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IKEA uses local vendors for the granite counters. So you can always get another vendor to do those if you find a better option. It should be no problem, as the separate vendor will come and measure, then fabricate and install. We used IKEA for our zodiaq quartz counters, and we weren't impressed with their fabricator. We had many problems, but IKEA fixed everything. We went through Costco for the same product, different house, and had a much better experience. That said, I love the rest of my IKEA kitchen. The actual IKEA products and their installers were amazing!

Very few of my fabricators carry granite longer than nine feet. The slabs they do have in longer lengths is usually stuff I'd never specify to begin with and it's extra pricey.
When I do bigger islands (which I generally avoid because they become obstacles) I use solid surface (corian, ceasarstone, etc.).

we loovveee our ikea kitchen. we bought everything from them including appliances (tip: make sure your appliances are measured properly so they fit with the rest of the cabinetry etc), but not the countertop. we were going to buy their white speckle quartz, but it was backordered for a few months. in the end we went with an outside countertop contractor and was very happy with the result. he just came, measured, we picked the colour, they made it, delivered and installed and the end. also, i recommend going with an outside contractor for the countertop because at least where I am, ikea only sells thinner quartz/stone slabs, but i prefer the heftier look of a 1 5/8" thick counter.

installation went smoothly, although it does definitely take a while. not a one day project for sure. my husband who is a carpenter installed it.

something to note, sometimes certain parts/drawers/doors are not in stock and you may have to wait a few weeks or more to get them. you can't reserve these, so you have to check back periodically. it wasn't a problem for us, but i did make several trips back and forth over the next few months while we waited for a missing door or drawer. thankfully we live fairly close to two ikeas.

hope it helps! enjoy your new kitchen

@SugarplumsMom: we have a seam in our island (quartz) our choices were have the seam or make the island smaller. You can't even notice it and it doesn't affect anything so I'm happy we kept the larger island

@SugarplumsMom: it's at the house we're building so I'm not there right now but I'll grab a pic the next time I'm there. It's not a gap at all, it's like razor blade thin. You would never see it unless you're looking for it and even then you have to have the right lighting. When you look at different fabricators ask to see some examples. That's what I did and our fabricator did a great job

Following! We are ripping out our kitchen this year and installing ikea, but we are just getting started with planning so we have a lot to learn.

Would anyone mind sharing appropriate costs and the size of your kitchen?

@SugarplumsMom: This is another useful reno story if you want to check it out on her blog: http://www.iheartorganizing.com/2015/08/iheart-kitchen-reno-good-bad-ugly.html?m=1