No question…the granite trumps tht fake-looking-marble-wanna-be quartz. That slab of White River granite is gorgeous!

I'm nervous it will be too busy, but I also think it will certainly upgrade my kitchen.

The marble looking quartz is soooo ubiquitous, it’s become boring. The granite has character. If just using the granite on the counters it will not be busy.

Going with the quartz, will have your kitchen look like every other white-on-white kitchen. Big snooze.

I like your existing kitchen far better as is than with the changes you describe. I also don't really see the logic in your kitchen flowing with the rest of your house better by replacing a white counter for a white counter and a light blue backsplash for a white backsplash. If you are on a budget, I would do nothing.

If forced, I would choose the quartz simply because it's the default seen in seemingly 95% of kitchens done in the last 10 years, so clearly people like it. But again, I would not change it just to change it.

Here's a crazy thought? Keep the perimeter counter. I think it looks totally fine and isn't worth switching out for something very similar. Blends in with everything else. Remove the island counter and have it cut down to fit the new bar area that will replace the desk and kennel (it might be shorter than what you originally planned for the new cabinetry?). Then, choose a coordinating counter for the island. I'd go with a granite, maybe even the one you already have it narrowed down to, I think it goes with the perimeter. OR does it open up options for you to splurge on that one piece? Possibly even find a large remnant? Then, choose a backsplash that ties in your island counter with everything else. The blue doesn't look bad but, I can kind of see what you mean about not feeling like it goes with everything else. It's a little cleaner/brighter than the other things you have going on. Your wavy white tile might be great!

I love your kitchen - it's a great base to work off of and update. I wish I had that layout :)

Maybe someone will jump in here with a mock-up?

Does the kitchen open to the dining room or are the two rooms separate? If that latter, I would simply paint the walls in the kitchen the same white as the cabinets and skip changing out the stone.

Yes, it opens right into the dining room-

Also, at this point painting is not in the budget, but will be in a year or two. The whole house is painted this color and, when we do paint, we'll paint another off white, just not as yellow toned.

I think the blue works with your dining room and gives it some character versus boring white. I wouldn't do a thing! The blue and the color of the dining room complement one another.

This all started with redoing the sink, which is currently a white porcelain, stained double sink. My husband is retiring and said if you want, you can do what you'd like with the kitchen now within this budget. I don't want to miss this opportunity, lol. The current counters look good now, but are scratched all over from previous owner use. I was told to change the sink, I'd have to rip out that counter due to the way it was mounted. The colors on the wall photograph more yellow than they appear in person.

I think painting the walls a less yellowish color would really help, and perhaps cost less than replacing the countertops and backsplash.

Show the sink- maybe the resident expert Joseph Corlett will give his advice! He knows all.

I can clean my sink with BKF, but I really want to go back to a one basin sink like I had previously. I really loved it!

I agree Jenny about the backsplash. I was worried about the business of the reflective wave, just thinking maybe it would bring more light to the granite. If that's the route I go, which I'm definitely leaning towards, I will wait on the backsplash choice between that and a plain white subway. In our home I really like the contrast of white with the off white. There will be a day we paint and that will be a whole 'nother can of worms.

The other thing about painting is the house flows into each room and I think I'd have to paint the whole thing, which is about the same cost as my kitchen budget.

Cute kitchen! I don't love the blue either. The "marble" quartz is sooooo crazy overdone...every entry level new construction/flip home has it...don't you want something more unique? Especially since it sounds like new counters are not in the plan in 5 years. Whatever you choose, don't buy your backsplash tile until your counters are installed and you have had a chance to compare them!

PS. I would choose the stone option in a heart beat, it breaks up all of the very light walls, cabinets, future backsplash and appliances. Your fridge has a cool white tone, they would go nicely together.

Are there paint colors anyone could suggest that would keep the off white but tone down the yellow cast?

Maybe I missed it somewhere, but why can't you just replace the blue backsplash with the wavy white one? And new paint and maybe new lighting. Why do the counters have to go as well?

It all started with putting in my new sink. They have to remove the counter to remove the sink in place. The counterrs are one piece so that means a largest perimeter counter would have to be removed. I don't know if I could match it and they are very scratched-especially the island They are a solid surface, Corian maybe? I'm not sure.... About the paint, I think the problem is I wouldn't know where to stop-I have an open layout into the dining room, entry way, living room, etc.

I'm cerrtainly not against these counters-they are very easy to care for, no staining and look nice without any seams.

While we wait for Joe ... here is the business website. I don't think you have to remove the counter. Look at the before/after on the site. Joe is in FL, but I'm sure you can find a similar business in your area.

https://www.ihatemysink.com/

There will definitely be lights that do not have yellow undertones, and the best time to start looking at those is after your counter and backsplash are in. Your challenge will be to reconcile the white of your cabinets, backsplash, and counters. Do you know what white your cabinets are? There are some good blogs about good colors with cabinet color x.

I like your existing counters/backsplash but if you are going to change, my vote is definitely the granite!

I love blue so I would love to see you keep your blue backsplash! I think it looks fine with all your things! Blue is one of the easiest colors to go with other colors- and always complements yellow/cream! You could add a couple towels in kitchen in a similar shade of blue or a pretty similar blue tablecloth for dining table and then it will look more intentional. (And more blue is never bad! ; ))

Here's a few ideas... Pomegranate dish/tea towels... sur la table table runner... Sur la table tablecloth... Pomegranate tablecloth...

Absolutely go with the granite!

I love that blue backsplash! Certainly is coastal appropriate! And no to the quartz.

" I was told to change the sink, I'd have to rip out that counter due to the way it was mounted."

" They have to remove the counter to remove the sink in place."

False. The countertops do not have to be removed in order to change the sink.

While I'd have to have measurements to be sure, I'm betting a Karran 540 would retrofit:

Before:

After:

If you're on a tighter budget, you could always top mount:

Before:

After:

That sink can be undermounted; here it is in stone, but you get the idea:

We've retrofitted apron front sinks in Corian:

I really like your kitchen as it is. What if you just change the island countertop or paint the island?

Joseph Corlett, LLC,
I thought I read about a way you remove scratches from Corian. Would you be willing to speak to scratches that she has on the countertops and island?

I'm not totally sure this is Corian? This is what it looks like under the island-when sunlight hits it you can see light through it if you are looking from this angle and it's pretty thin around the sink.

If you do rip out the old countertop, can you salvage pieces of it to dress up your dog crate and beverage refrigerator (or use extra pieces of the new countertop)?

We are planning to extend that cabinet and incorporate the beverage refrigerator into the cabinet. The kennel will leave the kitchen to another area of the house.

I think what you have now is lovely, and I'm chiming in with another vote for don't change it. You said the budget for re-painting is the same as the budget for the kitchen changes, so re-paint a less-yellow color. If your house has a coastal feel, a whisper-light blue that corresponds with your tile would be great.