I just wanted to add, yes the torquoise kitchen with the purple cabinets DOES look like a circus. But imagine if the cabinets weren't purple but the same blond cabinetry as the uppers. Put a softer purple paint on the walls and it is not nearly as crazy. I think ayerg73's comment makes sense. When you see her kitchen up close, sure the countertop has different flecks of color and veining but from afar it "reads" neutral. So it is like the best of both worlds - interesting enough when up close and working on it but not crazy especially next to the bright backsplash. My mom quilts and she talks about how every quilt needs to have pieces that "read" light, dark, and medium. In kitchens some people just go for the monochromatic white, but most have some combination of values of light and dark for contrast and then lots of medium to give stage to the light and dark. See what you are drawn to - dramatic black and white kitchens with high contrast, more muted-monochromatic kitchens or kitchens that just have one color that really pops. There are a lot of ways to create a beautiful kitchen. You just have to figure out which one makes you the happiest. My kitchen mission statement included white, bright (by that I meant filled with natural light), and open with a casual but sophisticated/elegant feel. To me, a bright backsplash didn't fit the bill but I do love color, it just didn't work with my overall kitchen goal. Instead, I have chairs in my keeping room with a bold, somewhat colorful, swirly pattern. It is certainly more fun to figure out the cosmetic details before all the nitty-gritty of the layout but don't think you have to get one totally done and decided before moving on to the next. They go hand-in-hand and you work on one and then the other, back and forth. Here's a link to the New to Kitchens Thread where there is the Sweeby test link. I think here is where it talks about creating a mission statement for your kitchen and anytime you can't make a decision or you have narrowed down to two choices go back to your mission statement and see which one brings you closer to your goal. Here is a link that might be useful: New to Kitchens and Sweeby Test

@Joseph - good news! I spoke to Dani about the Axiom translucent white. I have a question about filling in the joints. There are some minor ragged edges where the fabricator cut the quartz countertop. This is where it meets the wall. Will the translucent white silicone hide these? I know it's not clear colored, but wondering if it will fill in and mask some minor cracks?

Romy: I was hoping you would comment. I love your taste and your kitchen pictures...I'm constantly drooling over! I'll look up the lighting options, thx. And yes, that is her kitchen! Love it! Lily'smom: I also have the antique brass version of that sconce saved too. I love brass but I'm hesitant to take the plunge! We haven't chosen our Quartz yet because we have yet to see slabs in person. I'm running out of steam and honestly just want to have a few options to choose from. Designsaavy: love the French farmhouse style! Absolutely love it! I've refinished some vintage French provincial furniture pieces and scattered them throughout my home. We are going with the Stages sink and Karbon faucet (probably in the Chrome/SS finish). Does anyone have any specific white paint colors I should look at?

Get a sample of your cabinet doors, and then bring it to visit the samples of counters in your favorite show room. Nobody can guess.