Have you taken your samples to a granite yard? That's the only way to be sure.

Take your cab samples to the granite yard and hold them up. I like Alaska White and think it would look good with your cabs, not can't be sure until they are seen together. Each slab is different also.

What is the name of your off white cabinet color? It looks glazed, is it?

I agree with cpartist and breezygirl. Bring the door.

I had one granite in my mind until I got to the granite
yard. And then I saw it in person and thought "What was I
thinking, that looks terrible." However that was fine as
suddenly I began to see all the other options. Like candy,
candy and more candy. My DH and I could not get through
all the granite. We became excited like kids at
Christmas. Overwhelmed by the choices.

Keep the list that you have of the granite types and go see
them in person with your door. Take a giant D&D coffee with
you along with a good camera, flashlights, your cabinet
door, favorite paint colors, a note book to scribble away
or a cell phone to text. Click away until you find your
dream. Take copious notes on each stone, number, stock on
the side of the slab, and think about what you want in your
space. If you see one you love HOLD IT, PHOTOGRAPH every
detail so someone else does not buy it out from under you.
yes, Sadly this has happened to others on GW

Meanwhile here are some images of some of the stones
you listed. Keep in mind the monitor changes colors,
the lighting in each space is different and each rock
is like a diamond or snow flake. Unique, God made and
beautiful. You will find the right one. Have fun in the
process. It is going to be fantastic!

~boxerpups

Coffee Brown
Giallo Ornamental
Alaska White (This looks similar to Bianco)
Golden Aurora
Juparana Austrailia

Coffee Brown Granite by Granite-granite

Coffee Granite by Dimensional Stone
I know your wood is darker, I wanted you to see the same
color granite with different wood really changes the
effects. Still beautiful just different.

Giallo Ornamental

Juparana Wave from Houston Granite and flooring

Juparana by Dimensional Stone (this is not Juparana Australia but is similar)

Bianco Anitco (similar to Alaska white)

Aurora Granite

Bianco Romano (Also similar to Alaska White)
{{gwi:1575413}}

Thanks to cpartist, breezygirl, geraniumeister and boxerpups for all of the insight. I actually went to three granite yards last friday with my cabinets samples. I am second guessing my idea of having dark perimeter cabinets with the creamy white island. Geraniumeister-yes it glazed with a caramel glaze. I used an Ace Hardware Paint Color but the paint is Sherwin Williams. It is called Sweet Cream. It seems like everyone has light perimeter cabinets and a dark island and it is easier to find complimentary granite with that combination because you can do a darker granite on the perimeter and a lighter granite on the island. I am thinking of doing all cabinets in the English Oak Sample above. What do you think?

I think Giallo Ornamental would look nice with the English Oak the darker color cabinet. It is a classic granite that is easy on the eye and conservative if your that type.

I hear you on the cab color combo. I've always planned white cabs, but am now thinking about making the island dark and leaving perimeter white. I think the island in my layout will get a lot of abuse from stoolusers and kids so maybe a darker, more forgiving finish on the island would be better for me. I don't have to decide yet, fortunately. You must make your decision sooner!

Do you want to use two granites as well as two cab colors? For me, I find it hard to see two granites that go well together both for the color and the pattern. I've tossed it around in my head for a while. I think if I do two different countertops, one will be granite and one will be something else. Quartz maybe? Less busy.

I'll be visiting granite yards over the holidays while I'm off work (school biz). Are any of these considered "group 1" granite? My budget is bursting at the seams and I am hoping to find granite for a do-able price. I appreciate the tips for visiting granite yards as well. These are all great choices!

Kerrys,
You might want to post a new thread asking GW granite
places they recommend in your area. Then find out who
is reasonable in price. There are some stones that are
cheaper than others because of where they are located.
Virginia Jet Mist is excavated from Virginia. While
Calcutta marble is in Italy or Ubatuba from the South
of Brazil. Blue pearl is often from Finland.

If you live in a larger metro area you might be able to
find better choices on granite. The granite is shipped
moved from its quarry by ship, truck and then to your
local granite yard. This means there is cost involved for
the stones that are more rare. There is an abundance of
Ubatuba, Verde Peacock, Deer Brown, Santa Cecilia,
Giallo... and because of this you can find them cheaper
than a more exotic granite like Typhoon Bordeaux, Rain
forrest or Copper Canyon. But this does not mean you might
not find a good deal. Another idea is remnants. Smaller
peices cut up in your kitchen. If you have 40sq
feet of counter you might be able to do this. Or an
island with a different kind of granite.

The focus should be on installation. A good installer will
help you find a stone you can afford and that will look
stunning once created into a counter. Anyway I am getting
off topic of Sharkdiver. Good luck on your granite hunt
this school vacation.
~boxer

A white island... Looks kinda pretty.

Hi Sharkdiver,
The possibilities are endless. What do you love? What
is your favorite color group? Warms, Cools, blues, reds,
greens...? Right now you have some excellent choices.
English Oak and possibly the Sweet cream. You are fortunate
as these go with so many different granites.

Breezygirl has a great point on matching two granite
types, although it can be done beautifully. I too, have
seen more dark island with light perimeter cabs but you
can do anything you want. I posted some images of English
oak and granite for you to keep thinking, planning,
choosing and dreaming. It will happen you will find the
right kitchen plan.

~boxer

Ps. Keep in mind I am not positive these are all English
Oak but they are similar to the image you posted. And
I did not list the granite types not sure what they
are, I posted only so you could see the big picture
for ideas for your own space.

KatyKitchen

Juparana by Rocktops

Debbie Muses beautiful kitchen

Noah Falls

A darker island by Sudbury Kitchen Design (boston area)

Creamy uppers and dark lowers

Encore Kitchen Designs

This one is Mascarello Granite and looks beautiful
with dark cabs.

North York Kitchen

Your price range dictates much of your choice as well. For example Giallo Ornamental or Uba Tuba will be among the cheapest choices available at any slab yard as these materials are dirt cheap for the fabricator. Some one mentioned calacatta above, this is one of the most expensive materials around. Also definitely visit a reputable slab yard and view slabs in person. Yes put them on hold, and if you fall in love with the slabs, give your fabricator a deposit. I won't bring in slabs for someone without a deposit, and nine times out of ten when someone's slab is "sold out from under them" it is because they were too slow with the money. We're all in business to make money, and people often put holds on materials at various vendors. Generally a respectable amount of time to wait from viewing the slabs to making your decision is two weeks. Also some of the stone names above are incorrect and vary in price a lot. The picture above "New York Kitchen" looks like Nacarado Quartzite. Very Expensive, but strikingly beautiful in person.

Alex DiPietro

I want to emphasize that when you see your granite choices, one or two will "sing" to your heart. I don't know what it is, but something about looking at all of Boxerpups' photos just makes me happy, relaxed, satisfied. We finished our kitchen over a year ago, and the reason I keep returning to GW is because I love looking at all of these choices, with granite colors being number one! It's a visual feast.

We didn't end up with the granite I thought we'd go with (Bianco Romano) because once I saw Bianco Antico in person, I knew it was the one for me. It's like falling in love---sometimes it defies logic, but you know when it's right. Good luck!