johnliu, I am trusting my GC on the ventilation issue. Since it is under a covered roof, code & sense requires it be vented. I have been so obsessively focused on the indoor stuff, that this has been on the back burner. I need to clarify with him about what this ventilation will look like. I trust his integrity and knowledge, but I hadn't thought about how it would look exactly. Good question! Upon further thought on this whole space, I think all I really need out there is the grill and the sink. Maybe a stainless steel cabinet under the sink, a set of drawers for grilling equipment and kebob sticks, and a cabinet for trash. I think most of the designers are talking about a true "outdoor" kitchen, which I don't need. I just need an outdoor grilling area with counter space. We are big homebodies and have small get togethers with friends and family, so I don't need all that extra stuff for my lifestyle. Thanks for the extra gas stub idea. I think that's an ideal solution!

Can anyone recommend a silicone for around white quartzite where it meets wall that will not bleed into Calacatta Lux Quartzite? It is installed and the edges were not sealed. any help is greatly appreciate to be able to avoid these problems. We had a little silicone bleed one the one piece they sealed and acetone removed it. I want to avoid this, and ESPECIALLY these slow bleeds that take awhile to show. I want to put up tiles but not before I can test a good silicone for the edges and wait a few weeks. Thanks so so much in advance!!!! It is quartzite and passed all the tests, but when I learned hardness and porousity are two different things, it was already installed - came across this looking for maintenance and care.

My quartzite was labeled Quartzite Gioia. However it looks a lot like some of the other quartzites that I seen seen on this thread. Someone mentioned that the stones are not always labeled consistently. It is a little grayer than I would have preferred but I still love it. we have been in our new house since Thanksgiving or so. Absolutely no etching or staining. The only problem I have had is trying to decide on a backsplash tile.

My immediate thought is soapstone for this project. It can have the look and feel of having been there forever and is hearty enough to withstand almost anything you do to it or put on it. As an added bonus I think it would look spectacular with your cabinet choice. Of course other elements have to work with it as well. Your overall style, your flooring choice, window and trim styles etc. Here is a link to some colours available and note that they show both the natural colour and after it has been treated with oil. Both treated and untreated are foodsafe - it is a matter of preference. And here are some samples of soapstone with dark green cupboards so you might get an idea of how it would look in your space. Personally if I was choosing soapstone I'd put it everywhere, on the perimeter and the island. However, if you want to coordinate a different colour for the island maybe consider the soapstone for the island as a "centrepiece" star of the show and something else on the perimeter cabinets. Could be a white quartz type product or granite in a light colour with veining in a colour to coordinate with the soapstone.