I just installed natural cherry cabinets and we put in 'Cactus' granite. This granite seems to come with many names- I've seen it also called Desert Green, Desert Oasis, Yanshan Green and might be very close if not the same as Tunis Green or Tunis Verde. Anyway, it reads like a solid color from a distance but hides a multitude of sins close up. My husband is not a counter-wiper-upper and he makes the coffee in the morning if you know what I'm saying. [IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/dfpotterri/DSC_0005.jpg[/IMG] I'm going to try to upload a photo but haven't done this before so might not be successful. Here is a link that might be useful:

Oooh...nice pics everyone. Alexamd, your kitchen probably is the closest to mine as far as lighting goes and that granite doesn't look too dark at all. I like your backsplash too. Is that slate? I received my 12x12 sample of Cambria Bradford on Thu. My daughter (who never likes the same thing as me) actually liked it too. I took it with me to 2 more granite suppliers Fri so I could compare granites to it. All the ones I've liked are pretty dark. I gave my layout to a fabricator to get a quote on sapphire brown just to get an idea on the granite. Unfortunately, there aren't many places here that handle Cambria anymore because the company won't allow anyone in NC to fabricate it but them (in their facility in Charlotte). Presumably there's not enough money in just measuring, templating and installation to make it worth the local guys' time. I ordered a sample door from Scherr's yesterday. I should have done that a long time ago. I'm hoping it will darken up faster if I set it in the sun.

okay..so so far I understood to you the granite is a biggest issue then..change for quiter countertop surface you love(but you need to decide whether you're changing color/stain of the cabinets. since they have to correlate, colorwise). different backsplash. quieter surface will give you more freedom with backsplash too. different pulls(unless you like the ones you chose) Learn pros/cons of your preffered countertop material in advance..Quartz is not bulletproof..(as granite isn't too. none of them are-everything will have pros/cons) for example, I love mitered edge more than rounded-but more possibility it might chip. Find as much as you can about every material you're going to install. If you do decide to paint/re-stain (and no, I'm not advocating white, like, at all)-it should be a pro job(unless you're willing to do it yourself..and know how, and will take lots of time) and yes, it'll chip too if say a fork falls or a knife and bangs onto it)) everything might chip-but on stain you'll see it less/will be less bothered in short learn as much as you can about what you'll be working with..and check your own tolerance to imperfections I can't see your kitchen fully..maybe you won't need any seams. if you do though-you'll see it to a degree on quiter light Quartz. not a biggie but first several days one can't keep eyes off that seam)) then one gets used to. backsplash-whatever will be-decide where you finish it(I'd do lower bottom cabinet level) and how. every guy/gal you'll talk to-being it a store or your GC or installer or..-ask questions. Don't presume they know you don't know..some will educate you, some won't. Ask everything..

I think we are moving in the direction to do the island, perimeter counters and backs splash (all the way up the wall) in the same White Santorini Quartzite. Any feedback on this? Im sensitive to adding too many different materials into the mix. Is this too much of one thing?