Wait until you can replace your appliances. Whatever you use won't look right with white appliances. When your new appliances are in, then you can decide on the colors.

Anglophilia, we are rearranging the cabinets now into a better layout, so we need to decide on a new counter before we do anything with the appliances. And when it comes down to it, I'm not sure what I'd replace them with because I'm not a fan of stainless steel.

get what you love, if you know you will be replacing the white then ignore them.. if you think theres a good chance you will stay with white of course pick something that goes with white. I don't agree that whatever you choose won't look right with white. there was a discussion not long ago about this very topic. just don't remember the name.

Silestone quartz Blanco City. Very affordable. Goes with wood, white and stainless if you should ever go that way.

jhmarie I really like your kitchen.

I second the comment about going with whatever you really like/love and any special needs you may have. If you do, then any time you walk into the kitchen you will be pleased. Since my older eyes love the appeal of dark counters but do not function well with them, i chose a medium colored granite.

I'm with Lily'smom. I have dark gray counters and warm white cabinets. Overall, it's a great look. I have to give it that. However, it is harder to work with. If you like a clean counter, it's hard to see spills, even errant coffee beans, to clean up. Nothing shows! If you like that, maybe it's a benefit, but I like CLEAN counters. I also think that working on a dark background is more tiring, kind of like reading light text on a dark background.

Although I still think it's a great look, I'd never get a dark counter again.

Oh, I remember your kitchen!

Does the backsplash stay?

If yes-I'd go with Quartz, something quite, in whitish-cream realm.

I like your white appliances, they were my choice after the black ones I have. I am also one of the don't like stainless steel club!

Yes, another who dislikes SS here. I think light countertops that aren't a solid color would look great in your kitchen.

Timely question. We are finally really truly ordering our hickory kitchen next week. Decided not to use Ikea as a temporary solution as planned since it would entail moving the range and hood back and forth. So finally getting my natural hickory I have waited for so long.

I am another who doesn't like stainless. My range is white with a stainless top and it is impossible to find nice wall ovens that have a decent white finish. So our kitchen is a mix. Micro and new small 24" wall oven will be stainless, the existing range is white/stainless and the hood is white trimmed out with stainless. Back splash with warming shelf behind range is stainless. New fridge will be white.

I am leaning toward solid surface with a light beige and white pattern. Not fond of granite and tired of busy back splashes so we won't be doing one. So I vote for light counters.

I LOVE wood and I want my cabinets to pop. Everything else is just background.

I inherited oak cabinets that we are keeping. The kitchen had off white laminate countertops. There is a stainless range and a black dishwasher. We went with a black leathered granite. But I also loved a white granite that had some brown/grey veins as well as green veins. It was called stratus something, but would look great with your cabinets and white appliances.

Mine before,

And today, mid renovation,

If there was an award for being indecisive, I would have that locked up! Months later and I still haven't decided on the counters. I saw this kitchen and wondered how well a granite like this would look with hickory:

Here's our kitchen again (the backsplash is going too)

In case the backsplash is going-you can do that granite.

I will consider though not bringing counters with a movement in them, even if ever so subtle, because of the gorgeous movement on the cabinetry itself. Warm solid/almost solid creamy white staying my preference here.

Still it's a nice granite..doesn't look too busy

Go see the granite if you haven't yet..will give you realistic perception of that granite. Pics on internet=hard. Take also a sample of it from the store, put on the counter, so cabinets are vertical from it..look at both together.

First of all, I love your cabinets, and I normally prefer painted white cabinets! I think that light countertops would look best, and I think it would be fine to keep your white appliances. If it were my kitchen, I would use carrara marble counters. I think the organic nature of your wood and the organic nature of the marble would look absolutely gorgeous together.

Take a cabinet door with the most grain and color variation with you when you shop for countertops ...

I'd do for something dark, like soapstone OR the faux concrete laminates.

Aprilneverends- the amount of pattern is my concern with granite. I agree I need something plain with very little pattern.

newmember4- Carrara is beautiful but I'm pretty sure I would destroy it. I am so not a neat cook!

what about stainless counters with these cabinets and white appliances?

i don't know..my inner voice is saying "no"..

and not because of the appliances that's for sure

sometimes this industrial vs cozy juxtaposition works amazing..but I can't see your space being such case. Glass front upper cabinets..no. Unless you rip them out, change them for shelves. But I wouldn't do it, if I were you. Not just to fit the counters in..the counters I'm not even so sure about.

Unless you're very sure, love, love the look, and are willing to rework it all.

It's such a nice cabinetry(uppers included), I'd just pick something that doesn't take away from it, and is easy enough to care for like Quartz or Corian..and maybe add something simple like subway tile either in white range if you're rather to blend it, or maybe greenish/bluish range if you'd rather to contrast it a bit, with all the wood around..to play it off. I don't think you need more than that..it's a very warm feeling kitchen, so great..you already have this base many others strive to get.

I agree with aprilneverends - my heart is also saying no to stainless steel. Your kitchen is lovely, warm, and cozy. I am not a fan of making it more industrial.