A picture of the kitchen would help. I think they are all busy but I'm not a fan of granite for that reason. Look at the Cambria quartz's

Hi thanks for all the feed back! I've added some pictures of my kitchen,

@jck910 why do you like the quartz over granite? I read they need less upkeep which is good but will fade over time and are not seamless? Any other info on Quartz appreciated.
Thanks

I have Quartz in my kitchen and I love it. It's way less busy and has a little sparkle to it when the sun hits it just right. It doesn't have to be sealed because it's not porous like granite is. My quartz is a cream color but it comes in tons of colors and shades.

What do you mean by not seamless? I have an 8.5 foot island and my quartz counter is all one piece there. I do have a seam on my long counter run but it's like 10 or 11 feet so I would assume a granite counter would have needed a seam too.

I like the new one on the bottom right. My suggestion, if you haven't already done this, is to take a wall board with your colors and go look at slabs. It really changed what I thought I wanted. So many slabs can have a lot going on. I found the small samples didn't give an accurate representation of what the stone really looked like.

Hi---top right looks best for your kitchen. Good Luck!

I took three pictures of my stone to illustrate my point of looking at the full slab. I think the samples are great at moving you in the right direction of determining what colors and what you like (or even don't like).

Hi. I have cream cabinets, and ended up using a pale grey-flecked granite which may have been called Kashmir White. This is a picture of the slab before it was delivered and a picture of part of the kitchen. It is not very busy, just enough interest to see that it is a natural material. I have had a lot of positive feedback on it. We went with a 4cm thickness as this was a piece the dealer had not been able to sell and the price was the same as the standard 3cm. It made the slab very heavy, but it looks lovely. Limestone is vulnerable to acids like lime and milk, granite lasts better. We used a white hob to not have too stark a contrast to the counter top.

I think all your choices match fine, so it's just your personal prefernce. I like the newest bottom right (paler color). The stones are on the busy side. There is nothing wrong with that, you just need to make the countertop the focal point and keep the backsplash more simple and subdued.

I have gray/white cabinets, and my husband insisted on putting in the bianco antico granite. Two important things you need to know: 1) it's been hard for me to find a back splash with the greyish/white color and something that doesn't compete with the business of the granite. This is causing me to go into glass tile back splashes- which are pretty pricey. 2) The bianco antico has some texture to it... it's not smooth throughout, which drives my cleaning OCD nuts! I wish I would have known this when making my decision. [Don't get me wrong. I do love my granite, but these two factors may help others decide]

Such great advice/info keeps coming thx!! Thanks to everyone for posting your pics and advice it really helps. I’m going back to look at slabs today and re look I think with the countertop and Island it’s going to be to busy. The slabs looked beautiful but I need to look at the whole picture. I’m leaning toward the 2 bottom on the right Labrador Antique (love the little flecks of color), Sienna (something?) Maybe I’ll find something new to.
Thanks again

Although some of your counter choices many seem busy to you, now when I look at pictures of your kitchen what jumps out to me is the pattern of your floor tiles. In terms of having a focal point, I would think you would want a busier counter to make that a focal point instead of the floor. Also I would be aware not to clash with the floor tile pattern when choosing your backsplash. I think all your color choices would go well with your cabinets, so pick what you love! Also, it is a lot less expensive to change your wallpaper if things feel too busy than it is to change anything else :).

@Ibw123 thanks for the response my kitchen picture is the before my kitchen demo the floor tile I'm looking at is below. Thx

Just saw this dilemma.
I appreciate the photos of the kitchen because they can totally change one's opinion. I agree with lbw about the floor tile--that seemed prominent to me as well. The floor tile gives the appearance of lines, or stripes. The wallpaper is striped. Walls, cabinet, floor are all a light color. I don't think you want the counter to also be light, unless you decide to have some bold accents, such as canisters, or glass tile backsplash.
My personal opinion, in your 7:36 a.m. photo from Sept. 7, is none of the bottom row, and any of the top row. I like movement, myself, and don't understand why someone would pay granite prices for something that is, or seems, almost solid in color. But it is really a matter of personal preference.

I like the dark granite the best.

