I guess I'l be the one who hasn't had any maintenance issues with honed AB. I love it! And I don't baby it, either. Like you, I wanted a not-shiny dark stone: my first choice was slate, but I was told it cracks, flakes, sheds - I can't even remember all the things it does, the saleswoman scared me off it so fast! Didn't want marble. Didn't want synthetic. Liked the reasonable price of granite. Read all the reviews here on GW that said it shows every fingerprint and watermark and fleck of dust... but this simply hasn't been true for us. We have it on our sink run and our deep sink splashes plenty. We mop up the water after doing the dishes - but I wouldn't call that a maintenance nightmare... I would mop up water or spills on ANY counter... Not sure why AB gets a bad rep - I think it looks sharp, we have had ZERO problems. Now, I wish I could say the same about my wood island top.... This isn't a great picture, but since you asked:

Raee - I'm a little concerned about it being too dark and blahh with the overall tonal look, but I'm hoping I end up with a cozy feeling. Nosoccermom - That second photo is one of the many I have saved. :) The cabinet/door side of the island that isn't showing matches the cabinets. The island originally had flat paneling on the outside so I added bb paneling, corbels, and baseboard to make it more interesting for the time being. I figured I'd start with the island to practice technique and see the color. I also thought once everything were almost finished (stained cabinets, bb backplash, new wall color, etc.) I'd get a better response for island paint color suggestions. I'd remove the paneling and add the same bb backsplash if I went with paint so it coordinates better. I originally thought white would be too start, black too harsh, so that got me thinking maybe BM Kendall Charcoal. I thought it would help pull the gray color, but it might not look right with the counter. I don't have a sample yet. Here are two pics of BM Kendall Charcoal. I just want to run and hug these cabinets. Notice the counters are light. :( I'd also like to sample Revere Pewter - maybe I could use that on the island and keep the walls with the Muslin or Shaker Beige idea. I'm just spouting off stuff that comes to me now. I wasn't sure if I should really do something different to the island, making it stand out, since it doesn't have a stellar furniture look. I'd love to add legs or something, but I'm not sure how. The corbels wouldn't have to stay. Barstools stay for now, but could change color or stain until I figured out what I wanted for replacements. Another close up shot of Tntw's cabinets with the GF Brown Mahogany gel stain. I'm really amazed at the transformation.

A - Options with marble backsplash with white backsplash with some other backsplash B - Designs #1 (no island, one continuous counter) #2 (island, one tall cabinet at very end) #3 (island, two tall cabinets (one on each side of window)) something else C - Aesthetics make the cabinets in the dining room look just like regular kitchen cabinets make the cabinets in the dining room look more like they belong in a dining room, despite being used for kitchen things something else Last but not least: D - Countertop black with white veins solid black some other dark option light grey dark grey something else Hi...what an exciting time for you and congrats on your adorable house... :) I highlighted my own preferences....but they are MY preferences...why?: I adore carrara marble hands down. I think white tile would be rather industrial looking. In fact, I would do carrara on the island if it's in the budget (and you don't mind the inevitable wear) I have always loved the idea of "extending" the cabinet run into the dining area. You don't have to keep kitchen stuff in it. It will fill up with "good" dishes, games, wrapping paper, tableclothes....all of the things we need on the daily. Plus you can NEVER have too much cupboard space. Also, I like to work at an island. My back isn't facing everyone else... I would have a soapstone counter. Once again I love it, but also if you love the carrara, I think the marbled counter would be too much of a opposite, negative look. Good luck on this. The examples you've shown are just lovely...

well can't the kids just dry their feet before coming in? (they can be taught to do this) I mean, hardwoods have been around for most of the last century w/pools outside. Unless they come inside soaking wet where puddles of water will collect, it's not going to damage the wood. maybe right at the doorway do an inset of tile (or put down a fluffy rug) to catch wet feet. you could do a slate tile, or a pebble tile, or anything to catch the majority of the wet feet. they even have porcelain brick looking tile pools are seasonal (unless you're in Fla) and kids eventually grow up. I wouldn't pick my flooring based solely on the fact that I have a pool!