I'm with you, prefer the light. With dark top you would see anything left behind from crumbs to liquids - the light top is more forgiving and a bit more timeless perhaps.
Have you looked at Santa Cecelia granite?

I looked at pics of the black cosmic. It's really pretty. But your stone has to speak to YOU. If it doesn't make your heart sing, then it's not the stone for you.

Do you have pics of inspiration kitchens? That would be where I would start. Find pics of kitchens that you really LOVE and that have the same general cabinet and floor color combinations that you already have.

Then I would recommend that you take a cabinet door and perhaps a floor sample with you to the stone yard. Pick stones that you LOVE, and then put your door and floor sample against them and see how it works for you.

That's how we did it. I was actually surprised that we came out with Kashmir Gold when I was so in love with Typhoon Bordeaux. That's just what worked with my combinations.

And I'm sure you can find a way to make it up to hubby. ;-)

Oh those sleepless nights... The worry, the fears, the
2nd guessing. I took forever to choose, my DH built plywood
counters with frustration. He wanted dark, I wanted
light... we wound up with dark but only because I fell
head over heels in love.

Wait. I urge you to wait, don't rush this. It is like
true love you want it to last. You need to have a spark
for your granite. You will be cleaning, scrubbing, and
caring for your counters for a long time. Stone is forever.
Well until you get a load of money to change it. But
plan on it being forever.

So you love light...I will post some images so maybe
you can convince your Dh to love light too. Keep in mind
that the person who cooks and cleans the most should
have the bigger vote on the counters.

Your question what would I put there... Ummmm so many
stones so little time. Gosh your kitchen is lovely
any granite would look beautiful. No fears.

~boxerpups

A very light stone in the Santa Cecilia family
almost like White River

Verniz Tropical

Lapidus

Golden Persia (okay both light and dark... )

Colonial Cream

Bianco Romano

Copper Canyon

Copper Canyon from Marblehead Designs

Golden Valley

Cream Bordeaux

Thanks so much for the replies and advice! My mom and I are going to a couple more granite yards tomorrow. I'm taking the camera, a cabinet door, and a floor tile. Hopefully I'll be able to find something that I love and that DH also likes!

I'm with your DH, I like darker counters...as witness the fact that we have light-to-medium tile flooring, medium cherry cabinets, and Absolute Black Premium counters...

It's up to your DH and you. I think the idea of going out w/your mom instead of your DH will make it easier to for your DH to accept your decision...b/c he won't have to go with you! But please get his buy-in on the new slabs as well... Pick them out and then take him to see them. If you're really excited, then show him that excitement so he knows how much the new slabs mean to you. Most husbands seem to be OK with things aesthetically if their wives are really excited/happy, even if they're not thrilled.

However, if your DH really hates the slabs, you may have an issue.

Good luck!

Thanks, Buehl! Don't worry - I would never make the final decision without DH. We have such differing opinions, that we are both going to have to compromise.

My mom and I went to two granite yards yesterday and I only took pictures of ones that DH would even consider and that I would be happy with too. DH wants dark (think grays/cooler colors) and I want it to be warmer and have some browns to go with the cabinet color. I found two that I think that will work: Yellow River and Copper Gold.

I showed them to DH last night and he said that he likes them enough to go look at them on Saturday, so we're making some progress! Yay! ;-)

I'm glad you've found a couple that you both like. Choosing granite is so hard. DH is pretty much leaving this one up to me (thank goodness), but it puts the pressure on to pick right!

I will caution you not to have you both settle on a stone just because you can't agree. DH had very strong opinions on house decisions for the first 15 years of our marriage. We couldn't agree on light fixtures, tile, dining chairs, art work...you name it. We compromised on a lot of those decision to the point where neither one of us really like what we ended up with, but at least we both agreed on it. Take the entry and hearth tile, for example. I gave in because I didn't exactly hate the tile, but I never liked it much either. We both regret it, but we've had to stare at it every day for 10 years! Fortunately, we're replacing it all during this remodel.

DH is so busy now with work and our little ones. I decided that I'm going to pick what I love and sell him on it. Now it seems that he doesn't much care about whatever I pick!

OK, I'm off my soapbox. Good luck, and let us know which stone you choose!

OMG I have had some sleepless nights myself going through this process! Finally installed Monday and I freaked out...love the granite but it looked so out of place in my house. I finally figured out that I needed a few days to adjust so it wasn't so "IN MY FACE" Five days later I have adjusted and not only LOVE my granite but LOVE it in MY HOUSE! Good luck to you...it is all worth it! Now get some SLEEP! I have Crema Bordeaux and love it!