I am thinking about doing a movement granite on the island and possibly quartz on the perimeter. I think this combo is good. I like the quartz on the left better, though. And, yes, you can still use the nickel hardware. You are onto something!

I prefer the impact of a dramatic island with plainer side counters, but I'm not wild about the speckled sample with the granite. The tone is great, but I like to be able to see crumbs on my counters so I prefer a cleaner look. But neither do I like the passing all SS trend, so you can't go by what I like in my home. You have to get what you love.

The subway tile looks too light and harsh on my screen. IRL it may work splendidly. Don't know your handles but nickel will work well. If you go with a different perimeter, consider placing an accent in the island granite in your field tiles. Also, it may help to have your wall color in mind when picking out the tile.

Best of luck!

What a gorgeous stone, but I know exactly what you mean about wanting light counters. Me too.

One thought is that this idea is a good way to have it all. However, I'd personally pair the stone with a virtually patternless composite--one of the very plain Silestones--and stay strictly away from patterns meant to mimic stone as I think they'd come off poorly juxtaposed against the real thing. And that'd do a real injustice to the Silestone itself, which is really a great material.

My other thought is to beware of being seduced away from a look you've loved for years by a gorgeous temptress. Unless it's true love, of course.

I vote for the granite with movement--it will provide contrast with the light maple. If you MUST have the lighter surface on the perimeter cabs, then do get the granite (or some contrasting material) for the island.

I have black laminate on both perimeter and island (light maple cabs), and I really wish I could change the island. In fact, I brought it up at lunch with DH again today, with a plan for rearranging some cabinets... It's just laminate, right (maybe a sandstone to contrast with the Basalt Slate on the perimeters)?

We were vegging in front of HGTV yesterday, and saw a feature on how the cooking shows are filmed. In the kitchen (of a real house) they use for Giada, the island had open shelving. Eureka! That's exactly what I need.

I love the granite, but don't care for the Silestone with it. The natural look and movement of the granite make the Silestone look even more unnatural. But I am really not a fan of a consistent artificial appearance of the man made countertops anyway, so I am probably not the best judge. But like Rosie said....don't be seduced by a gorgeous temptress. If you have envisioned light countertops, you could just keep looking. There are wonderful exotic granites that are lighter than that one.

I am in the process of obsessing about the exact same predicament! I fell in love with a kitchen on the finished kitchen blog (Sharb-I think). She had Kashmir gold on perimeter and Caesarstone Jerusalem sand on island. I loved the Ceasarstone- very plain but pretty (looks like limestone). I have a sample of the honed here now but would like to see the polished as I have heard the honed is more difficult as far as upkeep.

I will probably do the opposite and put granite with movement on island and plainer Caesarstone on perimeter. My cabinets and island are also the same color (cherry darker but not the dark burgundy). Of course, haven't made our final decision yet and with the way things go with me, I'll probably change my mind 10 more times anyway...

The combination of the quartz and granite just isn't right IMHO. Perhaps it would be better to contrast the granite with a wholly other type of material -- like wood or stainless steel counters.

Hi there,

I love both of your choices of granite and quartz, but together, I fear the two can detract from each other's loveliness. One is organic in its indiscriminate placing of colours and shades, while the other is very precise in its colour and movement.

If you ever watch Divine Design, she often pairs a granite with movement on the island with Caesarstone on the perimeter. In fact, I think she mentions that this is one of her favorite design tricks. Now, I know she does commercials for quartz, so she is more apt to use it, but I think she does it well. Also, on her kitchen show that was on last night, she had a variety of counters.

Thanks all for your thoughts and ideas. Looking at my own pictures I'm not excited about the silestone sample with the granite. It seemed better when we were there but it was raining and the red umbrella was casting a colored shadow over what we were looking at.

I think we will definitely wait on the backsplash now and just paint for now maybe dark red, off white, brown or tan I'll choose something after I figure out the countertop situation, it's only paint and easily changed. I just stuck that subway tile up there because it was in my car. I would really like to have a shimmery mosaic like what margieb2 has, but who am I kidding? I want her whole kitchen - it's absolutely beautiful.

I watch Divine Design a lot and I actually recorded that kitchen special the other night so I'll have to take a look for that combo. I wonder if there is a quartz that would look nice with this granite choice. Maybe something with no speckling at all. I have considered other countertop materials: I don't have stainless steel appliances so I figured that the counters would be out (is that wrong?) and I felt that the butcherblock would look better on painted cabinets (am I wrong about that too?:)

For the hardware I was thinking of nickel because it seems warmer to me than stainless steel or silver. I have also seen some pewter hardware that I like but I wasn't sure if it would have the warmth of the nickel.

My search for light granite hasn't been good. I like the giallo ornamental and new venetial (they are also some of the least expensive ones around here) as well as one called colonial gold but none of those are resined and some of them were pitted. I went to several granite yards in our area and found that aside from those, most of the light granites were more white/gray than cream colored. When my mom saw this Juparana Espresso it spoke to me but maybe it was just a siren song!!

That's a beautiful granite which looks very nice with your cabinet choice. Why not just use it on all the countertops?

I was in the same boat as you. I wanted something light, but DH wanted something exotic with lots of movement and it seemed most of the really cool stones are on the darker side. We found this though, and it is perfect for us. It is Delicatus. I liked White Diamonds a lot too, but the tone of it was mostly white, gray and black and it did not blend with the cabinets well enough.