I guess you are tired of your granite but I have to say it’s unique.

This is going to be some project to remove.

i have not seen the granite under the cabinets but it looks fine.

Gosh I really like what you have! What is your floor and do you like the layout?

Yes, @ohgoodness is correct. Absolutely use a 2”, but don’t use tile above it. I like your granite too.

Can we see more of the kitchen?

Many people would love to have your countertops just as they are. Be sure you are completely well researched on the potential issues of quartzite before risking an expensive mistake.

It looks like the small piece was added under those cabinets for a reason, so they continued the trim piece further around to be consistent. The countertops are beautiful.

Your kitchen is gorgeous as is

Thank you everyone! Here are photos of the kitchen now and of the stone we were considering. I don’t love the current island and want to make it wider.

Wow, I think your kitchen is beautiful. If you want a wider island, what about a complementary stone that pulls a lighter color from your current granite but is not as veiny? Something creamier vs white.

I’m a heartbeat I would keep the perimeter as is and just do a new island! I agree there are lots of complimentary options that would work. A solid sparkly white polished quartz to a black honed granite countertop just to name 2....

I do like the 2" backsplash, it gives the counter a "finished" look as opposed to 4" which sort of just looks awkward.

‘In a heartbeat...’ eye roll

No to the new counter IMO what you have is so much better in that space and yes to keeping the 2" and no tile

Another in support of keeping your exquisite granite! Yes it's granite, but it's not the copper/pink/brown overdone granite it's beautiful and reminds me of green marble. You have a lovely kitchen. If you must change the island, limit the scope of work to only include the island.

Another vote for keeping the current granite counter. Looks beautiful.

Like others, I much prefer your old granite to the new stone you are considering. I also like the 2" splash. I think the suggestion above to redo just the island and add a quiet, lighter and complimentary stone to the island is a good one. I get the island may not function well for you as is, but just based on looks alone, I would not change a thing in your kitchen.

Keep the perimeter granite with its funky little curb. It is beautiful!!! I am fascinated with your island. Is that stainless on either side of the center granite??? I have never seen something like that before. If you choose to resurface/expand the island...I would agree that a simple PLAIN material for a surface would be appropriate so your perimeter granite remains the star. But keep the interesting combination surface of your island. It is unique!

I'm another who loves your counters! Your kitchen is beautiful and looks like "after" pictures (not "before.")

I love the idea of a new island. How about using natural wood to speak to your wood hutch? You could make it deep enough to be a true seating island.

Here’s an example of a kitchen I really love. I like light and bright. I am not a fan of our dark wood floors but since I’m stuck with them I wanted to brighten the countertops up.

@silverlined what are the potential issues with quartzite? That sometimes mislabeled?

Obviously, you should have what you want in your kitchen. However, what you have now, with the lovely green granite counters, is so much more unique and interesting than your inspiration photo. And your kitchen certainly looks 'light and bright' to me; I love that the granite brings some color to the room...maybe I am just tired of seeing so many white on white on gray kitchens!

The 2” backsplash protects the upper cabinets that sit on the counter from water damage, so it does serve a purpose there.

If you decide to redo the island, I’d replace that small round bar sink with a rectangular or square sink which would be much more functional.

I do agree that your kitchen is quite beautiful as is.

@Summer Lilly The risks of quartzite and the alternative surfaces to achieve lighter colorations have been written about elsewhere in the Houzz forum, but I will copy a few of my comments from other threads for reference here since you asked.

As with any forum input, please do your own research. A skilled fabricator and proper tooling is essential to a successful installation with quartzite which is both dense and, as a result, on the brittle side. Cracking of quartzite is well-documented elsewhere. For starters:

• Just noticed a crack on Taj Mahal counter by the faucet hole
• Cracks around sink . . . quartzite countertops
• Cracked quartzite countertop
• Crack in new quartzite countertop
• Crack in Newly Installed Quartzite Island Countertop
• Quartzite Countertops May be Gorgeous, But . . .
• Cracked quartzite during installation

Much of the Taj Mahal quartzite on the market right now is skewing brown. A sales rep at Triton Stone told me that this is due to the slabs being cut from farther back in the quarry now and that the producers are actually processing slabs with bleach to lighten some of the brown tones in the quartzite. The lighter, creamy tones that were more desirable are harder to get now. Taj Mahal is one of the more durable quartzites, not having as many impurities in the way of calcite deposits which can lead to etching as with other stones labeled quartzite. Quartzites are overall lighter in color than a lot of the granite selections but have varying track records for durability. As a group, they are so dense in composition that they are brittle to the point of cracking during or after fabrication and installation if not done by a consummate professional with proper tools and lots of water used during cutting. Some quartzites behave more like marble and tend to etch or stain. They are costly, which adds to the level of risk given the propensities for problems. Some people absolutely love quartzite and wouldn't have anything else, but do your research on the variety as some are known to flake like crazy or develop hairline cracks easily.
Nothing looks like actual marble; it is such a special and unique surface. There are some marbles more durable than others, particularly the dolomitic marbles, and a great sealer can go a long way toward making marble a workable surface, but if you really want the look of marble in an ultra-durable surface, engineered quartz might be your best option. Also, I'm not sure if you've priced quartzite or not, but if you go that route, you'll be sinking a lot of the budget into your countertop with no guarantee the fabrication and installation will go smoothly nor guarantee unless you're able to obtain a sample for pre-testing that the material will wear well long-term. That said, quartzite is becoming a very popular surface in high-end kitchen design, so proceed with caution if you decide to continue to investigate this.
There is no light-colored natural stone countertop out there that is foolproof.

Taj Mahal seems to have the best reputation all-around among quartzites for durability in regard to etch resistance and probability of a successful fabrication if you're using a skilled fabricator, but it can have what some may consider to be unsightly rust veins. Once you move on to other quartzites, you're usually dealing with more risk of flaking, breaking, and etching concerns than you might have with Taj Mahal. The slabs themselves may have already broken and been glued back together, something you may not recognize unless you've been trained to see it.

I really hope you don’t change your countertops. And the shorter backsplashes are very modern—opposite of dated.

The subway tile is making it look old. I would just remove the subway tile since the edges are round. I think just too much to look at thats why not liking your counters. I think different textile or just paint would be better for the walls. Too much tile and stone can make look harsh and heavy looking.

@Katherine Canon - the OP wrote this two years ago. They have resolved their issue by now.