See here's the deal as I see it: Everything they wrote in true. Stone is natural. It has fissures...inclusions...it comes in varying thicknesses. Those things in and of themselves are not flaws in natural stone... ...until that stone is made into a countertop. Then they become flaws. Inclusions and fissures weaken slabs. That's why you see quite a few "flawed" slabs being resined. Granites are usually filled with epoxy resins, marbles with polyesters. The resin fills the fissures, can fill the inclusions, and the process turns a flawed weak slab into a less porous, stronger material. I think I'm getting off track though, so back to your clause. The part that really irks me is "...pieces may not match seam to seam due to movement of color and thickness of material. Also that material thickness can vary up to 1/4"." If they put a period after "...due to movement of color" and left it at that I'd still be suspect, but I'd be okay with it. Sort of. Pieces may not match seam-to-seam due to movement...yeah, I can see that a little. But you'll have that a bit under control by seeing the slabs yourself. Pieces may not match seam-to-seam due to thickness...followed by: Material thickness can vary by up to 1/4 inch...they are essentially asking you to approve an installation that could possibly have a 1/4" height differential. I have to say that marble, I really don't think it difficult to work with. While I've sized slabs and done simple edging on marble slabs, I've never had a problem working or installing the material. And I've done master baths in near 100% marble. If you want marble, go with marble. Make them install what you want. The fact that they tanked your first install seems more due to careless worksmanship than due to flawed material. If you were willing to go to the added expense of having someone repair your flawed deck, consider having the company you're now involved with provide you with replacement slabs of marble, but you hire a new fabricator to do the new fabrication and installation.

I love #1 and that cute little girl! Please post picture of your kitchen when the cabinets are installed since I want to see Polar White inset cabinets in another kitchen and not just the show room. I only saw one other poster with the Polar white. I still have not given up yet on the Shiloh Inset Cabinets that I love and if I can save enough for them, then I am not sure between the Polar White and the Soft White. In the showroom the Polar White seemed to be a touch darker than BM Cloud White. In pictures, it seems to white. I loved it in the show room.

Love your slab!

Wow, your kitchen looks beautiful! I love your stacked cabinets with the glass doors on top, as well as those gorgeous counters. Having the stone surround for the sink set into the walnut was a great idea. I can't wait to see more pictures. What are you doing for the backsplash?