout

@Sarah Do I understand your desire to make a statment in your small kitchen but I think the waterfall isn't necessary. Your cabinets are pretty and your stone backsplash will speak loudly and look great. (and I don't like thinking about one of the little ones careening into that stone wall while running around.) Can't a 1.25" end panel be made to match the cabinets? Waterfall counters are tricky to match and seam. I know I'd be happier without given how picky I am.

Also, your drawing shows a freestanding range with a riser in the back. Is that accurate? To let you stone shine, a slide in range that's counter level at the back will work better. Please come back and show us pictures of your finished space. :)

Thanks Cheri I will! The drawing is not accurate for the stove. We ended up w a stove that doesn’t have a back at all and doesn’t have any electrical panel so everything works (even the oven) by turning knobs on the front of the range.

I personally do not care for book matched stone. It seems very contrived and gives an unattractive Rorschach test look. Not worth the effort or the cost. But that's just me.

The waterfall is not necessary. The book match will not turn an apartment to something "grander" - gorgeous apartments exist virtually everywhere.

The beauty of any stone is its natural movement and flow. . ..........Pairing two ends rather interrupts that movement. .Simple solutions need not mean "blah" and any home is what you make it. Art....furnishings, lighting....rugs - and Your personality evident in those selections.

It's not ever ALL about the kitchen. In fact, drama and beauty are quite different things. One, need not imply the other. The search for beauty often leaves drama in the dust, and the search for drama can unwitting leave beauty........behind. It happens quite often. : )

Thank you all for your feedback. We decided not to do a book match.

Good becuase your idea of a waterfall is not even logical and BTW if you post other dilemmas do not dulpicate your post on the same subject.

I really think you'll be happier without it! Good luck and enjoy your new kitchen.