What does the white countertop material look like in a larger piece? I don't like the pronounced vein look on white, and I also think now it has passed out of fashion in general. The sample you're showing has nice coloration, but I don't know what it would look like in a whole kitchen. I love the black - what kind of natural light do you have in your kitchen? Mine faces north. The previous owners of our house put in black counters and I certainly won't be repeating that when I remodel. Can you show us a picture of your existing kitchen so we can get a feel for the windows, etc.?

Love the black! Trust yourself!

I have had white countertops and they show every crumb and every drip. That black with brown or gold veining makes me want to redo my kitchen! Honestly, I wish I had seen that color before I finished my kitchen. Our cabinets are stained maple and that couter would look fabulous.

I like the black but black shows more crumbs than white does. Try slicing a loaf of crusty bread or grating fresh parmesan cheese over a black countertop before you fight me on it.

The black is popping. Makes the white options look cheap imho.

@kandrewspa - the existing kitchen is galley style, so looks very different. The kitchen wall has French doors and 2 windows (you can kinda see it in the the rendering) and opposite wall (living room) will have one large window

With an open concept, consider what might work best with your living room; usually a warmer kitchen suits more looks. I like the combination below, using your lovely black choice on the island (where it can be most appreciated). A wood base will make the other wood you are adding feel less random.

marie is a good piece. black can be inserted w some metal on the pendants. maybe stain the shleves an espresso or dark java. stools can have some black element on them. I'd definitely stay on the lighter side w regard the counter picks.

Please help settle the debate! We are going with KraftMaid kitchen with island and coffee station in quarter sawn oak in Husk and the rest of the cabinets in Dove White (the rough layout is in the photo).

Admittedly I'm not a fan of the mismatched concept, but I don't like the idea of two cabinet colors AND two countertops colors. Seems too much like you just brought in this and that.

But we saw this black Dekton option (Laurent) and I absolutely love it.

I like that black, and it's something we don't see all the time.

In reality /not a computer screen, does that veining look like copper? If so, I'd like to see copper integrated into the plan somewhere. Perhaps in the lighting and hardware?

I’m nervous that it would be too much / dark.

You're right to be concerned about that ... but with two windows and a big glass door, you have lots of natural light. Don't skimp on your light fixtures. I'd lean towards going with all white countertops to balance out the dark countertops.

What does the white countertop material look like in a larger piece?

I assume you've seen both the black and the white counter top in larger pieces.

I have had white countertops and they show every crumb and every drip.

Both black and white have this problem. These are a honed look, right? I think that's a little better than the shiny stuff.

Other thoughts:

- I don't like the sink /stove wall ... well, no, I don't like the upper portion. It has too much going on /too many small things /too disjointed. It would look better if you remove the two skinny cabinets /enlarge the windows.

- You haven't mentioned backsplash tile, but -- if you go with the black counter tops, as you seem to be leaning towards -- I'd go with something with a bit of black to tie into the countertops.

@ Mrs Pete - thank you for such a detailed answer, very helpful.
Great question about the backsplash - we originally were thinking 3x12 white subway tile with some texture. But not sure if that would go with the black counter.

We are not crazy about the upper cabinets there, but worry about loosing too much storage. We already loosing all of our uppers by removing the opposite wall…

I like the all black too. The copper veining is pretty!

I have to admit I am a little biased because my kitchen is white with a leather matte black granite on my primeter. I find it is great at hiding crumbs and such. It is the polished dark stones that drives me crazy.

I know because my island is polished. It is a beautiful multi-colored stone but reads dark. Oh boy does it show every smudge, fingerprint, etc,l The smudges catch the light and really take away from the beauty. So if yours is honed or whatever they do with that particular brand, I think it will be fine.

I agree with Mrs Pete on the two skinny cabinets with the stainless chimney style hood. Not a good look.

However, if you did a wood hood that connects with the two side cabinets (like in the one rendering) then it would look much better. The wood strip would tie in the wood coffee station if the island is black instead of the wood.

@rebunky - thank you! The black finish is honed. And we are planning to have a hood cover, it would not be KraftMaid but just something our GC makes. I agree it helps the wall cabinets not to look so skinny and lonely there.
Do you have pictures of your kitchen? Sounds really nice! What kind of backsplash did you go with? We were thinking white subway, but not sure anymore

The colors in all the samples are lovely with your other materials, but I think the fake veining brings them down. If I had to pick one, it would be the black. It's not really dark. It reflects light in a glowy way instead of a blinding way which is nice. And it doesn't look as phony. And (if installed right) should be more durable.

Have you considered any natural materials?

