I think you should get the flooring put in and then pick your countertop material.

Correct me if I am wrong-- but didn't you say you just tiled the floor? I assume the hardwood floors are for elsewhere in the house. I like the himalayan slate and then next the labrador.. but I'd try samples in your kitchen as the subtle undertones can make or break you.

caminnc and funkyart - yea - the hardwood will be in the hallways and the LR - the vinyl tile on the floor in the kitchen is fairly new. The floor before was a very pale cram colored linoleum that was 20 years old.

I was leaning towards labrador or the himalayan as well. I have a few little squares at home. I can put them next to the cabinets and the floor and see how they look.

My vote would be for the Himalayan slate. That caught my eye first thing, especially with the white cabinets and black appliances.

I like the Himalayan Slate and Labrador because they seem to tie everything together.

Have you seen cate1337's kitchen? She used a Formica soapstone (laminate) -- cannot now recall which one, but before I saw your proposed samples that was my first thought. It's similar to the Slate but not as busy.

I have a highly figured countertop (Calacatta marble) and I'll tell you, having too much pattern can make it harder to keep clean -- it's hard to see everything! At least, this is my husband's excuse .... But it is also true. This can be a good or a bad thing -- I think my countertop and the most beautiful one ever (!), so on the one hand it's a good thing. On the other, I really like having a clean countertop, and the fact that I can't so easily see the crumbs is a bummer.

You have already done a beautiful job on your kitchen. Congratulations!

You can get counters made by Home Depot with the 45 degree angle. It's not that expensive and you can pick from their samples.

Does anyone know what the avg price per linear? ft is for laminate there - nothing special - not high end - the more basic the better and cheaper probably.

I'll try and look into that, we did at one point but thought it was going to be too much.

I'll have to figure out how much we would need to see what it would cost.

Anyone have pics of cate1337's kitchen. I tried doing a search on GW and the FKB - nothing.

Ruth

Basalt slate is the Formica that looks like soapstone. Abbycat used it in her kitchen also. The link should take you to a thread where she's posted a couple of her pictures (in two different posts). I think Lowes in stock stuff runs about $8 per ft here in Missouri - don't know if their prices are the same everywhere. I called about getting a 12' long piece of one of their in stock styles and it would be about twice as much (around $200) because it was special order. I'm don't know about HD pricing. HTH!

Here is a link that might be useful: Basalt slate

I was at HD about a week ago looking at their laminate countertop pricing. Most of the high-def styles - like what you've picked - were $32/ft. The saleswoman told me that included installation so I don't know what just the materials cost would be.

I'm in Canada, but we just ordered Wilsonart HD laminate (River Gemstone) for our kitchen, and the price per linear foot was $27, although because we are going with the beveled edge rather than bullnose, so ours is $37 per linear foot. That price is not including installation. Home Depot was asking $32 per linear foot for the bullnose edge and that was without installation. We got the better price from a countertop company.

From the pics, I would choose Labrador laminate. I also have a sample and really like it. I would look good with your black and white.