"Then IMO a nice green soapstone." Oh that would be lovely! Another vote for soapstone. If that's out of budget or hard to find but you like the look, you could consider honed Nero or honed Virginia Mist or Jet Mist if you can find a rather 'quiet' one.

Patricia Colwell Consulting, thanks for your answer. We do have the space brightly lot up in I believe 4000k, it may be 3500k but can be changed. I actually haven't seen green soaps before it's very beautiful! I'd have to get a quote but it's likely not in our budget, also is it not easily scratched?

Jan, thanks for the input! I don't have experience with Corian so I can only go off what google says, which is that officially it burns easier than quartz or granite. I'll have to look into it more. Honestly I agree soapstone is the look that best goes with the hickory, but I don't want black or grey. I suppose another darker color would be okay

This is our flooring, I'd say it's pretty true to color, maybe a little darker irl

I love your cabinet choice. Will you be giving it a natural finish? The one in the kitchen picture looks quite dark to me. More

pics of your kitchen and adjoining rooms would be helpful. I have granite countertops and they handle heat well, but they

can

Chip if knocked accidentally with a large pot or pan.

debra

Thank you! Yes that kitchen is quite a bit darker, ours will be a natural finish like in the picture of the single door. Our kitchen is bare right now but I may just wait til next week when it's installed and then update with pictures. I love the depth and movement of granite, just not sure if it'll be too much with rustic hickory

The green soapstone would be lovely. I think the texture here is critical - yu need a soft matte / honed finish so that you don't clash with the formality of a polished surface and the informality of the cabinets.

If you can't find green soapstone - there's also green slate from Vermont Slate or Camara Slate and they are fabulous. I've had their unfading green tiles in 2 of my bathrooms for almost 30 years and they are really, really beautiful. They have a softness and warmth to them and are pretty light in color.

Light tops are nice. Cambria and Viatera are the best quartz counters in my opinion.

They look beautiful installed. The aria is a cream colored top and may be too blended with the cabinet color. Are you looking for some contrast? I prefer some contrast. A whiter top with a warm toned vein through it may be nicer. Soapstone looks great with hickory - you can get a similar, less expensive look, using jet mist granite.

Good luck!

I am going to possibly disagree on using soapstone. It depends on the space, which we have not seen yet.

I have had soapstone in a very wood heavy kitchen but it had high ceilings, linen white trim and was open to a large, very bright room. I love soapstone and have a dark greenish variety it in my current kitchen that is mainly white and open. In both instances the counters were/are not only dark but matte in a way that has little to no reflection so they absorb light. The light absorption may not stand out as much if the stone is left unoiled but that approach is not for everyone, it may involve more maintenance depending on the type.

In a search for natural hickory cabinets many of images come back with lighter counters and the general look is much brighter than the images with dark soapstone or granite. Personally, the images I like the most have counters that have some green and tan but are generally light or medium light. There are so many beautiful stones available, I would take your door sample and go to the stone yards near you and see what stands out to you.

just_janni, agree on the honed finish! I think it would go perfectly with the wood

s m, thank you, I do think I agree with you as much as the green soapstone is beautiful, the kitchen is not huge and in general search images I generally favor the hickory cabinets with white ish or light counters. I have good lighting so it may not be dark, but I think dark counters is too heavy, personally. This is an ai image but the island wood is pretty accurate and the floor is almost exactly our color. I think the lighter counter works really well

Or this one, I think the counter is kind of what we had in mind, but does it pair well with the wood and pattern?

I think soapstone would be great, but I also think those last 2 you posted with light counters look great. If you want light counters, I think those work nicely and I don't think the "pattern" one is too much.

There is one way to select.

Go shopping. To every local stone yard/fabricator

Door face in hand, floor board in hand, and kitchen CAD layout in hand.

That said? There is a huge warming trend afoot

Consider the decor in a WHOLE home view, and what you see from every vantage point.

Consider what rugs, soft surfaces, all of it: )

Soapstone........

Dupont Corian, Cirrus

Corian Juniper

Corian Sage

Honed Taj Mahal Quartzite

Varies greatly how much beige/green you get: ) The abundant warmth of you cabinets and floors will visually "cool" a slab. Just an FYI

Cambria Kenwood

Creamy...warm

Cambria Ridgegate

I agree that my first though was soapstone, but not for you. You want a light counter and splash to keep the room feeling bigger and not as closed in. I think you are on track in this regard. Your AI image says it all. The one that is a lighter creamer white will look better than your image that has more brown tones running through the counter top.

