I'm sure you can make it work... I suggest a darker/cooler wall color---pic for inspiration... Good Luck!
[houzz=]

I don't think it's so bad at all...the wall color is not helping. I would repaint...

I think apple pie has a good suggestion. If you really, really don't like it, ask the builder change it for you and put in a different kitchen. I'm not a fan of the small 3" granite backsplash IF another backsplash is planned. I'm not sure the reddish floor works perfectly with the orange in the granite either. But, you idea of blue will work nicely if you decide to work with it.

Yes, that's a shock to find the granite looks nothing like you expected, but it can work well with blue and whites. Take a stroll over to Barclay Butera's website and look at the homes he's showcased there. He uses a lot of blue and white accents in his interiors and often his wall colors are soft golds, which would work well with your granite. Even if your style is other than his traditional/British Colonial, there's a lot to be learned from the way he uses color, texture symmetry and accents that can be adapted to other styles. The easiest backsplash choice would be a simple subway tile in same white tone shade of your beautiful cabinet and a soft colored grout (not bright white), possibly even in a soft gold. If you have the 4" granite backsplash removed and the the subway tile to the counter, the counters will be less of a presence too. And if your budget allows and you really, really hate it, replace it now or just hold off on doing anything about the backsplash until you've decided you can't live with it and save up for the replacement. Don't worry, we've all made "oops" mistakes. They say its not until your third remodel you get everything right.

I agree, the wall color is not complimenting the granite. Something as simple as painting your walls will make you love your new granite! I would suggest you paint a medium gray, that would look gorgeous!

I think you can make the granite work. Don't play up the orangey shades and do play up the greyish and creamy tones. For the backsplash I would do a simple subway tile in a creamy white and remove the granite backsplash like sjkingston mentioned. It will be fine in the end....don't panic!!!

I agree, the wall colour is not helping. Maybe a soft grey might help make it "pop", but in a good way. Grey might also work best with the blue and white if you are introducing those colours. As for the backsplashe I would stick to a muted colour, either tying in with the cabinetry or granite, or just white.

The granite sure does have a lot of movement in it. Not my fav either, but as others stated, I would ask the builder for a replacement. Can't hurt to ask. Bring the sample to the house for comparison and plead your case that it isnt what you expected.

IMHO, it is not attractive with the cabinet color. It's off from what I see, regardless of what color you paint the walls because the cabinet color doesn't match (clashes with) the granite color. :( just 1 person's opinion because you asked for honesty. Also, I am not a decorator, but I do know what I like.

I can totally sympathize with you..currently redoing master bedroom and terrified I'm going to screw it up! The kitchen does look really disjointed, there are a lot of colours going on and in the photo your floor looks purple! Definitely see if you can switch out the granite....it's very busy and the colours pretty bad. If it doesn't look even close to the sample you were shown, maybe you have a case?? If you could, a nice dark granite would be beautiful. If you can't, pull out a nice colour from the granite and work with it. Good luck!!

You're in luck with blue accessories at least, since orange and blue are complementary colours.
I'm no great lover of granite normally, but rather like the drama of this one !

I looked around houzz and found this picture... It has less of a gold color to it and reminded me of your kitchen and what granite might look nice. http://houzz.com/photos/163477

Sorry you're disappointed with your granite. Although its not what you expected, I think you can pull the overall look together with a darker warmer wall color. Painting your walls would be the least expensive and easiest remedy to try first. I would even hold off on the expense of choosing a tile back splash until you see if a better wall color improves the look for you. Your granite is really very nice. Its natural and rich looking. The busy pattern and movement in the stone may be a little too much for your taste too. But I think you can neutralize it with the right choice of wall color.. You need something on the walls that will bring the cool white cabinets and the warm tones of the stone together. I'd consider a coco brown, something closer to the floor tile. HOWEVER, if you don't like warm golden tones and have your heart set on using blue and white (and more importantly can afford to scrap the stone counter top and choose another) then go with a counter top in white, light gray or black.. Good luck. Interested to hear what you do.

Definitely white or cream subway tile!!! In my opinion blue and white (pots, china, decorative plates, etc) are considered a "neutral" . Give the granite a fighting chance!!! Also, painting the walls a darker color (think grey) will help tone down the granite! It will be lovely!! Please send a picture of the final product!!

i think the biggest issue here not the granite itself, as you can see from the comments, people who love golden accents loved this stone. The issue is that granite golden orange does not look good with the floor and no paint would help this fact. If you do not like the stone now , try to change it

Try painting out (with your wall colour) the huge white rectangle that is the back of your island ... it really is throwing everything off .. because we're currently seeing both the floor and the counter against a stark white box, in the middle of your space.

