Yellow River or Golden Lava get my vote. I don't like the black at all with your cabinet choices--way too dark and doesn't really pull it all together. I like the warm, buttery colors with your two color choices.

Yellow River is one of my top two favorite types of stones--I always like almost every slab I see of it. And that Golden Lava is really "beachy" looking--love that too.

**I'm more of a movement rather than spots/flecks kind of girl myself, so I should probably mention that. I find the speckly granite kind of boring, personally.**

I'm sure others will chime in!

:)
Sarah

Oh, I feel your pain! I just went through the same thing. Same sort of kitchen creamy perimeter with cherry island. I went to many yards, schleped around town, found a Golden Beach that I loved but they only had 3 slabs & I needed 4. Every other Golden Beach I saw was nothing like the first. Ultimately, I went for one last look at the yard closest to me & fell in love with a Bordeaux River- which I'd never seen or heard of before. It's quite different from the Golden Beach I loved. I sure hope it's ok.

All that said- I still love Golden Beach with the creamy & cherry combo. I particularly like the first one on your list. Here's one unsolicited tip. If you find you you love-- go for it! Don't wait. I first saw "the one that got away" on Wednesday & when I went back to show DH on Saturday, it had been sold. If you see "the one" you'll know.

Good luck & enjoy!

Did you say what flooring you're having?

I wouldn't pick granite without having made that decision!

I liked the first Yellow River pic- are those 3 different slabs or just different angles/lighting?

You seem to gravitate towards flowy granite vs blotchy/speckled, so that should help you eliminate a large portion of possibilities. I personally would go for a delicious caramely/buttery with a hint of chocolate counter with those cupboards myself! :>)

Still fresh in my mind too!!!
I'm going to say that the Gialo Primo is my first choice, the Golden Beach second....

I remember seeing a solid black that had small coppery flecks in it...is that absolute black?? I've seen a lot of creamy/cherry/black granite combos that looked great!

I saw the most beautiful slab called "Expresso". Coffee tones with creamy white swirls. It was at the Albano yard in Toronto Canada, and the US distributor is Georgian Stone.

The Link is from the Canadian Website. You'll have to go to slabs, granite then the 5th one down is the Expresso. Check out #4 too which is Copper Pearl.
Definitely Yummy!

Here is a link that might be useful: Albano Expresso Granite

I like the Goden beach,Portofino, Santa Cecellia Classic., They seem to give a contrast to both cabinet colors. That copper Pearl on the Albano site might be interesting to see with your copper sink. It's also very cool.
***optionalnecessity- absolute black is BLACK!, Black Galaxy has little gold,coppery flecks. It's on my desk.
Good Luck jaksopcam

Here is a link that might be useful: granitecountertops

ah, yes...black galaxy!!! Thank you granite-girl...it was driving me crazy trying to remember :) Do you think that would work for jaksopcam with her copper sink?? Not that I want to give her any more choices!

Had you thought about doing 2 different granites? Something dark for the perimeter and to accent the copper sink and then something different for the island that complements the perimeter granite, but might also stand out for the island.
I did black pearl for the perimeter - a dark granite with understated tan and brown inclusions, and then bianco antico for the island.

First off, All the granites you have narrowed your choice down to look beautiful. So whatever you do choose will look fantastic with the cabinets you are using.

Since you are looking for votes, I vote for Santa Cecelia Golden Meadow or New Venetian gold. I would not go with black. Even a black granite with the cherry and flecks of gold in them might look too heavy. When I looked at the granite choices I wanted to see which one brings out the best in your wood/color. It is hard to tell with flash and from the image on my own pc. But this is the best vote
I can give you. I imagine that you are as stressed as anyone with such a purchase but looking at all the granite (except black) they are similar, which means you are on the right track to finding your favorite.

You now need to find out how much movement you want. What is your favorite color? Does it lean more toward a yellow base or cream base? What is your color theme? Reds, blues, greens, browns.... Do you want this to be able to change?

When it comes to kitchen granite, I am not a huge movement girl. I think sometimes too much movement looks messy. Especially if you are having several different woods. Or if appliances are close together. Do you have a large kitchen above 25 by 20 or a small one 13 by 15? These are things to consider when thinking about color and reflections. All the rage is movement in granite but your space has to work for you.

What color are the floors? What material?

What color are your appliances? Are they built in? Stainless? Black, White, Cream? If they are black the black flecks in the other granites would be fine.

The copper sink with be fabulous with any of the granites you have chosen.

