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Help deciding on countertops-new to forum

11 years ago

Hello! I have been reading up on lots of threads about your renovations over the past six weeks, and I have learned a lot! I hope I can get some good advice about countertops.

We are going to do a remodel and expansion on our small 1951 rambler. We are going to add a dining room off the back of our kitchen, about 13 by 12 and completely open up our kitchen to the living areas. The kitchen is basically a galley style and is about 12 by 9. I have always loved black and white marble checkered floors on a diamond and will put them in the kitchen and dining room. We are pretty sure we are going with Shiloh cabinets, inlay, with the Tessa door, painted white. We have a panel ready fridge, have decided on the Aga Legacy 36 in vintage white and a white farmer's sink. The backsplash will be Merola Tile Lantern 12-1/2 in. x 12-1/2 in. White Porcelain Mesh-Mounted Mosaic Tile from home depot. We are using black grout for the backsplash and the floors. The walls, what there is, will be a deep orange color.

So what do we do for the countertops? We were thinking white fantasy granite. It looks like marble, without the staining. Of course, I am not so worried about staining...on the other hand, we are trying to keep cost down as much as possible. We don't want the countertops to compete too much with the floors. I don't really want black because I don't want it to be so stark. We do like creamy granites, my thought it that it would warm up the kitchen. On the other hand, we just LOVED the White Fantasy.

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts!!! Thank you!

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Comments (11)

suzanne_sl
11 years ago
Here's my best attempt the items you're thinking about, although I couldn't find a "Tessa" door at Shiloh. I also took a guess at which white you might like. The sink is a guess too, but it will do the job for thinking about color.

{{!gwi}}

[Traditional Entry design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-entryway-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_741~s_2107) by Atlanta Interior Designer Christy Dillard Kratzer

White Fantasy seems like a good choice:

I was thinking about something on the orangey side, but I don't think so:
Juparana Columba Gold
{{!gwi}}

Juparana Florence
lavender_lass
11 years ago
I wonder if the white fantasy will look good with the grid pattern of black grout/white tile? Would it be better to have white grout on the backsplash with the white fantasy granite? Do you have any inspiration pictures...or pictures of the backsplash?

What are you planning to use for the dining room table and chairs? A wood table would be very different than a marble table...or glass and steel. Knowing what you want to do in the dining room may help you decide what to do with your countertop :)
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kitchen_maman
Original Author
11 years ago
Suzannesl, wow! Thanks! I think on the website, the door is just called "square flat". The wall color is going to be SW "earthen jug". I think I like polar white for the door. I think the artic white is too stark, but will have to see it in person.

Lavender_lass, great questions! I do have some pictures. I will see if I can get them posted. I have a picture of what my dining room will look like too. Our dining room set is dark cheery wood. It is a four leg federal style with Chipendale chairs. I will also try to post pictures of the lighting. We also have a matching sideboard and plan to have sconces on the wall.

I will practice posting pictures!
Thank you
PRO
Granite City Services
11 years ago
I own a countertop shop and this is the advice I always give my clients: keep looking until you find the look you want. as long as you stay away from marble or limestone any natural stone or quartz is going to outlast anyone in your household.

we often do jobs where the customer puts a more dramatic color on an island and something more mundane on the perimeters.

good luck with your project and try to be as nice to the countertop guy (at the end of the project) and you are to the guy that starts everything.
kitchen_maman
Original Author
11 years ago
This is what the general idea for the dining room. Our architect did a great job recreating it. We will have two chandeliers hanging over the table. I am thinking about this Feiss "Maison de Ville" with matching sconce. I was also thinking about a cone shaped chandelier from overstock. I think I want to use this over my sink though...decisions, decisions!!! okay, I can only load one picture from my computer at a time...sorry.
kitchen_maman
Original Author
11 years ago
this is the chandelier...
kitchen_maman
Original Author
11 years ago
matching sconce...
kitchen_maman
Original Author
11 years ago
this is the inspiration for the black grout. I know it is a bold choice, but I really liked this look with the inset cabinets and the black hardware!
kitchen_maman
Original Author
11 years ago
finally, this is the light I was thinking about over the sink. Or possibly two over the dining room table... We are also building in a pantry. We currently have the stairs to the basement through our kitchen. We are going to reverse them and make them center to the house. So we are using that space for the pantry. I am going to use an old dutch door or an old glass door that looks a lot like the door in the black grout inspiration kitchen. I just hope the look all comes together!
kamkar2006
11 years ago
I really like the white fantasy and I love all the lighting choices! Where are the lights from?
kitchen_maman
Original Author
11 years ago
Kamkar2006, the cone light is from overstock. The Feiss I found at Furgeson.com! Thank you!

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