Thank you so much for your help!! Mimi 2006...The pictures are just what I needed. I love the fenland. I also love that you have it with the TR. It looks like they contrast beautifully. I'm off to the paint store. Based on some of the posts I've read there seems to be some questioning if SW can mix TR appropriately. I quess I will have to double check when I'm in there the difference between TR and Camelback. I really don't want to make the 40min drive to my local Duron dealer. Once again thank you for your help!

If the living room is so open to the gray-painted den -- then perhaps consider painting the living room in the same tone -- and then add your wonderful warm oldbronze/gilt/gold main accessories (lamps, photo frames) throughout the whole space. Then add cooler-toned green accessories (like cushions/throws or florals) for cooler months -- and red toned ones for the cool months.

With that beautiful acacia floor with its distinctive grain I too would vote for something without too bold a competing pattern. A classic soapstone, or a “mist” (Virginia, Silver etc) honed granite or a soft white marble with gray - any of those would look beautiful. I suspect as geologists that you both really “see” stones for what they are as opposed to the general public’s perception of counters as being simply a field of color and pattern. But a deeper knowledge or appreciation of the material itself is not your friend when getting everything to pair well. Ironically. I don’t find Houzz easy to search, but you might see what you can locate pictures of kitchens with acacia floors as your starting point. I would focus on the choices of counters used first, then cabinet color, and finally backsplash. Re the marrying cool tones to warm ones there shades that are neutral but a paint color still will not tie everything together. You can used the same stone for the counter and backsplash though, which eliminates one matching conundrum. Final thought, don’t use quartz - you are geologists - you of all folk should have real stone.

SW 7042