I can't do a picture yet as my computer with photo editing software is still sitting in the box since our move in, but we have light cabinets (Elmwood's Vanilla Fudge) dark hardwood floors and we have gone with Antique Brown Granite. It is quite dark and might be considered a bit plain compared to others with more movement but has lovely gold flecks throughout and I think it looks great. I will try to get my computer up and post a pic. It is definately not cold and gives the room warmth in combination with the creaminess of the cabinets
Barb

Welcome! Are you in upstate NY? My brother lived in a suburb of Rochester in old carriage house near a canal. It was a lovely area.

I'm posting a link to a great thread with tons of granite pictures. I hope it helps.

We have an acronym for everyone that loiters around here - TKO (totally kitchen obsessed). Tell your husband that your new forum friends promise not to be too bad of an influence. We may hurt the wallet a bit.

Here is a link that might be useful: Granite names and pictures

antique brown is incredibly elegant with creamy cabinets :) you should take a look at the combo...its stunning!

i personally love the contrast look myself. but i'm also into wild patterns. gold/amber, black and cream is yummy! i think you'll see my granite on the linked page.

and welcome!!! this horrible website is addicting lol....but my kitchen easily owes a great deal of its function and beauty to having been adicted myself!

No, we can't help you with your GW obsession or we all would be here to help you. :) Welcome. I'd go look at granite at a few granite yards - I thought I wanted no movement and siles stone vs. Granite and boy was I wrong and ended up with Gold and Silver (granite with tons of movement). Bring a cabinet door finished (better if you can order a small spare so you don't damage a real one - I dropped my sample - oops), floor sample and a digital camera as all look the same (take pictures of the slab as well as it's name and lot number). If you have cream cabinets, I'd go with something darker too for the contrast.

Thanks you so much for your opinions!

Deee, Yes we are in Rochester! Village of Spencerport. How funny! Where did your brother live? I am definitely TKO!! Thanks for the link, very helpful!

bjeanne, thank you and I look forward to seeing your pics!

igloochic, is that your granite with all of the spots? It is so different and gorgeous!

pcjs, good advice. I actually just contacted my KD to get a cabinet door to take with me. Is your granite posted anywhere?

What a great way to get advice! :~)

Hi Sara... I, too, have become GW obsessed! There's a wealth of info and experience here. My biggest lesson in navigating the site is that I found if you do a search you can usually find the information you're looking for.

My husband and I have gutted our 1880 home...hence my name here. I'll be interested in watching for posts of your progress. Our kitchen design went through many adjustments and we settled on wall cabinets that extend to the ceiling. We're trying for an old world look. One thing I wish we would've done was keep the kitchen behind a door instead of having it open to the dining room. We also have an island in the middle. What can I say, it's a renovation, not a restoration!

And another thing with these old houses... "hang on to your pocketbook, it's going to be a bumpy ride"!!!

How about soapstone? Do you like a matte or glossy finish? Antiqued marble would be nice.

old1880home, do you have any pics of your home posted? I'll be sure to post some before during and after shots!

morton5, I am not familiar with soapstone. I have seen it mentioned on this site but have not come across it in any of the showrooms that I know of. I think I would be open to glossy or matte at this point. I just want something I love. Is soapstone similar to granite in cost?

Saramae, even though I've been a californian for 4 years now, I was born and raised in Rochester. I miss it in autumn, but not in January when it's 70 and sunny here ;)

Have you looked at any of the labrador granites? A labrador antique would be a great warm-toned, dark granite.

Oh, and you'll get no help with your addiction from us- we're all enablers here!

Hey Sara - My brother is in Pittsford. He's not near the canal any more but still lives in that part of town. We were raised in a suburb of Syracuse. I moved down South about 15 years ago, he moved to Rochester about the same time. Like Alku, I do not miss the lake effect snow.

It's been many, many years since I was in elementary school and I still can't help remembering the "Erie Canal Song" every time I hear about the canal. I wish I had as good a memory about where I leave my cell phone.

Dee

We are unrepentant, so no help to be found here. Altho you might look to people who have written gbcw* posts.

For where you are and the time period, you might look at vermont slate (sometimes quarried in NY). There are dark grays and blacks, purples and greens. For the right historical feel, also consider wood, soapstone, or metals.

*goodbye cruel world

Wow, you guys ARE great! And have awesome ideas!

bmorepanic, after you tell me the meaning about your name ;~) I'd love to know about this Vermont slate. I'll do some research on it. Anyone know a good forum to do research? lol...

alku05, you don't have to fool us and say you don't miss it when it's 10 below 0 and there's 3 ft of snow on the ground! We try not to complain... my husbands company does snow removal. We wouldn't make out so well on the west coast. Although it is beautiful.
I will look into the labrador granites. I did see a small piece that I liked but it's so hard to tell with out seeing a full slab.

Deee, 'fifteen miles down the Erie canal...' Yes! What a great song!?! So you have some understanding as to why I like this area. We're about 4 houses in from the canal and it's so nice to walk along the path or into the village. The problem is staying away from Abbott's when we get there! Those of you familiar with this area know what I mean!! We plan on raising a family here (when DH recovers from Gal bladder op we can work on it ;~) ) so location is important to us.

Thanks again to all of you! I like this GW family!

As you can see, we don't have our upper cabinets installed yet. Yesterday we installed the faucet. I love it! It's a Grohe Bridgeford.

Love your faucet! Thanks for sharing!

Welcome to Baltimore, MD, hon. Bmore is the local nickname for the city.

Originally, we were forced into buying new cabinets when our "new" cabinets literally fell apart in five years. We were so fortunate that both the place that sold them to us and the cabinet manufacturer went out of business - so no recourse. The panic part expressed my feelings at having to shop for cabinets again.

Lately, it came to sybolized our slight murder problem, but the new police commissioner really has done wonders. For the first time since about 1990, we might not be in the top ten!

TMI, right?
Jill

Hi Saramae! Just wanted to say I thought the granite decision was easy, the sink and faucet were harder decisions.

I used to travel to Rochester on business, tho only once a year for about 6 or 7 years. I stayed in Canandaigua and Pittsford too, by the Erie Canal, very nice area! I bet you are enjoying the lilacs that are in bloom in Rochester now. I'd love to see images of your historic home!

Nessie... don't tell me I'll have more trouble with the sink and faucet!!!
I posted some pictures. More to come...

Here is a link that might be useful: Progress pictures