It as so many colors in it, you can go in a lot of directions...take a look at caesarstone ...they have the beiges, the golds, the grays. The quartz products are not only more durable than granite, but the patterns are more consistent and plainer so you won't need to worry about heavy graining competing with the stone pattern.

As long as the gauge is the same, it's a matter of asthetics. I would not go smaller. On another note--I found that applying adhesive pads to the exterior sides will dampen the echo. No matter what sink you get, it really makes a big difference. They can be purchased in most hardware stores or on line. I also wrapped it with gorilla tape to insure that the pads will stay put.

If you are using standard base cabinets with countertop height at 36", a vessel sink will be too high to actually use for anything but face washing for a very tall person. It would take a 30" high countertop to be able to be used for glass washing and rinsing, which is the most common usage of bar sinks. Most also don't have very "square" sides to be able to fill them up with soapy water and glasses, and they're not very deep, so the don't hold very much. One of the best uses of a (nice sized) bar sink is to hold ice and beverages for a "event" and I can't see you doing this with a vessel sink. Now, take a beautiful glass vessel sink and recess it slightly into the counter, underlight it, and get some pretty river pebbles and a fountain pump and you'd have a great water feature, but to actually use it as a bar sink---I don't think you'd be happy.

I'm in Canada, so I completely understand that a basement FP would get used. The problem is that it's pretty hard to do any fireplace that isn't personalized. There are so many options for stone/brick/tile facades, mantels, hearths, etc, that it's either going to be really "you" or really boring. And it usually becomes a large design element in the room. Even the location of the FP can be a personalized choice. For some reason, developers here love to put basement FPs in corners here. And I don't know a designer anywhere who thinks that's a good idea. But obviously someone likes it. That's not to say you shouldn't do a fireplace. It's your house, and you've got another 10 years there, so enjoy it. My point is that even if everyone wants a fireplace, not everyone is going to love YOUR fireplace. The gas fireplace in my new house will be in the dining room. Oh, the looks and comments I get!! "But, the fireplace GOES in the living room!" Where it competes with the TV as a focal point. No, thanks. And most of these people don't even know that I'm doing brick rather than stone or tile. I'm sure their heads would explode. :)