Well, do you like light and bright or warm and woody? Modern or traditional (I see elements of both in your current kitchen)? Are you looking for a dramatic change? If everything were still in good condition, would you like it or have your tastes changes? I would strongly recommend going to the largest granite yard in your area and taking a look at the options. I am not familiar with the granites you mentioned, but I do know HD has a very limited selection and there is nothing like seeing a full slab to know if you like it. You might find something that just hits you says "I am your future kitchen". :)

Painted finishes are very popular right now, and white is certainly versatile, wood is classic. YOU have to decide what you want, unfortunately no one can tell you that.
Sue

Please don't take this wrong but why would you settle for seeing a "chip" sample of granite at HD when you can go to a granite yard and see the big picture. No comparison! I mean, one stop shopping is going to save you a little time but picking out your very own granite slab is quite satisfying. They truly are works of art. JMHO.

Since a standard depth frig is working now, there's no reason to go to a counter depth one.

Have you considered bumping out the base cabs to give more counterspace? Looks like an option that would work for your space.

Getting the microwave off of the counter would be a great improvement. A micro shelf, if you think you can spare the cab space. (Going with 15'' deep upper cabs to maximise upper storage?) Perhaps into a niche carved into the pantry wall (if that's a pantry behind that door)? Or, even the dreaded Over the Range solution...

Cab & countertop color choices sound very nice. I favor wood kitchens vs painted cabs.

I appreciate the helpful comments. I agree that it would be good to go look at the slabs and my designer suggested that I do that. She said that it would pop out at me at the yard. She will give me a cabinet drawer to take so that I can do some color matching.

The microwave is definitely going on a shelf. That is part of the design. OTR is not being considered since a nice hood will be incorporated along with a nice gas range.

When spending this much money, it helps to get the perspective of others. I realize that it ultimately is what I like but others will point out things that I would not have thought of. I love seeing all of your kitchens in the posts. It gives me good ideas and I will certainly return the favor. I know so much more now than I did when I first started looking. I also hope to stay on the board after I am done to help the next person that comes along.

I have a standard depth, french door refrigerator with the full wood side panels and overhead cabinet that comes out as far as refrigerator. My refrigerator is also at the end of "the run". The neighboring cabinets to its' left are staggered in depth and it looks very good (a furniture look).

The advice of going to a granite yard is good to really get a feel of the granite pattern and colors (even for a fairly uniform granite). We went to one of the largest granite yards in our state (WI). While there, it was obvious that local HD granite buyers were also there picking out their stones that they were buying through HD. I wondered if there was any difference in their cost going direct to the yard or via HD.

I'd be influenced in the cabinet wood/paint finish by what would look good with your beautiful white trim that you'll probably want to keep. I also like wood kitchens (very personal thing).

John- You are not making a mistake going to wood cabinets. We went from painted cabinets to wood, and I can't tell you enough how much more we like wood cabinets. And like you said, painted cabinets yellow over time. I've been down this road before.....never, never again.

You have a lot of space there that I wish I had. The good news is that you ought to come up with something not only functional, but also stunning. From what you wrote, I'd have to say you are traveling down the right path.

When are you going to start? Keep us posted with progress pictures.

You have a super opportunity here. Do it right.

We had the white vs. wood debate and I really wanted white but in the end went with Kraftmaid wood and very happy with them. If you like/want wood, NO you aren't making a mistake. If you want white, then yes, you are... ultimately you have to live there so get what you like.

Kraftmaid has transition cabinets - so you could get a wider one that gets smaller next to the fridge to make the fridge more built in - since you have a bigger kitchen. We got one as we have a door and I studied their books - none of the KD's ever suggested it - they wanted to put a regular cabinet instead of the cute looking ones.

Regarding color, one basic preference to consider is whether you prefer your cabinets to look built into the walls or like furniture/boxes attached to the walls, often with a nice contrast setting off the cabinets. Knowing that is a big help in focusing in.

I am also interested in these broad questions. Thank you for asking, jl!

Can someone explain or post pictures of "staggered" cabinets? I have seen staggered height upper cabinets, but pcjs and lkremodel seem to be describing something else - like cabinet depths?

thank you!

I'm sorry that I'm unable to post a picture of our staggered cabinet depth look. In our situation, there are 3 depths to the top cabinets with the bottom cabinets being about 6-8 inches shallower than the refrigerator. The bottom cabinet has furniture looking baseboard front.
The cabinets go all the way to the ceiling (8 ft)with molding trim which really sets off the look.

I recommend that the cabinet on top of the refrigerator come out as far as possible to the same depth as the side wood panels.

