Kashmir white is a beauty and would look wonderful in your kitchen. Get a sample and see if it stains. We had a sample for awhile that did stain. But the movement in the patterns made it barely noticeable. Plus, I don't believe that our sample from the granite yard was sealed.

When I posted on Kashmir White a few months ago I got some helpful responses.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kashmir White thread

Thank for the link francoise47!
After everything I read last night, I ended up thinking that getting a sample wouldn't be very helpful for the following reasons:

1. it won't be sealed therefore it will stain when I test.
2. absorption rates vary and my actual slab could be 50% more absorbent than a sample piece.

But maybe I am over-thinking this. I really want to convince myself that it will be fine because I love it so much. And because my husband "just wants to be done with this", hehe.

^ after 4 months, I don't blame him..lol

Costa Esmeralda is a beautiful and popular granite. A friend had Kasmir White and in her kitchen it looks greenish. I have not heard about Kashmir staining and I don't think my friend would have gottten it if this were a problem because she researches everything.
Also since you are replacing, what is the rush? Take a break and look around some more. Look at the Finished Kitchen Blog.

Yeah, I can't say I blame him either! The reason it has been taking so long is because of the cabs. Neither of us love the cabs and were hoping to paint white or buy new white. In the end, we've decided that we just can't afford to buy new cabs and that painting them is just not going to be realistic with our busy schedule with the kids. The photo makes the kitchen look small but there are actually 48 cabinets/drawers stacked to 9'.

With white cabs we had so many more options for granite. I feel like nothing looks good with this light washed wood. Almost everything just blends in unless its very light or very dark. We were wanting a light bright kitchen hence the desire for white cabs.

Oh, I forgot to mention that dh's only real preference is a strong dislike for green...so anything greenish, he will veto.

We don't want to wait too much longer b/c

1. we hate the white laminate that shows every speck...too hard to keep clean with three little boys.
2. we are going to extend the counters to create a bar with extra seating -- we need this seating asap.

Those cabinets don't look like they have any colour to them. By that I mean they don't have the orange found in oak or the red found in cherry. Those cabinets already read light to me. You should be able to put anything you want in there.
Check out things like Typhoon Bordeaux, any of the Giallo's, Santa Cecilia, Dakota Mahagony, Bianco romano, Blue pearl .

What colours do you like and what's in the rest of your space. Do you already have accessories that you are wanting to tie in? Do you want a small pattern or a big one.

Why decide against a darker color? With the light in your cabinetry, a darker shade will contrast better and give you the low absorption you want. Heck, some darker stones don't even have to be sealed at all. The dark color will also compliment your range and stainless better. The overall look will be much more updated if you switch out that gold hardware on your cabs too. A brushed nickel will offset your stainless beautifully and tie the entire area together with black granite! Your appliances will sparkle!

I like the idea of kashmir white. You can seal your sample. I also can see Yellow River in there. If you find a slab with the blueish color running through it and not too dark; it would be gorgeous. Let's see if I can find a pic. Someone on here from a long time ago had a beautiful slab in their kitchen. It's the one I thought of when I saw the pic of your kitchen.

I've seen them way lighter and less gold then this but I'm having a hard time finding pics. Maybe the slabs have changed since that kitchen from a couple of years ago.

Hi ReginaPh,

There are so many wonderful granites you could go with.
And I like the color of your cabinets. It might seem
daunting trying to find the right stone but truthfully
white is not as easy to work with as one might think. It
has it's own challenges. Wood cabinets with a light stain
can go with anything. I know it does not feel like that
right now. You are in a granite search and find stage and I
remember those days too. I actually lived with plywood
while I searched.

Have you visited the FKB (Finished Kitchen Blog)? This
is a great place to see granites that others have done on
GW. If you see something over there and want to see more
I can do a search for you and post some images.

Since you have not yet picked your backsplash you might
check those ideas out too. A while back someone picked
their backsplash before their granite it was a novel idea
that worked fantastically. They brought their tile
with them along with a cabinet door to a local slab yard
and found a treasure to go in their kitchen.

Here are some ideas, that is if you decide not to go with
Kashmir white. (I like KW).

~boxerpups

Yellow River

Ubatuba (one of those practically stain proof granites)

Kashmir Gold (not white but it looks pretty)

Verde Peacock (Similar to Ubatuba)

Tan Brown

Labrador Antique

Creama Bordeaux

Azul Platino

Diana Pearl Quartz (This might be an option if you are
worried about stains)

These below, I do not know the granite type. I just
wanted you to see different ideas for similar toned cabs.
Maybe they can help you.

Thank you all for the feedback!

I ended up getting a sample of a sealed piece of the Kashmir White. I dabbed a piece of pizza in one spot and put a little olive oil in another spot and then attempted to clean it off just 30 minutes later. Both stained pretty bad. Plus the sample piece broke very easily and it does not appear to be hard or dense at all. We have officially decided against the Kashmir White.

I have looked at every kitchen on the finished Kitchens blog.

Boxerpups - thank you for showing these pictures!! My favorites are these 2...No clue on the first one but the second looks like it could be tropic brown:

I have creama bordeaux in my master bath and love it. Mine does seem to have a pretty fair amount of grays, beige,yellowish shade and a splash of redish burgandy.

I have Pegasus in my kitchen and LOVE IT. here's a link to my granite color. The first four photo's are of my actual kitchen.
http://www.custommarblegranite.com/Pegasus.html

In 4 months I do not have any stains. I did not get the Lifetime sealer. But, I did get it sealed. It has a very pretty peachy shade in it too.