I think it really depends on whether or not you want to make a statement. If you do, the black is definately the way to go. It works well with your appliances, cabinetry and flooring but really stands out and would draw my eye to the countertops.
The giallo is also a really nice choice (we have that on our list) but is much "quieter" in my opinion. It still has a lot of character but wouldn't be as big of a focal point as the black.
With that being said, I think the giallo would help keep the room brighter. It just has more of those natural tones in it than the black does.
HTH!

The stain on my cabinets are very similar to yours and I felt I needed a contrast so I went with a dark granite. With a contrast both the cabinets and the granite are stars.

If it weren't for the white cabinets, I might like the dark, but with the white appliances, I think they'll blend better with the less stark contrast. With dark counters, I think the counters and appliances will vie for attention, and the cabinets will take a back seat. Maybe OK to sit back from gorgeous stone, but I wouldn't want the appliances to come forward that much. I also think the 'quieter' choice is more elegant.

I think both would work. The black provides contrast and the giallo provides a monochrome color scheme. I love your choices so far...such good taste.

Babbie, will the Bosch smoothtop be black? I'm not familiar with this. The reason I ask is I'm wondering if you will be changing out other appliances in the future or if the white will be the final appliances for you. I'm thinking that if you plan on switching out to stainless in the future I would go with the darker stone. If you are thinking of maybe switching out to black appliance (which my dear SIL did and it looks wonderful with the same cabinets you have) I would go with the lighter stone. If you are staying with white I think you have two good alternative to choose from. HTH.

owls4me, thanks so much, it has taken me FOREVEVER to make my choices so it's is nice to hear it looks good.

labradoodlemom yes I think one of my issues is the brightness

rhome1 I think your are right about the white appliances-- they do tend to be forefront.

mbarstow, would you share your cab color and granite?

That sapphire blue is stunning with your cabinets.

This is too funny!

I will post a picture so you can see for yourself what the sapphire blue will look like. We have Butterfly Blue with similar toned cabinets and flooring (though mine may be a bit darker). We have almost the exact same sized kitchen also with two (greenhouse) windows, though ours is now also 'open' to the DR and there is a sliding glass door there for more light. Oh yeah- we have white appliances too!

The funny thing is, is that we were going to have our granite replaced (long story- issue with fabricators and not the granite)- and instead of going with the blue/grey black again, we chose Giallo Veneziano- if our kitchen company hadn't declared bankruptcy the DAY our granite was to be installed, I could have shown you a picture of that, and then you'd have had the perfect example. As it is, I do have two window sills of the Giallo, can't use them in the kitchen now, but plan to use them somewhere else.
old pic before UC lighting and light rails were in, even more light on counter now, and really makes granite sparkle

Obviously need to take some new pics- best one I could find showing counter/cabinets and floor all in one.

Hope this helps! (Thought I had a pic of the windowsill in position temporarily before we finished off the windows, but went through hundreds of photos and couldn't find it)

flseadog, the cooktop will be black. If we have the sapphire blue it will blend in and with the giallo it will be obvious but still look nice.

raehelen, too funny is right, you had kindly responded to an earlier post about my fear of a too dark kitchen and it was a huge help. I tried to search for some older posts but could not find them. I remember liking your kitchen a lot.
We did not knock down the wall between kitchen and dining so the light from the slider does not reach the kitchen, since it is on the north side as well.

Your pic does help, especially since you have white appliances.Do you happen to have an overall kitchen view? Later today I will try to get an overall kitchen shot up for a different perspective.
thanks

I would definitely go with the darker granite, it will be stunning.

I agree with mitchdesj, the darker will look stunning.

I too have sapphire blue- ( have lighter cabinets and a white ish floor and white appliances as well) == and was pretty much looking at lighter granites all along. I have to say from a practical standpoint that living with the sapphire blue- is WONDERFUL. It has so much variation in it that it shows nothing. (the bad part is that husbands and daughters seem to not bother wiping it down as it always looks clean... but really hides crumbs - so I wipe it down constantly as a habit because I LOVE to feel the smooth surface). I am waiting for undercab lighting as well.
I vote for the Sapphire Blue in your kitchen as well. As for the appliances, while I hear everyone say stainless is more updated, mine are fine . The white does stand out more, and maybe I am crazy but touches of white do not bother me. To me it's like white molding which I love no matter where.

I like both granites, but I think you need the contrast that the darker granite will give you.

Another vote for the dark granite. I have a similar look in my kitchen - medium tone maple cabinets and wood floors. For the counter top we chose Cambria Wiltshire red (don't let the word red fool you - it's really black with some flecking in the reddish family).

BTW, I wanted granite with little movement and my countertop guy suggested that I consider Cambria. It was a bit cheaper and he said that it is easier to install than granite (hence it was cheaper to install also since his company charges less to install a Cambria couner top than a granite counter top).

Here is a link that might be useful: My kitchen photos

ma-bookreader, THANKS!! those are really helpful shots. Your kitchen looks great.

babbie

Dark! And as Sheila says, it always looks clean. My dark granite is beautiful and hides the dirt so well it's scary!

