I'm not a huge fan of black countertops, especially with wood cabinets. They tend to look really dark. And granite can be very busy. I'd suggest something brighter and less busy.

Also, when you put the stone in don't put that little 4 inch back piece. Take your backsplash all the way to the countertop, and decide on it after the new countertop is in.

Be careful the blinds are a fire hazard so close to the gas range! We have replaced customers kitchens due to fires started from flames leaping to the blinds from the range in exactly your situation.

I'd try to select something that has less movement with more somewhat solid areas here vs. spotted and more uniform yet has some warm colors running within it.

Delicatus gold

You might want to take a look at Quartz in a one of the more solid colors like cream. There are granites and Quartzite slabs that have just a little movement. The creams and champagnes would go with the wood cabs nicely and would brighten up the kitchen overall.

Delicatus cream?

There are many different ways to go. I wanted to have light surfaces with my wood cabinets to have as light kitchen possible without having a white kitchen. My cabinets are older / simpler, but I went with a light quartz and cream subway tile backsplash:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042

There is actually cream and a bit of beige in my countertop, keeping it warm enough for wood.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~88667617

My parents have black with the same cabinet color as yours and it looks beautiful.

Colonial Cream would be another nice choice with nice variations as well vs. spotty.

Slab to slab any is going to be very different as you know. I'd look at as many as possible when you settle on one you like if you favor granite...

Good luck!!

I would paint your kitchen, go with a light stone & a light solid color backsplash.

Thanks everyone! Here’s a picture of my current counters...I’m trying to select something that’s nothing like these as we really don’t like them. Ideally, nothing with a lot of pattern. I really like soapstone, but having a hard time finding a slab I like.

I have soapstone counters in the master bath. They are A LOT of upkeep.

Taj Mahal Quartzite with some veining. You need something with a little warmth.

Will lighten and brighten the space yet maintain some interest. Appears you have your heart set on a very dark color which if you love it you should go for that.

I guess I should say Soapstone scratches very easily and shows marks readily hates alkaline things. The only way I've been able to keep my nice is by using a French Soap every other week cleaning them well and rinsing and buffing. Scratches can be lightly sanded, but..... It is very pretty I agree. Will just take a little work is all.

Yep, agree on all the negatives of soapstone...which was why we started to move in the direction of dark gray granites with a similar color & texture profile.

If we were to do a creamy counter, what sort of backsplash would you do? Another thing I don’t like about my current kitchen is the brown on brown on brown look. With a dark counter, I was planning to do an off-white backsplash, potentially taking all the way to the ceiling (although was told not to do that in a separate post )

Check the kitchens forum and you'll see that soapstone is considered to be pretty nice in a kitchen, although it does get a patina.

I do agree that you don't want brown, or brownish, or anything resembling brown. :)

Do you have a picture of the slab you've picked out? I think it would look really good in there, although the wall color might have to change.

@caligirl5, yes, the picture you pulled up is Saint Henry’s Black. It has no pattern per-say, but has a textured finish & a bit of texture in the color. I loved a sample of this in the showroom, but the slabs left had larger texture than I want...if that makes sense. I’ve also looked at other honed/leathered dark gray/black granites like brushed black pearl. Brushed steel gray, etc. I know dark counters aren’t “in” right now, but given my existing cabinets, I thought this would offer the most contrast if I did a light backsplash.

Here’s a picture of the St Henry’s black slab. It has a antique, sort of brushed finish. The thing I don’t like about it is the large “movement” in the texture.

Also, if it helps, attached is a picture of my fireplace that’s in the adjoining room...ideal want everything to flow

Responding to the comments on my blinds, I don’t love them either but live on a city lot so my neighbors are about 4 feet away...so definitely need something for privacy

Another view of the kitchen in daylight

No busy countertops. Stick with something as light and solid colored as possible.

I think the St. Henry would be a very good option for what it is you are saying you like. I think if you are big in to cooking, wine, lemons, being very careful what you clean with....... Soapstone is not a great option. It does patina just like the lovely marble we see in Europe that has been there for ages and ages, but it took a long time to get to the patina stage.

Your floor leans cool and I think the St. Henry would look great as you lean toward a darker color.

