I am still thinking about white perimetere cabinets with a painted (probably light turquoise) island. I'm still debating about countertops, but I'm leaning towards the Mint Ice Corian or butcher block, for the perimeter countertops and a marble (or granite/quartzite that looks like marble) for the island counter. As far as two different kitchens, I don't think it will look like that...but I've always wanted my island to look like a work table. I also have a wooden dining table, on the other side of the island...so that's one reason I'm undecided about the butcher block. It's pretty, but I don't want too many wood tones (wood looking vinyl floor, too). As for what's going to be 'in' or 'out' in the next year or two...probably lots of things. I'm certainly no expert, but a lot of bright colored countertops seem to be gaining popularity (I might do the Corian, despite this new trend, rather than because of it) and I think that's a natural reaction, after all the neutral wood and stone. People get tired of seeing the same thing in the magazines, and want something 'new' in their kitchen. My advice, don't worry about what's popular (which changes so fast) but get what you like and you know you'll be happy with for the next ten to twenty years. Whatever that may be (whether it's popular or not) will make you smile, every time you walk into your new kitchen :)

Lauren - what did you mean by not wanting your cooktop to "pop" out? Did you mean a black cook top on a white granite island? My sister has a white (induction) cook top and its very pretty. You might consider that with the white granite it you don't want to do black or soapstone.

I, too, am pondering the same! Soapstone and marble are on my wish list. We have maple cabinets with a cherry stain, & I wonder if the soapstone would be too dark on the perimeter, yet that is where it would work best functionally, i.e., wouldn't have to worry about staining, can put hot items directly on counter, etc. Yet would it be too dark? Perhaps a lot of under cabinet lighting would help, along with a light backsplash. A designer friend told me soapstone is too dark for my space; would work fine if I had white cabinets (which I can't justify since our current ones are in great shape). Yet I still pine for soapstone; I want to find a place for it (right now I have a soapstone spoon rest :). The soapstone on just the island could work, then marble or quartzite on the perimeter. I just don't know, and today I have soapstone samples on the counters trying to imagine it. I may look for a dark sheet or tablecloth to put on the counters to try and get a better feel for the look. I love the brown marbles, but I've read that etching is more noticeable with darker marbles, so something to consider. For now, I am hunting for a remnant to put on the small island; then I could figure out the perimeters later. Not ideal, but that would be a good "test" for us on the marble/soapstone. If it didn't work, we would repurpose it for vanity counters. With white cabinets, you have more options. I will be following this thread with much interest! Good luck! wags

I was very much just punked by your before/after pictures. I saw the first "Before" and thought to myself...ooh, a small kitchen like mine! Let's see what they managed to do with such a small space! Then the "after" pictures seemed to from a designer kitchen website. I think I could fit half of my house in your kitchen. So, not applicable to me, but I echo everyone else's comments that all your choices were PERFECT and the finished product is breathtaking.