I don't think you are too picky at all. If you were using multiple slabs, they should have been from the same lot. Bookmatch would be great - then the veins could have been matched up. But even if not bookmatched, from the same lot would ensure that the general tone/background color is the same - which that doesn't look like at all. Did you pick your actual slabs? Did the stoneyard say anything about them being from the same lot?

Yeah they should have been bookmatched so they would be mirror images of one another. I am shocked that a fabricator would use those two pieces next to each other. They don't look like the same color at all and I can't imagine most customers would accept such a mismatch. Did you pick your specific slabs?

They are praying you don't say anything, I promise. They took a gamble that you would accept this. Probably had a remnant and used it in order to save a full sheet that matched.

Did you purchase 2 bookmatched slabs, especially earmarked for the island ONLY? And then extra slabs for the perimeter? Those are not bookmatched. They come from the same block, but block color shifts some as you slice across the whole.

Not good.

In my installation, I was emailed the layout using pictures of the actual slabs so that I could see the direction of the grain, which slabs were being used where, the bookmatched seam on the island, etc. And my positive confirmation to continue / approve was required. No surprises.

This obvious mismatch in your most visible area is a hard no.

Hi thank you, yes we purchased two bookmarked slabs that we picked out ourselves. They were beautiful. We have a bar area that we used the same material on and the island. They assured us there was plenty of material in the two slabs for the bar (that has a backsplash that runs up in same quartzite) and the island. The perimeter is a completely different black quartzite. We have a KD who has a really good relationship with this fabrication company and supposedly they are the best in the area. Our perimeter, butlers pantry, laundry room and powder bath all look great. (Different materials) I’m assuming if we want it changed out they would have to replace the entire island slab, is that correct? Thanks for all your help!

Where did they bookmatch the seams? Behind the bar? What does the rest of it look like? If you had that many places to use a highly patterned stone, more than 2 slabs would be needed, if you wanted seams everywhere to be ideal. But the island should have used the bookmatching, right down the middle, and left the scraps for the other uses, of less prominence. You don't buy specialty bookmatched pieces and put the butterfly seam in on a bar! Verify that the materials were actual bookmatched, with sequential serial numbers shown on your paperwork. You need an odd and even number, next to each other.

Here’s a picture of the bar, it looks matched up perfectly. And the tone of the bar is the same as the majority of the island slab. I will verify the serial numbers.

Pictures won’t upload. I will keep trying.

Yes we have done that with the lighting. We’ve looked at it in all different lighting and times of day. They are clearly different tones. I’m going to have them email me a copy of the renderings and serial numbers of slabs so we can see what we approved and didn’t approve. Thank you!

Here is the bar with the same quartzite.

I think they matched the veins pretty well for NOT being bookmatched and it is definitely not a bookmatched set of slabs. Too bad the colors are so far off. I would not accept this.

They used the bookmatching sections for the bar. Which means you would need 2 more slabs for the island. The far end of the slabs often are different colors, even though you may be able to match up some veining. It IS a really good job of matching the veining. Just not the background color.

Not sure where they got the idea that the bar back was the most important piece in the kitchen, that gets the matched vein flow. If there was any confusion about the hierarchy of choices here, that contributed to them choosing the bar over the island.

The important thing though, is the template laid on the stone, and your sign off on that. Can you show what they sent you for the template laid on the stone?

I will have them send the template to me, I don’t have it because we went to the fabricators and looked at it on their computer. I just don’t remember it being anything like this. It certainly wasn’t two different colors. At least it didn’t show on their monitor.

The bar and backspeash certainly took an entire slab - so that didn't leave 2 for the island. It looks like they made "efficient" use of the material (maybe even rotated something 90 degrees?) and did what they could with the fewest number of slabs.

I can't tell what the entire shape / dimension of your island is - but it's likely that it needed 2 slabs on it's own in order to match this consistently.

I will have them send the template to me, I don’t have it because we went to the fabricators and looked at it on their computer. I just don’t remember it being anything like this. It certainly wasn’t two different colors. At least it didn’t show on their monitor.

For others: Next time when you look at the templating on their monitor, take a photo of their monitor. Then you have proof on your phone.

And if you pay for sequential slabs, take a photo of the slabs and the sku's with the number, etc

How long is your bar? It looks like that could have been fine with one slab if the slab size was roughly 5' x 10' and your bar is less than 10 feet long. I find it hard to believe they used 2 bookmatched slabs for the bar. I would then it could just be one slab cut across the middle. Then you would just need 2 more slabs for the island bookmatch.

^^^ correct - you usually get over 55 inches in a slab meaning that the bar wold have been once piece sliced the long way. Very efficient use of a slab.

AB Normal- quit telling people they need to buy out the entire lot of slabs to get a kitchen done. And it's the FABRICATOR'S JOB to SHOW the client how this will all work and be laid out.

The bar is 99” long and backsplash on it is 2 ft in height. They cut the bar and the extra piece for island out of one slab. Then the remainder of the bar out of the other slab. In the renderings it doesn’t show two different tones in the island. That is the main concern. These were supposedly two book matched slabs that we picked out in person and looked exactly the same. so that was never a thought that they’d be different colors. The veins don’t match great now that it’s in installed but in the renderings it looked much better. We have the fabricators coming today to
Look at it, I will update after they leave! Thank you for all your help and comments. I appreciate it.

Forget all the bookmatching, templating, legal, and sign-off nonsense. This looks like hell and these idiots should be ashamed to have their names on it. They should be doubly ashamed for having attempted to pass it off. How can they not die of embarrassment? If I'm not proud to have my name on it, it doesn't go in. Nonnegotiable.

Thank you Joseph! I agree! And I am really hoping they look at it and feel the same way, it’s so frustrating because you know they wouldn’t want that in their kitchen, but they are totally fine putting it in someone else’s. We bought 7 slabs of quartzite from them for our whole remodel and spent a lot of money so they should make it right. Fingers crossed!

Joe - you just take your crazy "pride in workmanship" ideas right on out of this conversation and please find ways to blame the homeowner.

/sarcasm

@just_janni. Hahaha I love it!

@just_janni HA! How lucky are we to have @Joseph Corlett, LLC here? Wish he was in my radius, I have another kitchen on the horizon...

OMG, 7 SLABS!!!! That must have cost a bloody fortune--definitely do not accept this!

So much for the "not buying enough slabs" theory....

There is no excuse for this main feature of your kitchen to be buggered up like that.

Be firm.

Remember some great advice here - you are happy to accept this counter as long as they are okay with validating that this is the work they are proud of and that you can post that online along with the pictures in your review. or better yet - they can post your pictures on their website along with your contact info as a reference.

That is great advice!! I will definitely remember that :) thank you!