First. congratulations on your new home!

Your gut reaction to this stone is negative, so I would first try to change it out. Hopefully the builder is willing to work with you on this. If you have to spring for part or all of the cost of the new slabs, and if you have the $ to do so, I would go ahead and pay for new countertops. That is a large surface you are looking at and have to live with every single day, multiple times a day. If you are able to, you should get a countertop you enjoy looking at.

Let's say you are sticking with this stone, I would definitely paint the walls. Paint them a neutral off WHITE or GREY that coordinates with your cabinets. Why? Because the color you have now embraces the warmth of the stone color, repeats it and magnifies it. Your granite is super busy, and super saturated. I would neutralize the overall feel of the room as much as possible. I agree that classic warm subway tiles is a good choice for the backsplash. Please do not do dark walls as some have suggested. You will be creating more contrast, more movement, more lines. It'll be too much.

For accents, yes, I'd skip on your blue pieces. Sorry. Orange and blue might be "complimentary", but that doesn't mean it looks good in a transitional kitchen. I'd probably use wood and chrome pieces on the countertops - stuff like this: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/tondo-16.5x5.5-oval-platter/s535176.

and this http://www.cb2.com/stainless-steel-snack-bowls/f4401

I'd use white pieces too.

Neutralize the room with paint and the backsplash, so the granite is the only busy element, that is what I would do.

Good luck!

I love the granite! It works really well with the cabinets you chose. I'd have to say, I think the orange almost gives it a "luxe" look! For the blacksplash, I'd keep it neutral. Since your granite is already colorful, maybe stick to white? I've seen kitchens with the same granite and the backsplash usually stays white to keep the room bright and draw attention to the beautiful veins in the granite.

There are a lot of colors in that granite. Pull out what you like. I suggest the gray.

Ask them to repolish it as this can change the colour, the shineness depending how much they do to it......

I don't think your granite is ugly, maybe a bit busy. You may feel like its really bad bc you were picturing something else in your mind all this time. The cabinet colors work here and I agree with another comment here on painting the walls gray but I prefer a light gray. Also you can keep some off white or very light gray decorative canisters, a bowl, etc here and there to break it up a bit. I would not introduce any extensive detail or bright/contrasting colors in a back splash if you do one. I suggest you paint the walls and see if you like it. But, if you still hate it you might want to talk to the contractor about changing it before long. Often, you might not lose much money bc they can probably use it elsewhere. I had a pretty big sizing problem with a kitchen counter top once and the granite company fixed it at no extra charge (since then I go and check the slab and the templates before cutting)

Hi ksolom -- I'm glad you're warming up to your beautiful stone. It's glaring at you when you walk in and that's all there is, but I think as you fill in the room it will be more a part of the big picture.

My suggestion is a monotone bronze finish hammered copper backsplash and island accent panels, with something like these copper medallion tiles under the microwave:
http://www.coppersinksdirect.com/ccp0-prodshow/accent-wall-tile-TL4990-mosaic-medallion.html

Since there are so many colors in the stone, I'd say that's it for your color palate; I wouldn't add blue. (Sorry!) But I do think it will be elegant! (Cursor over to see all.)

I'm glad you are liking your granite. I don't love granite but I actually like this because it's dramatic. I would take off the 4 inch splash and not add the blue as mentioned above. I would pull a light tone from the granite and do something very simple since it's already busy. I like the idea of adding some copper accents (maybe a light) to complement the rust in the granite, but personally I wouldn't do the entire backsplash - might be too much of a good thing.
more of an idea for color of backsplash (minus the medallion) with some copper too:

I love these pendants

I agree on the copper color sam -- no orange/copper, just brown/bronze finish.

...this is from a fellow houzzer:
http://backsplashideas.com/fasade-hammered-oil-rubbed-bronze-kitchen-backsplash-panel

If you don't like it do what you can to change it....you will have to look at this everyday so get what you like. That being said you could definitely make this work using the great suggestions other have already made.

Why did you put up a backsplash when you could have done tile? I'd take down the short backsplash and do a creamy white subway brick to work with the cabinetry.

It's a spec house, so I didn't get to choose certain things. (Like putting up a granite backsplash.) They just did it. But it is okay, easy to change.

