Thanks so much crl_. Any sink suggestions?

If you do a white solid surface top, I'd recommend a seamed undermount sink from Staron or any of the Karran Edge series in stainless or quartz. C-Tech makes an amazing stainless steel undermount sink as are the Kohler Vault series in undermount or drop-in. The Kohler apron sinks are very nice too:

That's beautiful-thank you! Do you think it's challenging to match the white cabinets with a white counter? I think I'd like it but people are saying the whites never look right.

gray, white or black counters are probably the three options with the floor. You have gray counters now, and a black stove, as well, a sample white door so just looking at the three against the floor, I think I'd go with black counters...it seems more interesting and there are different ways to do black, or a very dark pewter/charcoal.

Thanks you herbflavor. The KD strongly suggests granite and I feel like they're all too busy with the floor.

Well, my favorite is wood, esp. walnut. Goes with everything and is timeless, but a lot of people are afraid of it for kitchen counters.

I'd definitely go with a SS sink (it's the only SS I can stand in a kitchen, in fact! Clean it with Bon Ami and a SS scouring pad. Also by far my personal preference. Get 18 or 16 gauge stainless if you go with SS, definitely nothing higher, i.e.: 20. Also make sure it has sound buffers underneath it.

Because I got wood counters, I had the fabricators rout out a shallow trough in the shape of the sink's rim. They do it using lasers. I don't care for under mount sinks because they get SO deep you break your back washing dishes or you need a grate, and they get so gunky and gross and are a pain to clean. Plus, the seam between the sink and the countertop get gross as well. Below is a pic of my sink. The sink itself is technically an under mount style, but it's flush with the counter, unlike a drop-in, so I can wipe the counters right into the sink like with an under-mounted sink.

Otherwise, I'd go with either Cambria or Caesar Stone quarts. those two companies have beautiful colors and patterns. I think honed looks nicer, but it's harder to maintain and more expensive.

I agree with a solid surface gray. Granite would be way too busy and confusing! Then, you could do a white backslash with light gray grout.

I am assuming you will be doing a full BS this time not the 4 inch.

OT: Anyway you can talk your husband into redoing the floor with hardwood? :)

Take this thread over to Home Decorating as well.. You'll get a lot of input there.

Gray? Aren't we sick of gray yet?

Tibbrix thank you for your response and advice! Yours is beautiful and I love the brick too! I know we probably won't be in the house more than 5-6 years so I want to replace the counters with something appealing to many new buyers and I think you're right that others are hesitant to go with it.

Eld61 and tibbrix do you think solid color or something with veins/design? Do you think it's hard to match white counters with cabinets?

Eld61 he wasn't thrilled with replacing the cabinets since there's nothing "wrong" with them (except, color, style and height) so the floor probably isn't happening.

Lynn, check out my suggestion over in Home Decorating. I think it would be really perfect and stunning.

What kind of countertop do you currently have? Is everyone already trained to not put hot pans directly on the countertop? If so, I can only recommend Corian. I have it on both sides of my sink in the kitchen and I really love it. (But my kitchen is galley style and there is granite on either side of the stove. DH was used to setting hot pots on tile) I wanted wood but DH refused to consider it because of the presence of water.

I would Google "blue floor kitchen" and look at the images that come up.

With white cabinets, you could go all white or add a dark counter. Dark countertops do show every bit of dirt and you have to make sure that whatever the substance is that the countertop is made if that it was not dyed such that the dye could come out.

Another possibility if you like stainless steel is to actually replace the countertops with stainless steel that will add a nice bit of light reflection and it would be pretty indestructible.

We remodeled 7 years ago and installed soapstone counters. I would do it again. Love my soapstone!

If you are truly looking at resale value, then I'd consider replacing the floor now while you are tearing everything else up. It's pretty, but a bold choice that might put off a future buyer. Just food for thought....

Actually, chellfnp is right. If you are taking the cabinets out, you probably should replace the floor when you do that. A new buyer might look at the floor, want a new one, but will be turned off that they'd have to take out the cabinetry to put a new floor in.

I'm thinking black galaxy granite all the way. It will totally work with the floors and they'll play with each other nicely.

Heres a a picture that shows the color combo.

Agree that the floor will really date anything you put in new.

Thank you all for the thoughtful response and pictures. You've convinced me to revisit the floor so we will talk about that more before we proceed. Thank you SO much!