I like the color of the counter top. Your combinations sound wonderful. You will love Bluestar, I do. Like you said, it's hard to tell about the color unless you have a sample. Because you seem to be gravitating towards a quartz product, it will be one of the last things you need to choose, so you can keep your options open for a little while.

To me, your kitchen wants a Carrera marble quartz substitute. They do make some quieter patterns that evoke marble. You might find those are to your taste. I have the LG Viatera Rococo, which is a little strong for your taste profile. But, you might like LG Viatera Minuet. It's more subtle and I think it would be lovely with that blue and the hickory stained floor.

I do want to steer you away from the Kohler Vinnata faucets. I had two of them. There is a gasket in the on/off handle that cracks and the handle won't stay on the unit. It just falls off. Kohler's warranty department is great about replacing this 50 cent part. But, after the third time, it became apparent to me that this was a design failure.

I like your choices and I think doing the same perimeter as island would look wonderful. However take what I just said with a grain of salt, because I personally feel 4 different main elements can read a bit too much. Meaning 3 different elements yes, 4 no. Others will probably feel differently

So since you have the painted island in that gorgeous blue, and the perimeter in the white, I would keep the countertops all the same. The one you chose has just enough of a pattern to give some interest and distinguish it from the perimeter cabinets without being too busy for your taste.

You might also like to visit a granite yard and look at some of the white quartzite stones which can be quiet and have lots of subtle interest at the same time.

Homechef - I thought the vinnata was a popular faucet here. Did you purchase yours awhile back? I'm wondering if they've changed that rubber gasket. I'll have to look into it some more...

cpartist - I've always had granite in the past and I wanted to do something different. I've seen some honed granite on here that I quite liked but they were all dark, almost black. But I'm planning to visit different stone yards this weekend and I'll keep my eyes open.

I was considering soapstone because I love the feel of it but I don't think my hubby would have liked the patina that would have developed over time. Caesarstone seems to look more like a natural "stone". At least I hope it is when I see it in person! Like this picture...

I just want to say that you will love Cloud White on your cabinets. That's what I have on mine and it makes me feel happy and satisfied every time I look at it.

Love your choices. I want a similar look for the kitchen in my new build. My vote is all white but there's plenty of examples in this search where they do different color counters. I think with the wood beams, beautiful dark hardwoods and the blue island that the rest being white would really let those pop.

http://www.houzz.com/photos/query/blue-kitchen-island/nqrwns

I have a sample of Bianco Drift. It's one of my favorites of all the quartz colors. The color is pretty neutral with grays and white but it has that little touch of brown that would tie in the floors so nicely. I think the pattern is subtle. It would allow you to use a neutral subway tile if that's the direction you plan on. I'd try to see a slab if possible. I'd use the same counter throughout.

linelle -So glad to hear you love cloud white :) I wanted a warm white that was not stark white.

nsandridge and mayflowers - I think the consensus is that I should stick to the same countertop on the island and perimeter. In a way I'm glad. I don't have to spend hours trying to find another counter I love!

Backsplash... I haven't even begun to think about this yet. We have an archway leading from the kitchen to the dining room that is going to be clad in masonary. We still have to pick out the stone for this. We'll be using the same stone on the fireplace in the family room which is open to the kitchen on the right side. Bearing this in mind, do you think I should stick to white subway tiles? Would a grey/blue look too much? I was thinking something like this to tie in with the island...

Saida,

That's the strange thing, Kohler usually builds a great faucet. And, the Vinnata isn't an entry level faucet. I liked the features of the faucet, I was just so frustrated with it.

While the quartz will look great, take the time to go to the stone yard and look at some of the honed products. Many of them will read as quiet once they are honed.

Backsplash, once the counter is finalized, I would go for shape and texture rather than color. I don't like the colored subway you are illustrating for your design. I would keep the color in the white range. Think of beveled or interesting shape rather than introducing another color.

I'd pick a white counter if you want to do a color for tile. That one is quite blue, too blue for Bianco Drift. I think BD will read light gray so a white tile would be best.

Get samples of the materials themselves and photograph them together. I find that more accurate than website photos.

Saida, your kitchen sounds a lot like what I am going to do in my next kitchen. We are doing perimeter cabinets in white and island in dark blue. I am planning on BM Newburyport Blue, but some stools from Serena and Lilly just arrived and the blue in them is a bit darker. Anyway, we are going to do Polarstone Olympia which is a quartz. Here is are two pics of it with an Extra White cabinet door. I have been posting about cabinet hardware finishes. I too will have only a little stainless showing in the stovetop and ovens. I am doing a brushed nickel faucet and a white sink. I like things to match. So, I will do satin nickel pulls. Here is our quartz in case you are interested. I think you should do the same material on both perimeter and island.

