Hi iris! I also kept my oak cabinets and went with a new granite countertop updated hardware and new sink. I looked for a light colored granite because personally I didn't like the dark ones with my white appliances and wanted to keep the kitchen light. It was hard to find granite without black in it but I ended up finding something I loved.

You should bring home samples from the granite yard and look at them next to the cabinets you're going to keep and next to any flooring samples you might have. It's a fun process. As I look around my kitchen, I'm glad I jumped in. According to a HGTV program I saw last night you can expect to receive 100% payback from a small kitchen upgrade as opposed to say, 80-85% of a fully gutted job. How can you go wrong?

Here is a link that might be useful:

Are yours real oak that you can sand and restain or cheap oak which you can paint or use gel stain? Either way you can change them. Mine were cheap and used gel stain in a dark walnut finish (think chocolate brown).
If you want to keep them as is, I always thought black looked good with the oak. Since oak has a lot of pattern, I would keep the granite simple whatever color you choose.

Thanks Neesie. My concern with most of the granite I have seen is that the patterns will clash with the grain in the oak cabinets. What is the name of your granite?

I wish I knew the "right" name of my granite! I bought it under the name of Sunny Flower but was told that it was probably renamed by the importer. All I know for sure is that it is from Brazil. I had no problem finding lots of granite without 'movement' or veining! You just got to keep looking and you'll find something you love. Of course I got the jitters and second guessed my choice right before the install!

I am adding a link to JoAnnB's kitchen. She also updated by adding new granite and keeping her cabinets.

Here is a link that might be useful: JoAnnB's new granite

Greetings iris,
I asked the same question on the John Cordoba site some months ago. We too have oak cabinets and white appliances that have to stay. The recommendation was a white granite and John recommended looking at Bianco Romano. It is very difficult to get good Bianco Romano now but there are several other white granites to admire such as Andromeda, River White, Imperial White, and several others but they contain black streaks.

I might also suggest that you might look at a granite that has some of the oak coloring in it. I don't know if your oak is honey colored or dark. If it is honey colored you might look to something that combines white and gold.
I imagine you don't want a countertop that looks yellow so perhaps idea doesn't appeal to you.

I think we decided to wait until we can find good slabs of Bianco Romano.

Good luck in your search.

mlraff53 As far as I can tell the cabinets are solid oak doors with veneer sides. Can you use a stain (gel or other) over the polyurethane top coat? DH is against painting them but might go with darker stain to lessen the grain. I agree that the granite would have to be simple.

JoAnnB's granite is beautiful but I don't think I could use something with that much pattern.

Take a door from your cabinets with you when you shop for granite, it will allow you to narrow down the choices. We have oak in the bathrooms and we put Giallo Veneziano in them. It is medium toned with light browns and some black. I think it goes very well.

Since oak has a lot of grain I wanted a granite that had a more uniform appearance.

Gel stain can go over the poly but I recommend you at least give it a light sanding first. Since you have two different materials (solid and veneer) make sure that both surfaces end up the same.
I don't have a totally finished kitchen pic (as you can see we were still working on the window frame) but here is mine.
kitchen before

kitchen after

It's easier to go from lighter to darker than it is darker to lighter. In our case our cabs were very dark and we went to lighter. That meant having to strip them down to bare wood.

Our cabs are Ash, not Oak but also have a very visible, distinct grain pattern. It was actually uncovering that pattern that inspired us to strip and re-stain (with cherry) rather than paint. I LOVE the patterns. Our granite has a lot of movement and I think it looks great with the cabs. Rather than clashing I think it carries through with the theme / feeling. Our floor is plainsawn select white oak which also has lots of grain pattern (in the process of being stained red mahogany).

As far as color selection goes, that's really such a personal thing. What inspires you? What makes your heart sing? Take inspiration from nature. In our case our inspiration is a sunset over the ocean - blues, purples, pinks and grays with lots of warmth.

This was taken on our honeymoon:

Here is a link that might be useful: I ramble a lot, here's some pics

mlraff52 I'm very impressed you could stain over the previous top coat even if you only sanded lightly. I might try that on a bath cabinet I have.

pbrisjar Wow I really like your garinte.
Thanks to all for the help. I'm getting motivated.

I agree with you SIL. Glance around at flooring, granites as well as tiles. Select a few of each you like and bring samples to your home. Different lighting will make some things look very different. Something will just hit in one of the samples and then go from there.

You could go in a lot of different directions. I could easily see green or my favorite blue to balance the warm tones, or a neutral cream color. Neesie's is a beautiful example of how changing just a couple of elements (sink and granite) makes a big impact. Try the FKB for inspiration.

bluekitobessed WOW! do you really think I could use something with blue? It is my absolute favorite color but I was convinced it would not go with the oak cabinets? Maybe one of the black granites with some blue in it? I also saw a beautiful dark green with white veining called Ocean green. What do you think?

Thanks for all the input.

I kept my oak cabinets and white appliances. I chose a granite with lots of white but a lot going on. Changed the hardware to nickel, new sink & faucet, lighting & stove hood. Still some finishing touches left.

susan that kitchen is gorgeous. I'd copy susan lol but before i saw that kitchen, my first thought was that i'd do a simple black granite with your kitchen, then a travertine floor and a creamy back splash. the contrast of the black will bring out the richness of the oak and the creamy tones of travertine and perhaps a tumbled marble will give a nice contrast to the black without being overpowering.

i'd also do an oil rubbd bronze or preferably a black finished knob/pull.

OHHHH My! that white and gold is beautiful. Lots of good suggestions. Keep them coming.
Thanks.

Susan, that is one gorgeous rock! Your kitchen looks like it was all planned at once rather than the granite being a later piece (if that sounds awkward, it's intended as a compliment).

Iris, there is a shade of blue that goes with EVERYthing. (After all, blue denim and blue skies go with everything else, right?) Here I would consider, in no particular order: a medium "country" blue with some gray tones; a medium to dark teal; navy (possibly that black granite with iridescent blue bits in it); blue and yellow together, e.g. yellow walls and blue accessories, for a Provence type look; or a very pale "spa" blue, which is very popular right now.

And since you asked...okay, you didn't ask, but I'm still in the show off phase...it's not a lower budget granite, but it was my big splurge and now it's my pride & joy:

bluekitobsessed
Humm blue that goes with everything. I like the way you think! Your granite is one of the BEST! I saw some at the granite yard and definitely would go for it if we were sure we would stay here forever and if.... well so many ifs. My next trip to the yard I'll will have to consider some slabs with more blue in them. Too bad the yard is a 2 hour drive from my house :(

igloochic I do plan to replace hardware and lighting with a dark/ black something. I tried spray painting old hardware with "metal" look paint to see if I liked the look and it seems to work. But I don't think the paint would be durable enough to use.