Will your ceiling be wood too as in your AI images?

GO SHOPPING! There is no way a photo will give you the exact feel of a countertop. Every single option that Jan posted will work with hickory cabinets. But what do they look like in your house with your wood doors? Take a door and go everywhere they sell countertops. Then you’ll be able to asses what really makes your heart sing.

There might be a stone you’ve never thought of that makes you say “That’s it.” That’s what happened to me. I have a greenish-grayish granite that I haven’t seen anywhere but in my house. The slabs were stunning and work with my ivory cabinets.

Your hickory ones will tell you which countertop is right.

Jan, the thanks for all your time and thought putting together those pics! The last two cambrias are beautiful, I'm going to definitely see if I can check those out in person. I'm not a very design savvy person - when you say "The abundant warmth of you cabinets and floors will visually "cool" a slab" are you saying the slab will look more cool once it's installed?

II'm

Kendrah, I like the lighter creamier one as well, but no our ceilings are just standard white. I wish we had wood though!

RedRyder, I'm gonna do that as well as see about bringing a sample back home with us. Although I know it's hard to judge with just a sample, I'll do that as well as bring a cabinet door with me to see next to the full slabs, if available

I'm in the same situation you are-putting in pecan (same as hickory) cabinets and trying to decide on countertops. Liking a sample of Viatera Carrara Ambra which is off white with amber swirling.

Also just went to a granite and marble store and saw a nice slab of quartz that I really like.

It is so hard and I wish you luck. I have to say when I was looking at slabs I could not tell the difference between the granite and quartz. I guess quartz is falling out of favor, but I put the sample of the viatera through just about everything, and it all just wiped right off. If you find something you really like I wouldn't worry about whether it is real stone or not. I'm no designer for sure so take that for what it's worth!

Thanks Diane! Good luck to you! The ones you picked are so nice, that quartz slab i think is very close to what I'm looking for. And no I can't tell the difference either!

My other dilemma is deciding on a hardware color. I know black is the go to for hickory, but I have stainless appliances and sink. Any chance a brushed nickel could work..?

^^^

Hardware. It need not match appliances, so yes, black is nice on hickory and a complement to all else in the kitchen. WHEN you keep it non bulky/ heavy. Otherwise it can appear a bit jumpy/nervous .

An excellent source for black, or satin nickel?

Top Knobs.

She asked.......

"when you say "The abundant warmth of you cabinets and floors will visually "cool" a slab" are you saying the slab will look more cool once it's installed?"

I meant as it applied to Taj Mahal, but also to MANY of the white background quartz which can lean icy white. You see color and warmth by comparison. : ) with another color or stain.

The op mentioned "the ceiling is white". Only ninety BILLION of those: ) You live at ground level. The ceiling is just "there" in your kitchen and you don't match any white anything to your ceiling.

I would do my research. Think about the design "flavor" I want in my whole home.

Interestingly, a lot of the reason some/most of the VERY bold black/orange/ yogurt swirl type granites fell so out of favor? When plopped in a very open kitchen? They are nearly impossible to IGNORE. They refused to become "pretty background" accepting of everything.

You can get LARGE size samples of Cambria and most others in quartz with a few clicks online. Corian as well.

MY own last thought? It generally isn't the counter top that appears to darken a kitchen. You know what does? A lack of lighting, under cabinet, recessed and other...... and your BACK SPLASH selection: )

A lighter green granite, like Costa Esmeralda, could look very nice.

Oceanfront Cottage · More Info

Not all granites are created equal, and the lighter ones tend to need more care than the darker ones - just to correct some assumptions in your original post. For example, colonial white requires sealing and may stain, while the black granites like jet mist are basically indestructible.

Quartz has its own issues but most of them can be solved by common sense and some Mrs. Meyers baking soda cleanser. Use trivets and cutting boards and wipe up spills (specifically vinegar, turmeric, and slime) as soon as possible and you'll be fine. The stains that have occurred on my quartz (turmeric is the most common culprit for me) can be scrubbed off with baking soda & water. Metal marks wipe off with baking soda & water, too. Slime is terrible and some of it stains immediately, but I have even been successful getting that out using Mrs. Meyers and letting it sit (slime is now banned from my house so it's a non-issue).

