True story, but mine is a little different. I'll never hear the end of the little comments so I'd rather be proactive about it ;)

The typical advice when you use different colored cabinets is to use the same counter throughout. There's photos of Brittanica in white and gray kitchens, and it has bold movement, so you'll need to decide if it's too much. Then you have to consider backsplash if you're doing something other than a solid color. Sounds like you like to layer patterns and colors, so you'll want to make thoughtful decisions.

It seems a little busy for a perimeter counter. What about a solid color so the island counter will be the focal?

I agree with may...shocker, I know :). I think a single counter surface is a unifying feature in a kitchen with two colors of cabinets, especially if your space is on the smaller side. If you really want two different surfaces, I'd stick to greys and whites...your Berwyn is very creamy, not optimal. My choice would be Daron for the perimeter (or the whole shebang) and if you want it, Ella for the island. Images follow.

It is worth having a conversation with your husband about what he dislikes about Brittanicca. If he dislikes large movement and prefers a more uniform look or a more terrazzo appearance, you might want to chose something like Whitney for the island.

Eam44, I think she said it was the Berwyn (perimeter quartz) that her husband didn't like, not the Britannica (island quartz).

I think both suggestions so far have merit--either do the Britannica throughout, or do a solid color on the perimeter. Silestone has a nice selection of solid, or near-solid, colors.

just browsed through pictures of islands in Brittanica....seeing perimeters in whites.... Keep the perimeter very pale/muted ?? there are many whites,actually....This island is not the most distinct of patterned materials...altho there is pattern..very subtle. Dark perimeter might steal the show...maybe go off white-should be tons to choose from.

Oooooooooh, right, gotcha cawaps. So Berwyn is out, Brittanicca is in. Here's the thing, Brittanicca (and it's killing me to use their spelling) is also pretty beige. But perhaps your grey is a warm grey? One of the reasons people choose quartz instead of stone is that they can choose a white-ish background....not so easy to find in natural stone. Can you post images of your materials? Lay out your choices in an inspiration board and be sure you're not muddying the waters by adding the beige.

Cambria recommends Dunmore and Torquay with Brittanica.

Here are our original selections, the grey is the island color and the white is the perimeter.

eam44 do you know if the Daron has sparkles in it? I can't tell from the picture online. Although I am thinking maybe Brittanicca all over may be the way to go (that spelling is driving me nuts too). Then it will be on the backsplash- where the hubs would like a little drama, he's killing me!

Too me they both have too much pattern in them and would be competing. I would suggest just choosing one. We are doing very similar - white cabinets and a very similar grey island. We chose Torquay for everything. I debated a black/grey perimeter, but since that will lead into the dining room passthrough you would se when walking in our house, I decided to keep it all the same.

i love the bottom sample

Actually Mayflowers and I normally disagree on countertops but in this case I agree with her. If using two different cabinet colors, I'd choose one countertop material. Please someone get Mayflowers the smelling salts.

I don't like competing patterns with counter and backsplash. Choose one or the other. I think I'm among the majority here with that opinion.

I say go for all Britannicca. Looks great with the island color in my opinion.

We did white on white for perimeters, and I love it. I think it would look good here also, allowing the island to stand-out. I would use the Berwyn for the island though.

You guys are all so amazing! I really appreciate your suggestions, I'm thinking I'm just going to go with the Brittanicca all over the place and call it a day. Now I'm on to the Backsplash. . . :)

cjsara, I was wondering what did you decide to do? Did you do all Brittanicca

countertops? My husband and I went to pick out appliances last weekend so that we can get started on the cabinet design in our kitchen remodel. I have also been admiring Cambria Brittanicca. I have been admiring the photo of the kitchen on page 19 of fall 2015 addition of Cambria Style. The photo shows the painted gray island with a countertop in Ella. White cabinets with what looks like solid gray countertops. I like this look. I picked up a Cambria catalog this past weekend. The cover kitchen photo shows medium to dark gray cabinets, white island with solid Brittanicca countertops. I would love to know which way you went as I am really loving the design on page 19 only substituting the Ella with Brittanicca. Backsplash, I have always wanted a mother of pearl mosaic tile.

We decided to go with all Brittanicca. Our perimeter cabinets are white and our island is a light grey. I should have almost everything installed by the end of next week- I can post some pictures then! I liked the Ella but thought the Brittanicca had a little more drama to it ;)

Can't wait to see the countertops! Make sure to post pics as soon as you can. I have seen both at the Cambria dealer and I like both as well.

Trust me, I'm dying to see them too! We bought our home in late December, I'll so excited that it's almost time to move in and enjoy our new home! :)

I would love to see a picture of the finished product! :)

The counter tops are in but the backsplash isn't done yet. I'll post a pic a little later today! :)

I would love to see the counter tops. If you have time could you please post a picture or pictures. Also would like to see backsplash. Thanks.

cjsara- Curious to see the finished pic? I am using Brittanica with the same cabinet colors and trying to decide on a paint color to go with everything? What did you use? I went to the Cambria website and tried what they suggested, but the paint looks too greenish to me.

