I saw this example where the accent backsplash ended and all perimeter counters were white. I know there’s no end to the options but trying to keep my poll streamlined!

Once you chop up the slab to fit under the cabinets and around the hood, it won't be much of a statement.

I think these slabs work best on a large/tall fireplace to get the full effect of the natural stone OR a full shower wall OR a tall wall behind a freestanding tub.

Maybe if you remove the upper cabinets next to the hood.

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The impact isn't as much when it is cut up around the cabinets and hood.

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it's a bold statement, for sure.

for me, it depends on the sight line, and the surrounding colors. Natural light? tall ceilings?

simple cabinets? elaborate? hood vent?

WIth out knowing your vision, I would prefer the island be the bold statement.

Chispa and Lyn! Excellent points and Thanks for your input!

Slope ceiling - 14 ft on high side. 8 on low side. 7 foot kitchen sink window, 9 ft dining room slider (albeit it opens to a covered patio so not as bright of light coming in). Skylights in living room which is on other side of “beam” opposite/kitty corner of kitchen so great natural light.

Simple cabinets - shaker/bevel edge painted alabaster (a very light off-white). And a very simple plaster hood vent that will go to ceiling.

And chispa - I’m 90% sure I’m going to not have upper cabinets flank the range hood. I agree that it really opens it up to not have uppers, especially with my slope ceiling on that wall

I have a request out to two designers to try and get some kitchen renderings. I think that will be a great help to visualize… but also wanted to collect some thoughts here!

Oh and my island is white oak, med wood stain..; the rest perimeter cabinets painted.

Lyn your comment about using statement on island reminded me of pic I liked a long while back. Different bc I’d have white painted cabinets but it was neat to have such a statement island counter. Lots to think about!

I realize this isn't your kitchen, but I might consider the range wall and the island the same, since they are in line with one another... same sightline.

and have the sink wall, plain and simple. a compliment, but not a distraction from the feature.

Thanks for validating Lyn! I SO appreciate another perspective and last night after analyzing 40 pictures of kitchens I was coming to a similar conclusion.., that often you see the island and range backsplash and that’s kind of nice for your eye to see that cohesiveness. Appreciate you taking time to weigh in. SO much! Thanks.

Anddd this pic you added shows me how you can put a contrasting counter up against that range backsplash … on the lowers and maybe then do that same contrasting on the sink wall countertops. I feel like that’d really pull it all together.

Wondering/hoping that slab isn’t TOO bold. 🤔 but also find it pretty!

Two cabinets colors ONE top color. Two countertop colors ONE cabinet color.

How big are the slabs? Will you wind up with a seam on the range wall because of the high ceiling? Does this slab have bookmatch capability?

The stone is gorgeous! I would do it on the range wall and the island. Then I would do the sink wall the same as the butlers pantry ( something very minimal ) with maybe just a short splash and no tile or find a simple large format tile that matches the counter to use as a backsplash - again very plain.

I also think that if you are doing no cabinets on the range wall, then I would do that stone and do a simple stone everywhere else - a white or a soapstone. Similar to the way people do their kitchens when they use a patterned tile as a feature.

I think when you are using a stone like that, you can think outside the box.

Good luck! Please be one of those wonderful people who posts after photos!

Thank you Debbie! I wondered about book matching them too … since if I do island I’ll need two slabs. What do you think of he fact my island is stained white oak and other cabinets are painted white? Too busy with h then an accent island and backsplash? I think it’ll be pretty. I totally thought same .,, carry whatever countertop I use on sink wall into that butlers/scullery corner. Whatever it is! Hah

And I absolutely will post pictures! Houzz app has been so great for me!

"Back in the day" lol , there was a lot of kitchens with 2 colors of cabinets - perimeter and island and then different countertop colors - often the bolder pattern on the island. Now that we see more counters as backsplashes, I think that having just one stunning focal point is better than spreading it everywhere - to much of a good thing.

You are also on an open floor plan so there are things happening all over the space. You need to consider all of that as well.

It really matters how bold of a statement you want to make. Vertical application is always bolder than a horizontal one. Some folks like a quiet blend of finishes with nothing too striking. Others like to do something stunning and bold. What sort of person are you?

