I like the last picture of the granite with the countertops. Is this the first granite with the backsplash?

Hi Shirlpp...both of the granite samples are up against my tile. The one on the left is Yellow River (the one you said you like) and the one on the right is Delicatus. The slab of Yellow River has more of a uniform pattern. Delicatus has a very unique 'flaw' which we thought might be an interesting dynamic on our island. Also, the Delicatus would be a lighter overall look although I wonder if it's too gray?

I think yellow river goes with your cabinets but the other seems a better fit with your backsplash...could you show us with both?

Also, if you're keeping the floors, yellow river seems to be the one.

Hi Heather...what do you mean, 'can I show you with both'? Both of the samples are up against the tile in the pic.

I am just worried that yellow river might be too uniform. Here are a couple pics of kitchens with similar colouring to mine with a counter that looks like it is similar to Yellow River. I think they look a bit bland. I lean towards white but want a bit more ooomph which I thought Delicatus had. Why do you think the Delicatus would not match the floor?

I also have wood cabinets and I chose a light quartz. Don't be afraid to go light. My quartz has cream, white, gray and just a bit of beige - enough to read warm. I think either of your choices are fine.

Just FYI - since this is also the time to change your sink, I love my Kohler Whitehaven "short apron" style farm house sink which can be installed on a standard sink base. Many don't know there is a farm sink that can be used on a standard sink base cabinet, so if that is your style you might want to look into it.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~58830325

Both are beautiful, but I wouldn't do either one. Take it from someone who chose a very busy, but interesting granite...don't. I regret it. It's great to look at as a slab, but the busy patterns and colors are very difficult to decorate around. It's so permanent, too. I am stuck with these colors. Furthermore, busy granite will soon be outdated, if not already. People want neutrals that can adapt to different color schemes. So, I'd go with a creamy, less patterned granite (or quartz) like this picture.

Aaargh...I am now more confused than ever!!! lol. Thank you everyone for your responses. I will comment on some of the advice and questions I have received here.

Yes, we are definitely replacing our sink because it is actually because of the sink that we are doing this renovation. We had an old granite sink and it has become discolored with our hard water. We figured that, once we are replacing the sink, we might as well replace the counters. I did not know you could get an apron sink to accommodate regular cabinets! However, we already have our new sink in our possession. We are going with a stainless steel Undermount.

Re the suggestion to go with a plain counter because the "busy" countertops are perhaps going out of fashion, I am curious what the general consensus is on this. Granite has been around for a long time and every slab has its own unique personality so I can't see natural granite ever really becoming dated. I agree that maybe the real wild patterns may get tired, but do my slabs look all that crazy? Lol.

In terms of my backsplash, are my tiles really that ugly?!!! They are quite neutral in colour and go well with the Delicatus slab. I would not want any tile that will take away from the counter although I do know that the 4 x 4 tile is a little outdated. Nevertheless, I believe I can always change it after my counter is installed if I can't live with it.

You may be able to tell that I am leaning towards the Delicatus. I think that going with the Yellow River makes it look like I am trying to be matchy matchy. Also, in certain lights, the yellow takes on different hues. Nevertheless, I am concerned about the gray in the Delicatus tile, but is that so bad? Does gray not match the honey color of my cabinets and tie in the stainless steel?

Lastly, I think I will stick with my regular faucet for now. It is quite new and, if necessary, can be changed down the road. A taller one may get in the way of the window and also, I feel that the tall industrial looking ones may be a bit of a fad.

Would love y'all to weigh in on some of these issues! Thanks

I don't think granite will become dated. It's true there are more choices now like quartz and quartzite or soapstone but that doesn't mean granite is not in style.

Sorry, but yes to spend all that money on new counters and leave the old tiles is like buying a beautiful, expensive new dress and wearing 15 year old out-dated shoes just because the color is close.

Plus, the mess of doing the counters and then later the backsplash is a hassle. Danger of damage to the granite when tearing out the old tile is not a huge issue but a consideration.

I hear you, leelee, but any tile I choose will probably be virtually the same colour. Are 4x4 tiles completely outdated???

Have you considered soapstone?

I prefer the Delicatus. It brightens up the space against the wood floor and cabinets. I agree with everyone else regarding the backsplash. Ripping it out later will be more difficult and could even damage your counters if you aren't careful. Even plain white subway tiles would go a long way to giving it a fresher look. If you are set on keeping the existing backsplash, you might consider swapping the grout with a bright white. Unless it is just the lighting in the photo, the current grout really brings out a lot of peach tones in the tiles which can date it to late 90s/early 2000s. Good luck!

