the picture w the fridge and the hallway reveals a white door vs black fridge as opposing ways to do a theme w everything that will remain. I would do the whitish surfaces[counter and backsplash]. You have white trim at ceiling/white window trim. White isn't boring anymore. I'd let go of the black. I realize you'd be shifting gears and youve been looking at samples..but I still would choose a whitish palette. Its easy to visualize and will be wonderful in your space.

A Kohler 3943 with the short apron will retrofit into that 36" sink base cabinet beautifully:

Everybody is doing white/gray countertops. Eehhh...

in modest older kitchens the light counter w light backsplash provides a cohesive counter/splash infusion into the space. Dark counter is not usually paired w dark backsplash so you have two tones , w counter and splash, as the result , that way.. The pairing of the two whitish areas has a better chance for an upgraded look, where other elements remain. If the floor were not quite as busy , a medium granite w movement could be considered. Just don't see that. There are so many lights/and whites between counter and splash to choose from, fortunately.

@Michelle Young Trippi

I am pretty set on a black leathered countertop. I just can't stand the polished look.

What about a honed black surface, it wouldn't be polished or a shiny a the leathered look?

I am so HAPPY to hear you are keeping your cabinets. They look to be in good shape. I had Virginia Jet Mist and it is indeed more of a graphite color not the solid black you may be looking for. However it is not shiny and that is a plus. Are you sure you are dead set on Black? Because a white or cream might look wonderful too. When I looked at similar kitchens to yours I can't help but think a light stone or quartz would really brighten the space. But if you love black then lets look for a black honed or not shiny surface that might work for you. If you can, when you do get new counters don't get the mini 3 inch backsplash, keep it uniform and go without that. It will look more updated.

Here are some similar kitchens to look at.

Honed black cambria quartz

Stewart · More Info

Maybe this one is too shiny

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I couldn't help myself wanted you to see the light counter options too. So much you can do with your space.

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Kempsville Cabinets- Cherry Custom Kitchen · More Info

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Cherry Kitchen Cabinets | Carlton Door Style | CliqStudios · More Info

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This one has the black appliances you have but lighter counters than the black you are thinking. This is very pretty to me.

Cherry Kitchen with Red Accents · More Info

Fieldstone Cherry Kitchen with Caesarstone Quartz Countertops · More Info

My mom has black counters in her kitchen and she regrets how dark they are. It really sucks the,light out of the space. Maybe get some big sheets of black construction paper to lay across your counter for a few days to see how you feel about it.

I like the idea of doing white counters, they’d be a bit more up to date.

The other thing is that the blue on your walls is much too cool of a color to go with your cabinets.

I have cherry and viscount white granite. If I could do it over would go lighter and whiter.

This was 5 years ago when we built. Cherry darkens. And so did the granite

If you can find it, I think leathered Belevedere quartzite would look nice with your cabinets. We got it for our basement bar, which has natural finished cherry cabinets -- a bit lighter than yours, but same tones. The golden streaks running through the Belevedere compliment the cherry beautifully.

Here's our slab: (don't have any pics of the bar to show with the wood, sorry!)

Go lighter, not darker since you have a small window. The wood stain of your cabinets and floor don't complement each other well, so pick a countertop that will have a bit of the reddish from the cabinet stain and a bit of the grayer stain of the floor.

Contemporary Kitchen · More Info

Dollar Road · More Info

As mentioned, the blue really works against your beautiful cabinets and dining table. A creamy white throughout would greatly enhance your kitchen and dining area. Here's a classic Houzz article about paints that complement wood details.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/11-terrific-paint-color-matches-for-wood-details-stsetivw-vs~9025200

Apologies I just reread your information, and you do seem bent on black. I just read the "I'm not artsy" part so offered suggestions you might not have considered that would add light and complement the wood cabinets and dining table as well as work with the floor, which doesn't work well with the cabinets.

I do think black would be a mistake as most here have said because it will suck up so much light along with your black fridge. The way to find out, as suggested, is to cover your all countertops with black paper and see how it looks under daylight and nighttime conditions.

I disagree that black will be too dark. There's a decent-sized window in there, and the fridge is on the opposite wall from the counters.

@mxk3: Well, OP can and should try it out by papering countertops in black to get an idea whether it will be too dark. Many more Design Dilemmas have to do with too-dark countertops than too light when they have wood cabinets, but some people do like that darker look, which is definitely a thing. In any case, she already made up her mind she wants black and wanted to know what finish in black, which I didn't register until I reread the question.

Thanks everyone - I am catching up and appreciating all of the perspectives. The room gets a ton of natural light. It is west facing so pretty much full on sun/daylight all day. So not worried too much about it being dark. It might shock to know it used to be Orange and that was really dark so we are LIGHT years ahead here.

I did try some lighter color countertops but it felt washed out to my eye, and honestly the hubby was not thrilled. Pretty sure I get the final say, but you know. :-) Fridge is 12 yrs old and once I have to fix it one more time it's going...later this year if I had to guess.