Anyway, don't be afraid of quartz. If you aren't stupid about it, you'll be fine.

If your big fear is seeing crumbs and scorching? Get better kitchen habits: ) called just wipe up the snacking, and use cutting boards.

Honestly, the hand wring that goes into this is so easily solved with MINOR care,.

WTH is SLIME?

@JAN MOYER slime is the worst invention ever for parents with young kids, and the colored stuff sometimes stains. And for parents who haven't dealt with it before and don't KNOW that it can stain, they let their kids play with it on the counter because it's easier to clean up there than it is to get it out of the rug in the play room.

And then, oops, big pink stain.

Hence, why it is now banned in my house. :D

This person apparently is not concerned about it on their quartz.

Gee! I still learn something new every day...........whatever happened to Play Dough ?

Ours enjoyed on that yellow Formica table?!

I think it was indestructible.......

Soapstone...................all the designers will say Soapstone. It's a rustic stone that complements the color of Hickory and Alder cabinets. The color on Soapstone can very from a grayish green to black.

Here are alternate selections

I have hickory cabinets and Costa Esmeralda granite. While Diana's pic above is beautiful, it doesn't look like that is Costa, unless it's a honed Costa, which I've never seen IRL.

Costa slabs can and do vary greatly, though. It is a stone you MUST go see at the stoneyard, it's all over the board. IME it does not require sealing.

Here is mine:

Soapstone is beautiful and has a luxurious, sensual feel. I like it, but I would not have it in my kitchen. I could not tolerate the dings and scratches that will inevitably occur, and I have zero desire to use sharpies, scrubbies, sanders -- whatever all that jazz is people use to keep their soapstone looking.......not-banged up. Know thyself and do a board search on soapstone patina to educate yourself before jumping on the soapstone bandwagon.

Quartz can be nice, but...not really a good look with hickory/rustic looks, mostly due to the polished surface. There are honed quartzes, though -- one of the posters here has a nice honed charcoal grey quartz. Whatever you do, don't get a quartz that has those obviously fake veins that look like tree trunks. Just no.

This was my mom's cabin counter top with Hickory cabinets. Probably too cabiney for what you want. It is a granite counter top. You can see how the busy counter looks with the cabinets . We wanted a warm and cozy feel.

What's nice about the Corian? It's a very SUBTLE sheen unlike the GLEAM of quartz.

If you need "perfection' you don't use soapstone. It is meant to patina, tiny dings and scratches are just the nature of mother earth and ,....you have to know your level of tolerance.

BTW.... My renaissance guy with his 1994 cherry? With the dark tops? For now, as i predicted last week, it remains. : )

He's been very busy perfecting Creme brulee'.

The point - make a kitchen you enjoy being in, and USING and don't let a crowd source get in your way........and consider the w.h.o.l.e.

Traditions refined · More Info

Traditions refined · More Info

Traditions refined · More Info

Traditions refined · More Info

Jan and anj_p, thanks for the tips! I have lots of littles around but mine are in their kinetic sand era for now, although noted on the slime! I think black hardware definitely looks best but I wonder if I could get away with a dark chocolate bronze of some sort to make it just a little softer...

@JAN MOYER My grandma had that in red. I loved that table!

And yes, play doh is SO SO SO much better. Unfortunately play doh has kind of had its day for us...that worked until about 5 or 6, and now slime has taken over.

I didn't know cutting directly on your counter was even a "thing", but that definitely won't be a problem for me. I just don't want something I have to baby, but anj_p you definitely made it sound reasonable and doable to get a lighter quartz

Porkchop, your kitchen is absolutely beautiful! Love everything about it. I'm gonna see if there's any Costa Esmeralda locally for me to see irl. Otherwise if I did go with quartz it'll definitely be honed, and a speckled one, I also cannot stand those big fake veins! Soapstone for me is out...

Robinleva, I think your counter pairs beautifully with the cabinets! Like you said it's not the exact look we're going for though. But I do appreciate seeing that brown color hardware, I think it looks amazing!

@Kay M -- thank you for the compliment :0)

It may be hard to tell in the pic and I don't know if you can zoom in, but I have oil-rubbed bronze cabinet hardware; the faucet is also ORB. I think either ORB or black looks good with hickory. I originally had ORB switchplates which I liked but decided to switch to charcoal-color slate switchplates which I like better with that particular tile.

