Anyone have honed granite......................

[California Girl]

Cyp - I feel your pain. We've had a pile of troubles, too! If we didn't have bad luck lately, we'd have no luck at all! I was lucky the tech line at Sears was able to troubleshoot my broken washer over the phone, the carpet guys came today to put in the new carpet from the flood when the water heater broke, and the bath tub guy came today to assess the crack in my only tub/shower. After the carpet guys left we plugged everything back in and now our big TV doesn't work. Grrrr! My heart goes out to you, girlfriend!

[chicagoans]

I forgot to add that I am now thinking of Soapstone - boy countertops are really, really hard to figure out

My neighbors have soapstone and it's really beautiful. They installed it about 5 years ago and are really happy with it. Theirs is black, and it has a honed finish that gives a warmer feel than polished granite. It is really lovely.

So many choices! We spent lots of time looking at slabs, and budget kept us away from some of the ones I really loved. When ours was installed I kind of freaked because it looked so different than the little sample I had brought home. But you know, you really can't go wrong - any natural stone is pretty IMO. I just decided I loved it and never looked back. No matter what you pick, you'll fill your kitchen with people you love, and then you'll love your kitchen!

[Pia]

Thanks for the words of encouragement

I talked to a great guy in FL last night (comes recomended from gardenweb.com as the number 1 guy when installing soapstone) and we are talking of him coming to STJ to install and finish my soapstone - probably will still be cheaper purchasing from him and his upcharge and expenses, than purchasing it here and using granite installers (big mistake so I hear if they don't work alot with ss), so wish me luck.

Still looking at doing a blog

Pia

[California Girl]

Pia - just an idea. I was going to have fossils of fish and ferns and leaves tiled randomly into my backsplash, but the way it worked out, it just didn't end up happening. I think fish fossils could look really cool in an island setting.

Kind of like these:

[Pia]

Very cute CG

I think I am set on backsplash tile from Oceanside Glasstile, counters of Soapstone, sink by Kohler, faucet by Grohe, solid cabinets by Kraftmaid and paint is Seafoam by BM - well, this is as of 1.28pm Thursday, who knows what it will be by 1:29pm

Pia

[chicagoans]

Hi Pia,

One thing to check with the Grohe faucet: some of them don't stay on in the power spray mode unless you keep pressing the spray button. (Some people don't care but I use the spray mode all the time. My mom ended up replacing a $600 Grohe faucet after just a few months because the spray kept switching back to the normal stream mode unless she held the button.) It's been a year since I shopped for my kitchen stuff, but at the time some of the Grohe faucets I tested (that were hooked up to water on display) were like this. I only mention it because nice faucets are pricey and if you use the power spray mode alot, you might want it to stay on even when you're not holding the sprayer. (OK, I admit I'm a bit anal about this stuff!)

[Pia]

Thanks Chicagoans

The one I am getting is like that - I am hoping it's not tooooo much trouble but I have to admit I pretty much only use the "spray" not the "stream" on my current faucet so I am a bit concerned that it might be a mistake - but it is pretty :lol:

[cypressgirl]

Very cute CG

I think I am set on backsplash tile from Oceanside Glasstile, counters of Soapstone, sink by Kohler, faucet by Grohe, solid cabinets by Kraftmaid and paint is Seafoam by BM - well, this is as of 1.28pm Thursday, who knows what it will be by 1:29pm

Pia

And I think after all this, you shoud have a BIG party, or at least a photo tour on the forum. It sounds beautiful, and I want to SEE it. I love decorating and remodeling and I could remodel my house every year. It's like an expensive hobby. One that doesn't work too well with me hubby.

[Jo Ann - VA]

I'm in the beginning stages of remodeling my kitchen too. The cabinet maker has put us off since March. We told him we were in no hurry but I didn't think we'd still be waiting 5 months later. Maybe it's a good sign that he does good work since he is so busy!
I have changed my mind so many times about the wood and the granite. My kitchen counter has about 15 different granite samples on it that I look at and change my mind on daily...sometimes hourly. They've been there for several months. DH tried to pile the samples up at the end of the counter the other day until I protested that I look at them everyday! It is so hard to make a decision! DH says he is going to jump off a cliff if I don't make a decision soon!

[Pia]

Congrats Jo Ann

Do go to the forum that was recommended here (my new addiction ) to read all about granite - it is a fantastic forum and you will learn all you ever wanted to know but didn't know you needed to, about granite (didn't know it could stain and etch but it can), soapstone, - didn't even consider it or know I might like it until after I visited the forum - marble etc, etc, etc.

www.gardenweb.com (and go to the kitchen forum link)

Happy research and decision making.

Pia

[bubblybrenda]

Wish I had visited the Off Topic Forum sooner. Just finished a kitchen reno and the information on here would have been very useful.

I went with Silestone countertops in white (stellar snowdrop) with a dark gray & black backsplash. My old countertops were black and I wanted a complete change this time around. Cupboards are glossy white with brushed stainless steel knobs & hinges, super deep undermount sink, and very tall faucet (all in brushed stainless steel). After all was said and done the super deep sink was my favourite part of the reno.