That granite is not ugly at all, it's actually quite beautiful. It just doesn't look right with your color palette. Have a look at a very similar granite in the attached photo. You can do the same by removing your backsplash and putting up one that's similar to the one in this kitchen. Unless you just redid the floors or don't have the budget to replace them, you can replace the tile to one that picks up the colors in the granite, like the one in this kitchen. Otherwise leave them alone and try just replacing the backsplash.

There are a lot of great ideas here and I definitely agree with removing the granite backsplash and replacing with a very even, textured surface. The hammered bronze is very sophisticated look and tones down the veining effect of the granite. Something else to consider is to replace the top on the island with another material with an overhang that allows for seating. The back of the cabinets could be dressed up with panels similar to the door fronts and seating would be in front. I would also add attractive ( perhaps glass) pendant fixtures above the revised eat-at island. You may want to work with a paint color specialist for the walls to pull it all together. You have many options and will make this kitchen your own!

Is there a possibility to change the granite? I am thinking that YOU should love it after all none of us on here have to live with it so that shouldn't be a weighing factor in something so permanent. Having to re-decorate around something you don't like doesn't seem like a dream kitchen to me..There is a ton of movement in that granite- something you would not have seen on a sample but they should have let you know , googling the golden persia you can see that some slabs are more orange then others. I am guessing you have just had the kitchen painted by the looks, now you need to start again and I feel like this will just begin a snow ball effect..

The colour is nice , maybe a dark brown glass or tile splash back to pull the dark color up in it a bit more ,

If the builder won't replace it live with it for awhile and then see how you feel. My granite has a more subtle pattern of orange but in this one spot on the island there is a large splash. At first I was horrified but now it is my favorite part of the granite. You are looking at the granite in a empty room. The whole look will change once you decorate. You can always change it down the road if you don't grow to love it.

Also, keep in mind that you're looking at an unfinished kitchen. If you're thinking about removing the countertops, I would wait until you've installed the appliances, hung some decorative items, perhaps installed some undercabinet lighting, pendant lights and recessed or track lighting overheard and the granite will recede into the background. I wouldn't replace it. I think it's beautiful.

agree with the last 2 posts , my white marble has beige veins in it and some massive dark brown streaks whch at first stood out like a sore thumb once full decorated and lived in they are now the feature and i love them to bits , just relax and slowly pull the room together piece by piece , your granite will end up looking stunning in the end ,

Any updates you can share? Would love to see how it all came together.

What great advice! You can either replace the granite (expensive tho possibly worthwhile so you aren't disappointed in your renovation) or you can work with the colour and let its beauty shine. I suggest repainting the kitchen to a lovely greige or charcoal. Of course, this depends on the color of the rest of the house. Good Luck!

t

Old post from 2013.

Let's hope the poster embraced the drama

So sorry you don't love it. If pulling it out is not an option, I would agree with most everyone here. Paint the walls a cool grey. I would also loose the back and side splash and put a simple tile back splash. If tiling the back splash is not an option, rep ain't walls and cabinets with a much deeper color like ben mores sag harbor grey

I think your granite is very pretty!

Not a fan of granite in general. Not sure why everyone is so gung ho about it. Sorry to say but yours in particular looks like a formica counter top after a college party that involved some regurgitation :(

^^^^Seriously? Not a very pleasant comment. Anyway it's an post from 2013 so hopefully the OP has finished the kitchen to HER satisfaction.

Robert that was worse than rude, that comment is outright mean.

I think your granite is very unique. The color combination is not unusual at all. I spend a lot of time on a rocky beach during the summer. All of the colors in your granite are the same color rocks that appear at the beach! As "nature never makes a mistake" the colored rocks all work very well with the color of the sand and the blue of the ocean and sky. Attach a photo of how your kitchen looks today.

Painting your walls will help a lot! But don't go dark! Go light and creamy. I had the same problem. I painted my walls a beautiful, soft creamy white and the granite immediately popped and I'm okay with it now. The lighter paint will also make the kitchen seem light, airy, fresh, and clean.

Would say before you commit to big expense in changing granite consider greys on bottom cabinets only with cream tiles between top and bottom maybe, think your granite is dramatic unique with style, and the paler cabinets below it aren't giving it a chance to show it's true uniqueness and drama. Sympathise with you cause looking at a little chip is certainly different to looking at a run of counters in it. Good luck, please post after photos if you follow any of the advice given you already.

Old post.