You might want to look at a brushed UbaTuba slab...it totally changes the look of the stone...softer and lighter. Some of the brushed black granites look like soapstone....maybe your Mom would prefer that to the polished, glossy looking black.

annied: love your choice; too bad about the price.

I like the honed Uba Tuba, but not sure about the tile backsplash choices. They look rough/textured and not easy to clean

My client did honey onyx on her backsplash.

Honey Onyx Basketweave Mosaic With Black Dots, Polished Mosaic Tiles, 10 Sqft · More Info

the onyx blends with the oak and the black dots relate to the uba tuba granite

glad to help, Annie!

Hi, I like the lighter Giallo, definitely. I hate the Uba Tuba! I think the Uba Tuba with the Black Appliances, just makes the room look to somber, dark and a bit depressing to me. Especially, that your parents are in their 70's brighter is always better when you consider Universal Design and Aging in Place. There is also some specs of black in the Giallo and I like that better than the dark Uba Tubs Black emphasizing the appliances. Let them blend in.

As far as the backsplash, you can use a lighter tile that works with the stone, perhaps, laid in an interesting way, staggered or stacked. You also could use the Giallo on

the backsplash as the light color is more reflective or a tiny scale tile, like in below picture which blends. Not everything has to make a statement. " Less is More"

You might also check out real Quartzite, which is also beautiful and every bit as

durable as granite, but is a newer look. Granite has been kind of overdone

and really isn't as popular as it was years ago. Check out pictures of Quartzite below, with a small mosaic of small square to blend with the top. Although, these are different cabinets and color wood than your parents, you can get the idea. Don't confuse Quartzite, which is the real stone with Quartz which is manmade.

Making sure they have plenty of light and if they don't have under cabinet lights they definitely should, as the older we get the more light we need, especially to do things like cutting and preparing. We call it Task lighting rather than general room lighting.

Our first house had Uba Tuba on the foyer floor. The space got lots of light and even had a skylight over it, it was still a very dark floor.

I just remodeled my kitchen and what made the biggest difference was going from dark counters and dark backsplash to light counters and light backsplash.

There are so many more options out there. Maybe they can look a bit more before making a final decision.

We practically stopped carrying Uba Tuba because it's so out of style now. We haven't carried slate tile for years. For future resale, definitely go with the lighter granite and subway tile. It will seem dated either way (sorry) so go with something that people won't turn away from instantly when that time comes.

I'm nearly 70, have black appliances, glossy black countertops, will soon have mid range oak floors, cabinets are birch (I think). I love the black and think with adequate light the dark counters are fine. I find white/really light counters tend to glare.

I saw that your parents were near 70, that was exactly my point. They may not care about it, but you (or at least I assume you) will most likely be facing that hurdle one day.

Totally understandable. I wouldn't mind doing the updating of painting and new floors, or whatever it may be, but redoing a kitchen twice is not really worth the money. But your choice. As long as they're happy!

In my previous kitchen I had a dark granite with light oak cabinets. I had originally wanted light granite counter but kind of impulsively went dark. I have to say that living with it I grew to prefer it. It was so much more forgiving and with enough light elements in the kitchen it was not dark. I did go with a lighter backsplash (and under cabinet lights as well. I hardly used them though - they were mostly for the decor/mood as I didn't need them).

Haha, that's so funny, Annie! I think she'll love the Jet Mist. It's my favorite counter top ever!

I'm sorry to say that I've not heard of Ocean Black. However, that being said, it looks very nice, and similar to Jet Mist. Just make sure that it's granite and not a black marble. Marble has very different properties than granite and many homeowners do not care for the issues it has--etching being the most problematic.

Is that a soapstone?

Soapstone is a different material entirely. Usually comes from Vermont or Brazil.

i think dark/ light is personal preference. i'm 62 (you know, your parents really arent that old....they do get to pick their own appliances) i prefer light counters as they don't show sponge wipe marks or crumbs, but i dont like dramatically dark kitchens, some do. may they live a long long time with their decisions!

Please do under cabinet lighting if it is not already there. Especially do under cabinet lighting with black counters, though I have light with my oak cabinets and still would not give up my under cabinet lighting. I am not as old as your parents, but having crossed the 50 mark, I have found my eyes benefit from good lighting.

My kitchen with light counters:

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

A wood kitchens idea book:

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75202366/list/wood-kitchens

I strongly agree with jhmarie. My cousin had her new kitchen installed a few years ago---golden oak cabinets with Uba Tuba but no undercabinet lighting. It was dark in her food prep area. Her kitchen is lovely but Uba Tuba and oak are seen in so many homes.

That could be pretty. Consider a cream subway tile backsplash - and definitely get under cabinet lighting:

Arts & Crafts Update · More Info

Also, I don't know where your parent's microwave is, but if it is over the range consider replacing it with a dedicated vent hood. My mother can no longer use her over the range microwave because she is not comfortable lifting things up, especially if things are cooking on the stove - so think aging in place. Also, a vent works better and looks better. If they might do this later, be sure to take the microwave down and tile behind it and then put it back up, or at least reserve tile to fill in the area of the microwave later.

I do like my Whitehaven "short apron" front sink. (see the pic of my kitchen in my earlier post.) The apron is a little shorter than in the above pic. It is just a style thing - though I love how close I am to my sink - but I think it along with the subway tile backsplash helped blend the old with the new. The "short apron" style can be installed on a standard sink base cabinet.

what do your parents want...they are not dead yet...?

Gray can look pretty with some wood tones, but too much looks rather drab with some. Wait till the countertop is in. It will make a difference in seeing the big picture. I changed slightly my choice of backsplash tile after my countertop went in. One can live without a backsplash for a while:)

Because gray is very trendy right now, many are trying to make it work with older warm toned cabinets - sometime it is a miss. Warm woods and cool grays while not directly clashing, often do nothing for each other. The countertop will be laying flat and reflecting light, but be careful with a gray backsplash - if you can, find a warm gray - usually reads a little green or greige, that would be better, The grays do work with with maple - probably because it is on the yellow side. Totally agree to let your parent make final decisions. They want a refresh - but that doesn't mean they want to go all trendy - and trendy today is dated tomorrow.

annied75, a white or off-white rectangular tile is a very nice choice. They come in various sizes besides the standard 3 x 6--2 x 6, 2 x 4, 2 x 8, 4 x 8. You could go with a crackle and/or hand-made tile to give the backsplash a bit of texture. You could also go with a glazed brick--lots of companies are doing them--check out Waterworks Grove Brickworks or Ann Sacks. But as jhmarie suggested, you may want to wait until the counter top is in.

and to ma in michigan--not a very nice comment.

nice journey annied75 , all very nice stones! Some times Jet Mist, Ocean Black and Virginia Black honed are the exact same stone with 03 names. Thou there are also different quarries with this look, so it could be actually different stones.