I like the mineral jet much better, I have a hard time with laminates that try to look like granite so in my opinion the other one is not something I would choose.

The perlato granite, definitely. Much better color for your dark cabinets.

Is the backsplash tile in the picture going to stay? or do you have something new picked out?

Have you looked at Formica Labrador Granite? I think it would be a nice blend of the 2 formicas you picked. The perlato is more gray, and the mineral jet is darker. I re-did my countertops back in December with the labrador granite and really love the update. But I feel your pain with making the choice; I was right there with you for about 2 years until I saw the labrador in a kitchen. You should really try to find a full countertop in whatever you choose-the little samples really don't show the full effect.

I don't want the backsplash to stay. I will pick something new out based on the countertops b/c I can't find one that I love either.

I have seen pics on Formica's web site with both those patterns but the cabinets in both are lighter than mine so it's hard to get an idea.

I had the Labrador Granite but eliminated it. I will see if I still have it to compare. I don't remember why I specifically eliminated it.

I like the perlato granite.

Good luck!

The mineral jet blends nicely with the cabinet color.There is a little bit of the cabinet color in the mineral jet and the perlato in more contrasting.

I have Formica's Mineral Jet on two cabinet runs and really, *really* like it. I think it looks rich; it reads a bit charcoal in color with a hint of chocolate and a smattering of light gray (with a bit of sparkle thrown in).

Here's a pic in daylight and then at night with under cab lighting:

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

I like the mineral jet better because I think it plays off of your floors (especially) AND your cabinets better. I think the mineral jet gives a really nice contrast and sets the kitchen up to be stunning.

Perlato. I like the mineral jet if you had light cabinets, but it's too intense with yours.

I like them both. I would choose based on cleaning style. With the jet, you will see spills (bits of cereal, milk, whatever spills in your house) and wipe them promptly. The perlato looks like it will hide lots of spillage on the counter, but then you are living with dirty counters. I'm leaning towards something that will make spills more obvious, so DH will notice when he spills and wipe up.

second point - do you like contrast? with the perlato, you can add a light tone backsplash and it will go with the light areas of the perlato. With the jet, you would either go dark, mix light and dark for a high contrast effect, or go light in another solid, and tie it together with little dot accents or something like that. I would want to go light tones just to keep it from overly dark. Maybe cream with grey dot buttons. There are little pewter carved ones.

I prefer the mineral jet because as others have stated, it picks up your cabinet and floor colors better. I think the perlato, with it's gray/taupe colors, doesn't pick up the reddish-brown tones in your cabinets as well. But the mineral jet will be dark. Do you or will you have undercabinet lighting?

"granite" color by far, to my eye...much more flexible with appliance changes in the future-stainless, or black, or even updated white again.It's a more interesting, welcoming pattern.

My vote is for the mineral jet. Much classier and richer looking.

Have you looked at the Wilson Art laminates? The two you are showing appear to be cold and harsh looking against the warm, spicy wood tones you have. Have you thought about going a little lighter on the counters since you have medium dark cabinets and floors? Take a look at the Wilson Art Sedona Trail or the Canyon Passage. They just appear more earthy looking/warmer with your wood tones.

Something silimar to the Sedona Trail would give you a lighter contrast to your wood tones. You may have already looked at this line.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wilson Art samples

Have you seen a sample of Mayan Granite? We chose this for my niece's kitchen and it looks great! It is similar to Perlato but warmer tones. Try to find a sample. Sorry--I don't have a picture of the kitchen for you.

I'd find a bs you love and that will drive which one is better.

I am not a big fan of the granite look-a-likes either. When they first came out, everyone wanted them....you saw them in many builder spec homes. I am selling a lot less of them now.

I like the Mineral Jet better, but darker laminates can show scratches and water marks. I would take a knife to both samples and see how they hold up.

However, a previous poster said she liked Mineral Jet top a lot...so maybe it's not too bad. How things will hold up is also relative to how much you cook, how hard you are on things....kids...etc.

I'm a KD and have done a few kitchens with your cherry-ish colored cabinets. And the Wilsonart Jeweled Coral looks GREAT with it. It's kind of a granite-look-a-like, but not as much.

Link below but pics don't do this laminate justice.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wilsonart Jeweled Coral

P.s. Also...it has flecks of white that will work nicely with your white appliances! ~Kompy

Thank you so much for all the comments :)

Most of my family and friends like the Perlato Granite better. I am leaning toward the Mineral Jet b/c it is most consistant. I am not trying to fool anyone into thinking I have granite but I thought the Perlato was a nice neutral.

I have not seen the Mayan Granite. I will have to order the sample.

I think I had the Jeweled Coral a long time ago but if I remember correctly it was too orangish for me. I very well could be mixing it up with another pattern so I can certainly check it out again.

I prefer something that does not hide the dirt. Since I have the white now, I am used to cleaning things up right away and knowing that the counters are clean. I was at a friend's house recently and she has granite-looking laminate and I leaned on her counter and stuck my hand on something sticky. She was very embarressed.

As far as the backsplash, I think it would be easier to match the Mineral Jet vs the Perlato. I would like to have bigger tiles and then an accent row of glass mosaics. Something like this Daltile Fabrique cut into 6x12 pieces (I believe the smallest they come is 12x12 but I could be wrong)

Then the accent would be something like this from the Tile Shop (cocoa glass). I can't seem to embed the pic of the cocoa glass.

http://www.tileshop.com/mosaics/glassmosaics/Cocoa-Glass/226.aspx

I also think the Perlato is more traditional where the Mineral jet is more contemporary. Maybe I am completely off base, but that's how I see it in my eyes. :) Like I would have to stick to something like plain subway tile with any kind of granite-looking counter where with the Mineral Jet I could get more funky with the backsplash. I want something more contemporary.

