1) What other colors in your kitchen? You said white cabinets, any other wall color? Right now there will be very little color in the kitchen side other than the cabinets, molding and soffits; the eating area has lots of color with the pine hutch, the table, the oriental rug... 2) What are you thinking for backsplash? Or do you need ideas? Not sure about the backsplash... thinking of ideas ranging from tin, subway, pearly mosaics ...Very open to ideas 3) Have you thought about undercab lighting to bring in more light? There will be some under-cabinet lighting and I'm adding some ceiling spots 4) Do you like busy or simple? What style are you going for? Tradition? Eclectic? Country? I'm transitional to rustic country; laid-back but I do like that unexpected touch of elegant classic.. Welcome to my house! Here's a little glimpse from the front door and the kitchen is directly to the right (the red door is blocking the view to the kitchen) 5) Are you keeping the light fixtures in your kitchen? The pendants over the peninsula are staying as well as the rooster mini-chandelier over the table 6) What are the floors going to be? The same beige tile or something else? The tile is staying; it's definitely not pink beige, not white, more like the bisque family but it's the floor that has me most concerned about a light counter. I'm afraid that too 'white' a counter will make the floor look dirty or like it doesn't belong; maybe the contrast of a darker, more solid counter is what the space needs? Here are some more photos with a little sample of the cabinet on the floor and a corner of the eating area where the peninsula will be...

I made the mistake of falling for jet mist / Virginia mist granite, but I am unable to locate any slabs in the Denver area. I have called at least 10 stone suppliers and fabricators, but no luck. Any ideas how to go about this search? Thanks!

The manufacture won't be able to help you here as that manufacturer is Mother Nature. The fabricator won't be much help either, as the stone is performing as is it's nature to perform. It's a well known issue that honed black counters show every bit of oil based touching and hold on to the oils in their texture. I'm surprised that you didn't come across this information in your research for your counters. Sealing doesn't really help, as the culprit isn't the porosity of the granite itself, as black granites are almost completely non porous. The issue is the honed texture that traps the oils. It's the difference in a wood surface sanded with 80 grit sandpaper and 150 sandpaper. One has more surface area to grab you because of the coarser finishing. Black granites are dense enough that sealer won't penetrate and can actually exacerbate the "stain" issue. Some people have had good results from removing the sealer and then using Method granite cleaner, as that puts down a silicone oil coating that minimizes the appearance of oil stains. It is supposed to be safe for food contact surfaces, but I wouldn't make a sandwich on a counter treated with it.

I've recommended Marble Unlimted in Van Nuys as having a far wider selection of high end, exotic, and hard to find stone than most of the common or garden variety yards. My second choice for LA North would be San Fernando Marble & Granite. Most but not all of the LA North yards are located in the East San Fernando Valley -- San Fernando to NoHo, or up & down the I-5 and 101 corridor. I'm not familiar with LA South but I hear Anaheim is the place to be. Blue