I would go with the darker choice also.

I love the dark one!

OT ~ Raehelen I love your chairs. Would you mind telling us where you got them and who is the manufacturer?

Ok here are some overall kitchen shots. To the right of the diswasher is the drawer base and then the window.

There is a second base and top which extends the run to the left of the fridge.

When I took the shot the ceiling lights and undercounter lights were on.

thanks for all of the thoughts and opinions. It really helps us to think of all the pros and cons.
babbie

Babbie,

OK, your kitchen is eerily similar to mine- LOL! Yours is a little wider, but we have the doorway in the same spot, and we are planning an alcove where you have yours- though ours will just be a few inches deep - basically glass shelves to display knick knacks. (We had the same soffits too- but took that down and poor DH had to reroute all the plumbing stacks into the walls!)

So, I had to do dishes and clear off my seed stuff from the peninsula (I sell seeds and this is my busiest time of year- packing them up), but I got some pictures taken. It was a dull rainy day today and pics were taken late afternoon, all the lights are on.

Close up you can see all the colors and various 'jewels' in the stone, it only reads black/dark grey from aways away.

mbarstow-

Thankyou, we love the chairs too! Was one of our splurges, but so worth it cuz they are very comfortable. They were custom made by Woodworks.

They seem to only have dealers in Oregon and Washington in the US. They are actually located quite close to where I live.

Here is a link that might be useful: Woodworks

hee hee raehelen, I cleaned up all my couners, before taking the pics!

Wow, love your kitchen and thanks for the effort in taking extra pics. It really showcases the counters. Our second window (not shown) is only 24 inches from the floor. Otherwise we would have had the same set up with the peninsula but, we did not want to remove any windows or make the window smaller. Seeing your kitchen kind of makes me wish I had done that.

We kept the soffit for the venting but reduced the overall size from our original.

thanks again for the extra pics.

Babbie,

Our second window ALSO was lower, but we were replacing all the windows in the house, so DH built a new header for a shorter window- I wish now we had lowered both windows a bit (but he said that was too hard- could make them smaller but not bigger).

Our old kitchen table (old plastic patio table that was a 'temporary' fix for 12 years!) was in the same position as yours, and I do believe we had the same oak chairs!!!

Found a pic- guess the chairs were slightly different!

Definitely the dark one, the Giallo won't look much different than what you have now! (colorwise). I think you need the punch of contrast.

I have the Sapphire Blue with white cabinets and appliances. My backsplash is shades of blue and the floor is very earthy with shades of grey and some brownish areas. The floor really ties into the counter and the backsplash. I have to get that color counter because the backsplash was only 2 years old and I had to try to match the backsplash and still go with white cabs.Somehow, you don't see the bluish (or white or grey-whatever they are) unless you are looking down at it. I wish they had more blue. I wish I could have had blue pearl....it would have been beyond awesome, but budget said no.

Anyhow, you want your counters to steal the show because of the cost and because they are so pretty. Get the dark one. Also, the other poster is right. NOTHING shows on them. They can have tomato sauce, buffalo sauce, anything and you might not see it. Sometimes I look at my cloth and am amazed at what is on it. Crumbs do show because they are white. Enjoy!

raehelen, it is eerie how similar the kitchens are/were. We had a peninsula and overhead cabs where your metal unit is.

cindywhitall-- do you happen to have a pic you could post?

thanks again for all the responses.

I'd go for the dark granite, definitely. It may be my monitor but the other one is leaning towards orangey.

pbrisjar, your are right-- there is a peachy tone to the granite. I was told that it is now running a bit grayer in tone.,

raehelen, meant to ask, when you had thought you were to change out your granite and you chose the g.v. was it for a "lighter" look or ?

sorry to be so pesky with questions. I tend to agonize and over analyze every decision!

Babbie,

I had originally wanted a white kitchen. All my inspiration photos were white or creamy with glazed cabinets and I was leaning towards lighter granite counters. DH is the primary cook, so I felt it only fair that his choices have preference. I have to say I really liked how the Butterfly Blue looked in our kitchen- but we had problems with the fabricator. First time he installed the peninsula with the grain running the wrong way- so they replaced it. It was coming on a slow boat from China (I kid you not), so they sent a piece from the sink cutout to make sure that the new piece matched. I was sent pics via email to approve that the slab matched the sink piece. So far so good. Well, several months later the new piece arrives, and the pattern is running the right way, but the stone is quite different- has more blue in it (which we liked), but the background was more grey, not as dark, and the colours weren't as sharp- if we wet it, then it looked more like the rest of the counters. Turns out they broke the peninsula piece (that I had approved), and I'm assuming that in the distance and language difference something got lost in the translation- and I can imagine that someone just grabbed another slab and cut out our peninsula piece.

