Ok you call Belle Noche on the right and then on the left, so I'm not sure which is which by name, but I like the one on the left - closest to the stove. It goes great with your cabinets and is just prettier to me. The one on the right is ok, but it reads peachy to me and doesn't seem as interesting.

I also think the red would go with the left one too, where as the one on the right I think the red wouldn't look as good. Is it as pinkypeach in real life or more beige?

OOo this is a toughie. Looking at them first glance I was draw to belle noche. I looked at them on the wilsonart site and I still think I like belle noche better. It looks more solid to me as the river has more movement maybe? I think both would look good but I'd go with the belle just because you saw it in the full piece and know you like it.

I'm not really seeing purple in there and when it's in a big piece I'm not sure you'd really see that.

It's ok, I'm like you on painting the cabinets. :) I have natural oak.

I didn't realize the confusion on the right or left. I'm talking about the left one as well.

One time you say bella noche on right, another time on left. Anyway, I like the one on the right -- it's a little lighter and goes well with the cabs. I thought you were settled on black cabs. What happened to painting them? I think you made the right decision for the laminate -- I was rooting for that decision.

I like the one on the left; it seems more interesting and more compatible with the red wall color and the cabinets.

K, I'm a loser. Sorry..was rushing. YES..Bella Noche is on the right. River gemstone left.

Carol, the bella does have a bit of a taupey color in it. Which is why I picked it. Because that's the color my tile floor is. But, in HD today, my mother only saw it as beige/yellow. Different lighting. Different set of eyes :)

andee, I WAS settled on black. I cried through HD today, because I can't do it, lol. But it's all too dark with this laminate. And I can NOT find a lighter laminate that goes with the floor. Once I solve on problem, I hit another. That's why I'm just over it.
(and don't get me started on what these look like next to my glass stove top..UGH)

I like the one on the left. The other would be a bit busy for me. I suppose the one on the right picks up the appliances more and would hide crumbs and such better : )

Good luck with your project! It's so tough.

One on the right.

Everytime I rush to make a choice I am EXTREMELY disappointed. I just overnighted tiles for my fireplace surround - went with the "safe" choice - shipping cost me $150, wanted to cry when I saw the invoice AND when I had the whole tile in my hand I HATED it.

So, if there is any way you can get through the weekend and really think out the choices I would recommend it. I know you are asking for opinions but in the long run - it is YOUR kitchen.

I think it would make sense for you to see through to the next step in your renovation, so that your choice would go well with that. It doesn't sound to me like you have totally given up the idea of painting the cabs black with the white subway tile. IMHO I love the look and think it would really jazz up the kitchen.

But, since you asked IMHO I like the one on the right.

And let me say again..thank you everyone!
I'd seriously be the poster to have on ignore, lol. My oldest says I have ADD. Attention Decorating Disorder :)
I can't stay focused on one room. I'm always doing something with two, three at a time. I usually give up around June 1st, and concentrate all my time and money on the outside. That's why it's crunch time. If I don't do something NOW, I'm sure to dig my own swimming pool in a month :)

I like the one on the right.

It has some lighter glints in it. The one on the left will look awfully dark with your appliances and the rest of the kitchen.

If you were going granite, it would be shiny enough to offset the dark color.

I would be bringing home a stack of those large swatches and laying them out (returning them later of course : )

Right

{{!gwi}}

I think I have the first one. I do want granite, but we just couldn't get it when we first built our home. I'm hoping in another year (we've been here 10 yrs). The laminate is just now looking worn.

The one on the left (closest to stove). I see peach in the one on the right.

lynn, I hear ya. I've held off naming kids until I was wheeled out of the hospital, then picked on the spot. Only to regret it later (sorry Kyle, lol)
So, I agree..rushing into this. Probably not the best choice.
Another reason for the rush, is I need to do it while dh is off a few days of work. That way, he can take out the sink. Maybe let my folks think it was a DIY job. :) Cause, yea..at the age of 37. I'm afraid for my dad to know I "wasted" money on something like counter tops during this economy. I have issues, I know :)

squirrel, I've had a bigger sheet of the bella. And liked it. I also have about 10 of the samples I took a pic of (yes, meaning to return those, hehehe) Can't get the other, though.

parma, it's actually pretty shiney.
looks more like this

I'm being totally honest--REALLY! I think they both look great with your cabs. If I had to lean in one direction, it would be the one on the right--because
1. it has a "lighter" look with the lighter "spots" in it.
2. You have seen this in a whole counter form and you already love it.

