I have giallo ornamental and I can't imagine it in a leather finish. To me the leather finish looks best with the solids. It is an interesting look, but not very popular. I am wondering too if dust, fingerprints crumbs show more on this type of finish. I can tell you that with my giallo, I have to skim the surface with my hand because it hides the crumbs well. I agree that black and white is a classic look, but you have to like it. Have you thought about your backsplash? That may guide you in one direction or another.

I like Cambrian black that lascatx mentioned also. It was one that I was gravitating to. Then I saw a black granite called "Blue in the Night" and I think it also goes by "Blue Polare". It is a black granite - very black - but with some cobalt blue inclusions. In mine, the blue inclusions are like confetti rice. I also picked a piece with a quartz vein running through it - I haven't seen quartz veins in other BP/BNight granites since. Here is a picture showing the granite. I must tell you that I needed a flash and to standing up on a chair right over my granite to get this much detail. The little glints here and there are the blue inclusions: A close up shot of the granite so you can see what I mean by the blue confetti: I'm also including some pictures of my kitchen so you can see how black the granite looks nominally: It is in good light, as you walk by it that the cobalt blue flecks flash at you as they catch the light right.

I used Volga Blue. I too have a couple of skylites and also a covered patio outside so I don't get a lot of "direct" light however my kitchen window in front of the sink is quite large and I have plenty of lights incl. under cabs. Volga looks beautiful lights on or off. I don't have anything "blue" in my home - but after going to just about every slab yard around (at least 10) I chose volga blue after seeing those subtle abalone-like markings within the the black. It actually showed some depth when looking at it. When walking in the room it reads as black however once your up close you see the beautiful markings in it. It looks fabulous with my white marble island. As someone who changes/moves things around from place to place in my house/kitchen, I did not want a lot of "movement" in my counters. I have different colored dishes, place mats, etc. and everything looks great with it and was thrilled the second it was installed! Could not be happier. If you are looking for something that actually shows/reads blue when you walk into the room - this is not the right choice for you. Hope this helps

U r right about the blue eyes or blue inclusions that's what the blue circles r called,anyway some slabs have many blue eyes some have few the sizes very also along with the color intensity. I am in phx az. and just found my 2 10ft by 6ft slabs. They have many many blue eyes so excited. Yesterday went to look at 2 others I had on hold to find out they had sold them due to all r delays. Yes there has been MANY. turned out to be a blessing. In the last year I have seem many slabs (10?) from different granite yards. None have as many or the color brillance of the blue eyes in these 2 slabs. They just came in last week from the Ukraine. Made the delays look not so bad. If you're fortunate to live in an area that has many granite yards start visiting them and looking. I will post pics. when house is done. about 2 mos.