I agree that eagledznes has given you some great advise on how to move forward and keep the granite you have. Here in the Seattle area (I think that's where you are too) Pental has a great quartz material (less expensive that some of the name brands, but still not inexpensive) that have a beautiful marbled look but is better than marble for a ktichen (IF you decide to change the countertops).

My advise is to think about budget first, with painting your cabinets and doing a great backsplash. While still not cheap, it is still considerable less than changing out all your granite. If you have the budget and really don't love the granite, then that's a different discussion.

To save $$ keep the countertops. Paint your cabs white to match the trim in the adjacent room and the woodwork around your fireplace. And, match the color tone of the stone in your fireplace to a natural stone backsplash...perhaps tumbled marble.

Well lets start here no budget. I love white cabinets so I started there.

Check out the photo on Houzz of kitchen with almost-white cupboards and your Dakota mahogany granite counters:

Regarding the fireplace--It might be enough help for you to decide to get a tile of the actual backsplash and counter materials that will be used, stand back and look at the samples and the fireplace at the same time. Don't hold it against the fireplace itself since it will not be directly abutting the fireplace. See how it 'feels' to you. Look at it from different directions and from different distances, keeping an eye on both the kitchen and the fireplace. If they were not visible from each other, I would say, 'no', it doesn't matter technically.

If after looking at the samples it really doesn't work, you could consider painting the rock with fireplace paint which would be the cheaper option, or you could reface it in black or white marble, both of which would look quite elegant or other facing material. You might want to also browse fireplaces in the search photos section to help you decide.

The green hearthstone is the only thing I'm having a problem with. It doesn't seem to fit the fireplace colors. Whether you paint or reface or leave the fireplace alone, I would suggest you change that, either by painting it or replacing it.

By the way, I would suggest not using the small 1x4 stacked configuration of backsplash above now that I see your arches and wainscoting. (It really does make a difference having an interior designer come to your home). ;-)

What is the greenhearth stone are u talking about?

This one.

I hope you can see the backsplash tiles here. I didn't take this photo specifically for this purpose as we were focusing on the wall prints but I noticed that your cabinets are close in color. The floor also picks up this tile selection. If you are interested I can find out more about which tiles were used. This is the home of an artist whose work we represent. Just let me know!
Janet

Oh ok it is not green sorry the stones are tan colors and browns

Does the fireplace stone look green to you

I would also consider changing the paint color on the walls to a lighter hue to compliment the adjacent room with the fireplace. Paint is an inexpensive fix.

Oh do you mean the slate its actually gray slate the last homeowners used

Ok so can I just ask this ? ..... Will painting the cabinents white dove Benjamin Moore help this kitchen!

Pics of kitchen

Eagledzines , if I paint cabinets white and change granite to new quartz color (I just went and looked at called frosty carrina by ceasarstone) on the counters. The island is big 88 x72 so I don't have many top choices basically honed black absolute or wood top (anything else and I think i would have a seam) would that look good? Thanks for all your patience ! I don't want the kitchen to come out worse then it is:)!

Have you consider doing a custom mosaic backsplash?
We have a very easy design, sampling and fabrication process with many different materials, at any scale. Check us out at www.artaic.com

You're not crazy for painting your cabinets! I just painted mine with Behr - Espresso Beans and they turned out great.

White cabinets will create a sleek and clean look in your kitchen and it is such a simple (and cost effective) way to obtain a brand new feeling. You may find that after painting the cabinets white and putting in a new backsplash that you won't even feel the need to change up the counter tops.

With the white, the brown granite will be a great accent, leaving so many options for a backsplash. I think any sort of combination in the neutral palette - beige, cream, brown, anything in between. A natural stacked stone will compliment the earthy tones you're going for as well. And it's very easy for a DIY-er. Here are some ideas. Hope this helps and good luck!

This is what we did..

Very nice

Kinda hard to tell from the pictures, but the trimming surrounding the stove is antiqued. The color of the wall is mustard - appears to be similar to the color on your wall. Then put some texture on the wall that meets it..

Thank you. If it is "your style", it would be very easy for you to do with what you already have and save you alot of money..

Yes, white cabinets with Frosty Carrina and Black countertop on the island would look wonderful. Trust your instincts.

That’s a large island. Last I new, granite slabs were roughly 65 x 112 so I think you would have a seam whatever color you choose. A good installer will make the seam nearly invisible though.

If you decided to go with wood, here is a link to a company that does that. Also, a shade of black for the island would look very nice with wood.

http://chopbloccuttingboards.com/butcher-block-countertops/

For comparison, here is another company that also makes wood countertops. I have dealt with them and had good success.

http://www.craft-art.com/products/islands/


What would you think of a black marble on a white island and facing the fireplace with the same black marble? See pictures below.