I'm sorry you are not painting your cabs--I think you would have loved it--BUT I'm happy you are "over it"!

I like the one on the left closest to the stove.
On my monitor I see a purplish tone to the one on the right.

I like the one on the left; I already liked the small sample you showed, but I really love the large Wilsonart photo you just posted of it. Since they're both pretty similar in color value, I don't see how one would darken the kitchen more than the other. The left has more visual interest to me, as was stated above. Of course, my laminate counters have a similar muted pattern as the sample on the right but with different colors (my husband said it looks a bit like a watercolor or a painting when he first saw my sample), and I really like it, so you probably can't go wrong.

I like them both and think each one will look great. I like that the one on the left not Belle Noche but the other one has some of the same tones as the cabinets do, but then I like the lighter shading of the Belle Noche. Either way, I think you made some good choices and it's going to look FABULOUS!

I like the one on left, right one is lighter but read "pink" to me -- could be my monitor. Both are neutral but if you really love the right one, then go with it.

Don't give up on painting your cabinet yet - you don't have to do black. You can do bottom dark grey or chocolate, or grey-green with the top cabinet cream/taupe ...I think it would come out very pretty.

Good luck.

Thanks again everyone!

equest, dh said the same thing about looking more like a watercolor :)

amd we're like 8 to 6..in favor of the river gemstone.
ACK! Does anyone wanna hear me whine some more about wanting to paint my cabs?? hehehe!

I like the one on the right!!!!

Ok, I just went back and reexamined your photos. Honestly, I really like your kitchen, as is! Why do you want to change the countertops? I have not read any of your other posts - so I don't know if there is something wrong or you are just looking for a change. I am glad you are not painting the cabinets.... I think your kitchen will stand the test of time - as is! You should be proud of your home - it looks great - and very well kept!
AMAC

Hard choice, but I'd go with the one on the right because it has more black. And when you get this installed, you'll LOVE your cabinets!
Hey, I waited 20 years before I could paint mine, so hang in there! :)

Quickly the left but you have already ordered by now I bet.

MomTo4, I seem to recall some not liking the way the textured laminates wiped up. Maybe ask around on that, too. Sorry, just want you to like your counter!

I like them both but I prefer the one on the right, it's got more variation or movement and a lighter feel to it. Did you pick yet?

bella, I'd love to do green lowers. It was the plan a few wks ago. Before that..it was white. Then it went to black. I'm a mess, I know :)
I think I could get away with a green with the one on the left, but not the right.

Amac, the counters are "ok". It's the wood edge I hate so much. And the builder oak cabinets are a sore sight for me. They're in good condition, because the house isn't even 4 yrs old. But, I just love painted cabs. And dislike golden oak.
I painted the walls red, knowing we'd change out the counters. But, here we are..2 yrs later. Green and red. And I'm constantly finding myself making excuses when people come to my home. Friends no longer believe I'm actually going to change it, lol.

squirrel, I've not heard that. Everything I've read on this site and a few others have loved them. I wonder what the problem is?? Hmm...
I honestly think at this point, anything is better then what I have. It's a mat finish, and shows everything. So, hopefully this one will be better??

And nope, didn't order yet :( I called at 4:30 and got the machine!! UGH! Not sure if they're open in the a.m, or not. It's a little whole laminate shop, not a big box store. So, we'll see. It'll all be pushed back a wk. Could this be a sign? lol

Actually, it was on this forum where people had discussed how they didn't like how stuff gathered up in the texture when trying to wipe clean. Kind of like with the vinyl floors where stuff kind of gets stuck or ground into the textures. Glad to hear many love it.

Hmm, I wonder how? Cause at least in the samples I have, the crevices aren't very deep at all. I just poured spaghetti sauce over one. And it wiped up fine :) :)
Ya think the actual, bigger sheets are different??

