Your kitchen looks amazing!! I am currently building a Farmhouse. I have the cabinets picked out they are Brookhaven by Woodmode. The color is antique white. I have my heart set on honed absolute black countertops. I have read so many things about them and how hard they are to deal with. Do you like yours? Would you use it again? My other option is Cambria either cambrian black or sussex. The cambria is actually cheaper for me. Also, what size are your pendants? I bought the "harmon pendant" through Restoration Hardware and I couldn't decide what size to get. I got the 15 inch. However my cabinets havn't even been installed yet. My island is 7'3 by 3'7. Thanks for your help.

Thanks for the comments. I like all your advice and really expected people to tell me to go with the smoke and not white. I am posting images of the two tiles . To answer epressler's question the smoke subway tile is not glass but a crackled finish just like the off white subway tile. Yes, the granite does have a small amount of white flecks in it but since the kitchen is so dark with not much afternoon sun, the counters look and feel darker than the photo I posted. I know some under cabinet lighting would help but I am not going to have lights on during the day so that is one reason for the white subway tile idea. I like subway because most of the kitchens I admire use it. Most of the kitchen I admire also have a lot of white either in marble or painted cabinets. I feel like I did not choose very traditional countertops but my taste is traditional and my long term plan is to keep the cabinets forever and just think about painting them white someday when they start looking old. I also like dianalos comment about the valances. I chose the ones I did because I love oranges and yellows but maybe I should look into finding a new fabric that is not so dark and your comment about needing to go with white tile to change the effect seems spot on. The new images I am posting of the tile samples don't show the crackle finish but you will see one is much deeper and the bevel stands out...that one is also $30/sq. ft. ...the white one is only 12.99/sq. ft. and the bevel is not as neat but the white is crackled and almost a little iridescent. I am linking the photos in the optional link url. Does anyone know how to just get them to show up on my post?? Here is a link that might be useful: more photos of tile

The Mushroom Tinted Varnish, which has a hint of ?taupe, is lovely with your countertops. It doesn't really look white. Any temptation to do uppers & lowers in that color? The Macadamia also looks nice with your stone & I would probably choose that one with the Cappacino lowers. I have true white cabinets & American Black Walnut floors. My cabinets are fine but the floors - dents galore. We are empty nesters but I'm always dropping stuff. Edit: I just read your post that you may change countertops. In that case, the Cappucino & Macadamia (lighter white). The Walnut floor is gorgeous & I would not give that up but the somewhat busy countertop, high level of variation in the walnut floors & 2 colors of cabinets could be too many things going on. Just a thought as I'm not one of those people that can visualize everything together. I have to see a picture. edited again: I keep writing Chestnut instead of Cappucino.

I am facing the same dilemma right now. I have a north facing kitchen which is a middle room so it has one window above the sink. Right now the cabinets are apinted a soft butter yellow. I have Verde Peacock granite and shades of soft rust wallpaper and Italian hand colored ceramic floor tiles in rust, ochres, and grieges.. Time for a change. The granite and floor are staying but the wallpaper and cabinet color are being changed. Almost every Ben Moore white looks gray or pinkish in this room. Even those recommended by internet designers for north facing rooms. My goal is a nice creamy white. So far linen white is the best that I have found. Colors like granite beige look stunning in my dining room, nice warm "griege" but look like a cold gray in the kitchen. North rooms are so tough!! Good luck with your decoratin and your color selections. Laughablemoments- Thanks for the ink to the 'Navajo White' kitchen. I had completely forgotten this color which might be exactly what I'm looking for. Sharon