Slow done a bit on the decision making for a moment. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Your painted surfaces need to be primed anyway so that would be a good place to start. The paint store can tint your primer, a good one is BenMoore FreshSart, It is very durable on its own and can act as a 'decision neutral color' to help your choices by knocking out the existing color. Just might be an 'ah ha' moment when that wall color is gone. Paint out the baseboard that is part of your backsplash also. The white is distracting. Another trick is to pick up a 6 pack of white poster board. (they even have it at any pharmacy usually or hobby store). Paint choices on your boards, two side can give you 12 choices. Maybe a friend or neighbor has a wall color you might like...they probably have some left over... they could give you a small container of. I use a large masking self-stick, low-tack paper. That way i can quickly apply a large section during a 5 min. meeting. 10 out of 10 times the client does not believe the color is what they chose previously. I also have multiple alternatives that i create that is what i 'think' they meant. You are not alone in being a bit frustrated at this point. Ultimately it is your choice, your kitchen. Your granite is the star and the big ticket element. Swimming in a sea of oak AND a busy decorative backsplash might just confuse the eye.

Gldngrl, Thank you. I am very pleased with the quality and overall appearance. You made me laugh with your "granite obsessed" remark as I had the same problem. Go to the Wilsonart web site and use the HD dealer locator within a 50 mile radius. Go through that list with a hawk's eye looking for the one or two that would have a fabricating business on site. Not the kitchen and bath type businesses, as they usually outsource to a fabricator and also you do not want someone who uses postform. After getting the Wilsonart list, I compared it to some names on Angie's list. It took a few weeks but I knew I had struck gold when my decorator took me to a custom cabinet shop and the salesperson said that they use "so and so company" to make their laminate countertops because they do the best work. It was the same company I had.narrowed my choices to. My location is a major metropolitan area and the company was 20 miles outside the city. HTH

Thanks so much for the help and pics too! Our maple cabinets (upper and lower) around the L-shaped perimeter will have a light stain and look very close to natural maple. The island will be cherry (but pretty light for cherry, very close to natural cherry, kind of like a maple with a mocha stain). The maple cabinets that make up the L are going to be "anchored" on the ends with full height cabinets in cherry (same as island) that will be the pantry and the refrigerator. I've read that matching the floor with the counter is a good way to go. If we do that, we'll have a counter on the island that blends a bit with the island but pops on the perimeter. Below are pics of some of the granites we're thinking about. My favorite right now is the Vyara Gold. Would love your opinions, ideas and pictures of your kitchen if you've done something similar (or a link). Golden Rock Ikon Brown Juparana Exotica Paradiso Classico Rosewood Tropical Gem Verde San Francisco Vyara Gold Materials again: Maple Cabinets along perimeter of L Sinks are both black, this is prep Cherry floor Cherry island, refrigerator cabinet, pantry and crown molding What would you do if this were your kitchen? Don't worry, I won't hold you responsible for my choice!

Been there on the granite issue. While it is helpful to know how many square feet you have of countertop, there are so many ways of figuring the total cost, the bottom line is more important than how they got there. Some that charge less per sq ft charge more for cut outs, edges, etc. So price wise, the final number for the same job with the same granite is a fairer comparison. Kevin, to be fair, paying a higher price does not necessarily give you a better job, either. When I got prices, I got one of my highest estimates from a large place that was recommended by someone here who knew from working in this area that the place was good. I got other quotes, including one from a local building supply company that sourced out the job, and the final charge was 1000.00 less. When I called to find out who did their stone work, I found out it was the same company that gave me the highest bid when I went to them directly! I ended up with quartz rather than granite, but did learn that price and quality sometimes have nothing to do with one another, and other times you get what you pay for. It is silly, though, to just go with a more expensive place because you ASSUME they will be better becuase they charge more. 1. Know the companies reputation, and look at their work, get recommendations. 2. THEN compare prices of reputable companies based on the final price for the same job, with the same specs, including edging and cutouts, with the same granite. 3. Find out if one of the reputable companies with the best price for your job actually has slabs that you like. 4. GO FOR IT 5. If you still have problems, come back here and you will find help and sympathy. :) Sue