It might just be the lighting, but I don't see a good blend with the cabinet color and counter in the first photo. The sage color also looks like more of an olive shade to me. I do like the combination in the second photo.

You might try a simpler, and maybe whiter, quartz. Or a granite like Caledonia, which looks great with sage.

I have Windemere on driftwood cabinet and would not recommend it on sage. Use Windemere with mushroom cabinets and go for something like Kirkstead, Snowden White or White Cliff on the sage

Keeping them the same or doing them two different styles will both work and we do both as well.

Here is an example of using the same material on island and perimeter.

Greater Seattle Area | The Acropolis Kitchen · More Info

Here is an example with two different materials. If you decide to go this direction, we recommend having one of the surfaces solid (without a pattern). We usually use a quartz or granite in our kitchens.

Greater Seattle Area | The Vienna Kitchen · More Info

lovely choice! love love the idea of brushed gold to compliment. would really look stunning. for a splash you could do a very light frosted glass tile either in the sage or the off-white.

Is there actually some green in Windemere? This example I found seems to show it.

The green color is actually named "Sage" though I agree it looks a bit more olivey. There is some green in the Windermere, just a touch though, so I hoped it would complement but not clash with the green cabinet. The other idea for our countertop is Taj Mahal quartzite but some slabs I see have a lot of green (which might not go with the sage?). Others have less green and far less of a "busy" look when compared with the Windermere quartz. Also, I am leaning toward quartz over quartzite for durability, etc.

I am going to check out the other choices recommended here, so thanks so much! We don't know what to do about a backsplash yet, but the frosted glass tile sounds very nice. Same with brushed gold fixtures/handles though generally I prefer a nickel color for hardware - maybe that's reason enough to choose something other than Windermere which features so much gold.

I like many pictures I see with contrasting countertops, but those I like most seem to incorporate wood rather than painted islands, or all the same color painted cabinets. Given that my kitchen is smaller than many I see in pictures I'm worried there will just be too much going on with different color cabinets and different countertops as well. It's a big purchase and a big choice though so I appreciate all the input I can get here which will definitely help me decide!!

here are two of the frosted glass and a vanilla hand made-look subway. tilebar.

I wouldn't mix the two countertops. pick one or the other. If you wanted to do a wood butcher block on the island, that's fine. I understand the concern about the sink and water.(however, you could use Waterlox. it would solve the water concern)

Since you have the two different cabinets, I would stick w/your first choice for both the island/perimeter. The colors in that quartz really work well w/cab colors. Plus, if you do the brushed gold hardware and faucets and bring in some killer pendants (those w/the black/gold metal and globes) it should be quite enough to get all the show you need.

I love your choices! I vote Windermere for both the island and perimeter:)

I considered Windermere for a project, and after looking at several slabs decided that I preferred natural stone for the variation, light reflecting qualities, and value over time. However, I would not mix the two -- natural stone and quartz -- unless they are very different, and you choose a solid for the quartz. If you like the Taj Mahal Quartzite, choose that instead of the Windermere Quartz. Personally, I think any patter in Quartz could be outdated in 10 years. Natural stone, despite its need for maintenance, is a classic look that will retain value. Taj Majal is my choice should I ever do another kitchen, and wish that it had been available when I did my bathrooms two years ago -- we used a similar marble, Diana Real, and the marble, even though a tough marble, is harder to maintain than the quartzite. If you really want quartz, use quartz for ease of cleaning; some believe that it is more sanitary, but I don't put food or utensils directly on my countertops. We love our dark granite countertops ( Blue Pearl) in the kitchen, but choosing Netuno Bordeaux for the laundry room. Lighter colors of stone are harder to maintain. Ditto for wood, but it can be refinished -- I just didn't want to deal with that in the future, should there be an accident, and I know that stone is forgiving.