Hi Grannabelle, We just finished our kitchen a few weeks ago, and we put in the 3 x 6 inch tumbled travertine subway tiles ("Philadelphia" with the creams and beiges and grays) against our dark, "Tiramisu" granite. We don't really have a significant backsplash area, so I think the subway tile look works to give it enough interest but not overwhelm the small areas where we have it...I'm posting a few pix...

Hi Ekazn Your kitchen sounds beautiful, can't wait to see what you are working with. What other colors and elements do you have in your kitchen? Lighting fixtures? Trim? Are you a geniune modern or more of a contemporary? Modern for me is a style from the 20th century with German scandinavian influences. Is this what you mean by modern? If you are not thinking form follows funtion and more of a contemporary sophisticated chic look that I can try to find some images of what you are looking for. Meanwhile, here are few ideas that come to mind with what you describe you are looing for. I am happy to help with more ideas just curious as to which direction to help you in. ~boxerpups Not subway but really pretty with an exotic granite

If you do a search on Houzz for "cherry cabinets dark countertops" many examples pop up. Create a "Kitchen Wood Cabinets" Ideabook with those features to get ideas about lighting, possibly changing out one or two cabinet fronts with glass ones, new countertops. Many pros on Houzz recommend living in a new house for a year before making major changes. Maybe by then the mania for all white kitchens will die down and you'll put your household budget to uses other than a major renovation. You have a very nice kitchen already. Here's just one of many kitchens in my Houzz Ideabook, "Kitchen Wood Cabinets."

White marble countertops will look beautiful with those floors. Marble has been used for centuries in European kitchens with rustic floors - so that is quite appropriate. One thing to think about though is how your kitchen integrates with the rest of the house. What is it’s age and architectural style? You can use classic elements like white marble and white cabinets in any kitchen, but if it were a distinctively 50s home, for instance, I would try to think of some detail or style element that would be a nod in that direction. Or conversely, you can update fixtures etc in adjoining rooms to subtly balance the newer style of the kitchen. People love modern farmhouse with good reason, but I suspect that in 20 years some of those kitchens will look like they were dropped randomly out of the sky into houses that were anything but.