I don't know how much this helps, but I have off-white (more cream colored than yours, though, from what I can see in your pic) perimeter cabinets and a natural cherry island. I also have oak floors. My counters on the perimeter and island are all the same -- a medium green granite called "Wild West" I believe, although it probably has another name as well. The exception is a little "pass through" area between the kitchen and the dining room, where the cabinets are the cream color and the counters there are cherry.

Here are some pics.

These are from right after the kitchen was done. All the stuff on the counters and in the glass cabinets has changed now!

You can see some of the counter and backsplash here.

Close up of the counter and backsplash.

That backsplash reminds me of those Formstone fronted row houses in Baltimore. Pretty interesting.

I actually don't think the butcher block sounds so great with the cherry cabinetry. At least the way I'm envisioning it. I would go with the honed black on the perimeter cabs, then a different granite or quartz on the island....maybe something with your maroon color and black flecks, that would bring all your colors together.

I have the opposite of you, with the wood cabs on the perimeter (w/black countertops), and the peninsula is antique white with mahagony granite (brown w/black). Backsplash is white subway tile with a a single 'pencil' line of black glass accent tile.

Here are some pics from my collections (apologies to any GW folks if these are your kitchens!).....hth

I have butcher block on my cherry island, but neither the kitchen nor the cabinets are that formal. I had a few strips of cherry and walnut worked into the mix, just to add some interest. I still don't think I'd go that route with a more formal island, though.

For me, the backsplash decision needs to drive the counter decision. I get more visual bang for my buck out of tile than counters and don't really care for granite anyway. (Heresy, I know!) I assume you've looked at the FKB and Backsplash pics, right?

Have you seen a large installation of the marble-like quartz? I agree with you, the small samples do nothing for me. But someone over on the Kitchens board used Misty Carrara in a contemporary. She has fabulous taste and even though I can't really see the quartz well in her pics, I tend to think it looks pretty good or she wouldn't have chosen it!

What about a white granite?

First off, I am very grateful for the response! I can not tell you how many hours I have spent on this problem -

Amysrq, here is a drawing of the island. I am told I can modify front legs a bit so I can put a rectangular top on it, if I want. Is it too formal for a butcherblock top, in your view?

{{!gwi}}

I have seen the Misty Carrara quartz in that awesome kitchen you are referring to, and have seen a large sample, too. I have also been looking at Kashmir White granite. That had been the front runner until I met with decorator who said my island would look odd in something other than wood because it is so small. The island is 2 1/2 X 5 feet. I also love wood and would enjoy chopping on the island.

If wood cant work cause the island is too formal or the whole look will be too busy, I will go back to the white surfaces.

Sueb20 -your backsplash is so beautiful - it would go so well in my house, too! I dont think I could do dark counters and an island here, cause the room is small, but I may use your backsplash as an inspiration.

I am linking a photo I found of a dark island with butcherblock top - it shows how I came up with the idea of putting a sandy colored quartz on the perimeter. There are very few pictures of cherry islands with wood tops on the internet, which may be telling me something. . .

Here is a link that might be useful: wood island/butcherblock top

Here are some ideas...
~boxerpups

GOS kitchen

HeartWood Designs Kitchen

East Villa Kitchen

Sydney Custom Millwork

Drury Kitchen

Li Customs Cabinets

Some white granites
River White

Wave

Cashmere White granite

Well, I do think there is a problem with that pic you linked, jama. The inspiration island and your virtual feel like furniture to me, quite fine. While I always think of function first, in this case, the BB gives me a sense of disconnect. I also wonder about the BB getting used and more rustic looking over time, thus widening the gap in formality.

Personally, I don't agree with the decorator about the piece looking odd without wood. I am trying to see his/her point but I just can't. Did this person give you a reason why? If the pronouncement cannot be backed up with some kind of explanation, I tend to move on.

You mentioned in the first post that you can't do soap stone because the room is too small. I would not rule that out just yet. Another way to look at the "too-small" issue is to think in terms of avoiding busy-ness. I would consider avoiding the highly speckled granites or things with lots of movement. Unless you love the look, that mid-tone speckled granite on BP's first and last big pics is what I am talking about. (Thanks BP for providing all the illustrations!)

If you go for a more serene look, you may be able to pull off a darker color. Using one material for both perimeter and island, you'll have fewer changes and that may also be better in a small space. I have seen very small kitchens done in dark colors that are just smashing. Think jewelbox. I happen to love the dark island with the dark glossy top in one of the pics above.

Then, you could do marble on the backsplash. (I would like to see you have your honed marble!) In fact, I would encourage you to go fall in love with some marble backsplash tile and then revisit the countertop decision.

Amysrq - Thank you so very much for your help! I think I just dodged a bullet - butcherblock on the fancy island would have been a huge mistake.

You gave me a lot to think about -- I like the black top on the island in the photo, too, but I wouldn't like black counters on the perimeter cabinets; I am not happy with so much contrast.

I am thinking, instead, of putting medium gray quartz on the perimeter (Ceasrstone pebble) and Misty Carrera on the island.

The issue with this is that the patterns on the two quartzes are very similar - would that be weird? If so, I will find a different gray.

I saw the non-honed version of Misty Carrera yesterday - it looked pretty nice. I think the island's shape is suited for something marble-like.

The backsplash would be white or light gray. Hopefully I can tie the cherry island in somehow with the window treatments and pendant lights -

Does this sound like a plan? Please let me know if I am messing up again!!