That DEA link had me vigorously nodding my head and when I got to the "beware" section, I identified completely. When I first started with "revival" attempts on my 1909 house, I was determined to restore and not renovate. I got completely turned around, however, when I began to deal with what true restoration means financially. As such, I am no longer a restoration purist. But I still dream! That sink is totally gorgeous, Ideagirl. If you are willing to put out for the costs of replacement/reproduction plumbing, IMHO there is no contemporary set-up that can beat it.

Mine don't have a wax finish...I am not sure how easy that would be to maintain...wouldn't it wash off with hot water??? I personally went with the copper sinks because I like the old patina on a dark copper sink. I wanted a "brown" verses bronze tone to the sink, and these are just exactly what I wanted to see. I purchased them after seeing a big old farmhouse kitchen sink in copper that was about the color of mine (but over 100 years old). I couldn't imagine a better finish for a kitchen sink :) Especially in the right counter top. I was told not to do anything special with them, they're meant to be used. :) Mine obviously haven't seen much water and toothpaste, but we did test them (like granite) with a big smudge of toothpaste left on for 48 hours and it didn't mar the finish (I wanted to make sure I wouldn't regret them after install). The real abuse they've had is to be accidently dropped, and purposely used as a flying saucer :) They haven't taken a ding yet, and they should have! They have no scratches on them either, and again, after the drop down the stairs by the contractor I did expect that as well. They're pretty tough puppies :) DS was in an intesive program to teach him how to feel and understand hunger. He is a little anorexic (ok that's my term but it's appropriate) and has been from birth. He's doing well now, but still without diagnosis so we don't know long term. We just try to take one day at a time. :) But this is why our house construction has taken so long. A two month stay at Johns Hopkins and a six week stay at Cincinnati Childrens both interrupted the schedule and put us WAY way back! I'm also looking to hold my first wine tasting (hopefully this summer). We drink it all (like good wino's) but our favorite is pinot noir or burgundy. Since we put in a french range, we'll probably have some fun with French Burgundy's at the first tasting :) Of course if it's summer and nice and warm out, we have to include some wonderful white burgundy as well :) Which I love when it's warm.

PhoneLady -your posts were one of the reasons I decided to get it! Rebunky - the counters are absolute black granite honed. The faucet is the Delta Cassidy - the taller one (there are two versions). Aries61 - I think the cabinet is bumped out an inch. I was worried it wouldn't fit when I found out it was a 34" cabinet & the sink calls for a 36" base, but they didn't have to cut into the top. The cabinets are custom, made by a company called Prevo in Ephrata, PA. And since my ipad likes to rotate pictures, I'm posting another, normal picture here!

TOTALLY love it, but if memory serves [it doesn't always, these days] they are off the scale pricey. They aren't 'real' mosaic-- the design is pressed into metal, and the dark areas are just enough lower than the shiney bits so the dark doesn't get scratched off.