Our granite was installed on December 12. You can read the whole story and see all the pictures here, if you haven’t already seen them. When the installers left, I looked at everything I noticed that the cutout for the sink went just a little too close to the edge in the back.
Sink Cutout
I thought to myself . . that’s ok . . I can live with, but it did bother me. Vince walked in, looked at it and immediately commented on it. I asked a friend to come over and see what she thought and she kinda winced at it.
When I was first looking at granite and sinks, I was talking to a friend and she said “be sure they cut enough of an overhang so crud doesn’t get caught on the edge” and she was telling me that she doesn’t have enough overhang at her house. When I went to look at the granite, I stood right there at the sinks and asked about the overhang and they assured me it would be sufficient and in all but two places, it was.
The more I thought about it and about having this forever and what we had paid, I knew it was something that was going to bother me so we called the granite folks and they came out and looked at it and agreed to replace it. They called us over the holidays and my cell phone stays lost half the time so I didn’t even see their call. Then after Vince went back to work, he called them and they said “We left you a message!” and they had so I apologized for not seeing it and the new granite was installed Saturday.
This whole section had to come out and this is the new piece.
New Granite
The sink is perfect!
Sink
The “lip” is uniform all the way around.
Sink
Please don’t get me wrong here . . but I don’t like the kind of granite that is all uniform. If you have it and you like it . . great . . but that wasn’t what I wanted. I love the “veins” or flowing type granite. The new piece is so much prettier than the first piece. I thought it was pretty til I saw this piece. We had picked it out but I can never visualize exactly how it’s going to look once they cut out my particular section. This little section to the left of the stove could be my favorite part.
Granite
I like this part too . . which is left of the sink.
New Granite
When we had chosen the two Typhoon Bordeaux slabs to be used the first time, I found one of the had some burgundy dots in it but those all got cut out when they cut our pieces. The new piece has some of those dots. I love those!
New Granite
Right near the edge by the fridge, I love this pattern too.
New Granite
OK . . I just love it all! Vince was sitting at the table . .
Me: Don’t you just LOVE the new countertops?
Vince: They’re fine.
Me: Really? Don’t you see why I didn’t like the old ones?
Vince: Not really!
Huh? I’m sure if he was the one using them (instead of just paying for them), he’d see t hem quite differently.
They should get the tile backsplashes done this week and then Vince will get the under cabinet lighting put in and my kitchen will be complete . . except for the pantry drawer he’s adding. A man’s work is never done! Getting the tile off the walls made such a huge mess . . he just put another coat of “whatever” on the walls so they can be as smooth as possible when the tile guys get here.
Walls
There’s supposed to be a painter coming soon to repaint the kitchen, the family room and the ceilings in those two rooms. I’ve learned to be very patient when dealing with painters!
The size or layout of my kitchen didn’t change but with the new added cabinets in the dining room, I have way more storage and the kitchen is way brighter and nicer to work in. I love what we did.
Kitchen
Kim says
This is so pretty! I love the veins in the granite. I look forward to the pictures of the finished kitchen.
Jen says
Very pretty! I’m jealous. I have an old house, small kitchen, no storage or countertops…and 2 boys who like to pile on the few counters I do have! I bet you are right, Vince would love them if he was using them and not paying for them! I always like things a lot more if I didn’t pay for them. 😉
Dottie N. says
It looks super, Judy. Having a nice work area makes working a lot more fun!
Frances says
I just had granite countertops installed as well. I am interested to see your backsplash when it is all done. That is my next project. I am hoping to find a nice large ceramic tile (perhaps a Celtic knot?) as a focal point that I can work around.
Joan says
Beautiful! There are advantages to having a small kitchen – everyhing is within arm’s reach and granite is much more affordable than what it would be on large countertops!
Donna Williams says
Looks beautiful! Great job picking everything out – everything looks great together.
🙂
Sharon in Michigan says
I was wondering when we’d get to see the new granite. It looks beautiful. I also love all the marks, spots, lines, etc. I’m green with envy. With all the time you spend making those wonderful meals, you should be surrounded by beauty! Enjoy.
Sherrill says
My kitchen will continue to be a work in progress for awhile but, for the time being, I’m taking a break from ‘construction mode’. I still need to decide what I’m going to do with the cabinets–reface or refinish–and the tile flooring is hideous and must go at some point. Also having my handyman install some of the rev-a-shelves. Have two and need some more so nothing ever gets lost again at the back of the 26″ deep cabs!!
Judy H says
Congrats! It looks wonderful! I hope you enjoy it!
carol c says
very pretty indeed, good for you Judy speaking up and getting what was right! reminds me of an intricate batik fabric. but your countertop is one of a kind, and made from the efforts of the earth, outstanding Judy.
AmyM says
First, love the counters…
Second, I have the same sink as yours and just went and looked… we have sink showing all around! the lip as you called it. How did you know the counter was supposed to hang over it? I had no idea, and I do always have to wipe the top of the sink. Is this something you learned from the sink company?
Nancy Angerer says
Glad you love it — it looks great!
Linda says
That looks really lovely, Judy. How exciting to know they’re coming this week to do the back splash and soon the painting will be done. It looks like a nice cheery place to work in and I’m sure the lack of uneven surface and that grout will make it so much nicer. I like the more natural granite with it’s interesting patterns in it too.
Katie Z. says
I’m so happy for you! I like the veins in the granite too.
CindyM says
Definitely the right decision to have it redone. I so agree with you about the variance in the granite. Ours has a lot of movement, too. There’s some orange color in ours, but it’s very spotty. I’m still trying to scrub it off because I always think it’s turmeric or butternut squash or something orange that I’ve cooked!
Bon says
Judy, I agree with you. I love the look of your new granite.
Cathy vJ in MA says
Your granite top is perfect! Congratulations!
Jill says
Lol….I came to your blog for the first time to view your quilts…..and I see you have excellent rate in granite! ;). We had typhoon bordeaux installed a few months ago, and sometimes I just sit and stare at it! ;). Finally made a backsplash decision-tumbled marble subway tiles in crema and they look wonderful! Anxious to see your choice! Now, I am off to look at your quilts!
Carolyn says
Absolutely gorgeous! I love it more than the first too…. not that it makes a difference.
Joan says
LOL!! I believe my hubs and I have the exact conversation last year, when I got new counters! It must be a guy thing! I did hear thru the grapevine though, that he did love the new counters. That’s even funnier to me. Be sure not to share that info with the one who fixes your meals! tee hee
Sheri says
I’m like you – I like the differences in granite, because I figure something interesting happened there. When we moved into our house here in Colorado, I was surprised to find about a 2″ diameter black spot in our otherwise marbled granite. (It’s in the granite itself, of course.) I realized when we had looked at the house (several times) before buying it, the previous owner always had something covering it up. Even when we moved in, she left us flowers (so sweet) right on top of that spot. It must have bothered her when she lived here. Not me. That spot gives the counter character and makes you wonder what happened there, so many many years ago!
Diana in RR,TX says
our big island is a multi texture granite. I think the slab for the butlers pantry is as well. Memory gets hazy several months since we looked and ordered that one. The outer counters are solid black so they don’t detract from the island or compete with it. Love the look of yours.
Mel Meister says
Vince needs to quilt or knit to appreciate color! LOL!