Since it was obvious that cutting another piece may or may not work again, the company thought it best to just start all over and replace all the granite. Now, if I knew which Butterfly Blue I'd be getting, I would have gone with it, but now they are calling the stone New Butterfly Blue, and I was leery of getting something I didn't like as much. Also, as compensation for all the hassle and delay- they were going to give me granite backsplash and window sills (had designed a decorative edging and everything!), and I thought maybe dark granite on the walls would be too dark. However, they ended up going bankrupt (wonder why- they replaced all the granite on my pony wall- which they were already giving me for free...)before I got my new granite...:>(

In hindsight, I think I'm glad we didn't change the granite (though I was looking forward to the sills and backsplash). The GV did stain a little bit with mustard, the BB is bullet proof- and as other posters have said- you have to run your hands over it to find spills, etc. Our reno has taken so long- it's been almost two years for the kitchen alone- that I really don't even know what I want anymore- one reason why we still don't have a backsplash.
Love this- and not just cuz it was free! :>)

raehelen, thank you SO MUCH for the detailed answer-- it is very helpful.

Love your plant ledge!

Yeah, backsplash is not even on my radar screen-- so slow at any decision I figure it will be a couple of years, or not at all!

I'm late to this, but I'd also go with the darker granite. I think you need the contrast.

Sapphire blue. The other color is too warm and white appliances, to me, are cool in tone. Sapphire blue would tie the cool appliances and warm cabinets beautifully. I'm prejudiced though. I just ordered it myself for my white kitchen! LOL

In case anyone is wondering, we still have not decided altho right now DH leaning towards the lighter granite and I go back and forth daily!

Buddyrose, what color are your cabs and floors?

Hoping to make an appt. this week to look at slabs.

Just for another perspective, we went back and forth on dark or light and chose light (Giallo Ornamental, oak cabinets):

what about soapstone? It's beautiful elegant look.

thanks harriet, yours is one of the kitchen pics I use to for comparison!

Hmm I have never really considered soapstone, Oh no another choice.......!

forget soapstone and marble unless you can live with slight marring or do the work to correct stains and scratches. granite is much easier... you seal it maybe once a year - wipe on/wipe off - simple.

My cabinets are white and so are my appliances. My floor will be porcelain pietra romano which is a sandy taupe with darker veins running thru it to tie into a darker granite. Sink will be stainless. Won't decide on hardware until last moment: either brushed nickel or black iron or ORB.... ha.

babbie, both stones will look pretty cuz they're granite and you'll love them but the darker will give your kitchen more WOW/POP factor and the neutral one will blend. I'd go for the wow. again, personal taste. I'm sure you'll be happy with either stone.

I agree with your assessment of soapstone, buddyrose.

I also have white cabinets and appliances, and am considering Sapphire Blue granite. What color granite did you choose, buddyrose? My first choice was Kosmos granite, a gorgeous black with amber quartz running through it, but the cost was prohibitive.

novastorm, I ended up buying Sapphire Blue. Did u get it too? I think it's going to look great. My stove top is electric with black and blue flecks so the Sapphire Blue will help it blend. And if I have to replace the stove, the granite will still look pretty because most cooktops have black in them.

I'm psyched.

Here is my kitchen, I found my granite first and planned the entire renovation around my 5" chunk of granite. I love the dark cabinets with this granite (similar to the one you're looking at). The picture at the bottom is from the showroom with the white cabinet...

Hope that helps!

Looking at the sapphire blue makes me think I should
go back and rethink my choices.

We saw a similar granite called blue pearl but
it was actually a blue grey pearl. I have white
cab and stainless. However we also love the jet
mist honed. I was all set for Jet Mist but
then I saw your PHOTOS. Lovely. So beautiful.

I am second guessing myself... Ahhh my DH will be
so annoyed if I bring up granite again this weekend.
:) I have even pesterd the teens in the house and
they do the leave me alone mom EYE roll.

Hoping the OP sees this. What did you decide? We are installing similarly colored cabinets and considering the same granite colors you considered. The comments here are very helpful to us but we would love to hear what you chose (and see a pic if possible). Hoping you are loving your kitchen.

Babbie (OP) - I saw another post you made regarding your choice, with a picture of your kitchen.

It's beautiful - even though you think it might be too dark. We are using natural red birch cabinets, lighter than yours. In our old house, we used the same cabinets and a dark granite - also on the north side of the house with one window over the sink. We always said that we wished we'd gone lighter. Now in our new house, we're looking at lighter and have been struggling with the choice.

After looking at your pictures, we're convinced to go with the Sapphire Blue. It's a tiny bit lighter than the counters in our old house. Glad to have found your post.

I am so glad that my pics helped you decide. It has been 6.5 years since it was installed and I still love it. We had originally wanted red birch cabinets but price point put us at cherry. We now have all stainless appliances--. Hubby prefers it . It did actually soften the overall tone. I do admit there are still days I lust after a lighter granite, but that only happens when I see a newly posted kitchen

I'm happy to see your reply and to know that you're still loving your choice. Your choices are enduring, not trendy. After 15 years, our old kitchen looked as good as when it went in and is what sold our house. Congrats on updating to stainless - the only way to go in my opinion - except for the fingerprints. :) Thanks again for your reply.