I have the exact same style of door from Omega, but in a cherry. If it's not too late I would recommend adding a glaze for two reasons. The glaze gets hung up in the details and adds a richness to the doors. The doors take a little longer to clean because of all the details and the glaze could help hide dirt. It's been 7 years since my remodel and one of my regrets is not doing the glaze.

I did think about the glaze, but it would have made the cabinets even more busy looking, which I didn't want. Too late anyway - cabinets are in boxes in my living room!

Your first granite choice is unusual and not a typical choice. It will have that Wow factor everytime you enter the room, so go with your instincts and stick with your first choice. The medium oak colour floor is lovely, but will dominate the space because you look down onto a large expanse. What about using the same width plank but use a wood that has a gray wash. This works better with the granite's gray tones but still has the lovely grain.

Railway tiles in a bonded brick pattern may be too fussy with the granite's veining. What about using a glass splashback in the soft gray of the granite veining and have a sandblasted finish to take off the high gloss shine of smooth glass?

Alternatively, you might want to consider a splashback in the cooking area only, with upstands everywhere else, all in the granite. The walls above the upstands can be finished in a scrubbable paint.

There is some beige in the granite as well as greys, so you have a good choice of metal finishes to choose from for your cabinet hardware. Pewter would work well ,as would bronze. The door design calls for a more traditional style, either handle or knobs or both.

Your kitchen will look terrific. May we see it when it's done, please?

Hi Patrice1484, thanks for your advice. Unfortunately, I can't find a slab of my original choice and will probably go with the last choice I pictured today. I've already purchased the floor - it is a Maple, 4 inch wide board - same as the original floor I showed. Any advice on those materials?

Too bad they can't find a slab for you anywhere.

I think the first choice has an OOH!!!! factor.....this choice has an AH! factor. You won't be sorry; it will look just fine and you can put a little more oomph into your backsplash. (oh goodie.....another selection to make!)

Seriously - you've done a great job of trying to hunt down the dream, after all that work I think the only question you have to ask yourself is: Will I walk in and say to myself: "this should have been the other granite". If you don't think you'll do that, then go with this. If you think you'll have those thoughts each time, then my suggestion is to go after something completely different. Consider solid surface material.

I've learned - if you can't use the first solution, don't make do. You'll end up with a better final product if you step back, take a breath and rethink the entire look for a few mintues. Open your mind up to some new possibilities. And I'll bet you come up with something that makes you even happier.

there is also this one, which is lovely, but completely different.

OOOOOOHHHH!!!!!!!!
YES! love it!!!!

What is the name of that?
It is just gorgeous....that would look so beautiful.
How can you NOT do it????

Stunning!! And definitely more versatile than the others.

I wasn't going anywhere near this look to begin with. I just happened upon this slab and said "ooooh" that's pretty. But I thought I needed more contrast with the white cabinets. It doesn't look washed out with the white cabinets? No? I'm no designer!

the name is Taj Mahal

I think it is really pretty. It's more important what you think you have to live with it

Oh my gosh I absolutely love it! I think the cabinets going all the way to the ceiling will keep it from being busy. BTW what kind of granite is that??

Its called Taj Majal

Definitely not washed out. High stylin'!

That looks like madre perla or perla venata quartzite .. I just chose sea pearl quartize 2 weeks ago for my new white cabs and espresso island . I wanted the look of marble without the maintenance and researched on houzz and found this option. It is much less busy than granite and i wanted a soft /calm feeling in my kitchen with the focus on my cabs...i think it would be stunning but your granite choices looked great too. My cabs are much brighter than your's so you have more granite options than i did...

When I choose a design or color, I start thinking there should be a better looking one out there. But before I go nuts, I just stick with choosing from 2 or 3 I like and finish the job. At the end either I LIKE it or I learn to like it. I still like your very first choice of the granite with the large pattern.

I like you original granite choices! Maybe a bit darker on the floors though. Go with what you feel Elizabeth! I just did this too!

Loove it!!!this brings light in the kitchen. Go for it :)

I've switched threads to a new discussion because people still think that I have the first option available, but I don't. Thanks so much for your thoughts everyone!

Give up on granite altogether! As designer Maria Killlam says, granite is bossy and busy! This is part of why you are having so much trouble finding one that works, and when you do settle on one, you will find that it dictates your design choices forever, or until you can afford to replace it. Go with quartz in a tighter matrix or a near solid tone, and you retain flexibility in decor choices and a nice, clean look.

Cabinets are too white. In order to pick up the brown in the granite, add a coffee color thin line around in the insets of the center panel. Also, go with Vanilla white. Check Kraftmade cabinets. They have a vanilla bean with coffee trim. I think you'll like it better.

There is nothing busy about your cabinets at all. White is not busy. All of your choices are beautiful. I think you need to go with your personality and what makes you feel good. I was set on subway tiles. After choosing a granite with brown, beige, cream, black, my wife and I decided to go with some mini-brick multicolored tiles for the backsplash from Lowes. We like warm tones and chose Restrained Gold by Sherwin Williams for the paint color. We used the same color in the adjoining family room. The warm gold neutral goes with any color and brings out the beauty of your accessories, cabinets, etc. Our cabinets are Navaho White and are outlined with glaze to give it some pop. I have attached a picture. Excuse the somewhat messy Thanksgiving cooking stuff around the kitchen.

