As promised, this kitchen renovation has made me lose my marbles. Actually thats' a slight twist. Its' really my granite that I've lost. Fifty-seven weeks ago I purchased, at auction, three lovely pieces of granite for the counter tops in my kitchen. Arrangements were made with a granite company to pick them up from the auction and store them until they were needed. Somewhere in the eight blocks between the auction and the stone cutters my granite has disappeared.
There is dispute over what has actually happened. The granite company doesnt have a record of them and the auction isnt sure. All parties agree that we can come to an agreement but it will take some time. I dont have time. The cabinets are already in construction as is the space. If I want countertops when the cabinets are ready I need to make the arrangements right now. The building boom here makes things a bit difficult in that one has to beg for trades people and desperately hope that they ll be available.
Yesterday was consumed with trips to a variety of granite displays in hopes of finding one that suited me. It's going to run the final tally up but I was prepared to expect the final total to be higher than originally budgeted. The upside is that I get to choose a granite that I really like rather than settling for one that was 'good enough' because of price.
This is one of the three slabs that will do the job.
This is a close up. The color reproduction is not very good on here but it gives an indicator of the liveliness of the graining.
The change in actual granite required a change in the back splash tiles as well. Here are my selections.
The color reproduction is even worse on these. The basic color is the deepest shade of orange that is visible in the close up of the granite.
The tiles will completely fill the space between upper and lower cabinets. On the east and south walls the small triangles will provide a verticle border on each end. On the west wall the Mexican style trim will completely frame the tiles. The kitchen flooring has finally been definately chosen. Dark Brazilian cherry with a gymnasium finish. Rather than a crown moulding at the top of the cabinets there will be a strip of bull nosing (looks like half round moulding) stained to match the flooring. The granite will all have bull nosed edges and the apron that conceals the undercounter lighting will be stained to match the flooring also. The change in granite has also necessitated a change to the flooring in the hallway that runs from the front door to the kitchen. I dont have a picture of it. It's ceramic tile in all the darkest tones found in the granite.
Earlier this week the cabinet builder met with me and we tweaked the final layout allowing the most efficient flow and settling up some of the last minute details. The project is on its' way. Hopefully in four weeks it will be up and functioning.
Yay!