Hi again thanks for all the feedback.
I think there maybe some confusion
The pictures of my kitchen is my current kitchen which will be demolished. Everything will be new.
The new cabinet color is in the picture with the granite.
And the floor tile I'm thinking about is posted by its self later in the thread.
Sorry for any confusion.

What is your old floor?Material?

Granite is less trendy now,HOWEVER love it,won't stain burn crack Glass Plus perfect to clean.I like your samples,agree try to see whole slab I actually also
Bought specific piece or slab.I have dark in Vermont UBA TUBA am building in NC will go lighter granite counters dark on island.Kashmir white looks nice.

I have had clients use delicatus, and it is lovely. Since it is on a horizontal plane it really does not seem that busy once installed. Just keep the backsplash simple. I would not do the darker granite.

Hi all my tile person just told me that
they wrote the wrong name on my sample it's not Crema D it's "Terra Bianco" anyone comment on it or work with ? Thx

Ah..thanks for the clarity re new vs. old kitchen. Personal opinion is to balance light cabinets and light floor tile with counter that is darker in color. Also personal opinion is to have movement. If your counter is a dark color for contrast, but solid or mostly solid, it might be a bit much--opposite Oreo? When I chose mine, I chose a bit less movement than I really wanted, both because my husband has an opinion, too, and I will be looking at this for decades, so might gradually not like lots of movement. Will post pics of my counter later today, I hope, so you can see what I mean.
LOVE granite--so easy to clean, care for, no sealing needed, have never broken anything on it in almost 3 years, and I get many compliments on it. It is the focal point of my kitchen, probably because of its movement.

When I bought it, granite was cheaper than quartz. I don't know how prices are today, nor in what area you live. Both would be factors for you today.

If you get past 10' in counter length, or thereabouts, plan on a seam. A good installer will make the seam be almost invisible.
Granite vs. quartz: they are similar. A geologist will take issue with much of what is labeled "granite", and say most of it is not really granite, and then give long explanation. For our purpose, suffice it to say that there are more similarities than differences between quartz and granite. When I bought granite almost 3 years ago, granite was a bit cheaper.

margie1059 thank for your input would love to see pictures of your kitchen thanks!

Hi if it helps here are two pictures up close of my seams on quartz. From any distance they are not noticeable but if you really look, you can see them. I have also had granite and the seaming was a little less visible because the granite was busier. My quartz is pretty quiet from a distance. I chose quartz this time around because my granite (white, black and pink flecked) did show some staining around the sink area after a couple of years, BUT that was probably my fault for not sealing it often enough. Now that I am older, I know how lazy I am about sealing down the road and chose a quartz, haha.

Sorry here is the bigger seam!

Just seen the photo with the new floor tile---definitely in favor of the Delicatus... :)[houzz=]

Scooper: here you go.

And one more. This is part of the backsplash behind my sink.

Margie it looks great love the flow! I saw something similar in a lighter color I might go take another look. I think it look like this pic. Thanks so much for posting!

I wasn't to sure about the floor tile so I went back to my original which the tile designer though was to aggressive and didn't work in general in the kitchen with the wood floor leading in the kitchen and then into family room net to it?? Thoughts thanks!

So, are the two big tiles in the pic just above the possible floor tile choices? Is the lighter floor tile choice on the right (in the pic just above) the same as the floor tile sample we saw earlier (this light one looks darker than the light one we saw days ago). I'm clear on the cabinet color and I see the two possible granite choices in the pic just above, but I'm not clear on which floor tiles are being considered and that's an important part of the equation:)

Yes Ann both big tiles are new possibilities the darker on the left and lighter on the right.
I haven't ruled out the other tile (the real light one you saw days ago on Monday @11:28a
Thanks!

Thanks, would you be willing to take another pic just like the one you posted just now but please replace the mid-tone tile with the lightest tile? If you take the pic, make sure the wood floors are in it just as they are in the recent pic.

