Sandy...thanks for your thoughts. You're the second poster to state that you don't think the beadboard, esp painted a white, would go with the cabinets. Regarding the white tile backsplash I had, that is gone, now, and new dryall installed, ready for a new backsplash. I didn't want to do tile again, since I don't care for tile with granite (too busy). That's why I thought of the beadboard. My plan was to paint the cabinets, so the beadboard would go with it. I was thinking, now, if I don't pain the cabinets, the beadboard would still go, since they would be painted the same color as the rest of the walls in the combo den-kitchen (some sort of soft white). I hate cream in a kitchen, so will not do that. Kitchens should have crisp, clean colors, IMO. But my former, all-white kitchen was a bit glaring and didn't blend with the den too well (mahogany & cherry furniture & colors, dark camel, black tv, red accents, soft white walls). As for keeping the cabinets dark, I do have wood floors that will be refinished, and so will compete with the wood cabinets. Cabinets painted a soft white would solve that problem. I thought beadboard would be plain enough not to be too busy with the granite, since it's only vertical lines, and would tie in with the shutters. I'm hesitant to remove the shutters because that is a window theme throughout the house and are in the den part of the combo den-kitchen. I'm now looking at maybe tin with a pattern, so that the backsplash is silver, but that's probably too busy. I could just leave the plain drywall, add some wood molding (painted), and leave it at that. I'm mulling it over. It's good to know that others don't think the white appliances and sink look awful. That really was the most shocking thing to me. I was horrified by how they looked with the granite. In pics in Houzz, White Spring granite is repeatedly shown in white kitchens (white walls and cabinets & doors). I do think maybe I'm in shock since it doesn't look how I imagined and is so different from what I had. The stove is that new ice white and not the softer white of old, so that's part of the problem, I think. I considered stainless too modern a look for my old house, which is why I didn't get that before, but now I see that stainless would go with the new countertop and avoid any "color" issue. Thanks.

this is off: marblecleaning.org: "There are indeed different opinions on the issue of sealing black hone granite, but there is a unanimous consensus about the fact that it presents maintenance issues. The problem with honed black granite is that it is not, well black any more! Most black stones are but an optical illusion: they become black only when highly polished, or when wet. (See the back of your slab to see the real color of your stone!) As you take gloss off the stone surface (and honing does just that) you lose depth of color and the stone turns gray; but when you wet it ... here it is black again! As you spill oily liquids, or you simply touch the stone surface with your fingers (perspiration), you're going to have all sorts of dark surface stains that are a terrible eyesore. Please notice that I said, surface stains, not imbedded stains. In fact, you can clean those stains off (though with lots of labor), while if they were imbedded you would have to poultice them out. If you apply an impregnator/sealer to the stone you will not solve your problem one bit: in fact the sealer will only prevent liquids from being absorbed by the stone (which in the case of black honed granite is an unlikely event to begin with), not the staining of its surface. Any solution? Well, yes: you have to give up the gray! If you apply a "good-quality stone "color" enhancer" to your countertop instead of an impregnating sealer (a good-quality stone color-enhancer like MB-6 is also an impregnator/sealer) it will turn it permanently black, while preserving the hone finish. In that way, the "surface-staining problem" would be minimi z ed. Like I said before, letÂs "just hope that your fabricator", in their "infinite wisdom," did not apply an impregnator/sealer to your stone: this would have to be "stripped" (not an easy feat!), or else the color/enhancer wouldnÂt stand a chance to work properly. And donÂt you forget that in order to upkeep your stone and the color enhancer, your best bet is to use good-quality specialty products for stone." From my experience: July 2007 : we had a customer buy honed AB granite: they wanted it "shinny" and forced us to put a high gloss sealer on after install! Guess what? DIDN"T TAKE!!!!! It took to some parts of the stone and not in other parts. Customer was LIVID MAD! After talking to Hard Rock Tools: installers went back to their house: stripped the shinny high gloss sealer: with stripper. let dry 3 days and went back over there: slab was milky white!!!! LOL: then they applied the color enhancer and explained to the customer that is the best product to use: hard rock when to their house and talked to them. They were happy after that. So I know about AB not taking a sealer and stripper changing the stone milky white!!!!! I personally buy from hard rock tools: I do not sell their products. I give them away for free. I truly believe in customers taking care of their granite/marble. (windex and soap are not good for natural stone!) VOC compliant Commercial brand color enhancer sealer: don't go buy retail! I personally buy pro stone www.prostoneonline.com: dealers all over the USA: Hope this helps. People at Hard rock tools are highly trained and know about stone care! They may recommend a stone doctor as well. they seriously know what they are doing and they have taught me so much regarding stone and care! ~Happy New Year~

Thank you for sharing that site. It looks like most of the issues I am finding other people have are more oil or dark spots...I have yet to see anyone who has the same white spot issue. Its frustrating because I dont have the information from when these countertops were put in (what sealant was used, etc) so I am just hoping to find a way to make these countertops look great again... :)

zdr, glazing is out. Look at kitchens in the last few years. do you see any w/glazed cabinets? No. If you lived in a shabby chic cabin or an old french chateau, then maybe the glazing would work. The look was big back in the early 2000's. Times have changed. Just do the paint. if you like the two tone, keep the tops as is and paint the bottoms. You could always have the top done afterward if you like how the lowers look. Do what I did and have all the fluted/rope trim removed. Or, if you like the two tone, pick two different colors. or paint the island in one of those dark colors I posted w/the granite picture, and paint your other cabinets a solid white. something like this, but w/the Iron Ore or Wrought Iron color. (I did the latter)