I'm a bold sort of person so I would put that stone on the wall in a heartbeat. I would not do it for the range counter - match that to the sink. The island is the tricky part and not because it is a different color but is that stone so bold that it will be too much on the island?

I don't know. I tend to lean to a bolder element so I would do the wall and the island. I am not a fan of the countertop "folding " up the wall as a backsplash. It gets tricky when ti comes to lining up patterns. If your designer is using a program that she can upload images into it, she should be able to show you what it would look like.

Good luck.

Thank you Debbi! Excellent questions to ponder and take into consideration! And hey, “back in the day” always comes “back”! Hah.

Not quite a full detailed rendering but a basic one. Hmm … I’m wondering if the pretty wood stain island is competing with the slab. Like let one or other shine instead of compete. 🤔

I like the wood island, it grounds the countertop.

i would do the slab all the way to the ceiling behind range and the do the futuro copper hood

Hi Meg!

Wow that is a gorgeous stone!

I like the wood island, but were you planning to add wood somewhere else in the design? Were you going to have the pretty pantry cabinets match the wood island? The white on white on white sink perimeter seems like a completely different style kitchen with nothing to tie it together with the wood island and/or stone countertop.

I do not like the white shelves and especially how they chop up the stone backsplash behind the range. That is your main focal point, so I would have the slab go all the way straight across. I would skip the shelves, but if you really want them, I would have them be in line with the bottom of the hood.

I also think a solid black perimeter countertop might help the design look more cohesive. I feel like something needs to tie back to the island.

Thanks Rebunky and Diana! My eye was also looking for where else I could put wood. I was wondering if I maybe make that upper cabinet to the left of the kitchen sink a tower and make it wood, or bring in wood in trim of glass frame inside the white upper. I saw that once and will see if I can show that inspiration picture. There is going to be long floating shelves that you'll see thru the door on the right along the pantry back wall that will be stained to match island, but I agree there is maybe opportunity for a bit more wood tie in element in the "main" area. Thanks! I do like that black perimeter.. was even thinking maybe a light gray in an attempt to make sure it doesn't get too dark, but black actually looks really sharp!

Oh, and the rendering shows white shelves on range wall, but it's actually going to be stone or wood shelves. And I too thought about bringing that "up" some and letting eye see straight line across instead of up and down.

I would get away from all that white, and use the oak for all the cabinets. The stone is overpowering the white cabinets. Also paint the walls something other than white.

I would not do white cabinets- and opinion of one?

That rendering just above?!

Toooo much drama! :)

Also design overthink.

The cabinets are alabaster … perhaps this rendering gives a better (pre)view. Nonetheless .. all appreciated input. Back to stone store. Thanks!

No worries! You fell in love with a dramatic, dark, bold quartzite. It is stunning! It has happened to the best of us!

However, if you truly love it, the design can be tweaked to make it work.

The question is…

Do you love it soooo much that you are willing to change up your original vision? Are you willing to change the perimeter cabinets to the oak?

The bold and dark quartzite really does over power the rest of the ALL white (Or Alabaster) perimeter.

The dramatic stone island and stove backsplash draws all the attention down the center of the room. I would prefer my eyes to focus on one main thing first (maybe the hood and backsplash), then calmly my eyes move to a secondary main thing (maybe the 7’ large window to the outside view), then calmly my eyes drift around the space to other subtle but interesting elements in the space that tie in to the main things. This includes the rest of the whole open concept space. Hope that makes sense!

Maybe the Pros, Jan, Diana, Debbi, or others have a few ideas?

How many stars can ” star ” in one show?

The kitchen began on another thread- hood and door openings to an over sized pantry.

What is the flavor of the entire space?

I don’t mean just the kitchen !

I’d want one cabinet finish. If you want two?

Put something different in the pantry.

I don’t love any stone that takes over a space- call me low drama , the wrong one to ask.

Just know that any very bold stone will dictate quite a lot more than you may be imagining:)

typos are I phone…

Jan, you did great. No typos that I can see. I am the worst!

I agree with you on the very bold stone. I enjoy seeing boldness in other people’s homes, but for myself, I am not a fan of boxing myself into one domineering design element. Especially if it is going to be a major expense to change out if I ever stop loving it at some point.

