this looks like it is a type of honed granite. I'd suggest going to the granite yard with this photo to ask - it's amazing the difference between honed and polished finishes of the same type of granite.

i know this is obvious but have you tried contacting the architects?
by Sutton Suzuki Architects
Mill Valley, CA, US 94941 · 304 photos
added by sutton_suzuki_architects
Kauai Residence - Hawaii
http://www.suttonsuzukiarchitects.com/res.html?7

thanks, but they didn't respond to an email I sent - or haven't yet. I agree though that it may be a honed granite

Does anyone have experience with using honed granite in the kitchen? is it hard to maintain?

Yes we sell it polished, honed, or leathered. There is no difference in maintenance. It should all have the same sealer. Each fabricator uses a different sealer though and you'll want to ask them what sealer and how long it's good for. It's easy to reapply yourself when need be though.

Chances are the other answers are correct, but I've noticed that some of the new Corian colors can look somewhat like this as well, at least from a distance. Lava Rock, Sorrel and Medea are new colors that could come close. I've wondered whether Corian might make a comeback with the new choices.

could be just cement

it looks like concrete to me.

I was also wondering what kind of countertop it is. I have black Corian in my kitchen with painted white shaker style cabinets and terrazzo floors. I have had the Corian countertop for 7 years and I just love it. No seams where the corners meet and if i get scratches they disappear overtime just from everyday wiping. Miracle countertop. I also chose a black that most resembled honed granite, it has fooled everyone so far. Also, at the beginning it seemed to show smudges more but now it doesn't at all. I think that the fabricator had put some kind of coating that eventually wore off with time. Completely carefree. And no I don't work for the company!

stunning kitchen. It looks like concrete.

absolute black hones granite. Watch using honed black granite. It shows every finger print.....if you are bothered by such things. It would drive me crazy

I normally use soapstone with black and white kitchens

I have seen oiled soapstone that looked a lot like this.

Its a Honed Granite .

What thickness is the granite please. I have the choice of one I like at 20mm and could leave it 20 mm although or laminate the edges to 30 or 40mm or purchase one I like less which comes standard at 30mm. Any suggestions please?!

absolute black HONED granite I am pretty sure.

Check out Leathered Quartzite. Phenomenal material that's 100% natural (it's an actual slab) that is typically coined "granite" but has more quartz qualities. We love ours. Here are a few examples: http://www.dentetrading.com/quartzite.php. I wanted soapstone with a uniform color but wanted to qualities of granite. Quartzite is even better. We have leathered around the perimeter and polished on the island, which can be confused for marble:

lcmorse, I am curious about the leathered look. Is it the grey top over the piece of white cabinet that we can see on the left of the picture? If so, what is the name of the stone? Thanks.

bruni1, the lighting is a little deceiving. It's actually brown leathered quartzite. here are two better pictures. we went through marvic fabricators and found our slab at dente trading (link above). good luck!

Thanks a lot Lcmorse! Very interesting texture!

Catherine if you can afford the granite go with 3cm or 1-1/4 thickness with an undermount sink. If you use the thinner 2cm or 3/4" stone then your rim on the sink doesn't stand out as much. Also when you use 3/4" material they normally glue 2 pieces together to get a 1-1/2" edge detail, if you use the 3cm granite you don't have a seam running across the front, it's all one piece. 18 years ago I put in 3/4 granite which is very common in Canada and have been disappointed ever since,

thanks for your advice poorgirl. Now I just need to decide if I go for the colour I like and laminate the facade or the colour I don't so much like which is 30mm - decisions!

lcmorse- Do you have any close-ups of your island? What color quartzite did you use? Thanks...Beautiful counters!

hi medinamom - thank you! here's the island (and more pictures of the kitchen). I'm still very much in love with the counters. Let me know if the link doesn't work for you: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4140579/thumbs/Our-Kitchen

Thanks so much! Do you remember the name of the quartzite?

Sensation from Dente Trading. This group of slab doens't have the veining that is in ours but you can see Sensation here: http://www.dentetrading.com/quartzite.php

On another comment they identified this counter as Ceasarstone, color: Pebble ( honed)

This really doesn't look honed though...u can see the reflection of the fruit in the counter. I'm thinking polished concrete...not totally sure

I eventually used caesarstone cracked pepper. 40mm thick. I'm very happy with it and admire it every time I clean the bench down. Thanks for all the comments it was very helpful

I believe it's concrete it's what we are doing now. Is very polished to Get shine

who makes the pendants?

Lcmorseo2 - I'm a little late to the party but love your kitchen!! I'd love to know the source and color of your backsplash??