Hi there! I like the idea of black cosmic but then again I am partial to white cabinets with black/dark countertops. I love the idea of your backsplash. You mentioned that your kitchen walls are gold though which makes me wonder if the desert dream would be a better choice. I suppose it depends on the shade of gold...our living room is waterbury cream by BM and is creamy gold but with cooler undertones, I think but I am not sure. Just in case you're interested I thought Exotic Black and Ocean green looked good http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.brgranite.com/Colors/Green/Green%2520Ocean.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.brgranite.com/colors.html&usg=__jdy7cb5KKp_x28sVW5EoAA90FtA=&h=417&w=640&sz=63&hl=en&start=14&um=1&tbnid=DOUSUD9U-BPY8M:&tbnh=89&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Docean%2Bgreen%2Bgranite%2Bpictures%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADBF_en%26sa%3DX%26um%3D1 sorry but I don't know how to paste pics in here! Jet mist is another cool one. Good luck and show us when it is all done!

I COMPLETELY understand your dilemna. I am going through the same mental exercise of dark versus light (and I think my Husband is also tired of me asking him, "do you like this better?").

I have pored over magazines and the net looking for pics of light counters versus dark/black counters for our white kitchen...hoping that one of the pictures will instigate an "a-ha!" moment. Nothing has come to me yet.

Have you thought about your floor? Put down a mix of your paint sample, your counter sample and your cabinet sample, and group each together. The one that you feel more compelled to is probably the best choice.

Keep searching! I get the feeling that you don't usually go with the "basic neutral" in your other rooms. So maybe your kitchen should follow suit.

Post some pictures of your "groupings"!

I recently chose my countertop for white cabinets. It helped me to go back and look at pictures again. What are your floors? Since "nothing in your house is neutral" what is the style or colors of the rest of your house? Do you think one look would fit your style more than the other? Just from the words you chose, I got the feeling you liked the black cosmic better, maybe just because it has some punch or contrast. So if you do choose the desert dream, do you have a backsplash in mind?
By the way, my house is ALL neutral. (I love it) and I am going with a grey countertop, and I loved the look of marble. I think the Black cosmic would be beautiful, but I prefer those colors, as compared to the beige range.

Hi Willworkforroses,

I know exactly what you are going through.

Do you look at pictures of kitchens to try to decide?
Do you flip through magazines? The Web? FKB?

Do you wake in the night with a sweat that you have not
chosen yet?

I kept going back and forth. I would find myself pouring
over magazines trying to visualize my own space with light
or dark. Green, gray, black, cream, white, blue pearl,
ubatuba, jet mist......

I visited Dupont.com their countertop section and played
with the countertop selector over and over. I layed
posterboard on my counters trying to visualize black or
gray or white or cream or......pattern.

I asked all my friends, family, kids, DH and even stangers
shopping at lowes or HD.
"So what would you put with white cabinets?"
I would e-mail pics to different friends who would either
ignore my e-mail or write back with a different suggestion
stressing me out more. I posted on GW my many visits to
Granite warehouses..

The choice was really hard. My DH kept saying thank God
you are not a heart surgeon or your patient would have
died by now.

I drove everyone insane. I found my kids trying to avoid me, when I would say.

"Now, which do you think would look good? Give me your
honest opinion."

My son blurted after months of my granite worries.
"Mom, I dislike them all the same just pick one so we can
make our sandwiches."

My oldest daughter rolled her eyes in annoyance. My
youngest could never remember which one she picked and
this let to more confusion for me. My sisters, mother and
aunts all told me their own ideas which caused me to
second guess . I feel your worries because I lived this.
I hope I don't have to do it again because choices are
hard for me.

How did I finally pick my counters. My DH said.
"You have one month to choose or I am choosing." And God forbid
he choose somethinig ugly. Hee Hee.

So, my note here is to cheer you up because if I could
not choose for myself how could I ever choose for you.
I will say whatever you do pick is going to look wonderful.
It really will. I am so happy with my grantie choice. I
do not 2nd guess about it. I love it. And you will love
yours too. You have excellent taste I have seen your
posts about various ideas and I think you will choose
wisely.

Cheers
~boxerpups

Having just gone through the same thing I say choose the one you love. My house is also not "neutral" and we've been bold and playful throughout. That's who we are. For whatever reason, when making choices for the new kitchen, I struggled with how "me" to design it. I considered more classic, neutral elements that really were lovely. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that while they were beautiful, etc., they didn't shout: "This is my kitchen and, OMG, I love it!!" So I picked what I liked FOR ME. Actually, almost picked Black Cosmic (love it), but we found better sized slabs of Titanium (very similar with a bit more bold movement and some caramel added to the black and white) and we liked that it was a bit bolder. It just went in, and OMG, OMG, OMG!!! Pick the one your friends would say "That looks like you!"

I'm going to restate what others have said and stress again that you should look through the FKB, online pic, or magazines. I see many many kitchens I admire but know aren't me. See if theres a continuing pattern that appeals to you. More specifically, are you drawn to light on light kitchens or dark on light? I adore soapstone; yet when I look at kitchens overall, I prefer light countertops. Take a little time to look; it may give you some insight.

Well boxerpups, you've got me down pat. I've been lurking for several years and planning all that time. And then at the last minute dh says something like "whatever you like, just so the backsplash isn't white". There went my white subway tile plan. He was drawn to slabs with a lot of rust and orange. They were beautiful but not when you have a whole house of gold walls because of an open floor plan. But hey, whatever I want. lol

It's bad when you go into a store and you already know more than them. We were both drawn to Vermont White and I told DH that it wasn't granite, no matter what the manager said it was. One tile place the very very bad salesman asked what I was using as counter and then said "Can I ask why you would pick granite?" Because I want it. Just because you want to sell me something different isn't going to change my mind. I've wanted it for 13 years now! He was so annoying we walked out and would never go back. Although they did have nice tile. He's going to starve. I give his store 6 months.

Dh tried to tell me that a particular french door refrigerator didn't have two drawers above the pizza size drawer. Are you kidding me?? I've researched this stuff for at least 2 years now, and believe me, if I could post pictures all this time I would have so I could get forum help in my choices. He vowed never to question my knowledge again. He really should know better by now. lol

So I've looked through every magazine, FKB, forum, etc. I have lots of pictures of white cabs with black counters and white subway, just like Something's Got to Give. BUT, I don't have the architectural detail that those beautiful kitchens have. Thermofoil white cabs (which have held up great for 13 years and look brand new). Oak floors. White trim with the aforementioned gold walls. Maybe if boxerpups checks back in she can post the picture of my kitchen - one side of it anyway.

I actually would love to do a mediterranean tile backsplash with cobalt blue in it. I have cobalt blue in my Master Bath with gold glazed walls. White cabs. My LR/office has a striped sofa of periwinkle, light green and dark blue. The french chair opposite is white with wisteria in green and periwinkle. DR upholstered chairs are yellow, light green, pink, peach, etc. as are WT. So will a black and white kitchen fit in? I mean I have it now so I guess it's ok because it's a separate room full of cabs, but it certainly wouldn't be unusual. Now cobalt blue mediteranean tile would be more wow, but what counter do you use if your backsplash is wow?

Kitchen as of today. Cabs and floor will stay. Blanco anthracite sink and new faucet. Seeded glass in cab doors of pantry, new eat in kitchen furniture and chandelier and stools. Now all I need is a counter and matching backsplash!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

Since you want a bold backsplash, it may be easier to pick that out first and then find the countertop that complements it. Check these out!

Here is a link that might be useful: Mission West Tiles

I think that either choice will be lovely and each will invoke a very differing feeling. Following the Sweeby test and what others have said, your choice is about more than granite  itÂs about the atmosphere you want to create in the room and how you want to feel when you are in it. If this helps, I have had one version of your choices and am planning now to do the other. I did a partial remodel of the kitchen in my prior home. I kept the white cabinets, put in a hardwood floor, painted the walls a warm yellow gold and added absolutely gorgeous Juparana granite counters much like Desert Dream you describe  warm yellows, taupe, brown and cream, with lots of movement. The kitchen did not get much direct sun, but it FELT like sunshine every time I walked in the room - warm and homey. Now I am planning to remodel my current kitchen. But much as I loved the old one, I am going in a somewhat different direction. It will still be a white kitchen with creamier white cabinets, but with a very different feel. My top granite choice now is Black Cosmic, which I have also fallen in love with in the way I fell in love with my earlier choice. I am considering pairing it with a polished white Calcutta Gold marble subway backsplash. IÂm going for a cooler, more sophisticated look. I think Black Cosmic with black and white glass tiles would take you in a similar direction. I would say go find a quiet spot and give yourself some time to imagine yourself in the kitchen in either style, flesh out the details of what you would do in each and imagine how it would feel to be working and living in the two different atmospheres. One feeling will be truer to what you want in your world and your home now. Either will be beautiful! Good luck!!

Hi Willworkforroses,

Don't worry about taking a long time to choose.
Enjoy the process. I had white before so going dark was
a great change for me. Maybe go with the lighter color
since you currently have a darker color.

Good for you that you left the store with the annoying guy
trying to talk you out of granite. It is amazing in this
economy to have people like that. He was a fool.

Here is your kitchen. Happy to help you post anytime.

Willworkforroses kitchen
{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

And here are some ideas about tile backsplashes.
Can't help you on the french door refrig as this was my
DH's complaint too. similar kitchens similar lives.
Oh I hope this does not make the choice harder.
Just adding ideas to the pool.
~boxerpups

Decorpad
{{!gwi}}

Decorpad
{{!gwi}}

Bluetile

Nestegg
{{!gwi}}

penchar

Decorpad
{{!gwi}}

Susanjablonm
{{!gwi}}

Jane Fonda's kitchen

SouthernLivingmag

Design Shrine

{{!gwi}}

Retro

{{!gwi}}

Bungalo Bliss
{{!gwi}}

Kitcheninabag

Tilefactory

I think you should step away from those slabs and fall in love with a tile. Since you are not a neutral person, I think you would enjoy a beautiful tile and you seem to be happy with either/or for the counters. Last kitchen, I let the tile drive the whole room and I loved it. Won a prize with that kitchen.

Flash forward to this kitchen...chose the counter first and now I cannot find a tile I love to go with it. Really wish I had done things in the "right" order...for me.

And hey, if you love blue, I say Go For It! Find what you love and the right slabs will almost pick themselves. :-)

When we did our remodel I would look through magazines and pull pictures of kitchens when I saw something in each one I liked. . After a while I was able to see a pattern of what I really loved. What a help that was for me.

I think Boxerpups should get a prize!!

I agree--what you really love is the tile. It'll look great with your cabinets, et al. So find the exact tile you want for the backsplash, and take that down to the granite yard to find what you think goes well with it. Blue granites are generally very expensive, but there are all kinds of options that will look great with the Medit. blue. I'm not partial to black with it, though as Boxerpups shows, it can work. There are some others that have some blue tones in with grays or beiges which might work. The beige part would tie into the gold walls. Or go for a gold color, for the same reason.

The backsplash shows more than the counter, anyway, so start with what you love.

Boxerpups--we have the same motivation: fear that our DH will get tired of our indecision and purchase something!

I love this thread--it feels like home to me

PS, I meant Boxerpups should get a prize for the deepest library of inspiration pics and the most shared! :-)

Well I got all excited that I got one link to work to post a pic. But I can't figure out how to post more than one at a time the way boxerpups does. I think you guys are right about the tiles. I've been trying to look at the whole picture while at the granite yard. If I got this granite I could do these kinds of tiles and how that would look. That's how I narrowed it down to these two, although very different granites. I wish the tile guy wasn't such a jerk, because he had some really nice tiles that I had not seen before. Some you bought with the corners already clipped to insert small squares. Does anyone know who carries those?He talked over us the whole time and wouldn't let us even have a conversation to discuss the tiles. Then he wanted to show us a slide show of different photos. The whole time his wife was in the back gossiping with some other lady and his daughter was on the computer in the showroom.

anyway, this picture shows the pantry cabs that we took out the mullions and put in seeded glass. It also shows part of the great room beyond.

{{!gwi}}This is my periwinkle blue living room:

Congratulations on the posting!! Now...do you have pictures of the granite?

So, about the tile store. Don't let the obnoxiotude stop you from going back, at least to find out the makers of the things you like so you can see who else has them. But if they have what you want, it might even be worth your while holding your nose and getting them there. Why should you miss out just because they're rude? That's the flip side to why should you give them business if they're rude.

If you don't want another lecture (at least the guy is excited enough about his wares that he wants to "educate" you!), get your strongmindedest, pushiest friend to go with you and play designer. Let her engage the guy while you look, interrupt him to ask your questions, etc., so that you can shop in peace.

Hi Boxerpups,
I just had to tell you that I could not stop laughing after reading your post to Willworkforroses. I guess I needed a good laugh after looking for the perfect granite all week. Had my husband out early this morning and then again after work today since this particular granite place didn't close until 7:30PM. I think I am driving him crazy. Seriously, I could not stop laughing. Could I ever relate. The sandwich line was precious. Thanks for the stress relief. You never did mention what granite you did choose and ended up loving...

Pllog,
I love that advice. I would love to be the obnoxious
overbearing decorator lady. I would play that role so
well. (I am not a decorator just good at being
overbearing. : ) my kids tell me anyway.)
~boxerpups

Nursetammi,
Oh, I am so glad I made you laugh. Humor is so hard to
always get on GW. But I am glad you could relate.
If you are in need for laughs here is another I am
told is funny. And it is about granite. Have a super day,
thanks for the compliment.
~boxerpups

Here is a link that might be useful: My new Granite is stressing me out

What a bunch of wonderful ideas on this post. I think Amysrq had it right, to fall in love with a tile first. You could pick up the colors from your home in the tile and then find the granite that fits.
I could so relate to your dilema and to Boxerpups recall of her choice. My experience was the same with the back and forth of which one and why. My family, too, in the end was saying "whatever!" And some days, I would say, "I think I will do_____" and they would say "Yea, today!"
Funny, I did end up choosing by following what I love. It was marble, but even though I kind of knew marble was not quite right for this house, I followed that lead and ended up discovering another stone went well with the marble. I decided that I could do the marble on the backsplash with the other stone. Suddenly, all of my criteria (color, practicality, etc..)came together and I was satisfied with my decision. So I started with "Oh I love that or I would really WANT that in MY kitchen" and that led me to my choice.
But I have to say, I am not finished either and even as I was looking at the pictures posted by Boxerpups (Love all of the pictures and they are so helpful when bunched together) When I saw a white countertop, I said outloud, did I choose right? My DH overheard said "Turn that computer OFF!"

fleur 222 - are you doing marble tiles or subways, or large pieces. At the granite yard we both went straight for a piece of "granite" - but when I saw the name Vermont White I realized it was marble, no matter what they were telling me. Loved the look, but I think I would get antsy about it etching. Plus I have a black sink which might seem abrupt in the middle of beautiful waves of grey veining. I think it's also called Danbury marble.

I have pictures of slabs of desert dream and cosmic black which I will try to post.
Crazykitchenlady - do you have pics of your kitchen with these granites?

While this is not the one I looked at, it's one off the web, but it shows the colors.
{{!gwi}}

This is a slab of cosmic black from the web, not the one I looked at it. The one I saw had more white.

{{!gwi}}

Pllog,
I just realized you said "Boxerpups" should get a prize.
Duh thats me.
Me? , You mean Me ? , Moi, Myself...
I am so flattered...
I am such a visual person I have to see it to understand
it. I am so thankful people like the pics and they are
not annoyed by them. Although it does make me second guess
on every little choice I make. I can totally relate to
Fleur222.

Fleur22 my DH says...
"Are you on the PC again? We are not changing the kitchen!"

Okay WWforRoses,
I enlarged them a little and seeing these pics of yours
there is no doubt you need to focus on your dream
backsplash of tile and then worry about a counter to go
with it later. I love your house. Gorgeous. You have
a natural sense of color and style. Find the tiles
you love and shove that salescreep away.
~boxerpups

{{!gwi}}

Love the blue
{{!gwi}}

I think I could find tiles for either slab. I visualize black and white linear glass tiles like these: http://www.mglasstile.com/catalog/item/1684855/1117897.htm
or
http://www.cooltiles.com/mgtses01.html

or
http://www.mglasstile.com/catalog/item/641655/2482997.htm

Desert Dream might be:
http://www.travisbuildingsupplies.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=ICONYXWHRP

HELP Boxerpups! I can't post more than one picture.

Okay I'm here to help.
Every so often I get distracted visiting kitchen sites. : )
But I am back.

I am not sure if these were the ones you wanted. I went
to the links but could not find the exact name. If this
is not it, just tell me the name of the tile.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Sorry I like this one so added to the mix.
{{!gwi}}

Thanks! I think the 2nd one is a different one but that's OK. I love the last one you added too. I just love and blue and white kitchen that looks so crisp. And there's the dilemma - blue and white (but I don't know what granite would go with that, can't afford blue granite), black and white (which would be easy to pull off I think), or the beautiful mixture of yellows and taupes with a glazed or crackled field tile and an architectural tile liner to add interest?

Are you sure you can't afford Blue Pearl?
This is just a few hundred more than UbaTuba or Verde
Butterfly. And it is neutral enough that if you painted
the cabs gray, yellow, green, blue, cream... the granite
would still work.

Yes I could afford blue pearl,but not azul or one that is all blue and higher end priced. We like movement in the granite and I have a sample of blue pearl and artic pearl that I've been looking at. I wondered if they showed dust and streaks like the other black granites? I wasn't sure they had enough going on in them.

boxer kills me with all those fabulous pics. I try and post/research but get so sidetracked staring at and following all the pics/links.

I'm just not feeling the dark granite for your space. From your pics it seems almost like a Mid Century kind of home... BEAUTIFUL! I think your stonework on your fireplace is just gorgeous. I would not paint it. However, with all the angular lines of the walls/ceilings/stonework; I'm somewhat bothered by the wood walls. I love wood, covet your wood floors; but I do think your home would be so much more "refreshed" without the wood walls. I also think it would make the fireplace really POP. I'd either take the wood off and skim coat/paint, or I know I've seen episodes on some home remodeling show where they used some product to fill in the cracks and then skim coated/painted, OR... last resort... pull the wood off and re-sheetrock and paint. I'd love a soft gray color against that stone.... a warm light gray.

ANyway... to countertops. Are you kitchen floors the same wood? Sorry if I missed that somewhere. I think I'd choose a light almost white gr
anite for the kitchen. Your cabs are going to be a beautiful rich color. If the floors are also wood, I'd love the soft look of a whiteish granite. HOw about something like Andromeda White? Alku05 has it in her gorgeous kitchen. I hope it's OK I'm embedding her pic:

Another one could be Kashmir White. It has a little bit of brown in it:

Let me know likes/dislikes and we can go from there. There are a million great backsplash choices to tie this all in!

remodelfla - lol! I think you looked at boxerpups photos and thought one of them was mine. My kitchen has the white cabs and black countertop so I don't think the white granites will go with that.

Will work for roses, I have not chosen my tiles yet, but have seen marble that would blend well with my white cabinets and grey countertop. I originally thought that I would use blues and greens in a backsplash (beach glass inspired), but then figured I could add some to a marble tile. I will not do a slab backsplash. I also love the subway tile in a blue color. Blue is my favorite and I just love some of the kitchens with the blue backsplashes that boxerpups posted previously. I am counting on the options working out, because I am working on strict time line, so I have already committed to the white/grey.
Looking at the pictures of your home, I imagined you would have chosen different tiles. The reason I say that is because you have these fresh blues, yellows, and even red blended together so well. The colors remind me kind of a French country look, (if you don't mind my labeling...maybe it is just how I think of it) And your home has an artistic colorful flair. I am going to post a couple of tile web sites that had me dreaming. I think many tiles will go with many different granites and white cabinets, but when you find tiles you love, it will direct you to a granite that works.

http://www.walkerzanger.com/catalog/ecatalog.php

http://www.annsacks.com/home.html

http://www.akdo.com/category_collection.asp

OH crud! I got you confused with skibbs! What an idiot I am! So sorry!!!!!

LOL - that would be the first time someone thought of my home as MCM. Fleur is right on target with french country.

Fleur - that backsplash was put in by us as diy when we built the house 13 years ago. I clearly had never seen a decorating forum before, I don't know that I was even on the internet 13 years ago! So it's pretty simple with inexpensive tile from Lowes. I remember that the black tumbled marble inserts were really expensive then and that's why there's so few of them. Alot of things i would have done differently had I been able to research online first.

I meant the tiles you posted as probable matches for the 2 different slabs. They are great and would match the slabs. What I expected was that the tile you would LOVE would be more colorful. And certainly the ones you have work now. In fact, your current kitchen and some other "before" kitchens would be fine with me! My recently demolished kitchen was literally falling apart. I joked with my DH that one of the things I wanted to keep with my new kitchen was the broken sink drain. The top was broken so the strainer had to be placed just so or the sink would fill up with water. (might have sounded like a little fix, but it was broken inside and so were a lot of other things in the kitchen.) Maybe I should start a thread on the worst looking /working kitchens before remodel!