I've already given my opinion, but I'll add that the oak and the quartzite go together very well. They evoke an earthy, dark, moody, organic feel, which is not the light airy open feel of the white/alabaster cabinets. Pick one for the entire kitchen and go with it for a cohesive look and feel. Everything else you choose should continue the look/feel that you choose. What you're going for in your last rendering is disjointed and discombobulated (a technical design term ;) . You don't need a "one from column A, and two from column B" look. Can you? Yes, but just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Dark and moody, cohesive:

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Light and airy:

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Effective use of dark stained island and white counter tops and cabinets. Dark hardware helps unite the space:

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Go BACK to the inspo kitchen you posted when you were wringing a hand on door widths to pantry, whether or not to have upper cabinets flank the hood.

That wss a moody , beatiful kitchen. Very organic feel.

Don’ t do a garranimal :) is the point. When you try to have everything - you end with a nothing.

Thank you all so much for weighing in and validating my gut. I’m learning my gut instincts can be trusted and that I also fall in love with so many pretty things! I could decorate 15 Christmas trees and love them all. But yea, we have ONE kitchen to design. 😂 thanks! Will keep you posted. Renderings help SO much. I’m glad I was at least able to source a designer to help with that!!

Today’s trip back to stone store was fruitful! 3 solid (mellow) stones to consider.

Great! What 3 stones did you find? If you have a photo of each slab, I can mock them up for you if you like.

That's sweet of you rebunky! Really? I was going to hit up the draftsman, but even for your curiousity sake.. here's a few I had in mind. Iphone pics so not sure it's the best for seeing actual colors? Nonetheless, here they are if you want to!

I believe a rope is in front of one …

I tried a mockup but they all looked terrible because the lighting on the slabs looks so different from the rendering. Yeah, hit up your draftsman.

Curious… What are the names of each slab?

That helps because we can look up if others have had issues with water staining or whatever.

Are they all quartzite?

Which slab are you most drawn to?

I really like the first one. It looks soft and subtle, but not too subtle. The veining flows nicely. It seems to have some warm caramel colors that would look great with the white oak island and gold hardware.

The second one bothers me how the top half is very plain and then the bottom has all the veining. It looks like two different stones.

The third one has some weird spots. They look a little like something reddish brown was splattered on the slab and then dripped down. It probably would not be as noticable when laying horizontally on the island, but vertically on the backsplash they would stand out and bother me.

Still love your initial selection so much more! All wood stained kitchen would look amazing with black counters and that quartzite.

Hope you find what makes you happiest!

Your initial slab is very pretty - it's bold and dramatic - and it may work better horizontally on an island - maybe the perimeter countertops also. I think it's running it up the wall that's causing too much drama + having two different colored cabinets.

Jan - do you think that the slab that she loves could be part of a design that works? Not too much drama - but still letting her have her beautiful slab? Would using stained wood cabinets throughout the kitchen work (as has been suggested by Debbi and Diana - I think the slab looks beautiful on stained wood cabinets).

I wish the second slab spread out some of that veining throughout the slab instead of having it all along the bottom only. Do you know the name of that slab? Actually, knowing the name of all the slabs would be good to share since there have been issues with various quartzite slabs.

Maybe there are other stone yards near you that carry slabs of the second one - but have the veining/color/movement spread more through the slab?

The third slab would look odd on a wall - I noticed those spots and they bother me.

Remember to still have fun while doing this - your kitchen is going to be amazing in the end!

I love your original high drama quartzite. I am biased because I picked a bold quartzite as well.

, because I used it on island, counters, and backsplash I took advise from many seasoned pros on here to make sure that was the one star and scaled back on cabinet color (just one color in kitchen) and didn’t have any other crazy choices. I love a unique stone and I get lots of compliments on it and no one ever confuses it for Cambria. ;-)

Just checking back with the latest on my project. Decided on a neutral Taj Mahal… As much as I didn’t want to do that because everybody does, I did find a beautiful slab. Lol. Will use all countertops, backsplash and island. And decided no upper cabs on the range wall.

Love the choice. Can't wait to see the continued progress of your kitchen!

Circling back here to show some updated pics.