Gayle: nice looking cabinets! What color countertops are you doing? I've had a copper sink, and let me tell you; it's a commitment. Everything you put in it changes the patina for better or worse. I had a client with two copper sinks, and they had their cleaning people polish them shiny every week. Then the next week they were ready to be polished again. Think stainless! Your backsplash is a great design opportunity to introduce copper , if that's what you want.

I notice the stub outs for undercounter lights; good!. Do LED's, about 3000 K color temperature, and mount them to the front edge of upper cabinets. Since your cabinets stop short of ceiling you also have an opportunity to add in some cool LED tape uplighting. Good luck!

just know that the copper will patina within weeks to a coppery brown (i also have a copper sink). or spray lemon juice on them to get them back to bright copper. There is also a wax you can use once a month to slow down the patina process. I don't even bother with mine anymore. I just let it do it's thing. (BTW,,what is the gauge number on the sink YOu've chosen? if it;s not a 14 ga, don't get it)

What is the countertop? Soapstone would be perfect.

Hi, thanks for all the advice. The sink is a 14 gauge non recycled 99.9% copper. We wanted the darker brown tone; but heard that the ones that come with a dark patina lighten in spots. So I wanted one that I could just let be and not have to worry about wax or anything. It's not cheap, and still unsure if we can swing it.

I'm a as little maintenance as possible kind of person. We were going to get Granite, but thought Quartz would be a better option. We are still pricing and looking at colors on this. Here are 2 colors that we have asked quotes on.

What composite material would you suggest for the sink? Or appliance color if we stay with the copper sink?

I had a black composite sink. I would not do it again

Tammra2, What kind of sink did you have?

It would be helpful if commenters said why they did or did not something.

Anyway, here is a page full of the Blanco granite composite sinks.

I love mine and I chose black because the sink is close to the induction cooktop which is black and I wanted a segue. I got a two bowl sink, larger on the left side (right next to the dishwasher) and the smaller under the commercial faucet. Love them both. Sink is easy to clean and look clean and the commercial style faucet gives me a long “neck” to spray both sinks.

Sorry, link won’t copy…google Blanco black composite sinks.

The pictures of your cabinets give very different impressions of their color -- which is closest to the real look, from the first two shots above?

the 2nd quartz may go better w/the cabs. both will look fine w/the copper. (and it doesn't change daily. lol. once it gets to the brown stage, it stays there. It's a natural antibacterial, ya know. ) You might try a venetian bronze or matte black hardware/faucet.

Gayle, this is my sink. I"ve had it and this faucet for almost 10 years! I'm still debating whether I want the matte black one or the venetian bronze.

That's nice Beth. Was it lighter when you first got it? More like the faucet?

no. this was it after install. this was the 2nd darkest shade. although, it's a shade darker now w/patina. and of course with any acidic item that sits on there for a few mins, it looks like a shiny new penny.

this was from an online coppersink place. got a steal on this sink. $600 I think. its' hand hammered Mexican copper, 14ga. It's held up beautifully all these years. I love it.

I've had a copper sink, and regretted it. Overtime the color changes vary, and the faucet won't keep up with the color of the sink. I've had the blanco composite sink in cafe brown. Better than the copper, but a bit dull and boring. I prefer stainless or my current sink - fireclay in white. It really depends on the style you are going for in your kitchen. Good luck.

As far as sinks go, no matter what you get, they take care. I hate SS sinks because of the water spots left after using and the noise they make. White enamel sinks need to be scoured to remove pot marks and stains. Copper sinks will change here and there but keeping them clean isn't an issue. (again, 14 ga and pure copper from Mexico or Spain, not China, is what you want) Pick your poison.

I absolutely love my Kohler Whitehaven. It is the easiest farm sink to install:)

http://victoriaelizabethbarnes.com/apron-front-farmhouse-sink-options-decided-against-fireclay/

Gayle...I found some pics for you. you were asking about the soapstone and I told you about some similar options done w/leathering black granite. here are the pics.

Virginia Mist granite is black w/hints of green/gray. would look good w/your cabs

Satin (or honed finish)

how good does this look w/the copper sink?!

of course there are other color options w/granite. this one matches your cabinets and your sink to a T.

and Titanium granite, leathered:

Thanks Beth, These are great photos and ideas. We are going to look at some on Saturday.