Kitchen design better with 2 different countertops or the same on all?
As with many of our kitchen selections, we love so much of what is out there, it is hard to make a decision. Drywall on our kitchen remodel is going up this week and then the cabinets are ready for installation. We have been shopping for countertops and I am wondering if we should do the same countertop on the perimeter and the island or different countertops on each. If the same, I would like a lighter granite that works with both the white perimeter cabinets and the stained island. If different, I would lean towards a honed or leathered black on the perimeter and a lighter granite on the island. We'd like to stay with natural stone (as opposed to quartz) if possible.
Are there any rules here? I thought two different cabinet colors meant you should use the same countertop, but I see lots of photos where they broke that rule and it looks great.
This is the layout of our kitchen. The perimeter is the rangetop wall and then a little piece of counter next to the refrigerator. (If a black counter on the perimeter, will that little piece next to the frig look like an orphan all by itself...Since the ovens and the doorway break up the L-shaped perimeter?) Butler's pantry is in a hallway behind the refrigerator wall that leads to the dining room. Butler's pantry will probably be in a lighter countertop because it does not get a lot of natural light. Cabinets in butler's are white with glass door uppers.
Perimeter Cabinets - Kraftmaid Dove White
Island cabinets - Kraftmaid Cherry Molasses (dark brown with slight grey). This image looks a little more red than it does in person.
Countertops that we like so far...
African Rain (This slab was tagged so still looking for something similar. Looking for something that works with the white, but still has some warmth to it)
Aspen White (This is what I really like, but not sure if it works with the cabinets. This slab was also tagged, so we are heading back out this weekend to look at some other slabs they have. We are going to bring larger doors in both white and stained to see if this will work)
I know the backsplash should be the last thing after the counters are selected, but I can't help but consider that I know I like the look of glazed crackle tiles (something like Encore Ceramics Silver field tiles) with some variation in color from tile to tile, or a white subway. Trying to not let any of that be factor in our decision right now and just focus on the counters and what works with the cabinets.
Floors are red oak - Stain to be determined. Likely brown with a mix of grey. Not sure how dark we will go. We are open based on what looks best with the island and counters.
So, given the layout and cabinet colors, would you recommend something like one of these granites on ALL counters, or something like these on the island and a solid black/grey on perimeter? Or none of the above? :-) Thank you!
Comments (17)
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Comments (31)I would like to see even more of the existing layout and how the different levels relate to each other ... to pool, 'down' to game room, 'up' to bedroom, to garage, etc. Is the pool on the same level as the existing kitchen ? Is it right by the house or across the yard ? Is there any type of patio, covered porch, or deck off of the back of the house now ? Where does the driveway run - do guests park by the front door and come in that way, or does driveway have them parking by the garage entry ? Do the stairs at the front door go up ? Up to what ? Where does the door go under the stairs at the end ? Also, what are the dimensions of your existing furniture and any appliances you will be re-using ? What about items you are planning to purchase ? I am concerned that you may not be allowing enough room for clearance around your breakfast table because I do not know it's dimensions. Take the size of your table and add a minimum of 36" on all 4 sides just to edge/slide past or scoot around seated diners. You need 44" on the sides to allow someone to walk past a seated diner. In other words, if your table is 42"x60" and you add 36" to each side, you need a minimum of 9'6"x11'0" totally clear area just to scoot around seated diners. I am thinking something totally different than the plans you have shown. To get you thinking outside the box . . . . How about if you carve a niche out of the existing LR for a more formal entry with walls and doorways so the first thing a guest sees when they walk in the home is not the mess in the kitchen. Use the current Piano room as the family room overlooking the pool area. Put the baby grand in the current dining room and the dining table where the butler is currently. The table will run long ways from the front of the house to the rear. Open this new baby grand/dining space up as much as possible into one long room or, even better IMO ... depending on the size of your dining table, move the wall a couple feet so that the new dining end is longer and the baby grand end is smaller and they are separated by a wall with a wide doorway or arched opening. If the new dining space was 11x15 or 11x16 instead of 11x13, you could easily have a dining table 4x7 that would seat 8 and have room to pass around the end of the table to the doorway into the new family room. I imagine the new baby grand room to house the piano and some limited seating. A much better view when a guest first walks into the house. : ) Where you currently have the living room, it will now be somewhat smaller because of losing space to the foyer. Use the old living space for a combination keeping room with breakfast, desk/homework, sitting room space. The remainder of the current living room along with the current kitchen/breakfast will be the new kitchen. In my experience, most people congregate around the kitchen at parties and gatherings. This layout would make the kitchen and keeping room one big space which would be a great area for entertaining. Between the new kitchen and the new dining room (old butlers) will be a wet bar and storage space similar to what you have shown on option B. Be sure to also carve out room for a coat closet, vacuum storage, toys storage, and a designated space where mail/bags/junk, etc can land very close to the garage entry (but be easily hidden by cabinet doors or something if someone comes over). Depending on the pool and patio location, it could be nice to turn the double windows at the end of the of the old butler/new dining into French doors opening onto the patio. It could also be very nice if this was opening to a covered Lanai or screened porch....See MorePlease help with how to design 2 different color cabinets.
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cpartist
4 years agoNo one says you need to use a white or gray counter either. i have almost the same color cabinets and I used Fascination quartzite on both perimeter and island. That became the star of my kitchen and added some much needed color.
Do you have a favorite color?
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