You’re not focusing on utility and functionality. That lasts without becoming dated, unlike flash in the pan decor choices. You are over the border in expense to just going ahead and replacing it all so you can have better functionality. Blind corners and one drawer base shouldn’t be enshrined under way expensive busy stone. And white shaker is far from timeless. Wood cabinets are already making a big comeback in response to the sterility and ubiquity of white.

That granite is gorgeous! I’ve been fortunate enough to see it in person and have considered using it myself. I would keep with a simple subway and not do the crackle. Or maybe a non-traditional sized subway.

I accidentally voted for the hex, I was trying to enlarge the photo. Sorry! I'd choose the subway.

Julie don’t take Sophie seriously. Apparently she has something negative to say about every single post that isn’t to her tastes or about a kitchen having a total gut job. I haven’t seen one positive comment from her in the past few days. Your granite is beautiful, do what you like and what makes YOU and YOUR FAMILY happy in the home

You have a good layout. You have lower cabinets rather than drawers which is the new big thing. It probably is a nice upgrade, but for me, not worth spending tens of thousands of dollars to change - especially when there is the college fund and retirement fund to think of. I have similar blind corners - again not worth the money to change. Get the countertops and new doors in first. Backsplash is last and seeing the big picture might change what you want. I personally am not too fond of hex in the kitchen because I have it in the bathrooms:)

Consider replacing the micro with a vent hood - it is a prettier look and as a short person, I don't like the micro over my head. If you think you might do that later, be sure to save some tile to put in that area later, or take the micro down, tile behind it and put it back up.

If you are removing the wall with the range - that could be a problem. Stovetops almost always work out best in the perimeter and not on an island.

And white shaker is far from timeless. Wood cabinets are already making a big comeback in response to the sterility and ubiquity of white.

This is a tough pill to swallow for some. But I have to agree. Since January I've seen a major decline in "what color white for my cabinets" requests in my inbox. And more questions like is there any other style besides shaker for cabinets we should consider.

Right now, it's all about a mix of white and wood tones. Stain, wood tones is my least favorite thing to specify. I've dug out all my old stain decks and have been calling for updated samples. Wood, stain is coming back with a vengeance.

I like your idea of painted cabinets with the granite choice. I personally wouldn’t care for wood floors , wood cabinets and with a wood look stone.

I'm just here to comment on tiles. first off, the large Hex is way too mid century/modern for you kitchen style. if you like that shape, do a 2" hex or elongated hex.

(I'm posting these for shape, not the particular colors)

as for the beveled white subways, meh. I'd rather see see a longer, 2x8,3x9 size than those 3x6. That particular bevel is very classic/traditional/French type of look. IMO.

As for the fireplace, remove the screen and paint all of the gold a matte black w/the heat proof spray paint. lots of how to's online.

BTW, is that Sequoia Brown you're getting? It's normally labeled as a quartzite but is often referred to as marble. I would get a spare chunk and do the glass test and lemon juice test to be sure. Whatever they're calling that, i'm betting it's a quartzite.

it's also done a lot in leathered or honed finishes

I thought it looked like Cygnus?? I think that’s what they are calling my slabs...I could be wrong as I am NOT a stone expert LOL

Julie, that’s why I love it! Your kitchen is going to be STUNNING!!

Also, I LOVE the 3rd selection Beth gave you! If I hadn’t already chosen my backsplash I’d be all over it! Stunning!

@kootenaycapble has an excellent point though. It’s also a HUGE pain to grout properly. We had tile with a beveled edge installed in our master shower and it took 3 installers to finally get it right with the grout lines.

Cygnus is a quartzite. not a granite. which is fine,,,just be sure to do those tests I mentioned to determine if you have any calcite deposits.

The 3rd pic is EarlGrayMarble Beveled Hex or Picket style, from Encore ceramics. Look though all of their fantastic options they have. beautiful tiles. all sorts of colors and glazes.

http://encoreceramics.com/product/earl-grey-sheer-glaze/

also comes in the hex size

not sure on #2,,,but:

Floor and Decor has these glass elongated hex (google for more options)

these concave tiles, here

https://mosaictilesupplies.com/lyric-lounge-elongated-hex-concave-surface-greige.aspx

Beth, not trying to hijack Julie’s post but you are so knowledgeable!!! I plan on doing the tests you’ve suggested but overall Quartzite is lower maintenance? Is that correct? That’s what the slab yard told me because I told them I wanted low/no maintenance

thanks dtrivino...quartzite is stronger than granite, but, depending on if there are calcite or dolomite deposits in that particular slab, will determine your maintenance level.Quartzite is a term that is sometimes used quite loosely in the stone industry. It can be used to describe some stones which are more closely related to dolomites and marbles. quartzites have the marble look, which is why people are drawn to them.