I would go with the Delicatus for the reason Suzi mentioned. I also agree on changing out the backsplash to subway tile. Are you set on something with a lot of pattern/movement like granite? If not, maybe look at some quartz which can be more subtle.

Chloe/Suzi...are you suggesting possibly going with a plain quartz and then going a bit more dramatic with the backsplash?

The problem with going with a solid quarts is that I have decided I want a light color. However, my husband is afraid that, when I spill my red wine (oh yeah--it WILL happen!) it will be very evident on a light quartz.

P.S. But I'm glad you both like the Delicatus because I was worried it was too gray.

I like the delicatus, too. The contrast would be nice. As someone said, the yellow river granite might blend too much with the cabinet and floor tones.

Thanks all of you Delicatus supporters...as you can tell, I want to be talked into it! Lol.

Meanwhile--regarding the outdated 4x4 tile backsplash. I am attaching three pics of 4" square tile. I like the look of the backsplash in the first pic. I HATE it in the second and third photos, but it is not the size of the tiles I dislike. I just don't like the finishes (the pearlized and the distressed looks). In terms of colour, i think the Delicatus actually goes nicely with the colour of my backsplash so the question is, do I replace 4x4 square for a rectangular subway tile in the exact same colour?

Are your tiles 4x4 or 6x6? ( They look exactly like mine and I'm trying to find a few extras if you have any !) Do you plan to have a four inch backsplash made from the granite to replace the laminate? That's something to consider when you decide whether or not to keep your same backsplash. I'm in the same boat debating whether to keep the old tiles with the new granite. Yes. Money is an issue!! I would want to fill in that gap left from the laminate backsplash. Hence my need for a few extra tiles. I really like the delicatus you are leaning toward. I think some chrome or nickel hardware would compliment the grey tones in the granite.

Of those choices, I like the yellow river, since the contrast is more muted. What looks interesting on a slab of granite can look like big splotches that don't belong on a countertop. I also think the delicatus will look too gray. I think you really should consider quartz though, since you are updating anyway. It will give you a very light, clean look. You can wipe off wine or anything from quartz. It is less porous than granite, which is why it doesn't need to be sealed like granite does. And then you can do anything you want on the back splash.

I'd go with Delicatus...It has enough white and tones to go with your tile. You have a lot of earth tones with so much cabinet surface and the flooring that the little bit of white with the tile will help bring a little bit of balance. Now to add a little extra pizzas if you spring for it since you don't have that much back splash surface is white tile. That tile style you show in the pic looks just doesn't quiet mesh with the stile of your cabinets or either granite. It kinda looks dated. Maybe white subway tile.

Personally, I like the yellow river. I think the undertones go better with the rest of your décor. I think the delicatus is too grey for your rooms and that one bit of "flaw" will not take away from how grey the granite actually is.

Yes, the backsplash looks like bathroom tile. In a bad way. It is dated and the texture does not go with any of the granite you are choosing. I have a patterned quartz. I've had it for 2 years and I am not bothered by the pattern, but everything else I have is plain and complements the quartz. That is the key, I think.

I love the Delicatus. It's art! I have a busy granite in one of my bathrooms, and it's the star of the show. Everything else in there is very neutral.

I would probably replace the backsplash though. It's not the color but the shape of the tiles that's the problem. Subway would be better.

I love and had Delicatus in my old house, which I sold 5 years ago, in one day.

it was like looking at mother natures artwork every day, even my realtor said that it was bold but the most beautiful piece of granite she had ever seen in a kitchen.

Chicagopa--They are 4x4 and I don't have extras either--that's why I'm wondering about the b/S. Yes...I will have to bring up the granite 3 or 4 inches. I'm not thrilled with that look but, if you look at my kitchen, I have a toaster, a coffee maker, a bread maker and a breadbasket on my counter thus, how much of the b/S do you really see? Having said that, the extra granite piece will be costing me about $600 CDN installed so I have to weigh the difference in cost.

Those of you who say it has too much gray...what is wrong with gray? Does gray not go with honey? Again..here is a pic of the slab. I would think that trying to match may be a bigger mistake--like trying to match a black pair of pants with a different black suit jacket--if the blacks are different, it looks horrible; you are better to go with contrast...no?

For those of you who say Yellow River, what colour backsplash would you do?