Ya think the actual, bigger sheets are different?

Nope, but I have never used the product. Could be if something has dried a bit.

My sister always hated her oak kitchen too. One year, I was visiting her for Xmas. I was pg and was supposed to be on bed rest, she was home w/ a cold, and she said, "argh I hate my kitchen," and I said, "what were you waiting for...". So the 2 of us just ran out got paint and attacking the cabinets LOL. Of course the minute we finished priming it started to snow outside so we had to paint in the freezing garage (!). When I was outside painting, my nutty sister decided that she hated the backsplash too so she just took the sledgehammer to the backsplash and left a giant hole on the wall ...her DH almost had a cardiac arrest when he went home and saw their broken kitchen, 2 days before they were supposed to host a HUGE Xmas dinner for his family. :-D

We ended up staying up the next 2 nights to finish painting & tiling the backsplash at the same time LOL. Her DH is no help because he's not handy...He just stood there and shook his head. ;-) I was banned from visiting them forever. Now they go to our house :-)

My sister had this hunter green Corian countertop which she hated w/ the dark oak, but after she painted her cabinet dark cream w/ glazing, the countertop looks so much better!

Maybe after the new countertop, you wouldn't mind the cabinets too much. Of course if you still want to paint at that time, why not? :-)

I like the one on the right. It looks like mine. And I have wood colored cabinets & black hardware. Good call. :)

I am a little later here I know..but I like the one on the left.
I have the wilsonart uba tuba and I love it...it has held up well.
Karen L

I found this on HGTV....it's a $17 kitchen makeover....take a look!

Here is a link that might be useful: $17 kitchen makeover...it's spectacular!!!

That makeover is AMAZING! And now I want to paint and glaze me cabinets! Haha

I'm not gutsy enough to do all that she did.

The samples look totally different on this computer than what they did when I first saw them. I think I like the right one better now. Honestly I think they would both look nice and be a great improvement. Let us know what you decide!

bella, how I wish I could do something so spontaneous! I do think I'll feel better about my cabinets once the counters are changed. And I can't help to think even though I've never liked the oak, or the counters. None of it bothered me THIS much, when my walls were builder beige. I've even thought about just repainting the walls, and spending the $$ through out the rest of my house on stuff I can take with me :) BUT..dh says NO. He's tired of us talking about the kitchen, and doing nothing. So, it's getting done. NOW :)

nicole, that make-over is amazing! I kind of hate people who can pull that kind of thing off, lol. I'm cheap..for sure. But when I do thinks on the cheap, it looks like it. And I have NO creativity. If I can't see it, and copy it..it's not gonna happen.

So, yesterday I went shopping right after taking kids to school. I didn't have a chance to call and order. I happened in to Lowes to get some subway tile to double stick tape behind my stove. See how I like it :)
And I saw the River Gemstone used on a counter! It's new, and hadn't been there before. And there it was!!! And oh my goodness, was it UGLY!!!! It had soooo much teal/blue in it, that it was up against a painted teal wall. BLECH! I feel I seriously dodged a bullet there. Had I not posted here, and waited for the votes. I probably would have gone that way, because dh liked it best. So did I, when looking at the sample. But, in it's full glory. Bad, bad, bad!
Sooo, we're going with the Bella Noche !
I have to wait till 9, when they open to order.
But, least I can do so with confidence.Well, sort of. My mother, who isn't the most supportive of my decorating ideas. Told me about 20 times yesterday I should keep my wood edge. Because the squared edge that I have to get (no choice there, because they're not building new decks) looks realy "cheap". Sigh.
I can't win. But, that's ok. I'm fine with it.
I think.

Anyways, thanks again!!!!!!!!!

Yeah! I think the new countertop & hardware will give your cabinet a new look -- you may end up liking the cabinets after all. :-)

Can't wait to see the end result...at least somebody is making a decision, unlike me :-)

Glad to know you've seen the counters in person and are confident which way to go. Sometimes just having so many choices is the hardest part! I love my "watercolor" laminate, and it really only seemed to give that effect on the small sample. I liked it before and now that I see it everyday installed, it's even better!