Here is a much older picture of our never to be finished kitchen but this is the cabinet I'm talking about - one side is wider and one is narrower and it is a Kraftmaid:

It allowed us to put our dishwasher and sink where it is - before it was moved down to the right a little more and have a smooth looking transition and allow us to open the door (we can't fully open it but we don't care given the choices). The KD's we initially talked to just put a regular cabinet which was boring. This is also nice as I really wanted something for my cookie sheets and we could not fit it in. Post install I couldn't figure out what to do as the shelves were too small so we only have the top shelf in and it makes a great cookie sheet/cutting board, etc. storage. It solved multiple problems for us.

Study the Kraftmaid spec's well and play around with them - I literally made several copies by printing them online as we had several of the same cabinets and cutting them up and fitting them on a little chart to make it all work. They have some pretty cool cabinets.

I'm loving all the input! It really adds an element of confirmation to my thoughts and leanings. I went out today with a contractor friend and his wife (he will probably do the work)and looked at appliances. Sears had a pretty good memorial day sale so I went ahead and bought the GE Cafe series that I had been looking at. It was substantially less than I would have paid at HD. Now that I've made my first purchase, I am getting excited. He also recommended a couple of granite places that he has worked with and basically said the same as far as going and looking at the slabs. I will do that real soon.
Again,
Thanks for all the help and I will definitely post some progress pics when the process gets started.
John

Thank you for the clarifications. I understand better - staggered widths, in addition to depths (and heights). So MUCH to consider!

John, how exciting to buy appliances already! I'm not there - yet.

John

Not exactly the same but we have just gone from a lighter wood (pickled oak) cabinets with light tile floor to a medium / dark cherry (with a couple painted cabinets) and darker tile floor.

Still waiting for granite to be installed - so not done yet but these pics may help you visualize.

Before:

You can see more before pics in this thread:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0423200824558.html

After

Here is a link that might be useful: You can see more after pics here

John,

I just meant please tell us what you like and what you are trying achieve so everyone can make more personal suggestions.

I had light oak but decided if I was going to do it I wanted a dramatic change. I went with dark wood, but still kind of wish I had done a painted finish. Of coarse, if I had done a painted finish I would wonder if I should have gone with something warmer and richer. :)

I really like some contrast, but others really like low contrast, more soothing color schemes.

You would get a lot more feedback with a little more information about your taste.

Sue

here are a couple if ideas that pop out when i look at upir kitchen. definately pull out that counter. you can do this two ways...one is to screw 2x4's (or whatever) to the wall. then use standard debth cabinets atached to those (thats the cheaper way). the other is to get deeper cabinets...27 or 39 are normally not huge up charges (3" incriments are standard). i have a run a lot like yours except for the fridge. i pulled out 27" and then recessed the sink in 3" on both sides so when you're at the sink you're in a little cubby :)

i needed to do that for space around the island but your space is so huge its not mandatory!

i'd move your fridge over about 6 or 9" towards the sink and use that deep space for a broom closet.

your current island looks a bit wimpy. you have lots if room...i'd double it in size and add a prep sink :) and do you use the stool seating with that nice breakfast space close by?

i will try to get my kitchen scanned for you
(plans) so i can show you the sink. its a cool addition to tuck it in a bit. i copied that from another gwebber :)

Sue,
Thanks for responding. I am looking for something that is warm and inviting. I like some of the wood kitchens that I have seen and they seem to warm up the kitchen. The great room connects to the kitchen and a good part of the house has the bright white trim and I just want to make sure that the rooms "flow" well from one into the other without abrupt transitions. I tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen so I want it to be functional and pleasing to the eyes. I can't decide how much contrast I want. I looked at a black granite for a lot of contrast and then kept coming back to a medium colored granite so that the room isn't so dramatic. I also chose a medium colored glaze on the maple because like Goldilocks I didn't want it too light or too dark but just right!
This explanation is probably creating more confusion!

igloochic,
I really like your ideas. I would love to see your kitchen. The idea of a prep sink in the island is not practical because I am on a slab and getting plumbing there would require tearing up the concrete slab (expensive!). The area directly behind the island currently contains a built in desk with overhead cabinets. The desk will be replaced by cabinets with a granite top. The upper cabinets will contain a built-in wine rack and storage for glassware and wine stems. The lower cabinets will have pull out drawers to store a variety of beverages and serving utensils. It will basically become a bar area for company. Everyone always ends up in the kitchen anyhow so I thought that a service area would be nice since the desk is never used. The island can be a little bigger but not much. On one end is a pantry door, to the back will be the bar area and there is just enough room between the range and island.
Thank you very much for sharing your ideas.
John