In person, however, i liked the look of pewter much better. It's warmer and softer. Pewter is about 15% more than zinc.

But I still wish it were called zinc!

So here they are, my faux zinc ... pewter ... counters.

and a long view

I got them at a place called Brooks Custom in Mt Kisco, NY (link below). I didnt go direct, it was thru my GC. In this area of the country we don't find many bargains, and of course my GC earns a mark up, too ... so this may not be representative, but Ive given zinc and pewter pricing below. (not including templating and install)

Note that I only need 12" wide because my uppers sit on the counter --- that reduced my costs. I needed about 17.25 linear feet.

14 Gauge ZINC Countertop $4,811.00
� Matte Finish
� 1 1/2" Thick, Bonded to MDF Core
� L Shape: 12" x 84" x 122 3/4" OAD
� Eased Square Edge
� Joints/Seams as Required
� No Cutouts
� No Backsplash
1 seam
18 Gauge PEWTER Countertop $5,204.00
� Matte Finish
� 1 1/2" Thick, Bonded to MDF Core
� L Shape: 12" x 96" x 110 3/4" OAD
� Eased Square Edge
� Joints/Seams as Required
� No Cutouts
� No Backsplash
2 seams

The camera adds ten pounds.

: )

Thanks!

Did you discuss your pewter choice earlier? I'd love to hear the pros/cons of a pewter countertop. They certainly look gorgeous.

Marcolo,
Thanks.

I wasn't worried too much about the zinc health controversy, since these countertops are just landing areas. My other counters are wood, stainless, marble, and something mysterious on top of an old work table ... that may be zinc. But the antique worktable is so knarly id never prep right on it anyway.

I had never heard of pewter counters, and was certain I wanted zinc. But, in person, zinc was colder than pewter, a little blue even. SIde by side I immediately preferred the color pewter. I wavered only because i liked the exotic sound of zinc, and pewter always struck me (perhaps unfairly) as a poor-man's silver.

The second thing I liked about pewter is that, because it is softer, it will bang up sooner .... which i like.

No, we are not moved in yet (argghhh). But it looks like very very soon!

There is actually no glass in the cabs yet ..i chose a restoration glass that has a very slight waviness to it, and it will be another few weeks!

We have two islands. One of them is on casters. It is supposedly an old french pastry table. It's pretty beat up, but I love it, especially the size!

kitchen worktable

The worktable you love or hate. It has been in the kitchen during much of the remodel, since last summer, and it amuses me that all the workers put their tools and such on it. That's actually true with a number of items we have bought ... they must wonder why we have so much junk around.

Don't be surprised at where workers put things. I had a glass guy here a couple of weeks ago who put down 1) Windex-soaked rags 2) Dirty, wet gloves and 3) an open RAZOR BLADE on a brand new velvet chair.

Below is the link for the h/w. Funny story. I saw a copy of an antique fridge somewhere and came across this guy on the internet as the fabricator. I had already planned on the hardware, but the more DH and I ogled the photos, the more we wanted a real ice box, not a subzero skin.

So we decided to call the company and request info. It was 2am. The owner of the company (same time zone) PICKS UP the phone, and chats with us as if it were the most normal thing in the world to conduct business at 2am. Unfortunately, lead time on a whole fridge is 18 mo.s or so. Plus we don't really have the room in our layout for the right proportions. Lead time on h/w is 3 mo.s

PS is your chair ok?

But I'm clueless about the zinc health issue - and when I heard you had pewter, it brought to my mind a health issue related to the lead content of pewter. (Sorry!)

FWIW, I was planning on zinc counters surrounding my sink in an area where I would expect it to have some contact with food (including acidic ingredients), though not be the prime prep space. What am I missing, or rather, what health issue will I face?

Thank goodness for the collective wisdom of the GW KF!

L

Martha,
Come on by for lunch sometime! I'm not quite Jean Georges but we could make do.

Lirio,
Im not an expert on it but some people feel that food prep on zinc would leach too much zinc into your system. I did not investigate those claims or pewter extensively, because I only used pewter in my hutch area, where there is a 12" landing space. I cannot imagine any food prep will take place there. Where I prep, my counters are wood and marble.

You would have to eat a LOT of tomatoes because it takes 2 grams or more before the symptoms show up. That's a lot of metal to etch out of a countertop and absorb into the tomato.

Zinc overdoses are definitely a problem, but more likely to be seen in people taking lots of supplements containing zinc.

mtnrdredux, your project is coming together very well. It's exciting to follow the adventure. You're gonna have a honkin' big kitchen and dining area.