I agree that induction cooktops can be amazingly black. There are a few non-black ones on the market, but it's better to choose the one that does what you want than just for looks. I struggled with the same issue for quite some time and finally came to the conclusion that it's a cooktop and it's best just to let it be a cooktop. I panelled everything that would stand still for it. It's not like I'm one of the "appliances should look like appliances" brigade. Technology that runs induction from underneath stone isn't ready for residential kitchens and full temperature cooking. I didn't want the mirrory cooktop or the orange-y one, and the offerings in white just about dried up when I was looking. I ended up getting half gas, which is stainless with a black grate, and half induction stainless rim with black glass, so it looks fine.

In your case, I'd just accept that it's going to be a blob. It's functional, so beyond designation of style. The white whites might be too stark and SciFi looking for your taste, but any mottled color counter will soften the look and keep the edginess at bay. Something like the Caesarstone Shaded White 9601 would be warm and neutral, and while it reads white, it has so much color in it that it should help neutralize the blob of the cooktop.

Keep in mind that white and black are really the same color--that is, they reflect all light. It's just that white reflects a lot more of it. Having some in between tones will help join the two up.

Fascinating response - definitely had not considered mottling as softening the look, at least I just figured a deeper color might be better.

Like a soft grey? would that read more gentle and not make the cooktop pop out like a big huge black shiny 30" rectangle?

In my small kitchen, I love that the induction top helps preserve a little more counter space.

Looking forward to installing a sous-stone cooktop in the next few years!!!

Sure, a soft gray, like pebble, would look fine with the cooktop, and would be less stark and edgy than a pure white. You'd just have to choose very carefully to make it work with the floor and cabinets. Both the cherry and the cork are very warm colors. That is, they have a lot of red undertones. Both Pebble and Rosemary look like they trend that way, but I'm not familiar enough with them IRL to say for sure. Most grays tend to be on the blue side, which could look really good and contrasty, but it could also look mismatched and sad if it were the wrong shade.

The other problem here is contrast. Natural cherry is supposed to darken over time. There's a good texture contrast with the eco-cork, so they won't totally run together, but I don't think another medium tone is going to look good. The major surfaces in a kitchen are floors and counters (horizontal), cabinets and walls (vertical), plus interruptions of appliances, sinks and other fixtures. People have a tendency to prefer medium toned colors if asked to just choose one. If most of your major surfaces have them, however, and the hue changes are subtle (which they are in the slew of neutrals that includes gray counters), then it all starts to look very blah, and muddy (muddy being what happens at the end of the fingerpainting when you can't tell the blue, yellow and red apart anymore).

The white whites and raven are at the extreme points on the contrast scale, and you'll get the best contrast with the white. In fact, that's where we started with the induction contrasting with the counters. Especially in a small room, white is a better option than dark. It reflects more light and makes the room look more open and airy than closed and dim.

Maybe your best bet would be to get one of the whites for the counter and the Electrolux white induction cooktop? I worry about that some because matching whites is hard, and if you get a lot of direct sun (UV) on your counters, they will probably yellow somewhat over many years (it's the resin binder that does that). Viking has a white one with a stainless frame. It's kind of weird looking. The stainless would separate the two whites and make any color difference less noticeable.

One reason the mottled colors soften the look is that they bring non-linear shapes (spots) into the mix. Another reason is that the spots have varied colors making the whole surface less aggressively one thing.

Hm... Just found a different chart, where Caesarstone lists colors in a group called "soft gray". I had thought that you meant that in general. I'm too tired to rewrite this. So, yes, Arctic Salt is dramatic and would work, and Cinder, if it's the right color IRL, should do what you want if you like the less spotty look. I think Haze is too warm, leading to the lack of contrast problem, but that's also something to check with real life samples, in sunlight if possible.

Sorry for rambling. I hope the explanation is helpful.

Thanks for the photo, Sally. It does really help! That is a soft look.

plllog - this is awesome. And disturbing. It makes perfect sense that too many neutrals will read as mucky fingerpaint (a phenomenon I am intimately familiar with, by the way!!) Definitely do not want a blah kitchen.

My first thought is to switch it up and do with white cabinets and the a grey countertop like Pebble Rosemary or Cinder.

Then I think of my very first original plan which was the Eco By Cosentino "Polar Cap." With cherry and RocaEco Cork.

Still really bothering me trying to 'see' what the big dark rectangle induction cooktop will look like. I already purchased it -- Bosch, which is black black black. Ack ack ack!

Baltra, the big black rectangle is not nearly so noticeable when the angle you are looking at it is not straight on.

Here's a (poor) pic of what I mean. This is a 36" Miele. The granite is cream with black, caramel and grey crystals in it.

Oh!
Fabulous and heartening!!
Hopefully to similar effect in my galley where the cooktop will be on the peninsula.

Thanks marcydc.

p111og (and others) -

What do you think of Cambria's Torquay? Would this have the effect of breaking things up enough, still be white but not too stark?

Torquay too formal for the cork floor?? I love this in isolation. love the 'marble' look.

Polar Cap and Luna too grey?

White diamond is shiny . . .

--> This following from the "Countertop color with induction cooktop - dark or light?" discussion. And the ongoing discussions about how to pick a grade of cherry.

Unstained cherry cabinets, EcoCork in Roca. Galley kitchen. Induction cooktop on peninsula side.

More fun to think about first thing in the morning - so many lovely options somehow feel like fun instead of a burden (*absurd* that this should be a burden at all, but I want a functional kitchen. Now!) with my first cup of coffee.

Hope you all are enjoying your first cup, too!
BT

Here is a link that might be useful: This is VERY similar to my layout, cept cooktop will be on peninsula

I'm responding to my own post with the BIG FAT HOPE that someone has a strong opinion about the Torquay or other shades of white countertop.

On the one hand, I love leela4's soapstone, but I can't get soapstone & havent found a quartzite that has a close enough feel.

And, white would keep the kitchen feeling open. Loving the marble look of Torquay.

Formality of Torquay + cork?

Clearly I am obsessing . . .

I went over to Cambria's website to look at the Torquay again and noticed the Windermere on the bottom. It would read light without looking like actual white. I think that would bridge your more warm/orange tones for the cabs and floor with the counters. The Torquay may be a bit too silver gray to work with your other choices.
I also like the Minera because the background seems to be a warmer gray. It would blend with the black induction very well without going black for the counters.