I like the double option.

you need to see the Laurent in it's entirety

if you choose this and do a sink, make it copper. w/the wood and the black? stunning

This isn't the same, but she did similar cabs like your oak, and went w/Cosmos granite everywhere. Basalt tile is the backsplash. I don't think it's too dark.

You would have the white cabs and the lighter countertop on the perimeter, so it would be fine

found a similar moodboard like yours. the white is Avenza by Marbleworks

https://valleyhouseinteriors.com/2020/11/06/how-to-plan-a-kitchen-think-about-the-environment/

I love the dark; I confess I’m not a fan of white marble-look veined quartz. If you are finding darker countertops appealing, then how about a real stone like soapstone?

Thank you @ Beth H! Those pictures got me even more excited for the black option! And I absolutely love the copper faucet and sink. Very different from what we were originally thinking, but I love it. Do you think plain white subway tile would work as backsplash?

@chinacatpeekin - I like the idea of low maintenance that comes with quartz and dekton. Soapstone is pretty, but I haven’t seen anything I quite loved

Soapstone is extremely low maintenance; no sealing necessary, it is non porous, and no oiling or waxing is required. But if it’s not aesthetically pleasing to you, I get it:)

Kate, I hate plain white subway tiles. there are some other variations you could look at though. But, you need to wait until everything else is installed. don't even think about choosing something at this venture!

I think Soapstone or a honed black granite, Or, Negresco Quartzite, would look great on the island.

If you like soapstone, but want quartz, look at the suede finish Silestone Charcoal.

I have it's cousin the Eternal and really like it

copper sink (Coppersinksonline.com I got mine from them 18 yrs ago and love it)

Where do you intend to prep since there isn't really enough space between the sink and the stove? That kitchen as designed seems to be lots of unnecessary steps carrying foodstuff from fridge to sink, then from sink to island to prep and then from island back to stovetop.

Ideally when we cook we want to take food out of the fridge/pantry, bring it to the sink to rinse, then prep between sink and cooktop. The bare minimum for prepping between sink and cooktop should be 36". That's bare minimum.

Agree with Mrs Pete that if you're doing 2 cabinet colors, then just choose one countertop.

And most importantly I would NEVER choose from a small sample! Go to the stone yard to pick out your counter.

Also read up on Decton. Too many issues with it.

Who designed the kitchen for you?

I just gave a shirt to my sister that still had the tags on it. It is not the first time, nor will it be the last (apparently I have a bit of a flat learning curve.) I saw the shirt and loved it. I bought it. It hung in the back of my closet and was never worn. Why? Because it isn't really my color. I loved the color on the hanger. Not on me.

These two choices are very different. The look of the kitchen will be very different. Which look is more your style? Which will complement the look of the living room and dining room better? Which feels better with your flooring, furnishings, art and overall aesthetic of your home?

Kate, I went with a light sage green tile. My island stone has a little of that color in it. My kitchen is more of a farmhouse style. I even live on a farm too! 😉

@cpartist - thanks for your feedback. The kitchen layout is constricted with the current layout and fitting in everything we want - built-in bench will go next to the coffee station along the wall. There really no other place for the refrigerator because of the doors / windows. I don’t like the idea of the sink in the island and we are keeping the location of the dishwasher and the sink as it currently is. I probably will do most prep to the right of the stove.
The layout was worked out with our GC and his team.

@cpartist - what issues with Dekton are you referring to? I didn’t see anything alarming online, reviews seem that different from quartz

As always, Beth posted some beautiful examples. I don't know anything about Dekton but that black counter with the gold/copper veins is beautiful! (Personally, I feel more comfortable choosing granite for durability.) +one to the comments about viewing a whole slab. I took home some quartz samples that I liked, but viewing the whole slabs I didn't like them so much. The veins looked too fake.

Your colors sound much like mine: main kitchen and island in Snowy White, coffee station in a walnut stain. I'm using honed Nero Mist granite on the counters throughout. I was worried about the counters making the kitchen feel dark, but I chose a large linear light for over the island, and I'm putting in some square Solatubes as well. Also plan for under cabinet lighting.

Also for your consideration: I'm tying the walnut into the white with a strip of walnut along the bottom of my hood, and my very upper cabinets (small cabs on top of regular cabs) will be glass fronted with walnut interiors.

Not my kitchen, but this is the look I'm going for with my hood:

The black countertop is winning the votes. Now you have to decide WHICH black.

If you go with the one that has copper veining, do as @Beth H suggested and add copper touches (hardware and sink).

Soapstone is completely different and adds a casual vibe but not completely farmhouse-y.

Silesrone is the easiest to maintain but may not be a material you will like.

Virginia Mist granite falls into this category as well, if the ease of granite appeals to you.

Black all around would be my first choice. The second would be black on the perimeter and white on the island.