I went to see samples of the caesarstone today but I have to wait until Monday to see the actual slabs. I'm happy to report that Bianco Drift looked just as good in person and it goes really well with the Hudson Bay blue. I was thinking that I might want more contrast on the white cabinets but I love how well the BD matches the cloud white as well. And the consensus here seems to be to keep the perimeter and island counter the same - so that's what'll I'll be doing :)

It seems everyone also agrees that I should stick to a white backsplash and romy718, after all those gorgeous white kitchens you posted with BD - I have to agree.

I noticed that the white kitchens posted above all have nickel/chrome hardware. I'm going to stick to chrome/nickel faucets. But... I'm wondering if ORB hardware would give the kitchen a more farmhouse feel than the shiny hardware. What do you guys think? Am I mistaken? Would it be better to match the hardware with the faucets?

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Here's a picture I took of all different elements:

The colours in the picture are pretty true to life. The BD tends to look more creamy than white beside my colour choices.

Thanks. That's so nice to hear!

I was losing my nerve earlier today thinking I'd messed up with the shade of blue. But I went to look at caesarstone slabs today and love it all over again :)

I loved the Bianco drift but also really liked the raw concrete and the fresh concrete. I brought home bigger samples and will take it to the house tomorrow to see how it looks in the actual space. They installed electricity today so I'll be able to switch some lights on and see how it looks in our particular set up.

I'm also wondering if I should consider doing a butcher block counter on the island with caesarstone on the perimeter. I think it would look good but I'm scared of the maintenance. I'll do some research tonight ;)

I've seen some beautiful butcher block counters. And with the navy? gorgeous. (the first photo in your last post makes me swoon) But then the caesarstone on all counter/island will also be great. I don't think you can go wrong either way.

I hear you about the maintenance of the BB. And the island is such a heavy traffic area; that might make me hesitate.

I''ve just found a local guy who will build the island counter from 100+ year old reclaimed wood. His work looks amazing...I am drooling. I'm SO tempted. He's very reasonably priced as well.

You're adding a few warm elements, so don't feel you need to copy the white kitchens. ORB would be fine for hardware. That sample of Bianco Drift has much darker brown areas than the samples I saw, and more of them. Make sure you view the slab.

I did go to see larger slabs of the caesarstone and have a bigger sample now. There is quite a bit of brown in it and the overall effect is more cream than grey. I think it will pick up the brown from the floor and hopefully the darker hardware will tie in as well - at least thats what I'm hoping!

I'm planning on a white kitchen with a navy island too. I've debated chrome vs ORB hardware but am going with the chrome because I'm afraid the ORB will blend in to the navy too much on the island. Do you have a picture of the hardware you're using and will it go ok with the Hudson Bay blue?

The island color is absolutely gorgeous! The caesarstone is pretty. I personally wouldn't do two different counter surfaces unless the island was butcher block in a mid to dark stain. You said you like soapstone but your hubby wouldn't like the patina-- have you considered honed jet mist granite? Similar look without the patina. I think soapstone would be an amazing choice with what you have, but I have it in my own kitchen, so I'm a bit biased . Have you looked at quartzite at all? A honed quartzite would look really nice-- similar to marble but without the staining issues if you get a true quartzite. This is a honed quartzite, for example....

nsandridge - I haven't decided on the hardware yet. I did think about orb blending into the blue but I have seen it done before and it doesn't look bad. I'll see if I can find some pics later.

ktj459 - Hubby also didn't want black counters on the perimeter as he felt it would darken the kitchen too much. I haven't looked at quartzite, and at this point, I just don't have the time. Our kitchen cabinets are being delivered the week of the 18th (that's in 10 days!) so I really need to move on to other bits and pieces that I still need to finalize. I've left it all a bit late, I'm afraid :(

I've decided to go with reclaimed wood for the island counter in a mid coloured stain. And use the caesarstone on the perimeter. I homeschool so I like the idea of the wood on the island as my kids will be working on it during the day - and it's much softer and warmer than stone.

I've still got so many decisions to make. I need to just make them and move on to the next!

Here's one I found with dark hardware on blue cabinets :)

The second picture isn't blue but the island is a darker colour. I notice their perimeter cabinets have shiny hardware. Maybe we can mix and match? lol

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