I just did a Houzz search using "white cabinets tile floor". I kind of wanted to see how dark tile floors looked vs light tile floors. I think I prefer the first two examples (where a dark tile floor was chosen with white cabinets).
[houzz=]
[houzz=]
[houzz=]
[houzz=]

Here are a few more examples. I really like the white simple backsplash choice in these last two pics and the first pic shows white cabinets with a mid tone floor.
[houzz=]
[houzz=]
[houzz=]

Here it is

So, after looking carefully at these examples, my vote would go to the mid-tone or dark floor tile. Then, I like the darkest granite with either the mid or dark floor tile. Then, I'd choose a backsplash in a simple white subway tile or a tile like the "European Influence" pic above. I'd be a bit torn on the floor tile choice (between the mid and dark) because I love how the dark one looks with the wood floors but I kind of prefer the mid just a bit without the wood floor considered. I think both the mid and dark floor tiles are great with the dark granite and white cabinets.

Ann I think I agree about a darker floor the contrast is so much nicer . Thank so much for posting those !!!

I chose the bottom left and found your paint color with that color choice to bland and need a little more gold to pop from the cabinets. I love your color choice with the sample on the right. Also just a thought, have a Lazy Susan made from your sink cut out or left over granite. I love mine. I have one on the table and one for salt, pepper, olive oil and Pam by the stove.

Oh, wow, that very light floor tile is a pretty tile, but I think it will make the bottom half of your kitchen too "light" along with the white cabinets. I do like white cabinets quite a bit, but I think they're especially nice with darker floors (like a walnut wood). I think your darker tile floor choices will give you more of that feel, kind of "grounding" the kitchen a bit better. I do like tile in kitchens - that's what I chose. I have a light tile more like your lightest choice, but I have cherry cabinets rather than white.

Again thanks to all for your advice and to all the searching and posting pictures for me awesome job to you all this advice forum is great!!!

@sunnyregards do you have a picture of your lazy susan so I can show them? thanks

My Lazy Susans are 12" each. They said usually they make them 15" but mine take up less table & counter space and serve the purpose.(seepic center of table and by stove) I have a single deep stainless sink and they made them both from that opening.I opted for a smooth rounded edge on them. I would also like to add that if you want a button garbage disposal (search this site)instead of a switch on the wall they have to measure for that on the granite. I offset my soap pump & faucet to the right instead of centering & it also makes a great pot filler if you have a tall faucet just set pot or coffee filler on counter right of faucet swivel faucet and wala (or to the left if you are left handed. Something I was not familiar with when I did my kitchen which I wish I had. The three things I love are I traded some bottom cabinets for big deep drawers they are so much more for functional than the cabinet they replaced. Second I got a double trash cabinet and I keep the dog food in the back can. Third if you have dead corner space I like drawers instead of a lazy susan cabinet (see pic). The only question I was asked that I wasn't prepared for was for my under mount sink... do you want the granite to slightly recede or go over the sink a bit which covers the edge. They claim it gets gunky under there and is easier to keep clean if you recede. My final tip is to include a docking station. I didn't have all the electronics I have today and wish I had planned an organized space for them to charge up.

more docking station ideas

sunnyregards, Great ideas I will keep them in mind! Lazy susan is on the list. I already got the double Trash bins and will use one for the dig food never enough room for those big bags lol! Have to remember about the sinks recede edge and the charging station I have cords everywhere. I have a corner sink so the pullout won’t work ugh.
Thanks so much for all your help!!!

@sunnyregards Where did you find that wooden charging station?

Amazon has a nice selection http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Multi-Charging+Station&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AMulti-Charging+Station

I would agree that darker floor tiles with the light cabinets would be better. It seems that most of the pictures I have seen of kitchens with light cabinets and light floors just don't seem to flow well. It seems that a dark counter and a medium-to-dark floor would provide good contrast. If you choose a counter with lots of movement, then you would not want the floor to stand out too much so that it does not detract from the counter.

I would really look into the finished results. We chose BA which was in the showroom and looked fabulous and
with a very smooth finish. After we purchased it and templates were
made. the owner mentioned that we might see dull areas -part of cutting
through the stone.

The granite is rough in places and I'm sure will be catching on clothes.It
was just installed yesterday and I mentioned these areas as they were
installing only to be told that this is natural -grrr- wished that would
have been told to me prior to ordering. We have a lot of light on out
kitchen and the counter looks unfinished with all these dull areas and
"scratched" looking spots which are apparently supposed to be natural.

The results are disappointing after spending $5000

But if you don't mind that, it does look good from a distance
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