Klake - in my opinion - what your fabricator said : that the "CNC cutter gets worn and striations show more on quartz and our color" and "will try to clean up best we can". Says the dust can take a couple of days to settle....." is total BS - if the CNC cutter gets worn - why then is the other side of the kitchen (the pieces installed that DO have the polish) look better? And as far as DUST goes - what he's really saying in the "will try to clean up best we can" line is REALLY meaning - there's going to be a huge dust mess (because WE screwed up) but never mind that it will permeate EVERYTHING near the kitchen - LIVE WITH IT...??? Besides.. when a CNC is used, the machine "cycles" up through a series of six to seven different grits in order to rough shape, sand, hone and THEN polish. The grits start around 36 to 50, and go to 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500 and finally 3000 grit. (the lower the grit number - the coarser the grit, the higher the grit number - the finer the grit. 3000 grit is used to polish glass - to put this into perspective) Guys will either "run the grits" or only do the first two or three (50.100 &200) - THEN, they'll take the piece off the CNC and finish the rest of the grits (400, 800, 1500 & 3000) using 4" or 5" polishers WET - by hand. THIS helps to ELIMINATE the horizontal striations that you see on the rough pieces in your kitchen, but not so much (if at all) on the polished pieces in your kitchen. Does this make sense? If I were you - this is what I'd do: 1. get a copy of his business insurance policy. This is the policy that will cover your claim AFTER he's done - for cleaning up all of the dust and the mess and any other collateral damage that he will create trying to fix this in place. Make sure that it is current, and if you can - see what it covers and excludes in terms of liquidated damages caused by the contractor. 2. get a second opinion (or you can use mine posted above - I do this for a living on top of Fabrication here in Arizona) and then a third and fourth. if you live in California, Arizona or Florida there is a Registrar of Contractors that can help mediate things between you an your fabricator 3. insist that the tops in question be removed, completed and re-installed to your satisfaction - or have them start over - either way - I would NOT be paying another dime towards completion until this is resolved !!! Ask your fabricator how he intends to keep from burning the edges when he does what he's proposing - polishing dry with no water. ALL ES polishes differently that Natural Stone. ES is made up of epoxy resin and quartz particulate and resembles terrazzo. The epoxy resin that surrounds each particle of quartz polishes at a lower speed and the resin can melt and burn REALLY EASY (hence the burning potential) Anyone who's worked with ES knows this too - that you also have to use A LOT OF WATER when polishing so you can keep the resins in the material cool and get a good polish quality...... IMHO - ES ia a harder product to polish, and takes considerable practice if a guy has never worked with t before, or just hasn't done much of it. The bottom line for your situation is just getting the damn thing done to your satisfaction - and with as little mess and damage as possible. YOU do not have to accept his plan for remedy. HE wants you to because it;s easier for him, and you can deal with the mess (is my suspicion)....... Take what I've written above and previous posts on this thread as my advice to you. I would not polish the edges in question in place and dry if I had another - safer way for the work to be completed to your satisfaction....... hth kevin

Thank you both! I am leaning towards keeping the door off. I like the door, but I also really love how the contrast works right now. I took your advice and painted the chairs and table--the chairs are done, I just need to finish reupholstering the pads. I couldn't find anything I LOVED with yellow or any other accent colors, so I went with something neutral but equally as cute (in my opinion, at least). And the table just needs a second coat of paint plus a top coat. :) As soon as I finish those, I'll be moving onto the wallpaper (still kind of stuck on which design to choose) and the new light fixtures. I'm taking everything one step at a time, but I REALLY appreciate everyone's input and guidance. You've all been very inspiring, and I'm so glad I started this little journey!

What is not kid friendly with what you have? turn the table so it runs across that space I have no clue what a woven light is but IMO you need proper lighting that light s the table and with LEDs in 4000K .If this is your only dining space no bench IMO thet barely function at a picnic table .

I like the idea of a window wall because otherwise you'll be in a cave. This may sound strange at first, but if you have curtains on the inside of your window wall you could draw them when you need more peace and quiet. They would also absorb noise to help keep your conversations from being heard all over the house. Is that alcove going to be enough space for everything you need when you're working?