My thought is to keep your cabinets and window cover from becoming one is to change it to a roman shade in a light color so it plays well is all. I apologize you didn't ask and realize you live in close proximity to others from this window. Oh, and love the microwave location!

I'd do a roman when you are done with your counters.

The stoners used to laugh and laugh about tearing out Corian to install stone. Now we're tearing out stone to install stone. Joke's on you now, stoners.

I agree with others, something lighter would be nice. Have you looked at Snowfall granite? It's a little busy, but very interesting.

That brushed St Henrys is gorgeous but Im proabably a bit biased since we just put in brushed steel gray.

Your cabinets remind me of this photo which I have saved on Pinterest because I think this looks beautiful....you could try this look and it would brighten up the kitchen.

We just redid our countertops & backsplash. Something similar would look good in your space. Our granite is Fiore Bianco.

i agree with Porter's ideas especially the Tal Mahal. it will brighten the kitchen and break up all of the wood tones. I would rid the tone on tone shade. that is the first thing I saw instead of your hood etc. As far as the backs plash for that you can do a light tone to go with the quartzite see pics.

Thanks everyone! It sounds like most of you think I should go with light counters vs. dark. If I were to go with creamy counters, what type of backsplash should I go with? I don't want to do anything in a similar color as I think I'll still have somewhat of a brown on brown on brown kitchen -- which is what I'm trying to get away from. And I think a white backsplash may not blend well.

You should get your countertop first and even have it installed before making a final backsplash decision. I had planed on white subway tile, but once my countertops was in, I realized that white might be a tad stark against my cabinets and went with cream - sounds like a small difference, but it can be the difference between liking something and loving something. Also, if you get a pretty countertop with some movement in it, you will want a simpler backsplash. If you go with a plainer countertop, you can consider a backsplash with more movement. Also, if you keep some stuff out on your counters, think about a simpler backsplash.

It might already have been said, but do not so a 4" countertop splash if you do a backsplash tile - like you have now. It will look much better without the 4" splash.

Just a FYI, I do have a "short apron" apron front sink, which can be installed on a standard sink base cabinet. Mine is white cast iron but they come in stainless steel too. My white sink, light counters, backsplash and light wall paint help keep a brown on brown thing from happening.

Most of the time, warm wood tones and cool grays don't look great together - neither brings out the best in each other and they can look drab together. Some manage it though. If you want to get away from too much brown, look towards creams or sage. You can try grays - but as mentioned it is a hard look to pull off. The grays are a little more trendy right now, but I am hearing that it is beginning to fade - which is what happens when a trend has been over used. Small amounts of gray - I have some in my countertop, and very light grays are fine.

I have a "wood kitchens" idea book - look through this and similar and see if something strikes you. I am not opposed to black countertops - I prefer light, but everyone has their own style.

don't worry about the backsplash until it's installed. I happen to like your black choice.

have you looked at quartzite?

sea pearl

casablanca

i just saw this one the other day and didn't get the name. maybe Cielo

Taj Majal would also look very nice w/your wood.

honed virginia mist granite.

Thanks, all! Yes, I'm definitely holding off on selecting a backsplash until I lock down a counter. However, I want to somewhat think ahead on colors that work for a backsplash depending on the color of the counter. If I select a creamy counter, I'm worried I'll lock myself into somewhat of a creamy/beige-ish backsplash... I'm trying to get away from that color :-)

I have looked at some quartzites and do like them. However, I have gravitated towards options with less pattern...maybe because my current counters are so busy. I do see that many of the quartzites have large-scale veining vs. small scale, which will definitely help. I've also looked at quartz, but for some reason, they feel fake to me (please don't hate me quartz lovers!)

Then I'd go ahead and do your black countertop. That way, you can do more of a varied backsplash (and I have a bout 500 I can show you!)

I'm in the process of switching out my own busy granite and was considering a soapstone or honed black, and jazzing things up w/a backsplash.

I fell in love with Taj Mahal. I was quoted $13k for my kitchen. Didn’t go with TM...

White and cream are almost the same color. Cream is a tad softer. Which way you go will depend on the countertop and which looks best with your cabinets. You can still look at grays - just don't be led by trends. These pics are basic subway tile, but there are a variety of shapes and different layouts and sizes:

These first three are probably cream:

This is white: