I also love the look of stainless countertops, but having worked in restaurant business, they eventually scratch. Butcher block with wood upper cabinets and navy lower cabinets will keep the room dark. I would go with the lighter quartz.
Consider having cabinets to the ceiling. More storage, less dust.

There is nothing pro about a cabinet sitting on a counter and for sure not in a small space where work surface needs to be maxed. I sure hope that is not a electric range . I agree stainless counters get pretty rough looking in a short time but I do like stainless cabinets and I have them in my kitchen where I also run a catering biz . I certainly would not do quartz for counters if this is meant to be a working kitchen polished granite is IMO pretty close to bullet proof and some really nice white ones. I would run the cabinets to the ceiling and design a kitchen where the range can be vented directly outside All the base cabinets should be drawers

@Patricia Colwell Consulting i, and many designers, respectfully disagree on the cabinet. It’s a very popular European look, and we have an entire free range of counter only for prep (spouse‘s choice!). Here’s one example: https://pin.it/2N2ci0S.

not sure your thought on the range, but it’s induction. Appliances are not to spec in the image, and the vent does vent to the outside (should have clarified).

We have four base drawers - and we liked the frosted glass of the others. corners are both super susans and the microwave cab has a drawer below.

I’ll definitely check out polished granite vs quartz! spouse bakes and cooks seriously when he does, but that’s only 3x a week a s for a small family of 3. I’m not planning for the future owners; this one is all for us.

Will all of those upper cabinets really be open? If so you will want your counter and backsplash to be super simple as there will be tons of visual ‘interest’ with your stuff. If they will have doors then you have more possibilities with the look of the bs.

I have a stainless-topped island and while it does scratch, I prefer to think of the wear as "patina" rather than a flaw. However, I think a whole kitchen of it will look very industrial and in your case will fight with the warm "contemporary country" look you are going for with wood uppers and floors.

@thinkdesignlive these will all be open, with plants and low-use, high-design kitchen things on the top, and everyday useful / slight decor on the bottom (we are all tall people). I agree with you - so tend to lean towards the small modern lip and white rather than shine. Thoughts?

@biondanonima (Zone 7a Hudson Valley) 10000 on the patina! You stated what I couldn’t name - it just goes too much against the overall home and kitchen vibe we have going. I think a few hanging rods and appliances being in stainless carries the look enough - but should I consider the backsplash idea in your opinion?

If you go with quartz counters and you want to use the same material for the backsplash, I would do a full height backsplash (I'm not a fan of the 2" look) in that material with stainless behind the range (quartz is not an ideal choice behind a heat source). I think that plus stainless appliances would bring in enough of an industrial touch in your case.

Staying with the euro vibe, the 2" would be it.

Your kitchen will be pretty but not very practical. With all the open very high shelves and glass front lower cabinets - you have almost no lower drawers - storage options are pretty limited. If you are tall lower drawers seem even more desirable.

Maybe you don’t need much stuff or you have a huge pantry elsewhere?

I guess to answer your style questions I like the 2” lip and either quartz or granite. or maybe solid surface. I would get a slide in style range with the controls in the front for a sleeker look. For the hood I think a stainless piece is good. I think you need a special type of stainless backsplash though not just any piece of metal.

@roccouple appliances aren’t to spec - fridge has no handles, range is slide in induction. Chef spouse put everything useful for him in the uppers, always, so the drawers and cabs we have below only hold lesser-used/ugly tools/appliances and some food items. It’s also why we have the counter cab and 10+ drawers + 2 super Susan’s and the frosted glass cabs and we’re feeling solid.

would you say special stainless is akin to patterned panels/tiles or a gorgeous sheet with shelves, etc?

i also hear most on the simple lip and clean backsplash! Open to other suggestions outside of stainless.

If this is to scale, I hope you guys are very tall people!

@Beth H. : lol we are taller than average :) the bottom shelf works for the adults and the top shelf will be plants and rarely used but beautiful kitchenware. This doesn’t show the rails being installed under cabs either.

I found some cool ideas after googling “corner kitchens”.

This one is an article: https://decoratw-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/decoratw.com/19-creative-corner-kitchen-plans/amp/