I think a regular white undercabinet fluorescent tube light is fine. (although you may want to use several next to each other, if you have the room. More light is good!!) If they're hard to find in such short lengths, I wonder if an undercabinet LED would work for you. I think any kind of light is fine, as long as it's bright enough. Being able to aim it at the plant might be a plus. I have used regular fluorescent tubes and had pretty good results. Jess Here is a link that might be useful: Home Depot LED

We don't have basalt countertops, but the stone for our fireplace hearth is probably a basalt. It's Shanxi Black. Basalts and gabbros (a related similar stone) are usually sold as "granite". Our fireplace surround fabricator said that it was even harder to cut than our quartzite. It should be a good stone for countertops. It is very low porosity, hard and strong. Any very black stone is going to show fingerprints to some extent because it is a very dark uniform surface. Some of the basalt has white or gold flecks mixed in and therefore may show fingerprints less. The basalt or gabbro is the black hearth extension: Other than possible finger prints, I don't think there is any skeleton in the closet with this stone. Perhaps a fabricator might charge a bit extra to fabricate because this is a hard stone and causes more tool wear, but it can also be a fairly inexpensive stone. The 3 x 8' slab that our hearth came from was $10 per square foot.

So helpful, thank you! Handymac, given your warning, I better stick with my tried but true hole saw. I sure don't trust myself enough to risk it. Klem, I had a big "duh" moment when I used the hole saw to make a starting point to jigsaw the sink cutout. I got about 2/3 of the way through, then thought, "gee, why isn't it advancing any more?" I can't believe I didn't anticipate that it wasn't deep enough for the counter. Sheesh! I suppose I'll drill a pilot hole to be sure I've centered it right on both sides and have at it.

The typical discount to a Kitchen dealer by a fabricator around here is pretty small so even with a modest markup it can be higher than at most fabricators. Some kitchen dealers in my area work at an almost standard markup even on counters- making the charge much higher than most of the local fabricators- Then there is a range of fabricator pricing around here and there are a LOT of em- some advertise as low as 30/ft- others start at 70. While you don't always get what you pay for your rarely get what you don't pay for. In my own business- I use one place and only make the discount they give me. What I include-answering questions, running down slabs at different yards, occasionally going to a yard with client, checking stone characteristics for them, helping select the stone and splash, loading images into the design on the computer for them, being on site for template and install, dealing with any service issues- - by the hour I'd be better off fast a fast food place. I offer it when doing a project since I sell kitchens not just boxes. (note- I'm a tad quirky, don't expect all that from the typical KB dealer. I won't on the other hand sell just counters). Since I will only use a first rate fabricator, my counter price could easily be as much higher than a bargain fabricators as you are seeing; though I'm not making what amounts to the difference between the two prices. What you get is hard to say in this case- could be a cheap fabricator, a high markup up at the KB, a better fabricator at the KB place....