Costa Esmeralda for me, it's a soft green that will go well with the antique with just the right amount of pizzazz.

Pietra del Cardosa is a beauty, but it has lots of maintenance issues. We almost did it for our island (DH was in love) until I came home and researched it here. Decided against it. I'd do soapstone before PdC.

I strongly considered a cheaper version of CE for a while, but couldn't commit to that much permanent color. Maybe if I could have afforded the real CE I might have done it.

My favorite granite is Bianco Antico. Not knowing exactly what color your cabs are, that or something in the same color family might work also. Every slab is different though so go slab hunting and see what you keep coming back to as a favorite.

With small children, don't count out quartz if you're looking at lighter colors. While I love the look of granite, the horror stories of stains pushed me towards a light quartz and I can't tell you how many times I've been glad I did. No worries about the ketchup, jam, juice, coffee, wine drop that escapes cleanup for a few hours. Good luck!!

Research all the maintence and durabilty of soapstone vs granite. After reading this forum for two years, even honed granite has issues. My sealed granite beads and then wipes up! A no brainer.
For my vote, I say the colonial. I did not shop long enough for my granaite and came to the forum at the backsplash phase, but that is the one I would have chosen for my white cabinets. I love the costa esmeralda too, but you do have to be a "green" person to commit to it.

I love colonial cream with the white cabs. Have you seen the kitchen that was recently released with yellow river granite? It sticks in my mind because it was really beautiful. I'll link it below. I just did Brookhaven cabs in antique white. I used White Alaska delicatus granite. We just moved in so I haven't done finished photos,but here's a link to my gallery...One word of caution. Check the antique white in your space with your lighting...I think a whiter granite (bianco antico or delicatus) may make the shade of the cabinets look different than a more yellowy granite.

{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Fromthesouth's beautiful kitchen

Yes!! Briana's granite is exactly what I was talking about with stones in the same color family as BA. I just love her kitchen so.

Could you post photos of the colonial cream or the other contenders with your cabinet door?

Other random thoughts: Slush did Moon Night Quartz and it was great.

I saw Costa Esmerelda in 3-4 different stone yards and each sample was very different. One was almost a gray, barely green at all. Another was a pale green and another a dark green. I saw a "new costa" that was basically a Lime.

I really liked Verde San Francisco but the yard that had it was out of stock. I also really liked Midnight Ocean and Verde Candeis, which had some similar features. Any of those three are dark enough that I can't imagine staining to be an issue.

This is the Midnight Ocean:

For the link below, scroll down to see Slush's "nearly done" photos.

Here is a link that might be useful: Slush's Moon Night Quartzite

Wow! Thank you all for your fabulous input! I will post my kitchen cabinets and a few slabs when I get organized.

I do love the Costa Esmeralda but you are committing to a color, I agree.

briannadarnell- your cabinets with the delicatus look beautiful! Thank you for including the pictures (actually that includes everyone else!!). Are you saying that a creamy granite (colonical gold or cream) may make my cabinets look more yellowy while the white granite may make them look more whiter? Do you know if that kitchen before yours has antique white cabinets or white cabinets?

ellendi- basicaly, you are saying that honed white or cream granite is more prone to staining?

Went to the granite yard today and saw Cosa Rosa which is similar to costa esmeralda but more softer grey with pink hues and much cheaper. Also saw amazon black honed which looks grey. I do also love the look of a grey countertop (why I like pietra! and even soapstone) with my cabinets.

i will post pics.

I have Absolute Cream graniite though cabinets are oak but love the granite and fantasize having been able to get new cabinets in a cream color. Some slabs were very gold other more cream with beautiful quartz pieces, black and lots mica bling. There is even some copper pieces here and there and almost 3 dimensional.

This post was edited by tinker1121 on Wed, Sep 10, 14 at 20:32

Tinker1121, love your granite counters!

thanks @tinker1121 whatâÂÂs the exact color of your granite? looks so nice?

Thank you. I am really glad I found it.

The granite name is Absolute Cream. I really have not seen it mentioned much here. Those large pieces of greenish gray quartz are sort of transparent and there are flecks and sparkle randomly found.

The background is cream and there is some slight trace of brown, nice amount of black but not overpowering, the greenish gray quartz, some coppery flecks and trace of a cherry stain color. I saw slabs that were a lot more yellow and I had them move the slabs and those behind were a creamery background, more cool than warm.

Sorry I noticed this was an older post, but hope this helps.

This post was edited by tinker1121 on Wed, Sep 10, 14 at 20:43

love your granite!