I am partway through our kitchen remodel. The wife and I are pretty stuck on the look and color of a laminate countertop we found for the kitchen and like our solid surface sink on laminate counter we have in the bathroom, but afraid the seam wont hold up as well in the kitchen plus the sink is $800 alone. ouch! We are contemplating a topmount stainless sink, but was also thinking about a black solid surface or granite top mount sink. We just dont like the huge lip though and not sure what to do. here are some before pictures, the flooring color, countertop color, part of our bathroom cabinets the same color as the ones going in the kitchen, and the current state of the kitchen. We also dont know what to do for backsplash yet. the cabinets are going in today, the floor is going in on wed and counter as soon as we decide on a sink and get it ordered. any input would be great. thanks, Ryan Image link:

Or what about this ming green marble? http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Classic.Tile.And.Marble.inc.718-331-2615/picture/view/1383839 I saw something at the tile store that was similar, though I don't think it was marble, and when the salesman who had been helping me saw me looking at it, he laughed and said, "I hope you aren't selling your house any time soon, and if you are, you better hope a leprechaun buys it." Yeah, I know, not the best salesman. We aren't selling our house any time soon, probably in about 2 years, so I do want something that is pretty neutral or universally appealing. This doesn't seem like a crazy color to me (and I am a little color shy)--it seems like a pretty neutral green, no? Anyone have this marble, or an opinion on how it goes with verde butterfly? I hope I'm not being too much of a pain with all these questions. I'm just so anxious to get this decision made, and I really appreciate how helpful everyone on this forum is.

As Patricia points out, we need to know the colours you are working with. Of course one of the simplest matches = maple.

My thinking is that that many chairs with patterns will take away from the beautiful table. If you kept less chairs at the table, as Ida suggested, it might work. I would not bring in any gray. I honestly don’t think any of the covers would look better. The current color works well and lets the table be the star, the tufting is elegant and pretty, and they bring a nice soft, calm look in the middle of all of the leather furniture and stained wood … I guess I’m just not seeing the issue with them. To me, they don’t blend too much with the floor at all, due to the legs, and adding in another color and/or pattern will just look busy. I’d spend that money on new barstools instead.