Those are beautiful cabinets. They really call out to me for something in a walnut tone, like the link below. Or at least that general caramel-y color. (You might find some teak like that.) The other option might be to try to minimize grain since the counters have a pattern, in which case maybe you'd like something in a very ungrainy stained maple cappuccino type shade. Here is a link that might be useful: Walnut floor

I immediately thought marble or poured concrete when I read your description. The mixture of light and dark would look stunning. Google " walnut and marble kitchen pictures" and you'll see examples.

Thank you so much for all the replies and inspirational pictures. I have included links to show the other side of the kitchen. It gives a little more perspective on my backsplash as well as the other accent color I have in my kitchen. My thoughts now after reading the suggestions are Take down the wallpaper border-dated I know, but then what paint-change to sage green, paint rest of kitchen in terra cotta color or ?? The kitchen currently is painted plantation beige (on the same paint strip as tobacco road by duron. My dining room which joins my kitchen has an accent wall in the same terra cotta color (other side of the refrigerator/ stove wall if that makes sense)so I would like to keep that color in my kitchen if possible. I am still torn between the light and dark counter tops.I love the look of marble but it is too delicate for my family. I will look at the colonial cream and ivory suggested-I do worry about staining with the light granites but I like the clean crisp look of a light counter. I had researched soapstone-I think there is one called Julia that has a green undertone? I love soapstone and was wondering how that would look in my kitchen. I also looked at Tan Brown granite which I thought might be a nice contrast with my cabinets and flooring. Since I have to keep my current back splash for now, would the 4 inch counter splash that I will have to use look OK? Thanks again for the input. Many things I would like to change but have to work pretty much with what I have!! PS. Still working on the wire mess behind the little flat screen TV! Sorry for the links, I am having trouble imbedding my pictures tonight. http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u381/ladybug1100/Kitchen1.jpg http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u381/ladybug1100/Kitchen.jpg

Do you know who makes those cabinets? Info on the pic says they were custom made. But you can use this picture as an inspiration picture. Start looking through your yellow pages for custom cabinet makers. Also ask friends where they got their cabinets. If you are looking at big box stores, I would say Kraft Maid from Lowe's would be a good choice. However, price out custom, there are many on here who got custom for the same price or less as big box. And do you live near an Amish area? Some on here have gotten great custom Amish cabs at great prices. Again, ask around. And if you do a search on here, lots of very happy Ikea cabinet owners. It shouldn't be hard to find what you are looking for. Also, where would I find solid surface counter tops? Lowe's sell's LG Hi-Mac and Home Depot sells Corian around here. There are other brands as well. (Joseph Corlett could list them all, I don't know them all, as I am focused on Corian myself) Again, try looking at kitchen and flooring shops in your area. You can also go to the website of any brand and they should have a dealer locater. Now Joseph will say they are all the same. Maybe they are, but all I can say is, in researching (an insane amount) LG Hi-Mac "seems" to have an awful lot of cracking issues. Corian use only their trained fabricators so maybe that's why there are less issues. Thank you so much for the great suggestion and for the photos. You are very welcome, I'm glad I could be of help. :)