I'm having trouble envisioning the dual materials scenario - would the eating area material be in the L shape of the seats, or that whole end of the island?

As far as scenario no. 2, I can tell you my island is 118" (designed for one slab of quartz) and while it was heavy to carry up here, it worked just fine.

Thanks sjhockeyfan for your comments. As per scenario no. 2, the alternate material (thinking light grey solid quartz) would be in an L shape just in front of the 4 bar stools (see dotted line for possible seam location of two quartz materials). We were told by the two granite companies/fabricators that have quoted that the cooktop and sink cut-outs further weakens the slab. They did not say they could not do it at the length of 119", but expressed concern and no promises to be seamless.

Carol

Carol:

Fabricators can get 120" out of a sheet of quartz and sometimes by luck an inch or two more. Cut outs do weaken the top during transport, but there are mechanical supports which make this irrelevant. If you can't get fabricators to promise 120" with no seams and no broken tops, get a different fabricator.

We have done many islands 120" or more. The largest one piece was 138" x 78". As long as it will fit in the doorway it should be do-able.

Trebruchet,

Thanks for your help. I did not realize that some sheets of Quartz are by luck occasionally an inch or so larger than 10 feet. We were told by one that the maximum usable inches is 119".

Kevdp4,

The maximum slab length for this Quartz by Ceasarstone is 120". The Bianco drift we have chosen does not come in a jumbo size which I assume was what you have experience with for the 138" X 78" sizes you have done. However, good to know you have been able to get a slab that long safely installed. The health and safety inspectors seem to be cracking down in our area on the stone counter suppliers for fear of employee injuries. Our door way is a double door so should not be too much of an issue to get it into the house.

All:

As per the idea of changing materials for the seating area in the L shape, I am not sure, but would it not compromise the strength of the island counter to have the seam so close to the edges where it is an overhang and supported by corbels?

How bad would a seam look if we wanted to go the full 125.5"? Would a seam along the cooktop be the best place? Our cooktop is to be a Thermador induction.

Thanks,

Carol

If I could sacrifice 7" or so to avoid a seam, I'd do it.

(Sorry, must be the friday night wine...er...beer).

Edited for off color humor.

This post was edited by OOTM_Mom on Fri, May 2, 14 at 19:00

I agree with Treb. Our island is 118'' x 60''. No seam in the granite. Beautiful. I held my breath the entire time they were cantilevering it into place. I'd certainly try to size the island for a one-piece install. (My granite guys were ah-mazing!)

I hate seams. I absolutely hate seams in granite!! I have a Long Island and designed it so I would have a baking area at the end. So the one end is lower and I absolutely love it. My kitchen is an absolute disaster right now and if I posted a pic someone might report me to health and human services, but I promise to post a pic later or tomorrow morning.

Any more votes on which scenario is best? Thanks for your votes and opinions Trebuchet, michellmarie and sum5463 and your humour, OOTM.

Carol

How about a stripe? A thin section of a different material in the middle, so it looks like a design element? Or 2 small sections on either end?

I don't think I would want the one end a different colour from the rest, so putting in something different would not be my vote.

I think my first choice would be to seam it at the stove top.

In my own island, I'm reducing it to get a full slab with no seam. But that's only because I'm doing butcher block, and a seam in the wood would be so much more noticeable. And, I don't have anything in the island to reduce the seam area.

DaveLinde:

Seams through the center of sinks are not a problem. If your fabricator says it is, get another fabricator. Epoxy or methacrylate seam adhesive only, no polyester. The edges should line up perfectly with no machining on site.

If you want a seamless look, get a solid surface countertop. Your wife can have a seamed undermount stainless steel sink these days with the Edge series from Karran.

Well, I have not found too many images of an island with two different counter materials (unless you change heights). This was one of the few I found. That probably means that this option should be scratched off the list.

[Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Chevy Chase Kitchen & Bath Designers Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath

We have both quartz and butcher block on our 1- level island. I like it because it breaks up what would otherwise be a massive expanse of Caesarstone.

sas95,

Thanks for your comments. I would love to see a picture of your island.

All:

Here is my island plan up close. Where would it be best to trim the inches if I go to one slab at 119". I feel I could spare some to the the right of the cooktop. I am less in favour of taking much from the space between the cooktop and sink. Where would you trim to get one seamless slab?

Carol

amberm,

The idea of a stripe of different material in the middle is intriguing - thanks for your thoughts. I may go your route of just reducing the island to go seamless. What elements do you have on your island (e.g.prep sink, cooktop, both or neither)?

Carol

I'm a little unclear on the picture - on the left you show 24" for dishes (pegs are a waste of space by the way), then 18" and 27" (for what ?)

sjhockeyfan,

The 18" inch cabinet may be another garbage and the 27" a drawer stack likely for school supplies, junk drawer, etc.. However, we will need to adjust all the cabinet sizes if we shrink the overall length of the island.

Yes, we have read to skip the pegged drawers, just had that written on the plan from a long time ago. The dish drawers open towards the DW (opens on the short end of the island).

Carol

15" to the right of the cooktop is pretty minimal, IMO. I would take some inches from both trash pullout and 21" cab to the left instead. 15" trash and 18" cab. Half inch from the right side if necessary.

I do not know much about seaming, but if you were to do two slabs I would place a seam alonside the cooktop or to the left of it, aesthetically.