The only thing that looked green in your fireplace was the large slab of stone on the hearth. The rest of it seemed to have gray and brown hues.






http://www.craft-art

The reason I was picking black absolute is because it does come in big slabs. I checked that out. Thanks for your input it is helping a lot! if I do this color scheme then will subway tile in a white look horrible with the fireplace in the room. Also , you said to use a ceramic tile with quartzCan't wait to I paint too That yellow keeps confusing me !

Also, So what wins for you black honed absolute on island or wood.

No, I don't think it will look horrible with the fireplace. The white surround helps to tie things together.

Where did you find the large slab of Absolute? I'd like to tuck that information away in my files for future reference.

As far a subway tile with the quartz, that color would have to be coordinated with the tile people. Whether you could actually put a marble with the quartz, I don't know. I think it might actually show up the fact that the quartz is man made and cheapen it. That's why I suggested ceramic subway tile. And there are so many choices in subway tile. Another option would be to use a slab on the back.

I'm anxious to see the white cabinets!

Thinking on your last question.......

In the meantime, here is a black island with wood

Black island with wood top wins for me. A chandelier wins over it also. The arches, wainscoting and butler's pantry give your kitchen a formal atmosphere and a black island speaks to that. The wood top warms up the formality and ties in the fireplace rock which is less formal.

The wood, if the right color, can also serve to unite the two areas by coordinating with the color of the rock in the fireplace.

More chandeliers over a black island.

Ok so if I do white cabinets with frosty carrina on counters
White Island with black absolute honed on top ( I priced wood from the wood company u suggested to use very expensive to do plus 4 kids not sure how it would hold up)
Would that work ?

I wanted to put a new big wood table in front of fireplace ( would that help with fireplace). Where the table is now I wanted to get rid of maybe make that area a seating area

Love the chandelier ideas!

Oh another question:) do I match the whitevsubway tiles to the quartz or to the cabinet paint ?

Yes, I think it would look lovely.
Wood near the fireplace will warm things up. Forgive my pun.

You could do either but I'd recommend trying to find one that tied in with the quartz first.

The granite was easy to find called two yards and they had it

I am worried the big island with black honed will look too much? No

Most pics on houzz the black is on the counters and the marble on the island Reversed from what I am doing

That is true and it looks good. You could still reverse it. What do you think?

The black marble would soften that because of white lines. I would go for large white lines.
Could it be an island be two different levels to avoid the seam? Would that work for you?
Here is an idea. The width of the upper level could be wider if you have the room. This is nice in an open plan because it hides some clutter.

Alternatively it could be 30". If you went with 30" you need 18" of knee space. If you go with 42" you need 12" of knee space.

I don't have enough ell

The island is already being made I did it so I could sit 5 at the island that why I wanted to know if you think the black granite honed will look to much on the island which is 88 by 72

The island is going to be more like this so I can fit seating plus I used the existing
Island which was there and added to it to save money

Oh yes! Just saw your picture. That's very nice!
No, I still don't think that black will be too much. It's quite complimentary.

The black honed will look good.

If you think that you might like the look of black marble with white veining, you could have it book matched so the seem would actually enhance the piece. It's when two or more pieces are seamed to make a pattern in the whole piece and allows a large piece to be built.

Here are some pictures that will help you to visualize.
https://www.google.com/search?q=book+matched+black+marble&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=qJdAUdHiNoiL0QH2-YBo&biw=1227&bih=537&sei=updAUcq1MYPG0QH1s4GoCA

Remember there is already some island there so I am just adding the box underneath to support the top
And adding legs. Works best for alot of kids. Plus the big table will be kind of far from kitchen area. To eat on table every meal so I figured I'd try and make the existing island more into a island to gather and sit around

Great idea..

Ok so
If I am having a wood table in room near firplace
would you rather see a wood island top

Would you rather the island be wood or honed back granite now knowing about the table I will get for kitchen.

I am assuming quartz with a seam across island would not look good

Honed black granite on dove with graphite glaze.

Interesting thread! Looks like you had your heart set on Subway Tiles but haven't found the right one yet. Just wanted to throw our Bejmat tiles out there for consideration. Our hand glazed white has a lot of variation mixing warm and cool hues together - they may work nicely with the existing counter top and the white cabinets. We have a lot of designers and clients that find themselves in the same dilemma as you and have found our White to be a great transitional shade. There are several projects on Houzz with our Bejmat subway tile in White as well as some below. Best of luck with your kitchen, it's a great space!