Don't be shy - even a "yuck wrong direction!" Would be welcome. I need help!

I love the combo of granite and cabinets (beautiful stone!!!) and I like the flooring too, but it might have a bit too much movement that would compete with the granite

That's a gorgeous slab. That said, some granites are busier than others and this one looks very busy to me. I think that's better suited to a smaller usage such as a bathroom counter. In a previous home I chose a very busy granite for the kitchen even after the builder cautioned me against it. I should've listened to him as I was never happy with that kitchen. The dark busy-ness of the slabs felt oppressive.

Agree with auntjen and think it is a bit too heavy. It is beautiful though and if you have lots of light and just using it on perimeter counters, it might work. But I love your floor tile. details?

Thank you, Mojomom. See pic for purchase details. The grout color on photo was not used. We used one called Linen. If you need the manufacturer name for the grout, I can get it. Tile is depicted in photo.

I think it's a beautiful slab but yes very busy. How big is the kitchen going to be? Is there an island? Maybe you can do something more solid in color for the parameter counters and use this slab or maybe one slightly less busy for the island. The other thing you need to consider too is your backsplash. There is another thread where the homeowner has a granite that lends to the busier side and he's having a hard time finding a backsplash he likes and works with the granite.

Lukkirish - good point on the backsplash! We really loved the light stone I shared in my response to Ruthpets but is a couple inches too short :-(.

We will have a 10 foot island and off to the side another 10 foot counter, both will have sinks, but otherwise will be a solid surface. There is another counter behind the island that is fairly long but includes the cooktop and cabinets with ovens to break it up. I stayed with the same cabinets throughout, but could use a different countertop on the island. I'm not absolutely locked onto to the originally depicted slab, so I may just need to keep looking.

I love that first granite and think the floor works with it because their values are so different, especially with the dark cabinets between, but I wouldn't use that floor with the second one because they are just too similar. If you heed others' advice about not doing a whole large kitchen with the granite, but maybe an island and the perimeter in a more sedate material, I think it would be gorgeous. But I'd have the other counter tops picked out, as well as a backsplash to go with the second counter top material before I took the leap. I can imagine it being very difficult to find 2 more materials to complement that granite without it looking like too many different things in one kitchen. But if you can pull it off, wow! It would be spectacular!

Olychick - thanks for the feedback. I tend to play things safe so your ideas are very helpful!

The pattern in the granite seems to be similar to the pattern in the floor, which will only get amplified when all laid out. I do like the granite (a lot), but it might have been better with lighter cream colored cabinets. The kitchen will be pretty dark.

I really like that lighter slab too, maybe you can find more slabs. Lots of good stone places in your area. I'm in LA.

Chispa - thank you for the feedback about the pattern. I think that is a good point and I have been unsure of which direction (pun intended) to go! I like the organic flow of the lines in both, but maybe it is too much and I need to find something with a different pattern.

The floor and granite direction would be perpendicular, if that prompts any further feedback on this topic. Thanks again.

The full pic of the flooring you're showing, that's the same as the sample in the first photo, right?

I like the combination of the granite and cabinets just fine. I'm not sure about the floor with it. The granite would be the only hard item I'd want to have a pattern since it's so busy.

I like the second granite choice and really like lighter counter tops with dark cabinets. I think the counters would work with the flooring, but I'm not expert.

I think it would be smart to only pick one 'star' for the kitchen so you don't have a bunch of hard surfaces visually competing for attention.

Yes, Sheeisback it is the same floor. It is definitely difficult to visualize the pattern on the sample. To your point and that of others, the granite is pretty busy and I could regret the pattern and darker color. I am known for liking a neutral, calming palette, so it could be too visually jarring, even though beautiful.

Given the larger island and counters, do you, or others think I need to use something different on the island and the perimeter counters regardless of the granite choice?

Maybe do the gorgeous brown granite on the large island and a simple, solid cream that coordinates with the floor (quartz or something) for the counters and backsplash under the cabinets. Have to say I don't care for the second granite choice as much - but all your choices are lovely.