The room connects straight to the family room, which is why I kept the paint color the same. Prior we had different colors in the rooms and it's just weird when you are using color. But not to say I couldn't change the paint in the kitchen with new counters.

Nevermind that little TV on the big wall...I have a custom cabinet and new tv coming in March. Kitchen light is being moved left and repalced

It's a nice space, which you laid out well. I like your dining table, which complements the cabinets. When several of us mentioned repainting, we weren't talking about just the kitchen. In an open space, one color throughout works best so you're good on that, your family room curtains look great. Any chance you could get another set for sliding doors to connect everything?

I was about to suggest, not that you asked, a gallery wall at the TV end--low console with art around TV, possible dark accent wall, but sounds like you've got something on order, so good. Also, with black sofa, possible counters, dark accent wall might be too much.

Since you mentioned not being artsy, here are a couple easy tips to turn yourself into an artsy person when you're making decorating choices.

--Always be thinking about contrast. If one area is very dark--walls, floors, countertops, dark couch--then set them off with another, lighter area as in TV photo I just posted. Dark floor? Lighter rug. Dark bedroom walls, lighter bedcovers and rug. Contrast adds a dynamic feeling to a room.

--In a connecting space, use one palette, which is what you've done already. Think about getting same curtains for kitchen so that it's all one space.

--For harmony, use same finishes in hardware, lighting, etc.

--When you get your media piece/console, etc. put your lamps, or at least one of them at that end of the room to light it up. It's a big space, so you want high and low lighting throughout so it looks as spacious as can be.

Good luck with your countertops. Test everything out ahead. Look at a lot of online images with different colored countertops with your cherry wood. What's the feeling you're going for. And thanks for not painting your cabinets white!

--

Here is a mockup to give you an idea of how black counters would look. Would you be keeping the walls blue?

Mockup from different angle.

Mockups with backsplash added.

I think at this point I will be keeping the blue as I like it throughout the room. I will be adding a backsplash to the kitchen (not part of the new counter) so I expect that the blue walls will 'disappear' around the counters. Also going to install under cabinet lighting.

I can get the same curtains for the slider that are in the living room. I had to get something up quick last summer...with all the sun coming in all day it was not good for the floor.

The wall with the tv is 15ft. My wall unit will be 10ft - white with gray/black top and toe kick. The wall to the left is a slightly darker shad of blue. Not sure on 'the look' other than wanting something to feel cozy and light at the same time. I wanted the kitchen counters to be different but also stand the test of time. I feel like sometimes the busy (but beautiful) patterns of granite can sometimes feel dated or tired of looking at them, that's just me.

Zeld I like rendering, thank you! When I saw white I didn't love it as much, some sort of 'pop' was missing.

Zeld that looks nice to me. Simple...I could easily add some whit around the island cabinet to help the view from the living room

If you truly love the look of oiled soapstone, then you should look again at Virginia Mist granite - check out slabs at different suppliers, if you can, to find one that ticks your boxes re shade and veining. Soapstone is often not all that dark, even with oiling. Plus, I feel that your cabinets +floor will do best with a more moderate. softer black.

I agree that very busy granites are tiresome after a while to me, although not necessarily to others.

My personal preference would be a light counter, to really make your cabinets pop, but that didn't work the same for you, and that is fine.

I do agree that your blue shade (as it appears on my monitor, anyway) is not quite right for the cabinets and table. Once you get your new counters and tile in, if you just feel that things didn't pull together as you'd hoped, I would say it is probably because of the wall color, and you can find a slightly less gray, slightly warmer blue that still works with your furniture and floor.

I love the look of a leathered black granite. I saw a gorgeous leathered uba tuba last week. However, I think your wall color is limiting your options. Consider toning down the blue slightly. if you are set on keeping it that blue, I would do a leathered absolute black or a whiter countertop. Fantasy brown is beautiful leathered, but slabs all look very different. Best to go to a supplier where you can pick out your slab and take a cabinet door and a sample of your wall color with you

Ubatuba is nice! I am not opposed to adjusting the wall color if it will help the overall look and feel...it's just paint...just would not want to paint the entire space into the living room area at least not yet. We just went from tan/brown/orange so this looks light to me. LOL!

My contractor has also suggested leathered Black Pearl.

Hi! Love that you're keeping the wood cabinets. We just remodeled our kitchen. We kept our cherry cabinets but replaced our 1998 dark granite. We used a beautiful off white quartzite (bianca supperiore) It had some warmer hints that picked up on the cherry cabinets. The difference in kitchen was unbelievable. It was incredibly light and airy and made the space so much larger looking. We used same countertop on island and are glad we did. It ties the entire space together.

You have good natural light but my 2cents would be that black counters would really darken up space and make kitchen seem smaller. The change in our kitchen was remarkable!

Good luck!

I’m not sure also about solid black. What about a granite something like Black Diamond, Negresco Granite, Via Lactea, Titanium, Cosmic Black? I don’t know how the leathering works though with them.

Funny you mention that - I asked my contractor to locate Negressco - will definitely look more into the others you have suggested.