Knowing the colors of your sink & appliances would help to get some suggestions. Also, the door style of your cabinets.

Pictures would help, too.

All that said, black counters & white/ cream cabs is a classic look. Personally, I'm fond of sagey greens that are on the blue side and think that would look good w/ the Basalt Slate (I really like that stuff, too!)

I'm not saying that black on black can't be done and end up looking fabulous but, it would be a real challenge to pull it off, IMO.

Malhgold is planning black counters on black cabinets, but is just at the ordering stage, so nothing to see yet. She won't have uppers, and is planning white tile and walls. I was pretty sure there had been some photos posted of black on black, though...Just wish I could remember when and where, and hoping someone else has a better memory or knows a specific link. I think the tone on tone can be elegant.

Rhome--I thought Malgold was doing stainless steel counters, at least on the sink/ window/ range wall. Or did she change that plan?

Malhgold's plan all along has been for black, but she has lately been checking into stainless, you are right. I will know for sure what she's using only when they're in. ;-)

Since you said the cabs are real well built, I'm assuming they're wood. Without knowing your flooring and what rooms/colors your kitchen is open to makes this a little difficult but my first instinct was a soft dove gray. If you can post some pics we might be better able to give more specific recommendations.

I agree with the gray idea. Plus, I think gray is the new "in" neutral!

Okay, until I find the cord to upload photos from my camera I cna post new photos. The clickable thumbnails are from when we came to look at the house before purchasing it.

The floor is a moot point as I intend to change that at one point. This will be one of those painfully slow remodels. However even my 3 year old said the floor had to go after I showed him and his 6 year old brother the pictures of Old Skool's kitchen. They both loved the black cabinets btw.

So the sink wall is on the left of this photo and that is the one with the new single bowl sink and the DW. The smooth top electric stove is long gone, replaced with a stainless steel capitol gas range.

The range is now on the window wall with cabinets on either side.

The fridge is curently a slightly bigger white one then the one in the photo. However when funds allow I want a french door fridge, not sure of finish as I am addicted to fridge magnets but love stainless.

I so loved the black cabinets that I keep wondering if there is a way to make the black on black work.

Thanks for all the ideas. I have pieces of the wood form the cabinets that were trimmed off to make the sink base smaller so at one point I can test colors.

-Robin

Also, ignore the backsplash color/hideousness, that to shall change.

The kitchen door is to the dining room.

Here's basalt slate with natural maple.

Have you thought of painting your bottom cabs black and the upper cabs a creamy white? Would be a French bistro look. Otherwise, I too would recommend gray. Let us know what you choose?

We have basalt counters with natural cherry cabinets with slab door fronts in a guest bathroom. It turned out great.