Thank you very much, Lori. I appreciate your input. You helped me visualize it!

Personally I'd keep that gorgeous granite and find a less busy floor. Maybe a wood tile. I have a fairly small kitchen and a very busy granite and it makes my kitchen. I have wood floors in my kitchen, so the granite is the star.

I'm a firm believer in a stunning granite and in fact when I build my house, I'm using a granite with even more color and movement.

I'm with cpartist, the first granite you showed is GORGEOUS, I would have a neutral floor and back splash, and let that gorgeous stone shine in the room. The second stone you showed is very common looking to me,

The first granite is gorgeous and it works with the cabinets but not the floor. So, IF you love it you can make it work. NOTE: When you accept something you love you sign up for supporting it. So choose your battles wisely. Do you want to make it work very much?

If your floor plan is open you will be working with the granite in many of your design decisions. You havent given much information about your overall style, if the kitchen is open, what colors you want else where, if you have a big stone fireplace that will be seen from kitchen, if you also have wood beams, lots of other factors could get you different opinions.

The first granite is beautiful and seems to work well with the colors of the cabinets and floor. If you use a solid color backsplash in a neutral color and keep the walls light I think it could work.

p.s. - is anyone else seeing the scary villain face with evil eyes in the second granite where the two pieces meet? Cape and all? Maybe I've seen too many monsters this Halloween but it's really jumping out at me :)

Now that you point it out I do see the villain face! That is the same thing with the federal express logo, never saw the hidden arrow until someone told me about it and now that is all I see.

Definitely saw the villain, or some ancient warrior in a halting stance with his arms up, wearing one of those little skirted garbs . I think he is warning, no stop!

I think you are focused on color and not taking in the patterns. If you like a lot of pattern on the counter, quiet the floor and backsplash so they don't clash by competing so much for attention.

The other thing is with the stone pattern. You mentioned river with the first stone, which brings to mind flowing, soothing water but its pattern is actually quite turbulent with abrupt changes throughout. Think about whether swirling might actually be more what you have in mind.

The floor tile will become more busy when all the various pieces are installed and grouted. Even though each piece has a calm pattern, there will be abrupt changes or shifts in pattern all over the floor once installed. Going with a tight joint will also give a monolithic slab appearance to the material but the pattern won't flow through it.

That's a gorgeous slab and I'd try to use it. I'm not crazy about the color of the floor tile despite it being a good match for the cabinets. There might just be a little too much red in it and make the floor look burgundy. I think a large format square tile is a better fit for your Spanish style house, and it gets you away from another linear element.

I love that first slab...gorgeous. That said, I have very busy granite with lots of movement on my counters and I'm longing for a simpler look after 10 years.

Juddgirl - Originally I was seeing the outer darker marks as leaves, but not anymore! :)

Lol, I kind of see it as a villain with his hands folded in front of his chin like he's thinking up some master plan! With my luck, I would bookmark both pieces and not notice him until it was installed :-)

Thanks for all the feedback!

To answer local eater, the kitchen is open to the family room in a great room style. The fireplace will be a smooth / cat face finish with a rough hewn wood mantle. There will be one stained wood ceiling beam in the family room.

Cpartist - love your kitchen. I wish I could do wood floors but I must use tile or stone because we have a lot of decomposed granite paths and it tracks in.

The kitchen will have a fair amount of counter top. See pic of layout -

Ellendi6161 - I almost forgot - name of first granite is Audax and the floor is Xilema sold at Stone Age, Tile Mile in Anaheim, Ca. See pic with card earlier in thread.

Anaheim is one of my old stomping grounds. :c) Lots of granite shops there, if you're not 100% in love with the first or second slabs, I would keeping looking around till you find the one that you just have to have.

Thanks, lukkiirish. I'm going to look a little more to either confirm or deny that slab. I do love it, but generally try to stay neutral on the expensive, semi permanent decor and bring the pizazz in with accessories. But what the heck, I'm getting to a more reckless stage of life (later 50's), so who knows what I will do! ;-))))