White kitchen: marbled or solid white counters if colorful backsplash?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Hi all,

I'm having decision fatigue and second guessing myself (which I hate!). I already have IKEA Axstad cabinets (white) installed (see photos below). I had decided on Caesarstone Frosty Carrina counters (a very lightly marbled white quartz), thinking they were subtle and would go with everything . I would like a colorful/patterned backsplash, but will take time to pick it out. My interim will be fun peel/stick wallpaper, like this:

Now I'm wondering if instead I should do Caesarstone Pure White (solid white quartz). I had originally ruled it out because I thought I needed a subtle pattern to break up the expanse of white (with white cabinets too). But now I'm second guessing myself - should I pick a solid white counter if I'm planning on a colorful/patterned backsplash? Or are both good choices? Help! I have to decide by Tuesday! As you can see, I have a very small galley kitchen.

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Comments (5)

cawaps
6 years ago
I'd probably do the solid white and let the backsplash be the star, but I think that the Frosty Carrina is subtle enough that it would neither compete with nor steal the attention from a colorful, patterened backsplash. I wouldn't pair it with a natural marble, but there is a world of other options.
AMS thanked cawaps
AMS
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you @cawaps! I appreciate this feedback. It's hard to near the end of the process and start questioning things. I have found photos with bold backsplashes and solid white counters, and bold with marble, and they do both look nice, so that is good!

Bold color with solid white:

Narrow Alley to Open Galley · More Info

Bold pattern with marbled:

2010 Colorado Homes & Lifestyles "Home of the Year" · More Info
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J Inhof
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Hi, AMS, IMO of the two go with the Frosty Carinna if you like it. A little movement in the quartz will add some interest.

(I was just looking at ‘World of Interiors‘ magazine and those photos always reinforce in my mind that I should be a little more adventuresome/creative in my design picks even though my nature is to make ‘safe’ picks.)
AMS thanked J Inhof
Pam A
6 years ago
How does the Pure White look in your kitchen lighting next to your cabinets? Do they have the same undertone, or does one pull towards blue while the other pulls towards yellow? I would probably stick with your original choice because whites are hard to match up sometimes and it feels lower risk.
AMS thanked Pam A
AMS
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks @J Inhof and @Pam A. Good question about the tones of the Pure white - I don't have a sample of the Pure White (oops!) but I did look at it with my cabinets in the IKEA store (which obviously has very different lighting). The Pure white, was very very close to the cabinet color. The Frosty Carrina overall read a slightly cream - I do have a sample of Frosty Carrina, and in my kitchen it also reads slightly cream (and the website describes it as ivory).

Here is a photo I took at IKEA of 'my' cabinets with Frosty Carrina: