I'm using the Abstrakt white glossy cabinets on one wall of my kitchen, and have decided to go with a walnut counter there similar to this:

I have a large number of inspiration pictures of contemporary kitchens and most of them tend to have fairly sedate counters in white marble or quartz, stainless steel, or a dark material like soapstone or black granite. Could be it's just a selection bias. Have you tried looking on Houzz? Here are a couple of random pictures with light but not white cabinets:

[Contemporary Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Cincinnati Kitchen And Bath Formica Group

[Contemporary Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Chicago Architect Powell/Kleinschmidt, Inc.

I thought I had pictures of my ILs kitchen, but I have not seen them in a while. They have a very contemporary home and used Palladio granite.

I think as long as you use a straight edge it will look contemporary.

I think your other elements and the treatment of the counters can say 'contemporary' while using granite with lots of movement.

The one that comes to mind is Pharoah's kitchen. Contemporary with patterned granite; he did floor returns at the sides of his island which provides a crisp, contemporary look. Note how he matched the pattern of the granite from the top to the sides. Very cool.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pharoah's kitchen in the FKB

I was totally going to say what sofla did! I wanted a quartz and more modern kitchen and my DH wanted totally traditional. We compromised with a transitional style with both elements. He got the granite he wanted and I asked for all straight edges. It definitely doesn't look traditional at all.

I have maple cabinets with slab doors, a gray/tan-gold patterned granite and gray tile floors...I would say it definitely reads contemporary. If you love the granite..go for it!

I really think that people get too hung up on these constructs around "modern" and "transitional" and it gets too confining.

The better question is - do you have any texture/pattern in your room now? It doesn't sound like you have much - solid white cabinets, very low contrast stone floors. So adding some texture in the counters is a good way to get the eye moving, or things will feel flat. Even in modern design, you need that.

Well, I guess I'm the lone dissenter. If your really want the look everything else is designed around I would say go with something with less movement.

I love the heavily patterned granites in slab form. I would love to see them hung on a wall. But sometimes I don't love them so much when they are cut into counter form. Sometimes I love them even less when there are things all over them that tend to be on kitchen counter tops.

I guess I would ask myself, do I or my husband or kids tend to leave things on the counters or is everything put away all the time? If away all the time it might be worth the risk. Otherwise I would stick with less movement.

If you're looking a Abstrakt, that's beyond contemporary and quite Danish modern. But if you think they look good together, you're the one that has to live with it. Have as much movement as you see fit. Just remember if you ever sell the place, the more middle of the road, the broader the appeal. And if you want others to ooh and aah (let's be honest, who doesn't want to be the envy of all their friends?), consider middle of the road.

We just bought a modern style home that has a LOT of traditional finishes: light fixtures, 4 panel doors, huge fancy crown and base moldings, dark natural stone floorings, etc. It worked for them, but we're replacing everything with truly modern stuff. Not to follow style rules, but because it's our house, and that's what we want.

I say it's your house, if you love it, do it!

David

Thank you all, yes Danish modern is what I have so I was happy to see that comment about my doors. Loved to see Pharoah kitchen thanks for the link chicagoans. Mic yes, I agree and with the clutter factor and it's a good point. My counters are clear with exception to my big tools, my kitchen aid mixer and my cuisinart and thats pretty much it. Youngdeb I have several colorful sculpted rugs, I don't know if that's the term I'm looking for, anyway they are contemporary area rugs and are not real near the kitchen, so that brings a good point about pattern. Thanks for all the help everyone, thank you for all your links, photos and feedback.

Our taste is more contemporary or transitional rather than ultra modern. For example natural wood cabinets with simple lines rather than high gloss lacquer. We find a stone with strong movement works fine with it:

Our perimeter counters have some appliances that are out all the time, but I find that plenty of the stone shows especially with the island and because we used it for the backsplash.

I think you need to go with what speaks to you. But I would try to limit pattern/movement elsewhere (backsplash, wallpaper, overly trendy/modern/colorful pendant lighting, etc.) and limit it to the countertop. I think that's what makes it work in Pharoah's kitchen, and in those pictured above.

Oh -- I also meant to add that I think this will work best with an unusual stone. If you take one of the standard 8-10 stones that are in every builder kitchen, it might look builder-y or middle-of-the road simply by default.

I re-read my post and it sounds rather snippy, which was not my intent. When I said "you have to live with it", I meant, "do what YOU want, don't listen to the critics," with just a nod to resale concerns.

David

Jakabedy yes clean and simple in the rest of the space, I agree about things looking standard and builder-y but I do love the look of stone no matter what it is. But I want to have that wow!

Now I am thinking which one will be easier to find a BS to go with it! If the counter is the star of the show the BS should not scream look at me too. It's going to be hard to strike the balance

David thanks for the repost, I read between the lines b4 but thanks again.

I think what makes the strong movement granite work in pharaoh's kitchen is the use of squares. There are contrasting small squares in the floor. The squares outline the patterned pieces under the island and the granite itself is very clean cut on the sides and top of the island. The square repeats itself in the upper clear glass of the cabinet. To my eye the squares bound the movement and confine it to the space it is in. It really works well together.

We dealt with the backsplash by using the same stone for the counter and the backsplash.

Cloud your right, I think that is the best solution, and some granites need to be vertical to be truly appreciated. I am going to ask how much but I think it will be a no go. Both stones I like are 100. Sf. I looked all day yesterday online trying to find something that works, now I am leaning back to the cosmic cause I could just go with a clear glass and stainless mix and it will look great, the desert dream has a lot of black and cream but then gets this rust color pulled thru it in some areas, I don't think the clear and stainless will work. I will try and post some pictures, I'm not very good at it.