Some quartzite slabs are naturally harder:

• Hard quartzite: Sea Pearl, Taj Mahal, White Macaubas, Azul Macaubas, Perla Venata

• Soft quartzite: Grey Goose/Super White, Fantasy Brown

all of these still need to be sealed. And of course, always test your slab by using a small piece leftover from your fabrication.

This is Kim, not Jim.

I love that granite!!! I think that you may also consider a "brick" style tile, which may tie into your fireplace. Check out Fireclay Tile for that brick tile. I also think the brick tile would really compliment the granite. I think Beth has great suggestion for painting the firebox black.

Addressing other parts of this thread, I am not a pro--so you can ignore that I have anything of real value to say here about trends and classic style. I still think that the shaker style cabinet has been around for some time, and is a classic. (I have wanted Shaker style cabinets for as long as I can remember and I am in my 50s now! So it hasn't just been the last 10 years.) I think that it has been so popular, because of it's simple, clean, sleek lines. It can be in a kitchen that is modern, rustic, traditional, or transitional, so it's a very versatile cabinet style.

I also think a white kitchen is as timeless as a wood look kitchen. White brightens up dark spaces. Both wood and white can be beautiful, that said, the trends will swing back and forth. If the trend is swinging toward wood, and you are someone who just HAS to follow the trend, then change your choices. I personally love a beach house blue kitchen--think Grace and Frankie. I have a dear friend, whose style is wood all the way. Not my thing, but I can still appreciate the beauty of it in her home. You can keep chasing your tail, or you can pick what you like and execute it the way you choose!!! And in 10 or 15 years if you want a change, and you have the means, you can do it all again!!!

I will say that with that countertop that you have chosen, you will have the warmth and LOOK of WOOD, with the wonderful function of granite. It's the best of both worlds. So you have already warmed up the place with your choice, despite your sterile white-ha ha. Wasn't going to the stone yard a blast--we went so many times before we made our choice-originally planning on quartz, but falling head over heels for granite. It's like going to an art gallery!

We also just put white shaker cabinets in basically the same layout as we had before. We went with black and white with a blue backsplash. Maybe not timeless or classic or trendy, but I couldn't be happier with it. We really considered the same granite that you have chosen, but really wanted the blue backsplash, so went with a granite that is mostly black with some white "stars and galaxies" in it. It's got just a little movement but not much. We read all the blogs about horrible, shiny black granite, and all the leather lovers, but the polished granite is what we really wanted. Again it's not what is "hot" right now, but when we brought home samples, the one that made us happy was the polished. We haven't been disappointed, it's not hard to clean. Wipe with sponge then dry with towel--presto it's clean.

Our kitchen had been built in the 50-60's. Painted many times over. We did not want to blow our entire savings on the remodel, after all someday soon my husband may want to retire. It looks to me like you may want to save some money for kiddos to go to college, so budget means something to you too.

Enjoy your choices, I think it will be beautiful! Good luck with your backsplash. If you can wait to pull the trigger on it, gather tile samples when you have your granite and cabinets in, then make your final decision on your backsplash. And remember to post your after pictures!

Thank you SO much Beth for that info! It’s really so helpful! I’m looking forward to running the field tests you suggested on my slabs tomorrow!!

dtriv,,,let me know how it turns out for you! if you haven't seen this glass tile pic,,here it is,,,run the edge across the front. quartzite will gouge.

Awesome!! Thank you so much! Have you ever had any experience with Cygnus personally??

no I have not. it's a beautiful stone tho!

Bummer! You are so knowledgeable I had my fingers crossed! It really is! Pretty unique!

I think it should hold up pretty well. it appears similar to the harder looking quartzite slabs.

Julie, that scratch test goes for you as well. grab a spare piece after they cut it.