kitchen all one color......you can go for strong contrast or keep the coloration in synch with what you have chosen. It's personal preference...sometimes a smaller kitchen handles all one tone really well to make it look larger. Countertops can be expensive..you might calculate how much sq footage you have...how much you can spend and just go look at Lowes or local granite place or more custom kitchen shops to get ideas. They will usually let you have some samples as well.

The kitchen is 9x13 so not big but it is an open layout with an island. We knocked down a wall. The island is in between of what will be the dining room table and living room. which is big and tall ceilings. id really like to contrast but am afraid of just messing it all up...

You ask for a sample of a cabinet door..or even just a piece if it's a shop and they can get you one. You ask for a sample of your future floor tile. You take them with you when you shop for a countertop. It's pretty tiresome; but you really need to see how colors work together, in order to choose. Whether you decide to contrast or to blend-they still need to work together.

Did you decide what material your countertop is going to be?

Chose the things that have the least selection first, like appliances, then move to things that have more selection as you go, like wall paint colors. Now your options are always expanding instead of narrowing.