I would stay FAR from honed quartz. .......just saying. It isn't the same as a honed granite Or even a honed quartzite such as Taj Mahal.

You're wanting.............this.? Essentially? Yes

CAMBRIA HAYDEN.....softer, warmer

Top knobs, Umbria Ascendra pull. Many more too

Get online, Cambria and similar and order large size samples. 29.00 apiece any, at Cambria!

https://shop.cambriausa.com/collections/white-quartz-countertop-samples?page=4

@porkchop I couldn't tell the color but now I like it even more lol! Nice choice on the switch plates too!

@JAN MOYER Is honed quartz stained more easily? Shows more fingerprints and smudges? I'll check out Cambria

I wouldn't buy the trouble. jmo

Caesarstone had plenty of trouble with the "raw concrete" assortment.

I'd avoid it even IF you could find any of the whites you favor in "honed" variety or option.

" What to know about honed quartz

• Manufacturing: The honed finish is achieved during the manufacturing process, where the surface is ground to a soft, velvety texture instead of being buffed to a high gloss.
• Aesthetics: Honed quartz gives a more understated and contemporary or rustic appearance. The matte finish can make the color look lighter or more muted than the polished version.
• Durability: Honed quartz still retains its durability, but some sources suggest the matte finish can be more susceptible to staining than polished quartz.
• Maintenance: Prompt cleanup is essential for honed quartz, and a penetrating sealer is often applied to help protect against stains.
• Availability: Not all quartz colors and patterns are available in a honed finish, so it's important to check with the supplier for options. "

Yes the photo I posted wasn’t necessarily Costa Esmeralda but it had a similar look.

How ironic--while searching for photos of Costa Esmeralda granite I came across a discussion in Houzz from 5 years ago, from porkchop, who expressed dismay over her recently installed CE countertops!

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6014916/costa-esmeralda-granite-is-in-and-i-don-t-like-it

So glad to see you've changed your mind!!! And yes, it's just beautiful!

@Kay M Thank you

"So glad to see you've changed your mind!!! And yes, it's just beautiful!"

Oh yea....I was not happy at first. And the fabricator issues only added to that. My sister always used to say never to judge a project until it's completely finished (as do all the pros on the board...). That's hard not to do in the midst of things. Once everything was done, though, including MUCH better lighting and flooring color change, I ended up loving how it all turned out.

I still hate my kitchen paint in the eating/gathering area, but that's a whole other topic (a topic on which you will find my old posts LOL!). At least the kitchen proper isn't painted -- it's all tile except the ceiling.

Costa truly is a stunning stone -- if you can find it.

Here are two wooden cabinet/ green granite photos. I think Costa Esmeralda is gorgeous, and with good lighting your kitchen would look fabulous.

I am in the same predicament. I'm in the middle of new construction and we're having custom hickory cabinets built. I am leaning toward quartzite, but I am nervous about which ones are more porous than others so Cambria quartz is also on the table.

I was thinking a more cool white would pop a little bit more (wood base and wall cabinets, wood baseboards, wood doors, griege walls, grey/greige stained concrete floor), but after reading everything in this thread, I'm afraid I am an idiot and need to reconsider everything all over again (this entire build has been a headache including having to bring legal action against the original general contractor). Colors are out, I'm too OCD and indecisive so it has to be neutral.

@Mandi, you're good don't worry! I too flip flop back and forth on my decision every day 😂 Sorry to hear about your trouble with the contractor! As if construction wasn't hard enough... I too usually steer clear of colors because I'm afraid of regret, but I'm thinking since we went neutral with everything else so far I may be okay with Costa Esmeralda. Still waiting to see what the stone warehouse has though. If not I'll probably go with some warmish undertone white speckled quartz and maybe a light green glass backsplash? Who knows. Your paint and floors sound very cool, would love to see a picture when the cabinets are in!

Light stain on Kraftmaid hickory cabinets from years ago (maybe Sunset). Replaced the counters years ago and used an olive Formica Solid Surface. Pesto Mist-olive with dark specks. At that point in time, granite was just coming around and would have been $15 K. We have lots of counters.

Love the solid surface--think Corian-- and we don't baby ours. Just use common sense on what you do on your counters.

So, I vote a sage for you. Several of these pics with light counters are jarring to me. They have a cool tone counter with warm cabinets or vice versa. Think Maria Killiam's color wheel and undertones. Make sure they match.