We are doing Britannica on our island, and decided to go with soapstone on the perimeter after comparing it with a dark quartz. The soapstone we found was a beautiful gray color with some rose quartz veining and I just absolutely swooned. Our island cabinets are going to be painted a dark teal with the dramatic veined white top, and we want it to look like a giant beautiful piece of furniture that's separate from the rest of the cabinets.

The soapstone will be on all medium-tone walnut drawer lower cabs, with all white tile backsplash and floating shelves. SO EXCITED. 2 more weeks...

No photos yet? I wish I could see pictures of all of your kitchens with Brittanicca quartz! Our remodeling is coming along, in fact my countertops will be installed next week!! Long, long time coming. On the Cambria website they list 4 or 5 colors of Benjamin Moore paint that they suggest for Brittanicca. Beautiful colors, however, I chose white cabinets and for my walls I went with Sherwin Williams SW7641 Colonnade Gray. Colonnade Gray is supposed to be Sherwin Williams version of Benjamin Moores Revere Pewter, although with the lighting in my home Colonnade Gray looked a bit darker. The color falls somewhere between the light and the dark gray veining in the quartz. I am using CG on into my dinning and living room. I am undecided on my backsplash and I am waiting until the countertops are in to decide. When I have time to purchase a new camera (mine died about 2 wks ago) I will get pics and figure out how to post them here. I am hoping that all of you that chose Brittanicca will share your photos also.

nnjwilkerson- I too am in the process of remodeling our kitchen and using Brittanica for our countertops. Gray cabinets on island and white on kitchen walls. Going w the Revere Pewter on walls. Please try and post pics of your paint. I'm curious to see how it looks. ( :

Here's a couple pictures of the finished product!

That looks fantastic!!!! What's the backsplash? I love it!

Looks great! Thanks for sharing!

Zellycat here is the backsplash info

I had Cambria Brittanicca installed in my remodeled kitchen in I believe it was late September. I ended up with white cabinets and island. I love the quartz I know I will never get tired of seeing it in my kitchen. Im still undecided about the backsplash. I have ordered sample after sample. Of all the photos of this quartz online that I have seen, the one backsplash that I keep going to are the photos of Cambria Brittanicca on both the countertop and for the backslash. This looks so fine! My husband would choke If I handed him that idea. I am back in my kitchen and thought maybe after the holidays I would choose the backsplash and the pendant lights for the island.

We just finished our kitchen remodel and went with the Cambria Brittanica. I absolutely love it and it was a big decision what to put on backsplash because I didn't want to take away from the flow and pattern of countertop. So we went with the white subtile in a herringbone pattern. SO happy we did!! I thought it would be a lot of white but with accessories and stove placed, it really is fine. Plus I love the fresh and clean feeling of white. Good Luck and let us know what you go with.

Hi,

I am getting my kitchen renovated next year sometime in spring.

I have noticed that lots of you have used white quartz counter tops. I used to think that white quartz does get stained. I have read lots of posts on Houzz about getting white quartz counters with staining problem. So is anyone who is nervous about this issue?

Thank you,

Mindy

While it is possible to stain white quartz, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Most stains can be removed. If this were a big recall issue, the manufacturers would stop making it. They haven't because white is one of the most popular quartz colors.

Hello sahai6,

As Cambria Quartz is nonporous, white quartz should be no more likely to stain than others. For more information about the advantages of quartz, visit our website here: https://www.cambriausa.com/Advantages/

Thanks, we hope this helps!

Cindy Sarvia - Do you remember where your light fixtures are from? I love your kitchen my mom just sent me one with Montgomery quartz counters with the same tile that she used for one of her clients. It looks so good.

did anyone also consider one of these: Compaq's unique calacatta OR Silestone eternal Calacatta Gold or MSI Laza or Zodiaq Calacatta Natura?

I would be interested in your decision-making.

Many thanks.

What would you think of white subway tile in a herringbone pattern, with grey grout?

Similar to the photo's Kileen posted.

Trying to decide between Brittanica throughout the kitchen verses Brittanica on the island only. My main concern is with the seams on the perimeter countertops. I've seen some pictures where the veins are off by multiple inches at the seam. Has anyone had this problem? Any photos of veins and did you have this discussion with the installing company? Thanks!!

Cindy Sarvia - be still my heart! That kitchen is a dream. I am using Brittanica too but I'm still deciding on a backsplash and happened by this post. We should all start a posting that says Brittanica - backsplash decisions and post pictures! I was at a tile store today and the designer recommended (well, I fell in love with) Mossaica Water Jet Antique Arabescato and white glass. I wonder if that will be too fancy for my lake house kitchen with Britannica? Hmmm, more decisions...