I am excited to see the final choice.
Best wishes!

I totally feel your pain too! We are also using a farmhouse copper sink with creamy white cabinets and a painted island (probably sage green). We looked at two granite colors that you did not mention: white delicatus (looks beautiful to the copper sink and ORB faucet) for the perimeter white cabs and then antique brown granite on the island. Just thought I'd mention those additional colors, although I don't know if they are available at the granite yard you are using. I like the idea of two different granites as debbievan suggested above. I like the Gialo Primo the best out of the choices you posted. All the best..this is a tough decision!

Golden Beach first, then Golden River. Was wondering the same thing as the previous poster on whether the Golden Beach photos were of 3 different slabs as I liked the first one best, too.

1 Golden Meadow , 2 Golden Beach, 3 Yellow River

If it was my choice these are the ones I think look good. First choice being Golden Meadow

I love the Yellow River with both your cabinets I have cherry perimeter cabinets and a creamy island. I looked at sooo many granites my head spun. I like NVG and SC but I think they are common choices. Your YR is different a real WOW factor. I ended up getting Giallo Napoleon a more standard granite. YR is definitly not your standard granite.

Golden Lava or Yellow River are my votes, though they all look great! Except for the black - don't like that one :)

I think Golden Beach or Yellow River looks best with both of your cabinet colors. they both would compliment the copper sink.

I really like the Yellow River on its own and with your samples. What material/color is your floor?

Yellow River goes perfectly with your cabs!!! It is gorgeous!

Amy

another vote for yellow river here!

Thanks everyone for all your input. I knew this was the place to go. There are quite a few votes for Yellow River which is one I have gone back to. For those of you who asked, I have not picked out flooring yet but it will be tile. I thought I should pick out granite first but who knows. No turning back now.

Optionalnecessity: The Black Galaxy with copper flecks. My eye was drawn to that but decided it wasn't right for my kitchen.

Katienic: Oooh that 'Expresso' is nice and 'yummy'! but that place is not near me.

Debbievan: How dare you suggest 2 different granites - can't you see how much trouble I'm having with one!! lol! But it has entered my head many times but honestly the decision making process is agony for me. But that might be the route to take since I'm having so much trouble picking one granite to go with both counters. I really loved the photo of the bianco antico and my granite place carries it. I hadn't considered the whiter stones but thanks for putting that in my head. I might be hesitating with the other stones because maybe there is something about some of the golden/yellow tones that is not sitting quite right for me. More confusion!

boxerpups: I seem to go towards stones that have some movement rather than the specks. My favorite color you ask? I'm commitment phobic - seriously. But I do seem to steer towards greens, browns, golden tones. I was flirting with the idea of some red accents (very bold of me!). The floors will be a tile (not picked out yet and my contractor will be breathing down my neck soon any day now for a decision!)and the appliances will be cabinet built-ins for the fridge and freezer and ss double ovens and micro. Black cooktop.

Not sure of my kitchen size but the layout is very much like this picture I found on a granite website (except with a copper farmhouse sink). To me there is something missing in this kitchen. Not sure if its the paint color or the backsplash or the granite?

farmhousecook: That white delicatus looks so pretty. My place doesn't carry that one but they have something called White Galaxy which might be similar.

farmhousebound: Yes, the golden beach was 2 different slabs.

Keep your comments coming (pictures welcome too!)

My vote goes for the golden meadow or the golden beach. I think these stones go well with the cabinets colors and pick up the color of the copper sink as well.

Yellow river looks great to me!! Good luck.

I'm doing a similar combination of cabinets, although my island is a shade lighter, more of a chestnut color. Anyway, I'm right there with you - need to make trips to the granite yards ASAP! Anyway, I agree with boxerpups - whereas I love granite with a ton of movement and definitely would have gone in that direction had I stuck to a monochromatic cabinet scheme, my biggest concern is that my kitchen doesn't end up feeling too busy with too much competing for attention at the same time. If I do go with a more common granite like Santa Cecelia ( so many variations between slabs here ) I will concentrate on backsplash, pendant lighting, floors, etc.

I also think that the choice of flooring is important to your choice in granite. In fact, I think that's the issue in the photo that you linked - I would have liked it better if there were some contrasting elements - darker floors, maybe some pendants over the island to punctuate would have helped. In this case, everything seems to blend together ( although a photograph can often be deceiving).

Love the Yellow River! The 3rd photo(Yellow River) is absolutely gorgeous with both cabs. I'm jealous - that's exactly the look I'm going for!!!