Kitchen Countertop granite pattern/movement flow question

last year

last modified: last year

I can't decide how to orient the "striping" pattern in our granite. Should it flow parallel to the longest "line" of cabinets which I think would be the wall with the sink and the corresponding wall on the other side of the door? Do we then match the island to go the same direction or would you have the lines follow the longer line of the island and thus go in the opposite direction? OR would you follow the longest length on the island and match the rest of the kitchen to that? Is there a rule of thumb??

Long story short, A, B, or C??

Background info: Lower cabinets are dark blue-grey, uppers are white. There is a large window over the sink and another smaller one to the right of the (half glass) door with views to mountains. Kitchen is open to dining room.

A favor: please stick to the question and don't comment on things such as the kitchen layout. There are reasons it is the way it is; the door can't be moved, storage was prioritized, etc. It's a wonky old house we have lived in for a long time and we are used to the quirks, and we're content with our choices and compromises. Plus it's just sad to hear about a good idea after the fact.

Thanks!

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Debbi Washburn

last year

I lean towards A - however, your stone is a bit directional - it is not a strong vein direction.

So I go with D. Speak with your fabricator - they should be able to lay the template onto the top so you can "see " each section and what the pattern will be. Sometimes you can be economical about the layout and other times you need to invest in more stone to get the perfect look for you.

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Comments (8)

Rhonda Schechter
last year
What granite are you using?
oceankehl thanked Rhonda Schechter
oceankehl
Original Author
last year
Thunder white. Finally was able to get the pic to load :)
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KW PNW Z8
last year
last modified: last year
I do think pattern of counter should run the same direction on all surfaces. .Thinking back on our fairly recent counter install, the island was driving that decision. We wanted a seamless island. The non-uniform veining pattern of our counter gave us flexibility of layout. The veining does have a direction but not a definite pattern We determined the layout on our jumbo slab that needed no seams for island The veining all flows as your layout B does, but ours is angled so all flowing ”northwest” . I would absolutely reject your plan C layout. If island seaming not an issue, which way does the pattern or color show up prettier? Can you find pics of your granite installed? Viewing slabs standing upright is really differnent than viewing them laying horizontally in use.
oceankehl thanked KW PNW Z8
oceankehl
Original Author
last year
I can find a few pictures installed but the level of movement in our color really seems to vary.
KW PNW Z8
last year
@oceankehl I hadn’t seen your added pic of granite before I posted. Looking at the pic, my first impression is the pattern is flowing the length of slab. I think I’d want the pattern lengthwise on the island , the most noticable counter surface in the kitchen, That means, the perimeter counter pattern will flow wall to open space Your plan B layout… FYI, if you have to buy full slabs & you have extra, try to use that extra somewhere in your house. You’llhave tp pay for the fabrication cutting but you’ve already paid for material. I had to buy 2 jumbo slabs. One used completely for island & the other for perimeter counters. I had enough left from second slab that I put new counter in guest bath & had a piece cut to fit a cabinet top in my dining room.
M Miller
last year
A, without question
KW PNW Z8
last year
last modified: last year
Well, I guess I’m all wrong on liking B, ☺️ @User & @M Miller is there a rule / guide about direction counter pattern should flow? Maybe it has something to do with layout & best use of counter material?