I am planning a three-tone kitchen. I love the "not-so-matchy" look. To me, kitchens can be like any room in the house- different wood tones, different metals, different fabrics- my other rooms don't have all the same color furniture, why should my kitchen? There are some rules to be kept, though, I think. If cabinets are two tone, counters should be the same. I am planning a walnut island, gray-blue lowers on perimeter, with pure white countertops and matching pure white uppers. I feel like the cohesiveness with the white counter/white uppers will help with visual calmness. Here is my inspiration pic:

Hmm. I'd sleep on it. See what bugs you more/draws you more. Go with your intuition. Put it in different spots. Look at it in different lights-morning, day, artificial lighting. Stop looking at them for several hours-and then look some more. Not easy I know. I choose my current flooring for a week minimum..gosh I was so silly I even took it next to my face and looked at both of us-me and floor sample lol-in the mirror..to see whether it flatters my complexion)) In the end I chose well, I love it. I'd say I love it madly. But to tell you the truth-if I picked something else, I'd probably like it too..) Because most of all I loved some flooring that we ordered-and were told it was discontinued. I had to choose again. I was so upset! Fast forward six years-I don't even remember what that first love of mine was..

Well every seller and flipper anywhere near me paints cabinets white..:) or so it seems And sometimes makes no sense whatsoever, given architecture, style, other materials..irritating. Don't get me wrong..i would never pass on the house I love because of that..even if they would be completely wrong for the space (in my place they were completely wrong-color wise, style-wise, everything.. yet we still bought the house lol. well, eighty percent of interior finishes was wrong for the house so..) things like that -I don't see them as making or breaking the deal. Location, bones, layout, amount of rooms you need to accommodate your family-yes. Well price of course. As much as I loved several houses-they were too small, or were not in a neighborhood that'd work for us, or were simply too expensive So no, I wouldn't pass on a house because of the cabinets, whatever color they would be..and especially if they were right for the space:) I like grays but not cold grays for example. And I prefer warm whites to bright whites. Yet when it makes allover sense, it's easier to look past it, and make do, for a time being, or maybe for years even. And in some cases-you look past it even if it doesn't make any sense. But it's better if it does. It's rarely a question of one color..even though colors do have huge influence over us. it's a question of how everything comes together. Same as with everything. Take a face you like-many times, a nose could be better, and teeth could be straighter, and whatnot. Yet you don't look at it separately...you do of course, but you don't care because it's more than just the sum of elements. PS I read the funniest description in one listing recently. It went: "This house is classic and timeless, yet trendy and current". It looks like they've read all the blogosphere on the subject of design and decor, and decided to construct that sentence, so as not to miss anything...))))

I like both but do favor the lighter for now. I thought about herringbone but decided on brick lay as you see from my pic. I chose that bc I also picked a tonal tile with 3 shades for texture & interest wo being too busy (see pic) & chose grout to match tile not counter. My tile is 2 1/2” x 5”, Ztile Melange, Green Tea color. Looks gray! My advice to pass along on picking BS is to ”wait until the countertops are installed”! I’m so glad I did. I .read that over & over from Houzz Pros too. I took the advice to heart bc the person at countertop company told me to just wait! I had narrowed my choice down to 2, which it looks like you have done. Once tops were in I did a 180 change on BS tile I’d decided on & went with my second choice. And I was looking at multiple pieces of the 2 tiles to get a better idea. A surprise to me for sure that I changed. All of those whose opinions I’d solicited also seemed amazed at difference in look sitting on top of new counter. And, I solicited opinions from every trades person in my kitchen as well as friends & neighbors! 99% of them changed their pick after counters in too. Reason is that until counter is in, you’re looking at a small sample and a huge vertical slab. Light hits the counter very differently on the horizontal & in your home light. The BS tile as well. So, make sure both of your picks are available on quick turnaround & just wait. BTW, at this point, my pick for you is lighter tile Bc I Like it better with darker cabinets & tile will be right next to cabinet color next to frig. When I look at BS my eye goes down not up so I see base cabs more. Love your counter & cab together.