Again, I appreciate the opinions. Who knew picking a countertop would be so hard?

Does this help? Not a particularly well done photoshopping but maybe will give you an ideal of the feel you like better:

Thanks so much for the Photoshop pics! I wish I had Photoshop - I would be doing this all day with all my samples! :)

Two completely different looks!

Well, DH doesn't want something as dark as the Mineral Jet. :( Maybe b/c it's the complete opposite of what we currently have; he just thinks it will be too dark. I don't like the linen Daltile at all with the Mineral Jet either.

The Perlato is nice. I think it looks better with the white appliances. However, it reminds me exactly of all my neighbors' kitchens. It just doesn't *wow* me. (Can one be wowed by laminate?)

I think I am just too picky!

We just finished a remodel for my mom and we used Formica basalt slate with white cabinets. We've also used it in our computer alcove with warm cherry cabinets. It looks great with both. It looks similar to the mineral jet, so that would get my vote.

If you find another one you like, I can pop it into photoshop for you. It only took a few minutes :)

I think one can be wowed by laminate- you just need to pick something that reflects your personality. Esp. if you want it to look different than your neighbors' kitchen.

Do you have any inspiration pics? What is your favorite color? My kitchen is built around blue- maybe if you pick a strong accent color you like and then try to build from that you'll be "wowed"

I don't care for either of them--the basalt seems too dark and the other is too busy, IMO.

We just went through the same lengthy process with my son's remodel. We'd found a place that had 4" x 6" or 12" square samples of most of the types of laminate that you're looking at and let us borrow them for a few days. He ultimately chose a darkish laminate with enough pattern and variation to make it interesting that would hide some dirt and scratches, but not the contrast that you have in the perlato. It really looks nice. Come to think of it, it came in 2-4 different finishes, and one of them was supposed to withstand scratching more.

Anne

I don't have any inspiration pics saved on my computer, but most of the kitchen pics I am drawn to are the more modern ones. I really like white quartz countertops (which I know are trendy) but we won't spend the $ on quartz so I am stuck with laminate.

Since DH and I both have stressful jobs, we want the kitchen to be more serene. Not too much busy pattern but not cold either.

I don't want "old world", "tuscan", "french country" or "traditional" (no offense to anyone that likes it - just not for me). Clean lines with bits of accent color that I can change without having to redo everything. I am afraid to commit to a color on the countertops because I do change things a lot.

DH is more traditional than I am. He also likes more earthy colors although he really likes the white countertops we currently have. The laminate is starting to get chipped and scratched and the backsplash grout is starting to discolor so it's really time to update.

Since my cabinets and floor are warm and we aren't changing them, it has been a challenge for me - do I go warm on the counters? Or do I keep it cool like I have now? To me there is just too much white.

OK, enough rambling by me :)

Beagles - could you just humor me by Photoshopping this Formica Calacutta Marble on my countertops?

{{!gwi}}

I don't have a sample of this yet to see it in person, but we have a table in our front hallway that was DH's grandmother's and it is cherry/brown with a real marble top so I can get an idea of the marble/cherry look.

I am just aftaid marble screams "traditional". Can marble be contemporary? I had mentally eliminated this one b/c I don't want to do marble subway tile and everything else seems too modern.

Here you go. I popped in carrara subway tile as a backsplash. Marble is hard to create a good picture of w/ photoshop from a small pic like this b/c the veining is obviously not going to be as uniform in real life as when I just copy a picture for photoshop, but hopefully this will at least help a little.

Thanks beagles! That definitely gives me something to work with. :)

While I can appreciate the beauty of marble, I just don't think this is the look I want. *sigh*

I think you will know when you find the right thing! :)

Another vote for Mineral Jet. I don't care for the other one, and actually I don't care for granites with those colors either. Very personal preference. You should get what you like.

The more I look, the more I do like the Mineral Jet. Still not crazy about it with the white appliances but since those will eventually be changed out I probably shouldn't worry too much about that.

Beagles, can I be a pain once more and have you Photoshop this tile as the backsplash with the Mineral Jet?

Thanks so much again. I promise it will be the last request. :)

Here you go. I grabbed the color from the countertop for the grout to tie everything in (just an option of course)

Try the link below. It is a modern/contemporary pattern but could also be vintage. It is much nicer in person.
Make sure you view it as large as you can. What is nice is it is a pattern, but it does not overwhelm or make it hard to coordinate with.

Here is a link that might be useful: Manhattan Glamour

Hi Dianalo -

I see the Manhattan Glamour as a silvery-grey pattern on my monitor. Is it like that in person? I know that's what you were considering before you went with Rain Cloud. I definitely don't want "vintage". I had been considering a few greys but most people I asked did not like the grey with my cherry/brown cabinets.

I am also going to try to find who makes the Mayan Granite. Can't hurt to get another sample.

Thanks again Beagles. : ) Definitely a better color for the backsplash than the Linen color.

I don't know. I'm torn. At first my immediate reaction was to say the Mineral Jet. But then I saw the photoshopped images, and I liked the granite pattern better. But it is quite busy, and I fear you might tire of it. As someone who has a dark laminate like Mineral Jet, I will say it is fantastic for hiding coffee spills and such, but crumbs are really noticeable. For cleaning, it's a toss up - I guess it depends on what types of mess you make more often! But really either one will be practical in terms of keeping it clean (or at least having it LOOK clean).

Could you find something lighter than mineral jet that is not as busy as the granite pattern?

If you need another pic, let me know :) I can't tell you how many photoshop versions I went through for my kitchen design!