"I would definitely complain to your fabricator. This doesn't appear to be something that can easily be "fixed." Don't worry about being a problem client. You paid $$ and didn't get what you should have gotten and what you expected. This is their problem, not yours. Good luck!!" Thanks chris45ny~ That's what I was thinking too, however they sent out someone I have never even seen or spoken to before to look at the counters and she was poo pooing the whole thing and saying "Well this is a natural product it is in the nature of the stone to have these variances..." I said , "Well Absolute black is pretty uniform in every piece I have seen and I don't think the person laying out the template did it correctly, they should have avoided the gray area and not placed it front and center of my sink." She was trying to see "What I wanted to get." I said "I want it to look right, period." She was then going to go back and talk to the boss and let me know what would happen... Meanwhile they wanted me to sign a paper that said everything had been delivered and was in fine condition which I said I would not sign. I am sitting now with a sink that is not hooked up, a dishwasher that is not hooked up all because I am waiting for them to decide what they are going to do! Since last Friday... Any more advice??? Thanks again

have finished the 4th remodel (wow 2 yrs since earlier post on this thread!). Used all white (no patterns speckles or veining) in MasterBath, Butlers Pantry Wet Bar, and as BACKSPLASH in Kitchen whose counters are Stainless Steel. (the rest of kitchen is all white cabinetry with brushed metal pulls). No qu that the white is stunning, crisp, pleasant. MasterBath is fine. Butlers Pantry: the white counter is unforgiving and shows everything. So on a second bathroom we chose white with a little gray veining and that has been excellent / easier. Kitchen all white backsplash with white cabs above below has been great and VERY easy clean (we cook a lot and use spices that stain too). But the all white in kitchen would have been intolerable as a counter for us. Stainless steel is not for everyone but 3 kitchen renos later, (2 remain actively in use) we love its cleanliness and the patina and very, very low maintenance. It looks surprisingly good with Cesarstone / Quartzite type stone products

White Corian cannot be beat for a countertop. It can be sanded if something really horrible happens to it, it develops a lovely patina over time, and it is a classic. I've had mine for 32 years now - reused it with my recent kitchen remodel. It is making a major comeback in VERY high end, contemporary homes as it can be formed in some pretty amazing shapes, and is being used more and more. Look at it in Julia Reed's gorgeous kitchen in her former Greek Revival New Orleans Garden District house. For those who don't know Julia Reed, she's been an editor at Vogue, and editor at Garden and Gun, written innumerable books and is just about the chicest woman out there and an amazing cook. <http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/house-interiors/g254/greek-revival-interiors-julia-reed/?slide=7> I never have to worry about cleaning help using the wrong product on my Corian. My daughter also has it...in a house with a VERY ADHD, mess SAHH and two teenage boys. They would have totally destroyed anything else and it looks great after 8 years.

Heatheron40, very nice. I asked a question about doing a tile countertop in our guest cabin recently as I feel like the look would complement the cabin aesthetic. Also I’m dying to learn to tile and thought it would be a fun place to start as it’s not an everyday space and I could take my time. Most of the responses were against. Basically stating the grout would make me crazy. The guy at the said what you’re saying I think, he said that modern grouts are more resistant to staining and such, and also to go with a tinted grout of some sort. I love your use of pattern to give it interest and intention!