Love your counter choice- it is essentially what I just installed. It DOES show fingerprints but it comes right off with windex or whatever you want to use. I would NOT put that busy counter with busy backsplash AND glazed cabinets. Everyone can't be the star, especially in a small kitchen. Keep the counters and use a plain off white tile, or switch to a plain counter so your tile can shine.

Good point ...thank you. So you installed a leathered granite? It's not hard to clean? Thanks again

Not a pro, but ditto the others. No glazing to the cabinets-I think a Shaker front is prettier than that curved routed cabinet picture of yours. No to any kind of busy accent tile particularly if you choose a leathered counter.

The red backdrop to the tiles is throwing me off. Can you get a shot of them on a more neutral backdrop, or better yet, with the cabinet samples? From this photo, I think the yellow tile looks great, and would fit right in with what you show of the rest of the house. But the general advice is to choose your backsplash last--it gives you a chance to evaluate your choice with all the other elements in place. Since you have your eye on this one, for you this means being willing to stop and reevaluate the tile once the cabinets and counter are in and you can look at the tile with them in your actual kitchen lighting. You can course correct if you need to (I doubt you'll need to).

The glazed door you show goes well beyond merely glazed to full-on distressed. I'll confess, it isn't a look I like. It's like you paid someone to pre-dirty up your cabinets. Glaze used to highlight the contours of a door are fine, but if my cabinets are going to look dirty, I want to be the one who made them that way. (I feel the same way about distressed and acid-washed jeans, FWIW, and obviously there's a whole marketful of consumers who disagree with me).

I don't have any practical experience with leathered granite (though I've petted it in stores). Titanium is very pretty, though, and should work well with you other elements. I don't care for any of the Wilsonart quartz options, mostly due to not being on board with the trend toward faux marble quartz (again, an entire marketful of consumers disagree with me).

What is your kitchen floor? Is it the same floor seen in the photo of the green cabinet? The color of your current kitchen floor has to be taken in consideration if you aren’t changing it.

Glazed cabinets are dated and I think the one you posted looks shabby and dirty. Raised center panel cabinets are a traditional look which is fine, but I wouldn’t pick one with rounded edges by the center panel as seen in your photo. Choose one with sharp corners and no arch (also dated). You can be traditional in style without being dated.

I agree with no accent trim if you are doing a square accent tile. Decide the countertop before committing to cabinetry. If you want that particular backsplash tile, that needs to be taken in consideration when choosing a countertop.

I really think it’s best to choose your countertop first (pick one that looks good with the current floor) before committing to other choices.

Hi Diane. There are changes you can make to your space that will make using it easier on your back, and this article enumerates some of them. Absolutely share some of the modifications you plan to make so others can benefit!

Inspiration images of kitchens that use fall colors might be helpful to you. Do you have any? It’s much easier to make choices when you have an idea of how they will look together. My favorite “fall color” image is below. If you don’t have inspiration images, start collecting them. They really will help you to develop an overall look.

These are honey oak cabinets, and they would be beautiful with your color scheme. They will also look great longer than painted cabinets without showing their use and abuse. And here is the tile you are considering. Note that in my image, the uppers are clean, crisp, slightly warm white, and that keeps the space from looking too dark. No glaze.

As far as counters go, consider soapstone. They are bulletproof, and beautiful.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, very helpful. Lots to think about. I just used an old cabinet to make the mock up, not what they will be. The tradesman will do a much better job at glazing. I just have always loved them, I'm adding a picture that represents a proffesionals glazed cabinet. I guess I could never afford to do a kitchen when they were in style. I do like the wood cabinets though. Flooring will be a luxury vinyl. Here is a picture of the tile 'up' by both mock doors. I get what was said about something has to give so one can be the star. I also now know why they said pick your tile after countertop but..... lol I had just happened upon it and fell in love. @eam44 thank you for the article. As for my modifications for my back :: first we got a refrigerator with a freezer at the bottom THIS WAS A MIRACLE for me. I am going to have my uppers lower by an inch or so ...so that I can easily reach the first two shelves without stretching too much. We are keeping our stove for the range and an extra oven when someone is here to help, but we are got a wall oven. The 'toe kick' will actually come out and the 'drawer' will be solid so that I can put my foot up when I am working at counter. I have looked at soapstone but they only have white lines. I started keeping pictures and then started liking opposite looks! Guess I am just scared!! I am new to this ... hope I have responded to you all. @Shannon_WI @Carolae @cawaps

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You guys are the best .. I am going to go with wood cabinets! I think I knew in my gut you all were right. I found this planter box to try and get an idea. I put the different countertop ideas under. The Titanium is shiny as they didn't have a leathered sample.

To answer you questions, mine are leathered, I love them. I have wood floors and white cabinets...

Figure out the cabinets, get them installed and then figure out the counter tops and flooring. Then the back splash after those 3 things are installed. I read that you fell in love with the back splash and that is perfectly fine but I would just recommend not purchasing it until you have your cabinets, counter tops and flooring installed just to make sure it is THE one. Often we see people here who have chosen all of their kitchen finishes ahead of time and thinking their choices are right only to be surprised how those little samples looked good together and now that they are installed don't. And by choosing one at a time you won't be so overwhelmed.

What is the dark color in the back splash? I'm not sure what the darker color is black, brown or green? And that concerns me as far as the counter top and how it relates to your choices.

@tedbixby Good plan .. the color is a sage green and it goes with the buffet that will be on the other side of the kitchen. I think part of it was I was adamant that I would not have white or gray shaker cabinets ... I am not one to get something just because everyone has it ..because it is the 'in' thing. The smaller green tile would be a frame around the accent which also has a touch of the green. Thank you for taking the time and good advice

I'm happy for you that you are getting your dream kitchen and not following others. And don't concern yourself about the glaze. If you look at high-end kitchens and high-end cabinet manufacturer's you would see that glaze is offered. Glaze is still being done but is more subtle. If done right, it can add depth and a visual interest to the cabinets. But what may be an issue is the back splash you are considering but that should be discussed after you have the 3 other things installed.

I'm putting the horse before the cart but have you looked at honed counter tops instead of leathered?

@tedbixby there doesn't seem to be a lot of honed in my area and I have heard they are harder to take care of. Not true??

If you find a granite that you love, you should ask if it can be honed. As far as maintenance it will need to be sealed, like any granite, and I'm guessing as much as leathered, too. Personally, I have had only polished granite and none that I've sealed even after living in one house for 17 yrs. That said, I had recommended to a client that they consider Black Jet Mist granite honed (less expensive way to go if someone is looking at Soapstone) for their vacation rental home kitchen island. They did go ahead with it and they sealed it themselves when it was installed which they said was very easy to do. After it had been installed and used for about 6 months I had asked her how she liked it and she told me she loved it and that it didn't show any finger prints. What issues concern you that you've read about that make it harder to take care of?

This is the Honed Black Jet Mist counter top.

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IMO there needs to be more contrast between the main backsplash tile and the cabinet stain. I like the idea of then adding a solid black countertop to tone down the warmness a bit. Maybe ultimately tie it even more together with black cabinet knobs

You might’ve said already but where is the green tile going? Just above the stove is what I was assuming?

Hi, Yes, the green tile will go around the accent tile. The same color is in that design. I have a sage green piece of furniture that will also be in the kitchen on the opposite wall as the stove and it ties them both together.