Interesting. I can see how having 2 different stones might not complement each other. In a small kitchen it might look like you ran out and substituted. However if your kitchen is planned well I don't see why you can't do it.

My kitchen is large (28x18) and my cabinets are dark cherry. When we replaced the appliances we tossed the Formica and installed granite. There are times when I think I would have liked to put a different granite on the island. I would have selected something in the same color range but in a much lighter shade.

It's your kitchen - go for it.

That was becoming a trend about that time... And IMO, a lot of people were doing it based on either the 'more is better' or 'I can't decide' schools of thought. So, also, IMO, it sometimes didn't make any sense and ended up looking off -- like Maire Cate says -- like you pieced together remnants.

But there are also times when it works well. I have a large kitchen with several long cabinet runs, an island, and a hutch. The island and hutch are painted (red and black, respectively) and my cabinets are stained. The counter top heights and depths are different for the island and hutch, and they have 'feet' rather than toe kicks. In short, those two pieces are supposed to look like freestanding furniture pieces, not kitchen cabinets. In a situation like that, using the same countertop material as the cabinet runs would have (IMO) been wrong... So both 'furniture' pieces have a 'marbley' granite and my cabinet runs have soapstone.

Back in 2003-4, I know I counseled many people against the two-tone look unless there was a cohesive design plan that made sense for it -- ie the 'Furniture' look. Even still, I'd suggest one granite and one non-granite (soapstone, marble, butcher block, stainless steel, copper) over two granites, or perhaps one VERY plain black granite with a lively swirly one.

I suspect the stone place is reacting to their assumptions about your kitchen...

So if you're doing the 'freestanding furniture look' I'd say go for it. Otherwise - nope.

I agree that 2 different granites might look odd. But carerra marble on island and dark granite on cabinet runs is pretty common, and IMO beautiful. Or wood and granite. Or wood and marble. Or...

FYI - you'd probably get more answers by having this post moved over to discussions instead of conversations.

Thank you for your responses! Yes, I was planning on one "busy" granite or marble and one very plain one, like black galaxy a non busy green stone. I guess I'll have to think it over as I was really looking forward to a beautiful and expensive island stone and a little more affordable complementary surrounding stone.

I used Kahlua quartz on my main counters (white cabinets) and New Venetian Gold on the cherry hutch. The two complement each other.

Just my opinion, worth what you paid, etc. but: I think the 'two-toned' kitchen is a trend and one that will date the room pretty quickly.

I include both different tones of counters (a la wood 'n marble/granite 'n marble/marble 'n soapstone and so on) as well as the very popular two-tone cabinetry. It's showing up everywhere. Not that it doesn't look nice in some kitchens but it's not a classic look. Eventually most of the trendoid stuff ends up looking, well, trendoid.

Ann

I think the two you have picked out would look really good, with your cabinets.

I don't think two different granites are trendy at all, not just because we have two different ones, but sometimes it calls for two, and one can be BOR-ING in certain kitchens.

I don't think two-toned granite is any trendier than granite itself is.

If the two compliment each other and the room, why would they be any different from any other mix of color or texture, or even, as in some cases, style?

If you like it, do it. Resale? Unless you're fipping, forget it.

I would like to add that if it is a small kitchen, the darker one would look best in all of kitchen, IMO. Especially, for resale.