I have seen laza used many times. It is only gray and doesn’t have any of the warmer brown tones

I’m in agreement. The choices you like are going to be “stark white” in your existing kitchen. I think you need something much more creamy/ivory.

Thanks for the input. The floor color will not be changed however I am considering painting part or all of the cabinets and the walls will go back to some shade of white.

I like the dated gold granite.

If you hate it, maybe look at a creamy colored solid Corian.

For perspective, this is a Ranch style home in Texas that is constructed of limestone with exposed wood beams and open trusses, hardwood floors throughout the other living areas, and limestone fireplaces and mantels of mesquite and ebony woods, all native materials. The search is for a countertop material/color that will be in keeping with these natural influences and create a lighter updated look, while being durable and low maintenance.

Your granite is very, very pretty, and is the proper tone for the kitchen. It’s just that using it for the backsplash was a bit overkill.

Quite frankly, I just don’t see the plastic-y fake marble quartz working in that warm, kind of rustic cherry kitchen, with stained concrete floors. The sink is also rustic looking. Your granite is 100 times nicer than any quartz. It has warmth and depth, and an earthyness quartz will never have.

Try not to drink the Houzz KoolAid, that kitchens need to have white cabs, with fake marble counters, in order to be ”up to date.” Look around here, you’ll see lots of new wood kitchens posted.

A creamy Fantasy Brown quartzite (I pulled this pic off of google) will fit in beautifully in my opinion!

IMO to exchange real stone for fake is going backwards in value there is IMO nothing better than a polished real stone always I think what you have is a far better look than any gray with that space and taupe with yellow tones in a space never work in my experience and IMO the bricks on the side of the island do not work at all.

Thanks. You raise a very good point about the natural stone. In my opinion that’s where the yellow/gold is primarily coming from so that would be the motivation to replace it. I’m not wanting to do gray. I was looking for a creamy off-white or perhaps beige—something with less warmth to neutralize all of the orange/red tones. The porcelain feels too modern but the thing I liked about it was that it had the rust/brown tones on a lighter background so that sent me down a rabbit hole trying to find those colors to tie in with the maple cabinets and stained floor. We like the stone on the island and we have other interior stone in the home. The cabinets and island will have some updating/refurb. Here’s a photo with some natural light.

You know, lighter but with warmth would be quartzite Taj Mahal. I bet you would like that.

More pics of your spaces please! That stone will remain on the face of the island? Leather Taj Mahal might be perfect but best to see more pics. Don’t despair there is a solution.

Ha Mrs S you and I posted that at the same time! I do think the leathered has a more rustic feel vs the polished is a bit more ‘elegant formal feeling’.

Do I see concrete floors? Lucky girl!

Leave everything as is (pull up the Roman shade) and get rid of that phony applied brick.

I like the original countertops best, they really go with your space. I don't think quartz will look right with all the natural / rustic tones you have going on. I would get rid of the granite backsplash and choose a rustic tile backsplash in a lighter shade.

Thank you Mrs. S and thinkdesignlive. I like that! I also like the leathered finish idea. The concrete is stained. It needs to be rewaxed from having our labrador sliding around on it. The limestone on the island is real Texas limestone, the same used in other areas and on the exterior, so we plan to leave it although I have considered over grouting it to lighten it up a bit if necessary, especially if it remains the only yellow-orange feature keeping me from a good countertop match. The walls will go a white once a countertop is chosen.

The limestone, the floors, and the rustic style all work with your current countertops. Maybe consider keeping the countertops but remove just the back splash and use a warm white tile there instead. It would minimize the gold since the counters would then just be horizontal surfaces.

If you decide to look at Taj Mahal, just be aware that most of what is available these days is more gray-green-taupe compared to the older cream-beige slabs you see in many of the photos. They used to also have more of a soft cloud like pattern, but many of the newer slabs have more of a pronounced striped pattern. The newer slabs won't look good in your kitchen.

I agree to change the backsplash to something that coordinates with the limestone.

Taj Mahal!

Soapstone would look lovely and be in keeping with the other elements in your home.

Have you tried changing your lighting so the yellow is not so intense?

I love the limestone and wood through out your house. Beautiful. Keep looking for real stone mostly creams for counters and a simple tile backsplash. So many threads talk about the lightbulb color in kitchens. Do that first.

Here is a current Taj Mahal next to a leathered black absolute just for reference. If you bring your paint and a cabinet door with you on the hunt you’ll find something that works.

Definitely bring a cabinet door to the stone yards! If you could find the creamier Taj Mahal, it would be great but, as was noted before, there’s not much of that stone available. Fantasy Brown is a good color but it’s a marble.

I live in TX. I went about 3 weeks ago to put my MSI Laza on hold I took this pic of taj mahal while i was there. Taj wouldnt work in my home due to the floors we chose.

I wanted Taj Mahal but every slab I’ve seen looks nothing like the beautiful slabs that used to be.

I love your kitchen but if it were mine I would use soapstone for countertop material and a creamy white tile for your backsplash. You are indeed lucky to have that beautiful limestone!

I know these types of houses well, and man-made, plastic countertops won't do it justice. If you plan to do anything, stick with natural materials. I'd go with the suggestion of doing a different backsplash; I think just that one step would create a completely different feel to your space.

BTW, I am normally a granite hater, but yours is actually very nice.