Two hand-cut and polished slabs of Bianco Romano granite were used to form a 23-foot-long island countertop in the kitchen of a Baltimore, MD, residence

In designing the kitchen of their Baltimore, MD, residence, the homeowners sought the advice of Haim Amir of Milestone Granite & Marble, LLC. In addition to owning his own fabrication shop, Amir is also an accomplished artist and sculptor. As a result, he not only provided the homeowners with practical information to create a functional design, but also opened their imaginations and inspired them to think outside the box. The end product was a long, curved granite countertop island, which serves as the focal point of the space.

According to Amir, he presented the Maryland couple with a set of ideas, and worked with them on the island design. “I showed them the templates, and they were very happy,” he said. “Not everyone can open their minds and imagine.”

The island, which measures 23 feet long, was fabricated from Bianco Romano granite. The material -- also used for the other kitchen countertop and backsplash -- was accented by cherry wood cabinets and a hardwood floor.

Amir explained that several walls were removed to open up the kitchen space, and to secure room for the large island. “The island is not straight,” he said. “It blends with the design of the cabinets.”

The island is actually comprised of two large slabs, which were hand cut and polished in Milestone Granite & Marble's shop in Baltimore. “The biggest challenge was in the factory,” said the fabricator. “Everything was cut and polished by hand. It was a special design that I created. It couldn't be put in the CNC.” In total, it took Amir about three days to fabricate the two island pieces.

The slabs were loaded onto the delivery truck using a forklift equipped with a clamp, and then rolled into the home on a dolly. Installation of the finished countertop took approximately an hour and a half. During this step, three wooden legs were temporarily stationed underneath the portion of the countertop that extends beyond the cabinet base.

According to Amir, there is only one seam down the middle of the countertop. Further enhancing the look of the piece is a double-bowl sink and Hamat faucet, which was manufactured in Israel.