the cabinet color has a distinct warm yellow tone to the stain, (as do your floors) so be careful using any of the really cool gray or blue tones.

Will you be doing a backsplash tile? If so, then don't get the 4" piece up the back (it will be cheaper if you omit this )

Do you have to do a laminate? I think taking out a natural stone and putting in a laminate material is a downgrade.

First thing I'd do is paint the wall white (your backsplash) and bring in some updated lighting in the kitchen. (under cabinet lighting)

I'd also paint that trim from black to a nice bright white.

Willing to try that?

Actually, if you just painted that wall behind the granite a brighter white (Simply White, Oxford White) and brought in under cabinet lighting, the dark granite prob wouldn't be an issue

Better yet, remove the 4" granite piece and do a glossy white subway tile.

Hi Beth. I do not want quartz or granite. I want solid surface, like Corian. I'm thinking the backsplash will be the key to pulling this together without it looking blah, so not planning to do the 4" thing.

This is the LG HI-MACS tapioca pearl

is there a way you can bring home that sample or take a door w/you to view it?

It should work out since that tapioca is on the warmer side. I'm just afraid of it being a little too pink compared to your cabinet yellow base tone.

see if you can take off a door and compare in the proper lighting next to your sample

Rice Paper?

I happen to like a Corian and it has come a long way with the choices.

Look at all the choices:

This is Wilsonart Gulfcoast. The tiny sample I have isn't this dark, though. More like the sink pic below.

the gulfcoast is nice. just depends what else you want to do w/tile.

Personally I'd prob go w/a neutral that leans on the white side since you have more options to work w/paint and tile.

I understand some people see solid surface as a "downgrade" but I dislike the cold clank of granite and quartz a lot (for me - it's lovely in someone else's kitchen) and I'll never love the dark color. The sink is also a terrible two-bowl with positive reveal that was not well maintained prior to me and really needs to be pulled and replaced. I selected solid surface for my previous house and loved it. I do have lighting under the cabinet where the cutting board is, and we get quite a lot of natural light. The first thing I did was switch the can bulbs from yellow to bright white.

Do you have under cabinet lighting? If you don’t, consider bringing that in first before you alter the rest. Bring in the lighting and see how it feels to you.

Your space is very state of the art with your existing cabinets and counters.

But if you go lighter, I would go for a simple countertop, along these lines.

Should look great with light counters. Then you could add a little color on the backsplash -- like sage green -- or continue with white to lighten the under-cabinet zone further. I'd paint out the black lines above the cabinets when you do this, to complete the effect, and you could even change black hardware to stainless/nickel.