How about marble? I personally love to see an organic element mixed with slick, glossy modern ones like your cabinets.... maybe a little section of natural wood someplace, too, for warmth? (Or some wooden accessories, stools, etc...?)

{{gwi:1971336}}

Or what about a light/natural colored counter, like the image below? (A honed tan stone, maybe, or Caesarstone in the limestone color?)

Love the pics above. Also love the look of classic black and white....perhaps black marble.

Houzz has pages and pages of black and white kitchen - traditional to contemporary! We are considering the same look for our Miami Beach place. Glossy slab white and very contemporary cabs and black marble.

Hope to see pics when ur done.

I have been struggling with the same issue. We are doing glossy white cabinets that I am trying to mix with some vintage elements to warm it up. I am leaning towards Chroma cotton white ( it is a bit cream). I also think it is great to mix in an earthy element, so we will do a calcutta tile backsplash honed. We will add in a wooden reclaimed table. So the white is not too stark, we asked the cabinet company to try some softer whites and i am waiting for my samples now. I also think any of the colors you listed would be nice, i just couldn't get past my idea of a "white" kitchen, just trying to make it not cold.

i also vote marble

I looooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeee Stacey's idea of marble.

~boxerpups

quartz

copper

granite
]

Matte white - honed white marble
OR
Grey - Pietra cardoza

Those would be my suggestions.

I would't go to black for really modern. That's a very high contrast and unless you really really know how to work black and white, it is more cottage than contemporary.