Countertops are in!

Whew, after over a month without real countertops, ours were finally installed this morning -- and I'd say, it was worth the wait! They look even better than I'd hoped.

It is interesting. I can pick out materials and items for clients all day long, but when it comes time to commit for my own house, I am the worst of the worst of clients. I changed my mind countless times, visited pretty much every stoneyard in the area and even after making the commitment, agonized over whether or not I had made the right decision.

See, I've had in my head my dream kitchen for years. If you look at my Pinterest Kitchen boards you'll see the one thing that most of them have in common: Carrara Marble. It is absolutely beautiful in person. White and gray with stunning veining and movement. It isn't over-powering, but it definitely demands attention.

But, I cook -- a lot. I have kids.
Marble does not like either of those scenarios. It stains, etches and can even chip.

So, I had to get over my "dream kitchen" in my head and switch gears a bit. When I saw this quartzite, I was immediately intrigued. It was still a little busier than I'm usually attracted to, but it had incredible movement and "veining" instead of the splotches that granite typically has.
It also had some great colors to work with. Instead of just white and a light gray, it also has dark grays, black, a little brown and tan and even a slight grayish-green tone in some of the veins.
Bonus for Luke: it was A LOT cheaper than the marble I had fallen in love with. ;)

Now that it is in, I can make some more decisions about cabinet colors, hardware and lighting. It really is the jumping-off point for the entire kitchen -- now everything else should be a little easier to commit to. (Or so I'd like to tell myself.) I really am the worst client.