None of those granites go with the backsplash. They fight one another because your backsplash is very busy and it is a natural stone. You need something like a solid color quartz or corian. Not another natural stone.

Thanks cpartist! I'd love ideas for quartzite as well as granite, I'm open to both.

Your backsplash has similar colors to fantasy Brown quartzite, not sure if it would work. You would need to find a quiter slab. This is my slab I wanted more light colors. Or maybe white macaubas or Taj Mahal? I agree that the one you pictured are not the best pick.

Totally agree with cpartist. The granite options and the backplash are too similar to complement and not similar enough to match, so they just fight each other. Also, I don't think that granite says 'transitional' at all even if it did match.

In your shoes, I'd spend a bit extra to replace the backsplash too. The cabinets could go with just about anything, and a new backsplash and counter has enough of an impact to take the kitchen in any direction. It wouldn't be difficult at all to achieve your exact style and end up with something you truly love in nearly any color scheme.

The last, lighter color, Siena Bordeauz is perfect. The existing countertop was too close in color to the cabinets and the tones were competing. Many people think that if the colors are in the same family, it will work, however if the are too close in color, it's not a good marriage.

Contrasting is a better route to go. Choose the color in the countertop that there is the least amount of..the most subtle swirl. It will be picked up by the cabinets and really come through to complement each other. You may think it won't be enough to get picked up but we promise this strategy always works.

In this example, it's the cream color, see how it comes thru all the shades of brown. POP! there it is, that pop of white, uniting the cabinets with the countertop.

What a beautiful marriage!

I agree with cpartist. Most granites are always going to be competing with your backsplash. (Including that original granite.)

I don't think you need a solid color necessarily, but something that is much simpler than most granites. I really like a lot of Ceasarstone quartz patterns. They are are simple with just a little interest, and they have a lot of pretty natural colors so you could hopefully find one that is a color match. I agree with your idea of going lighter.

Some brown/tan Quartzites (not quartz) might work also if you find some slabs that are fairly uniform. But I would look at quartz. It would help give you the more transitional look you want than the granite with the rest of the elements in your kitchen.

Oh, and I'm sure you want to decide this as soon as you can (I would.) But I would give yourself some time to find the right material. It looks like a nice kitchen, and you should be able to find something you really love to make it more your own.

I agree with others who said a quartz or solid surface with minimal pattern would go best with that backsplash. It would also give the space more of a modern feel and less of a traditional look - which is what you said you were looking for.

I would not fight the traditional bones of the kitchen and try to turn this into a transitional look. The backsplash is a beautiful stone even if it is too traditional for your taste. It works with the cabinets and floor tile.

I think finding the right undertone in a light countertop will be difficult. You can see that the cream and gold tones in the granites you posted make the pink in the backsplash pop. Some quartzes that imitate crema marfil can have a pinkish undertone, so they might work. If you use quartz, I'd use a traditional edge like the rounded one on your granite or a simple ogee.

Thank you everyone. This is so helpful. Above I think I meant quartz, not quartzite. I think I agree with mayflowers suggestion to not fight the traditional bones of the kitchen too much, even though I originally said I was leaning transitional. Please keep the suggestions coming!

P.S. Here's a video of the kitchen, if it helps.

And here is the kitchen table area. From where this photo was taken, the kitchen video is to the right. This other part of the room is a work in progress too. In fact I posted about it (replacing light fixture mainly) in the decorating forum right before the kitchen leak put everything else on hold. Maybe seeing this room will help with countertop advice. This newbie is overwhelmed but confident that a beautiful kitchen area is within reach!

I can't imagine setting cabinets with the criteria that the new tops must be able to slide under the existing splash. That's gonna cost ya.

Love those big beautiful windows in your kitchen...great space to cook in!!! We put in Corian Witch Hazel when we remodeled our kitchen in 2014 and I just love it. It sounds like you are more interested in stone but it never hurts to look...their colors called Burled Beach, which has a light tan background and Sea Salt which has a whiter background come to mind.