IMO you have spent a lot of money on this kitchen why now do you want to choose fake plastic or whatever for the counters I love black counters and there are some awesome black granites and IMO always polished BTW all one counter material and color with a 2tone cabinet choice

Maybe consider a wood top for the island that helps create a furniture feel since it’s open to the living room. You can then do a different top for the wall run.

The layout was worked out with our GC and his team.

GC's are not kitchen designers.

May I suggest you post a 2D layout of your kitchen and let us see if there's a better solution?

Also you're better with all lowers being larger drawers and without those two pullouts on either side of the stove. There are better ways to store utensils and spices.

I probably will do most prep to the right of the stove.

So that means you take food out of the fridge, walk past the cooking zone to rinse it, then carry the food back across the cooking zone to the right of the stove to prep. Seems like a lot of extra steps.

@cpartist - what issues with Dekton are you referring to?

My bad. I was thinking of something else. That will teach me to comment on something like that when I'm overtired.

Am I the only person who rinses their produce when I bring it home from the grocery store? Rinsing veggies as part of food prep seems like a very inefficient pain. And talk about extra steps!

@rabbitt design - beautiful rendering! Makes me consider a 2 tone on the counters! The vent hood will have a cover box over it, white with oak strip. Something like in the picture. (Old rendering)
@cpartist - The latest reworked kitchen plan is in the photo above. It’s 70s home and currently the kitchen is an old school galley kitchen with formal sitting room behind the wall. We don’t really use the formal sitting room and there about zero style with it - so a blank slate. We will be taking the wall separating the two spaces down. There really no other place for the refrigerator (it is currently on the wall that is being taken down).

Am I the only person who rinses their produce when I bring it home from the grocery store? Rinsing veggies as part of food prep seems like a very inefficient pain. And talk about extra steps!

So you're saying you rinse things like lettuce before storing it?

From the Texas A & M University System on storing produce

Meaning don't prewash.

@cpartist - The latest reworked kitchen plan is in the photo above. It’s 70s home and currently the kitchen is an old school galley kitchen with formal sitting room behind the wall. We don’t really use the formal sitting room and there about zero style with it - so a blank slate. We will be taking the wall separating the two spaces down. There really no other place for the refrigerator (it is currently on the wall that is being taken down).

Show the floor plan as it is now and highlight the wall you're removing. Show also how the kitchen relates to the rest of the floor it's on.

Kate the reason I ask for Photos is just for aesthetic guidance, even if it is a blank slate, we have to get into being you to design for you :)

I for one do a much better job when I can kindve get into living in this house, how its used, what it looks like. It may seem like TMI but it truly makes a difference

we originally were thinking 3x12 white subway tile with some texture. But not sure if that would go with the black counter.

No, definitely not with the black counter ... but I can't think of what else would work. Maybe something with a bit of copper? Not so much as to be overwhelming. This idea isn't really right, but it's what I could find quickly:

We are not crazy about the upper cabinets there, but worry about loosing too much storage. We already loosing all of our uppers by removing the opposite wall…

You could keep the cabinets ... if they weren't so oddly proportioned. What you have now is three small things /things that register as the same proportionally. You need more substance to fill that space. And let's be truthful: those two scrawny cabinets aren't providing you with much storage anyway. Ideas -- overall, I think the lesson are, No to the small range hood and Consider bringing the windows in /having cabinets on the outside of the windows:

And I absolutely love the copper faucet and sink.

I do too.

Do you think plain white subway tile would work as backsplash?

No.

I hate plain white subway tiles.

I won't say hate, but I will say, With entire stores full of lovely tile, you choose that?

what issues with Dekton are you referring to?

I have a student named Dekton right now. Nice kid. I have no issues with him.

Am I the only person who rinses their produce when I bring it home from the grocery store? Rinsing veggies as part of food prep seems like a very inefficient pain. And talk about extra steps!
Food lasts longer if it isn't washed until it's ready to be used.

I would move the sink and the dishwasher to the island.

@cpartist - here the existing floor plan and all changes being made. We also converting garage into living space. In blue is the wall that’s being removed

@rabbitt design - there really zero aesthetic in the current family room. We bought the house with plans for renovation, so didn’t feel like putting any resources into it until that happens. It has a small couch and dining table that’s about it. Plan will be to actually use it as a living room

I think Toscana Cream Silestone is so beautiful. I wish I could find more photos of it in peoples homes. It has just enough warmth in it to go really nicely with wood tones.

I have a similar black sofa and rug. this is how I did my room (even accenting w/the gold. what you can't see is a warm gold marble fireplace surround w/a black wall)

some other ideas to try

Did you end up going with the Dekton Laurent? I’m considering it and would love to hear how you like it and see any photos see any