also appliances are stainless and we have dark laminate flooring

the dark squares in the backsplash are bronze tiles

Often, countertops are chosen to compliment the color of the flooring (both being horizontal flat surfaces).

Well .... Removing the backsplash is not that big of a project and would allow you a clean palate to work with colors to match floor and cabinets. May be a lot easier than picking a selective color and patterns for your stone. Good luck with you project

Kimbrali , you should try the Uba Tuba granite . There was a very nice granite , locally was called Saputo green , but I am not sure if you can still find it . Try to see what is available in green granite slabs in your area .

You've given us a different challenge as most work from the counter to the backsplash. One of the issues with granite is that the sample may not look like the final slab unless you pick the slab itself out. Assuming you want to keep the cabinets their wood tone, then you're working with the color in the cabinets and the beige in the backsplash. A good look for this is a solid black counter like in this example.
Going with solid black or very dark charcoal gives you the option of finding the countertop at many price points as its available in granite, soapstone, quartz, Corian and Formica. Search Houzz kitchen photos for more examples similar to your cabinets and backsplash to see if you like the look. Also, if you can find more of your backsplash tile, consider replacing the bottom 4" solid piece of the backsplash with the tiles for a less dated look than the tiles on top of the 4" riser. A good tile person should be able to fit in after the new counter is installed. Good luck!

Changing the receptacles, switches, and their plates to a closer color match would look good too.

Go for dark ...black. it will be more dramatic. Change the receptacles, switches to match the backsplash.

What she said..............................

Black Granite accents the colour or Try corian top

Black, gray granite, soapstone or fossil azul limestone would all look great but be sure you have the stone HONED and not with a polished finish. If you have a tile sample from the back splash take it with you when you are shopping for stone. If not, then bring a sample of the counter stone back to look at it with your back splash. Find a skilled decorative painter to paint and seal the switch plates to match the stone. Consider painting the cabinets a slate gray green or dark charcoal color that compliments the back splash tile.

Just don't have them paint the receptables and the switches, it's against code.

Are you limited to granite? If you choose quartz like silestone you can choose any color whether it be a solid color, marble look, or even a granite look. You can even choose a bright color to add a bold splash, best if all your granite fabricator can cut this stone to. Check out the website for color palette. Www.silestoneusa.com

Thanks for all the ideas. The backsplash, recepticles and switches were all done last year. I like the idea of the black I was a little scared going so dramatic but everyone seems to think that would look good...I thought of marble but I was told it can stain easily. I think ill check out black granite. Thanks everyone

Go for black Caesarstone , easier maintenance & looks amazing.

what is Cesar stone?

Caesarstone is a man made product that is much more user friendly, no staining, no sratching, etc.
I feel Granite is over used and Caesarstone is the cleaner, better choice. It comes in many colors. I personally feel back is too harsh and as I mentioned I love it in Misty Carrera, which looks like marble but won't stain, etc.
Darla Blake, ASID, CID
Unique & Chic Interiors

Cambria is also a quartz man made stone and I think Canterbury would look nice.

uba tuba

Silestone is the largest quartz counter top producer in the world. Unfortuantely lately Cambria cannot supply due to equipment problems. Silestone has over 100 colors and three finishes to choose from. if black is your choice there is a solid black called Tao or Black Anubis two beautiful choices. check out the brand new suede finish. Really awesome finish! you can view the whole color palette and finishes on www.silestoneusa.com. you can also enter your zip code to find a local dealer who will have a display of your color choice nearby this way you can see a larger piece of product. You can also view displays and samples at home centers (big box stores the orange and blue ones).

The suede finish would be beautiful with the Matt finished tiled backsplash or a honed finish on black granite if you really want black. honking the stone gives it a slightly lighter look. I feel that polished black has been overused and sucks up the light in a room.

Absolutely...I agree! should either use honed granite, silestone's suede finish, or soapstone.

black Galaxy is a type black indian granite matches any contrast

Adding a totally new color to the counter not be harmonious with so much brown and a dark floor. If you are keeping everything else as is, then maybe a brown toned counter would work - check the caesarstone at this houzz page: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/kitchen-countertops-101-choosing-a-surface-material-stsetivw-vs~1623075

Caesar stone is a tough synthetic material, which uses a lot of quartz (and a binder resin of some sort) in it's makeup, making it non-porous and hard, and exceptionally easy to care for. [ http://www.caesarstoneus.com].Also take a look at Cambria [ the fine texture series, with less busyness, has colors that look as if they would work with what you have - ] Around here this all runs from a low of $60 to about $80/sq, ft..

Not an expert - just someone else who's been planning some changes in kitchen and bath. I am going to use one of the manmade quartz products because I am a lazy homemaker who want the easiest material ( fairly "green" as well).

