I love granite the natural beauty of stone. It has been a fantastic surface. I would do it all over again. Your choices are beautiful! I lean toward the European Gold but I would have to see the entire slab. Can you get a pick of the slab? Are you able to choose your own slab? Template? What kind of edge are you thinking of? Check out the link to the Granite Checklist. You may have already read it but if not it is really helpful. And I have some pictures of Cherry with golden granites but not the Euro Gold. Keep in mind granite names change a bit from different parts of the country and depending where they were taken from. . I hope they help you visulize. I do think the Euro Gold is the one though. ~boxer Golden Persa by Colvin Golden Sun by Delaware Granite Golden Wave by Dimensional Stone Golden Beaches Golden Wave Butterfly Gold (Makes me think of Euro Gold) Santa Cecilia by Missouri Max Marble Santa Cecilia Here is a link that might be useful: Stone Information and Advice (& Checklists)

We have medium dark mahogany cabinets and a dark silver/gray black counter. It did seem too dark at first, but adding a lighter wall color (includes backsplash) and painting the window trim off white seemed to make a big difference. It felt bit cavish before the windows were painted--DH liked it, I didn't. We have fairly light floors and quite a few windows. Also, I think it depends on how broken up the darkish cabinets are--are there full walls of tall cabinets? Are the cabinets broken up by lighter appliances? I think adding some glass doors also helps the room feel a bit lighter.

Beautiful kitchen! Very similar to ours, cherry cabs, black granite and our pendants look a lot like yours, same color and shape but have the coax cord. I would use use s/s cover plates. Jodi-

You should be able to order a couple of samples. Daltile sometimes sells in the Home Center stores too. Get a sample of white and biscuit and almond - you cannot tell true colors on a computer monitor and this is too important to make a guess. Search the internet for a place that sells the tile and will mail you a sample if you can't get a sample from the site you posted. I would probably not do a beveled tile just because oak kitchens have a lot going on in them (I have one) and the additional texture is not necessary. Also, you mentioned not going too modern, Beveled ins't necessarily modern, but it is more so than plain. I like the beveled in kitchens that have a lot of the same color (white cabinets) because then the added texture is helpful to distinguish one white surface from another. When I needed to decide between white and cream, I painted part of my backsplash white, and another cream - I color matched my cream tile sample. That helped me make a decision. For my tone of wood, the white was too much of a contrast. For other wood tones, the white looks great. After the tile is in, but before it is grouted, you will be able to get an idea of what a contrasting grout would look like - it will give the illusion of contrast. Should you decide you like the contrast, don't do a harsh one, but more like eam44 and barncatz's pictures.(I used "Alabaster" from H-Line tile which is a cream color. - pics in my idea book - I posted them earlier in the thread.)