Love your own choices. I like ghe suggestion of gray backplash tile

Floors are in. I posted a new thread called Kitchen Makeover! If you want to follow along there. The floors look a little lighter than I had hoped they would. Let me know what you think if you visit my thread.

All done!! Here are some before and afters

looks very nice!

Beautiful! So very clean and light :)

Really nice job!

Absolutely yummy!! It was worth all the agony...

Just having your things ON THE COUNTER has to make it feel like home once again.

Sorry if this was mentioned, but what is the plan for stools at the island???

It looks beautiful. I am glad you persevered and found another great granite.

Elizabeth....it's beautiful! I'm so glad you have those floors and not darker. Granite/cabs excellent. I think you accomplished a bright, airy, non busy kitchen which is what I prefer also. Now.....just as a "future" suggestion....to add a wow factor...you might paint your ceiling which would highlight everything you have done. Great job.

Sorry...but I just noticed that someone (maybe Amy) asked me about the brand of my cabs which I posted way early in this thread. They were custom built and the paint is matched to my wood trim but with a mocha wash. I didn't mean to ignore...just now realized someone asked me a question. Thanks for the compliment.

@abbyjean

No stools picked out yet. I prefer backless so as to minimize any disruption of traffic flow. Any Suggs?

@mkhodges: what color would you suggest for the ceilings? Don't know if it's doable because all ceilings in the different rooms are connected.

Absolutely love the finished look! I'm in the process of updating my home from the early 90s and would like to know where you ordered your cabinets?

Elizabeth, I think both you and I like calm and neutral. I can't tell exactly what your wall color is, but I like what I see in that adjoining hallway. Is that same color also over your kitchen window in the pic? If so....that is what I would put on the ceiling, perhaps a tad deeper if you want a little more drama. You could run it right out into that hallway (I'm thinking there would be a stopping place on the hall ceiling?) IMO, the slightly darker ceiling would really show off your trim, cabs, and lights. I love your backsplash, by the way.....there might be a perfect color for the ceiling in that.

No suggestions right now for the stools, but again, great idea for them to be backless and not disrupt your room. Then also need to consider, as I am sure you also have thought about....kids using them? Need to swivel? Color? Composition? How many? Soooo many things, but you have done far more than this!!!

@fmm2

Thank you. These are Thomasville cabinets ordered thru Home Depot, but installed by a private carpenter.

Elizabeth, the finished product looks super. Good choices. It really looks put together.

Elizabeth, your kitchen turned out beautifully! I really like the backsplash you selected, both the scale and the color.

As for the stools, I think there are a number of different ways you can go. You could introduce color here, and just about any color would work. However, I have the feeling you want to keep them somewhat low key. Here are a couple of ideas.

These from Overstock are quite nice. I think the frame finish would work because it picks up on the grays and neutrals of the countertop.
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Renate-Linen-Bar-Stools-Set-of-2/7658730/product.html?refccid=JYN47TV4T3JZ5C2BAZEHRTIQYI&searchidx=80

These Ballard stools would be nice and you could select a fabric. That might be a good way to introduce color and pattern without committing to a color on the frame. You can see each fabric on the chair on their website. Scroll down and try the Scrandicci Gray.
http://www.ballarddesigns.com/lacquer-louis-stool/292643

The Ballard Marlow in whitewashed frame with Beige Leather might work, too.
http://www.ballarddesigns.com/marlow-nail-head-barstool/13088

The color might be better on this Dorchester "rubbed cream"
http://www.ballarddesigns.com/dorchester-barstool/13371

The Ballard "Mallory" - you buy the slipcover separately
http://www.ballarddesigns.com/mallory-slipcovered-barstool/220244

This is a different look, from Horchow. It is a metal frame with wood seat and huge nailhead trim. These could be stunning!
http://www.horchow.com/Wilber-Stools/cprod92330011___/p.prod?icid=&searchType=MAIN&rte=%252Fcategory.service%253FNtt%253Dstool%2526pageSize%253D30%2526No%253D60%2526refinements%253D&eItemId=cprod92330011&cmCat=search

A friend has wood (hers are black, but they probably come in various options) backless stools with a slightly curved seat which slide beautifully under the counter and are totally comfortable.

Get a wipe able stool. I host family get togethers and it is a standing joke who will spill on my fabric stools next. Ballard's is on sale and they look nice.

I like more contrast between the cabinets and the countertop. Our vacation rental has black granite and white country cabinets. Can't get more contrast than that :)

Not crazy about white and grey with a wood floor... Can you do a slate floor?

I would do a really dark floor with very little grain. Maybe an ebony. Counter top and lines of cabinets are busy. Maybe a stone with a little less drama. Less is more.

Did you end up going with Taj Mahal , for your granite??? I love the outcome! Gorgeous cabinets! So fresh and airy . You will be pleased with your classic timeless look!

It looks like a nice combination. Keeping the cabinet, backsplash, and floor finishes simple will set off the beautiful countertop.

Given that it's been a couple of years, they probably made up their minds by now, with or without your sage advice. ;)