I understand your dilemma. I was looking for a level 1 or level 2 when we designed our kitchen. I originally chose Giallo Napoleon for my kitchen and Tropic Brown for my master bath. After switching vendors, I felt like I was being pushed into going with Giallo Fiorito which looks alot like the Baltic Brown pattern. I was against it, but wanted to stay within a certain budget. I went to a stone yard with several hundred patterns of slabs and spent hours looking with my cabinet door in hand. I ended up choosing the Giallo Fiorito.After seeing the whole slab of it, I fell in love. It wasn't what I had in mind in the beginning, but once I saw all the other choices and realized that a leval 1 granite performs the same as a any other level of granite, I am more than pleased with my decision. Go with your gut, you will make the right decision. Here is a pic of the Giallo Fiorito in my kitchen. It resembles the Baltic Brown, and I've never thought it looked like bacteria or mold. I'm a biology instructor and grow plenty of cultures of both in Microbiology. However since reading the responses, I'll probably look at it differently! LOL!

Have you seen the website www.marble.com? They have a bunch of of colonial gold pics. I just came back from my granite place and really liked Colonial Gold. I selected hazelnut stained maple cabinets with a black glaze. I wasn't sure if the Colonial Gold was too stark for it, but I loved the dark brown spots in it. I was hoping to see Madura Gold, but they didn't have any. I found a nice ceramic tile to go with the Colonial Gold if I decide to go with it. I think Colonial Gold would be beautiful with ivory and chestnut cabinets. It would tie in nicely with both. I think my cab color may be too dark for it. Good luck! Let us know what you decide.

patty Congrats on your remodel I guess I would ask what other elements are in the room? what color appliances, hardware, stools, furnishings, natural light, window treatments,rugs, wall color, lighting etc I can't see the flooring - posting a pic may help Picking a counter is very individual & we all "see" differently You noted a natural tumbled backsplash as likely - I read the TB - as warming up your palette - your cabs are considered cool - so I my initial reaction is I prefer that - I like warm/cool elements but again depends on the rest of the palette & your personal taste The NC reads cool to me - If that is used the rest of the elements should be cool - fabrics, hardware, wall color etc - or you will have colors that are fighting each other - a honed crema marfil backsplash wouldn't work, but a carrara would - tan/beige paints wouldn't work, but blues/greys would Another twist you could consider is having each sample honed & see if that helps to make a decision - that will give you 4 options and also sounds like you have some room to negotiate with the stone yard esp on the TB they want to move - offer 20% discounted pricing on that one if that is the one you would like, even if not, that may help to drive the decision Good luck

Since you are keeping the floor tile, I would start with that first. Then choose the cabinet color you like that goes with the floor and from there you can find the right granite to go with both those. Keep in mind the floor tile may have looked peachy at the granite slab yard but in different light and around other elements it might be the more beige you thought prior. Do you have an image of the floor tile? Or the cab door? here is an image of the cab I tried to find. Here are some ideas of tile floors, cherry cabs and granite counters. The right combination can look fantastic. In time you will find the right recipe. ~boxerpups Southern Living Saul Temkin Kitchen Fisher Granite Co. Reno Lighting some granite ideas... Golden River ( peach, cream, brown and even pecan colors) Colonial Dream, the right slab could work Good ole Ubatuba looks great with cherry