I think white would be a nice contrast. I've attached a link to a GW member's (kellienoelle) kitchen that used Delicatus granite & a classic white backsplash. Here is a link that might be useful: Kellienoelle's Dark Cherry & Delicatus Reveal This post was edited by romy718 on Fri, Mar 14, 14 at 21:46

maxiepines, I didn't follow your thread about cook tops so maybe someone already mentioned this. A downdraft set within a gas cook top pulls at the flames. This isn't an issue with your old electric cook top - no flame. I have a pop-up downdraft for my island's gas cook top. Even though it rises 7" above the cook top, it pulls the flame when turned on high and even on medium, it pulls on the back burners' flames more than I'd like. The downdraft blew out (would that be sucked out?) a burner when it was on low a few times. Today's gas cook tops generally come with automatic re-ignition, which is good, because the only way I know this has happened with my old cook top is when I smell gas. Anyhoo, a downdraft set at the same level as the burners will do this even more than my 7" pop-up does. Can you add a pop-up downdraft, preferably one of the newer models that rises more than 7" above the cook top instead? Stunning photos, as usual, boxerpups. You rock!

SJ-- very nice! I suspect you may be the exception, not the rule, however. Width may limit you as well. xtacie--thanks for the kind words! We have the final inspection tomorrow, so fingers crossed I'll be unpacking boxes back in the house by this weekend. And of course I will snap some photos for a GW reveal.... Indeed, I did have to go with the pony wall. Would not work any other way with the plumbing and electrical and local building codes. This totally screwed up the cover on the end of the island because the width of the island now exceeded that of the cover panel I was going to use. I ended up waterfalling the Corian on both ends of the island to solve it easily. I originally had a set of cabinets facing out into the LR on the back of the island, but realized during install the island would be far too big with these and the overhang so I deleted them and had to figure how to cover the pony wall. I considered a number of different options, including "backpainted glass" someone on this site turned me on to but in the end I decided to drywall it and paint it a color that matched the backsplash. It turned out very bold, but if I don't like it someday I can just paint it white or something. Drywalling it gave me the most options later. Anyway, enough rambling about me on housebuilder14's countertop thread... :)

A friend just sent me this link yesterday, which is perfect reading/viewing for you! http://www.classiccasualhome.com/2017/06/black-and-white-modern-farmhouse.html?m=1Above pic is the HO's original granite which went from polished to honed in the re-do. "Since Lisa wanted dark countertops anyway....honing the existing granite gives it a newer look." Google tells me that this is your quartz below -