Today is Day 16 of our kitchen remodeling project and the topic is granite.

During our 26-year marriage, Deb and I have owned five houses, nine if you count some rentals we bought during a period of temporary insanity.  None have had granite.

For us, the installation of granite is a momentous day, one in which we’ve finally caught up with a current decorative trend.  I’m thinking of replacing my 8-track player next.

Shopping for granite turned out to be a fun experience. During the last year we’ve visited open houses and fixated on the kitchens.  For some reason, we really connected with dark granite.

Visiting kitchen showrooms confirmed our initial feelings.  We looked at the beautiful brown, blue and gray granites, but, like a sultry temptress, the dark patterns kept calling us back.

We approached the actual purchase with some trepidation.  What if we don’t find a pattern we really like?  What if the dark hues make the kitchen too dark?

After all, there’s no sending it back once it’s installed.  We’ll be looking at these countertops for a long time.  I’m pretty sure no one paints over granite, no matter how ugly it is.

So we made the 45-minute drive to Great Lakes Granite in Redford, MI.  Our worries were soon for allayed.  A quick look at the dark granites confirmed our top choice – emerald pearl – remained our favorite.  There was no looking back.

We proceeded to the warehouse to select our specific hunk of rock.  Tons of granite slabs were stacked in neat rows, separated by color.  We were led to the emerald pearl section.

Just as I was wondering how we would get a good look at the slabs, an overhead hydraulic lift came and clamped onto a sheet and pulled it out for a close-up.

This was very cool and reminded me of a giant erector set.  I really wanted to play with the lift, but the staff appeared kind of protective of the equipment.  I think they read my mind.

What do you look for when inspecting granite?  We saw no discernable flaws, no gaping craters or Liberty Bell-like cracks.  Other than a dusty film that covered the slab, it appeared perfect.

I wanted to say, “wrap it up”, but it doesn’t work that way.  Instead, they tagged it.  The fabrication pros will come next week to get the exact dimensions before cutting it.

I suppose there is a chance we’ll wonder what we were thinking after it’s installed. As a fallback, we’ve committed to loving it regardless of its final appearance.  If necessary, we’ll adopt the self-delusion of a mother with an ugly baby.  Hopefully, it won’t come to that.