i'd do the island all one color or it will look choppier.

have you thought about cooking on dark perimeters? make sure you intend to boost the undercabinet lighting to partially compensate.

I think it would look mismatched rather than intentional particularly if you are keeping the cabinets as is. With the two tone cabinets (and is the top door style different than the bottom?), I think you'll be better off with the same counters everywhere.

No top and bottom cabinets are the same. I would love to re - design the island to a flat surface but in pricing it out, it would more than double my budget. :(

I would personally keep one color/stone for everything. I would also change your molding to white to match your upper cabinets.

I would paint the bottom cabinets to match the top cabinets and do black countertops on perimeter & island.

I agree with previous comments....I suggest you choose one colour counter for the entire kitchen, otherwise it's going to look much too busy. And as another reviewer mentioned, I definitely think you should paint out the wood trim along the top of your upper cabinets.

Paint bottom cabinets white. Leave perimeter counter top as is, in white. We cannot see the color of the island, but either way white or natural wood works. Change the island counter top to black in the same material as the perimeter. Please don't mix man-made with granite or quartz. If you need more work space, remove the riser on the island. If you enjoy guests hanging out there, leave it.

You might change cabinet hardware and lighting to brushed nickel. Just an after thought!

I’m so confused with this kitchen. Did you already do the backsplash and are now doing counters? That is backwards if you did as the backsplash will surely crack/break off in some spots where it meets the counters. Did you paint the uppers - if so please paint out the top wood trim. That just looks awkward/visually brings the height down (and looks dated). Im not seeing the value of new counter tops in your kitchen with the island the way it is. Maybe just paint the top wood trim and call it done.

Thank you for the suggestions. To respond to some of your (very opinionated) comments. We had the uppers painted when we painted our interior a few years ago because the maple cabinet color against the gray wall didn't work. We have already discussed painting the bottoms now. The subway tile backsplash was also done at that time (I do understand it will most likely be damaged now and that's fine.. we'll replace). Our countertop is Corian and is about 18 years old... hence the need to replace. Here is a little better view of the room (for those of you confused)....

I would keep all counter tops the same and make the island cabinets a different color than the wall cabinets. But I also would not do black counter tops. Kitchens should look clean and that is not possible with dark counter tops.

Here's another opinionated comment :) I love the white uppers, and wood lowers. I agree with previous comment to paint the upper cabinet trim white. I think you should keep your light Corian countertops--they look great! If they need refreshing, just pay someone a few hundred to rebuff the tops back to new. If you want to refresh things--new lighting, new faucet, new wall color, new decor is a cheaper, easier, faster way to go when you already have the beautiful, neutral basics set.

We like the two toned cabinet look, but it you are just replacing the countertops, stick to one color. It seems like you would have too much going on if you chose two colors there. What are you looking at for backsplash? The white backsplash actually goes really well at the moment, so if it will be ruined it might work best to replace with a white subway tile.

chocolatesnap :) thank you for the suggestions! Some great ideas to think about.

Heather Bates Design... Thank you. We thought about painting the bottoms white but then i read that 2 tone are in for 2018. If we can save the subway tile backsplash, we'll keep it. Other than maybe a fun painted tile I can't think of anything else I would want. I have seen black honed perimeter counters which I really like. I thought a white carrera-look island might work since it just has the wood base cabinets but get that there's alot going on.

Looking at your second photo. I'd get that top trim painted white. I'd also paint the bottoms a different shade as you usually don't see these two colors together. They are playing against each other. you could start over and use a white with a hue that works with the floor colors for the top cabinet, then paint the island and lower cabinetry and trim a color in the flooring., Update the knobs to pulls, then you can get a quartz that looks like Carrera but isn't as soft. This would look nice with your appliances, subway tile, floors.

Heather Bates Design so the wood bottoms are fighting with the white uppers? What color would you suggest for the lowers and island?

Take a look at the first photo on my Kitchens Board. that may work well with you space.

Seeing the additional photos I think you will enhance and simplify your look if you a) paint the upper trim - glad I’m not in the minority on this, b) clad the exterior of the island in matching wood (or paint lowers and exterior of the island in the same color). You have one too many finishes going on. Thus the visual 'confusion'.

Use this as an example... https://www.houzz.com/photos/2013-fall-parade-transitional-kitchen-phvw-vp~5716575
here they used 2 counter materials but the visual shift is subtle and not jarring. Also the exterior of the island is the same wood so there is a unified appearance to the kitchen. Also, notice the pendants. You could use something like this and ideally they would be relocated more centered over your island. I also like the two toned look and the success lies in simplifying because you’ve already spiced it up with two different cabinet finishes.

Heather Bates Design the design in the photo is beautiful however the full exterior wall in that room and the foyer are dark gray similar to the cabinet color in the picture = too much gray.

You have a beautiful home. If you replace the countertops I would use one material throughout the kitchen. I would keep it light like the current color. I would also really think about keeping the current corian. It can be buffed, you can have a different sink put in if you want to replace that.

Localeater thank you. I am entertaining the idea of keeping the Corian and having it buffed, painting the crown molding white (as many suggested :)), replacing the faucet etc. A new sink was what I was really excited for but the one we have now is integrated (i think that's what it's called) so I'm not sure if it can be replaced?

An integrated corian sink can be removed, and replaced with a different sink :) Check out this recent Houzz thread: [Replace integrated sink with Apron front sink[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/dont-look-patrica-dsvw-vd~5162399?n=30) Also you can post questions to Joseph Corlett the resident professional and expert on all things Solid Surface.

I would paint the lowers in the same white, do your brushed or honed black stone, and then I'd do a walnut for the upper bar top. I wish I had a pic to show you of my friend that did this. She keeps procrastinating. she had the soapstone countertops and got an acacia butcher block to go on the raised bar portion behind this sink

picture a beautiful wood top on top of that white bar top.

the wood for yours could look like this, and would look fab next to the black

butcher block in this color/type of wood, would be perfect

Here's a similar look, but w/a different granite.

And just to show you that people do use different materials:

this is honed Virgina Mist black granite. would look great w/your cabinets and walnut

Beth H...i love love love this idea! I think I have it.. finish the cabinets to all white, new single bowl farm sink and faucet, wood bar top and just buff out the Corian (or maybe splurge and get the honed black! ). Thank you so much for the ideas!

kay, yes. btw, Ikea and Floor and Decor actually have some nice walnut butcher blocks. I just saw a chevron one from Ikea that looked really nice.

I think the black w/the white cabs and the wood would look fab! I know people say stick w/the Corian, (up to you), but the black granite really isn't that expensive. try Virgina Mist, or Jet Mist, or even Absolute black.