It depends on what else is in the room and visible adjoining rooms. Could you post a picture so that someone would be better able to help you?

The whole house was gutted out due to hurricane sandy.. its a small bungalow in long beach. so the whole house is empty now. the layout is going to be when you first walk in the house is the family room which will lead right into the kitchen. its going to be an open kitchen with a center island. the floor will be tile, light color in the beige-earth tone family. the walls will be in the light family also. plus the front of house has lots of windows so plenty of light comes through.
I don't have any pictures yet so can't post anything.

thanks

When the cabinets are that dark I generally prefer a lighter countertop, like a Giallo Ornamental, Kashmir Gold, or something similar. However, a dark counter could look nice also!

Go to your local slab gallery with one of your cabinet doors and pick a slab that you love. An associate or designer should be there to assist you.

thanks so much

I'd avoid the dark countertops and select something in the light to medium range. However, since you mention you'll have an island, you could go darker there and lighter on the wall cabinets. If you have a large granite pattern on one of them, I would do a solid color or almost solid on the other area.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

Not sure what you are looking for but these examples show you dark and light counter tops - this may help convince you which way to go vis a vis your cabinets

Black counter wood look good with cherry cabinets but with the beige/earthy tones, I would try to bring the cabinets together with the surrounding colors. You could do this either with a granite or using a black granite, go with a backsplash that brings the areas together.

For the countertop a black cosmic granite:
http://www.marmistone.com/black-cosmic-310.html

The picture below shows a beige with some nice movement in it on cherry cabinets:


Here is a Cambria quartz Canterbury that might fit also:


and a Monte Bello Granite


and one more for inspiration on the backsplash

I also am not fond of white countertops on darker cabinetry. I try to find something in a mid-range to work with the cabinetry as the dark will tend to make the room feel dark.

Contrast adds interest pick a complementing color of your choice.

I agree with the MarbleWarehouse..the Bordeaux family would really look well with the dark cabinets.