Not that picture - go to the page and scroll down...

This is the granite -- Saputo Green -- I was telling you about. Natural products like granite, with the right sealers and without the worry of putting very hot items over it , gives you a '' green '' and an easy material to maintain over the years .

@Kimbrali , you have a very '' nature looking '' BS and a solid ( plain ) color of the counter will reflect what you have now in your kitchen . I think I would stay away from it , but It is just a thought.

im really liking the idea of the ceasarstone, i really do not want to have to worrya bout sealing with a baby running around and life flying by i want something low maintenance but i never knew there were so many options besides granite, most of the quartz i had seen i didnt really like, and i want something strong, that doesnt stain easily and is low maintenance, sounds like quartz may be the way to go for us. I do love the saputo green there maybe i can find something similar in quartz

You don't have to seal Absolute Black or Black Galaxy granite, in fact they won't even accept a sealer, it will just sit on the surface until it is wiped off. Not knocking quartz by any means, I use it alot. Quartz is not as shiny as granite though, depends on the look you want.

i do like the shiny look, i prolly need to get some samples and see...its hard to visualize...it maybe i am just so used to seeing granite shiny

i realized i put a pic before we changed the recepticles and new face plates, the face plates are bronze and the recepticles are also now beige

Check out www.sensagranite.com. sensa granite is not a sealed granite but a treated granite. no sealing ever required. it is maintenance free and you can use amonia based products to clean the surface. other granites you cannot since it ammonia based products diminish the sealers (most people do not know this) there are multiple granite colors to choose from. sensa granite comes from Cosentino the manufacturer of silestone (www.silestoneusa,com - over 100 quartz colors to choose from). Cosentino is a stone company both marbles, granites ( natural stones) and quartz (engineered stone). family owned company in the stone business over 70 years. they know the counter top business!

Sensa is a sealer produced by Dry Treat and is available to apply to any porous granite. more hype.

Sorry but you might want to check your facts regarding Sensa. Sensa is the product name Cosentino gave to the treated granite. we also have standard granite. it is the customers option how they want to purchase. Sen guard solution is not a sealer either. sealers sit on top of surfaces. this solution attaches to the lattice of the stone. It is called Sensa - sen guard - get it. Please research before bashing something. it doesnt perform like sealers therefore you can use almost anything to clean the surface. If you would like the proper information and to learn what sensa granite is visit the website www.sensabycosentino.com. By the way Dry treat doesn't make senguard solution either. they have nothing to do with this product. please research the website for the correct facts.

You could drama it up with black ubba tuba granite that has green color reflecting in the black. It would be stunning with all of your lighter tones.

Hello Everyone... One thing needs to be mentioned... Our monitors all display color differently... With these lighter colors it is hard to see what the tile is actually pulling. If have leftover tile take it with a drawer front to your local countertop company... Lowes and HomeDepot have the most color samples in one place especially for solid surfaces.. If you are looking at a stone product - go view slabs at the local distributor... you will have a full selection to work with and you can find the right product!

a few people mentioned the ubba tuba and i actually saw it at lowes the other day really just by chance will picking something else up and i like that color. so far it may be in the lead ha. i am going to check out all of the options everyone mentioned...i have NO clue there were so many options! i lvoe all the pictures of high end kitchens and while i do not have the money for a high end kitchen i would love to make what we have a little nicer. thanks for all the ideas and the info! i have a great place to start now.

i do have left over tiles, we got an extra box in case we need it in the future. also we have a local place that has slabs, its not a big box store just a local smaller place but i like the idea of seeing the whole slab not just a small piece, hard to see the big picture that way

Kimbrali, I find sometimes that too much choice is a bad thing for me!

it is for me as well ha but the more i look at the ubba tuba the more i like it but we shall see

sensa sounds exactly like what i am looking for

Ubatuba is a dense stone and doesn't require, nor accept sealer.

some colors are dense and also depends on origin of the stone. but if making an investment in a stone product why not protect it anyway. the cost of a sealer or senguard treatment is minimal to the comparison of cost and installation of the stone counter top. wouldn't you agree better safe than sorry? I have heard many complaints about stained granites..even darker colors. peanut butter left on a spoon the oil penetrates the stone if not treated and leaves a residual ring mark. of course it is more noticeable on a lighter stone but can be seen on a darker color. The beauty of sensa granite is you don't have the maintenance or cost of yearly sealing at all. it is warrantied against food stains only.

Granite (White Ice premium) would be the best selection... its warm and rich looking also inviting...on this stone you will pick up the color of your backsplash (travertines), black appliances and stainless steel without going too far from the contrast. I hope this would help.