I hope light granites are in style a while...... we just replaced our old dark granite from 20 years ago with Bianca antico which looks a LOT like your gray choice. We did this specifically because of the gray as the thought is to use a light gray paint to brighten the house. We also lowered a double island. It may not be the IN trend but it looks pretty awesome and the changes made the kitchen look bigger and brighter. We have custom cabinets from years ago not too far off your color and may paint them. Undecided right now. But I love your gray choice and think it gives you better options going forward. We thought above quartz but chose the eye candy. It used to be quartz was the cheaper alternative but it seems styles and what's in change really fast these days with hgtv around.

Oh....and we tore out all backsplash at the same time which also gave us access to put in a pot filler

I think both choices work with your cabinets and think gray in the counter can work with wood tones. Here is an example I found. There are a lot of others just can't seem to copy more than one at a time.

Thanks @Dawn Y. That was actually another thought I had, to do the countertops different then the island but I was talked out of it. It does not look too bad. And I wish I could tell what the backsplash is. Do you think that the Delicatus would look good on the island if I did black granite on the counters as in this picture?

*THAN the island! Is there no way to edit the typos from our posts on Houzz? I may be design challenged, but I'm very particular about my spelling and grammar!!! lol

Ahhh, a fellow grammar nerd! It's almost like a curse; I can spot a mistake a mile away!

Anyway, to your point about granite color, I agree with you that the contrast provided by the gray is so much more interesting than the ho-hum of the other matchy-match granite. It will make your kitchen so much more interesting. I think it brings out the pretty color of your cabinets.

I have two granites in my kitchen - one in the island and another on perimeter counters. One mid tone, the other dark. It may not be for everyone, but I'm happy with it.

Delicatus without the 4 inch piece--just redo the backsplash in new white subway. It will cost less than $600 and look better than the small piece of granite and the square tiles.

Delicatus, you can always change the backsplash.

Is it a much bigger project to change the backsplash after the countertop and Undermount sink is in?

I have a kitchen with similar cabinets to yours. We wanted a light granite and went with River White. The slab we chose looks quite gray in our kitchen and I have regretted it ever since. My husband loves the contrast. I wish we had gone with something creamier, even though everyone told us it would be too "matchy matchy" and not enough contrast. I guess everyone has a different tolerance level for contrast though. Good luck, it is a very hard decision!

H D, you're so right about the difference in tolerance levels!

It will definitely require more care and effort to replace your back splash after the granite is in. As the tiles are being chipped off the wall, they'll be falling on your new counter, so it will all need to be protected with cardboard and dropcloths. Knowing you're replacing the current counters, you can just chip out the tile with wild abandon! Plus, do you really want to pay for and have that strip of granite below the tiles? I think it would ruin the look of your beautiful new countertop because your eye will be drawn to the anomaly. Most kitchens have either the granite strip/ledge OR a tile backsplash. I've not seen both. Might just be me! Spend the money on a new backsplash. :)

@H D...I would love to see a pic of your kitchen!

The problem with grey and white is the undertones. Some greys have yellow undertones and will go with oak cabinets. Some do not. You have to be very careful.

The slab you are showing has some striking areas of browns and creams but if you cover those up, will you like your cabinets with the granite. Not all pieces of your granite will have those stand outs. Although option 2 is more "matchy-matchy", there is a reason it goes. They both have yellow undertones. It is kinda like someone wearing a blue turquoise top and a green turquoise pair of pants. They are both turquoise, but they do not go together. Just my 2 cents worth.

I waited to put my backsplash in after my cabinets and countertop were in so I could choose the backsplash that went the best in the space it would be installed. Here is a good article about that.....

http://www.mariakillam.com/creamsubwaytile/

Yes, your 4 " squares are very dated looking. They also look dingy with the mottled finish. No you don't have to go with exactly the same color. Do not add a 4 " backsplash out of counter material. That will be a mistake.

A fresh look for your kitchen could be white tiles that would pick up the white in the granite.

I'm now considering a dark granite. Aaargh!!!

Well...we installed our granite. We went with Titanium! It's black which was what I was trying to avoid at first! LOL. I love it so thanks to everyone for your input!!!
Now I am looking for help with my backsplash. I will post a picture of the tiles I am thinking of going with. Please let me know what you think and whether I should stagger them or install them one on top of the other. Almost finished!!!

Love that granite! It's beautiful.

I would stagger the back splash tiles and use the lightest color option, 2nd from the right.

The best way is to put up white paper along the wall and then stand up the tiles in the position they will be at the install. Then snap pics and let us see!!

I personally think they may be a little busy for your granite. Your granite has a beautiful pattern and the backsplash is to complement, not compete.

The samples you show appear to have a bit of pink. Your cabinets and countertop have a yellow undertone. I would go for a cream with yellow undertones.

One possibility:

Jhmarie...I'm leaning towards that look!