I hope someone sees this and lends some advice! We weren't expecting to have to stay in our house as we listed it but now we are staying. Long story:( So, the countertops MUST GO! I need help with an inexpensive but good looking solution. We are likely taking out the 6" backsplash behind the cooktop and the riser so that the countertop can come out just a tad but not so many cuts. Maybe make it another seating area. I've received quotes on Giallano Ornamental granite @$28-30/sqft which comes out to a LOT! lol! Looking at quartz but omg. I'm overwhelmed to say the least. Black appliances stay; sink needs replacing but thinking staying with stainless but undermount. Thanks for any advice! The cabinets are maple, floors are Acacia EVP by Lumber Liquidators. Painting cabinets could happen but our cabinet guy said he'd cry since they're maple. HELP! and Thanks!

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Thanks for the quick feedback. Well the kitchen (total counter space is about 95 sq ft) opens up to an eating area (not the formal dining room, that is in a different area) that then opens up to the great room. The great room has two deep red (wine) color walls with the rest being a neutral color, including the kitchen. I think we want to go with a clean look. (is that even a look?) Something that is classy, not retro or anything like that. ItÂs a bit hard because my wife or I have never had white cabinets so we are not sure what to do. Tomorrow we are going to look at slabs of granite. We are both thinking a darker color, say Black Labrador, Uba Tuba, or Black Impala Do you think black is our best choice? The hardest part is that our tile is also a off white color, kinda white with a gray mixed in. Thanks for all the help.

merimom, okay, you asked, I'll do my best to answer you. First, the sealing and necessary re-sealing because it is so porous is something I would not want to deal with. Using trivets or other protective surfaces before setting scalding pots down is also something I would not want to do. Obviously many people deal with these issues and they aren't really a big deal. I understand adapting and then it becomes part of ones routine. My chief issue is purely aesthetic. The hard and reflective surface is ubiquitous. Regardless of the style, quality or vintage of the home, there it is. I find it often at odds with the style of the house: examples would be a colonial home in New England, or a California 1930's bungalow--how incongruous bright shiny granite counters would be. Instead of honoring a style and having the counters blend seamlessly into the overall design, there is the shiny granite. Most of us do not live at Versailles, let's not go wild with materials that are at odds with the home. I also think as white cabinets are indicative of the 70's and Corian the 90's, granite is the sign of the 2000's and will eventually be sort of a marker of a time. Considered use of materials in conjunction with the home's style can result in a timeless and interesting design. Bottom line is MOST polished granite is cold and uninteresting (TO ME) as a counter surface. I'm a fan of matte surfaces that are soft, warm and inviting and soothing to the eye. Matte does not mean dull, there is definitely a quiet pop to unpolished surfaces. Do you really want your kitchen to look like every other?