Boone, a stone that picked up the warm tones of the earthy surfaces in a soft way looks very nice in that picture. I'd like to suggest counters the same color as the lower cabinets, in your case a white, with little or no patterning. The simplicity that allows lines to flow and focus to fall on other features has always been very pleasing to me. Downplaying the counter's one of those things that's never specifically in style (especially in these break-the-bank-on-the-counters days), but it's never out of style either. Professional decorators have always done it, and you often see it in expensive magazines. Then maybe echo the Saltillo/brick color in a backsplash tile to tie in with it and the stove area. A lighter version of the same color, perhaps, rather than just accents? In any case, the simplicity of the counters would allow more latitude for the backsplash. Note the way on this first photo that two feature materials, brick and wood, are played off against the white, and how both are carried through the kitchen. [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Mount Pleasant General Contractors Phillip W Smith General Contractor, Inc. [Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103)

Thanks for the quick feedback. Well the kitchen (total counter space is about 95 sq ft) opens up to an eating area (not the formal dining room, that is in a different area) that then opens up to the great room. The great room has two deep red (wine) color walls with the rest being a neutral color, including the kitchen. I think we want to go with a clean look. (is that even a look?) Something that is classy, not retro or anything like that. ItÂs a bit hard because my wife or I have never had white cabinets so we are not sure what to do. Tomorrow we are going to look at slabs of granite. We are both thinking a darker color, say Black Labrador, Uba Tuba, or Black Impala Do you think black is our best choice? The hardest part is that our tile is also a off white color, kinda white with a gray mixed in. Thanks for all the help.

I don't love the tile either, but on my monitor it doesn't look bad with the wall and trim colors you have now. I think you can get away with white cabinets just fine, maybe white dove like your trim so you're not adding another color to the mix. You can also paint the wood strip on the counters. My in-laws did that. The counters look a lot like the floor tile. I agree with others not to spend a lot of energy and time trying to find a perfect color to coordinate with a tile you don't love. If you're not going to remodel, white cabinets is a pretty safe choice for resale (and your first color choice) so I would just go with that. Area rug is another great suggestion to help it fade into the background.

The hardwood you hopefully have in an adjacent room, like the dining room. A nice medium deep brown Thus must ask..................what IS the flooring in the rest of your home? Also, what are the counters?