Granite Color and Backsplash Choices
Tom,
I’m planning to use natural maple Merrillat cabinets with stainless appliances in a rather large kitchen with a lot of counters and not a lot of natural light, and I’m looking for a good choice of granite, but having trouble making a choice. The floors are wood.
I like the look of more homogeneous granites, and I don’t like ones with lots of differentiation in texture. I’ve seen a black I liked a lot (not Absolute, a little softer, but I can’t recall the exact one), and today I looked at a slab of Shivakashi today, which I liked a lot (and was surprised, since I thought my taste would run to the darker colors). The person helping me also suggested Bordeaux for the counters. And I am looking for a granite that doesn’t stain easily!
I’m also trying to determine the best backsplash and like the look of a full-height backsplash. Do you think doing granite all the way up is too much (assuming the cost isn’t too much, which it might be)? I also like glass tiles a lot, but think that might be too busy with most of the granites I’ve seen.
Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks!
Meredith
Hello Meredith,
Considering all you mentioned, I would like to suggest looking at Violetta Granite and Golden Leaf. If you like green, take a look at Silver Sea Green Granite. These are all granites from the Middle East and are very low maintenance because of their high density and Quartz composition.
As far as going up the backsplash with granite, that is a truly personal choice. Granite goes all the way up the back in my kitchen, but there are some beautiful tile splash options as well. Be a little careful with glass tile because it is very trendy right now. Personally, I think it will go out of style like the avocado refrigerator someday. Also, consider your fixtures when making a decision. If stainless, I would suggest going with a darker granite color. By the way, Bordeaux is one of my favorite granites, but the veining needs to be carefully aligned during installation. This granite is also somewhat higher maintenance because the higher percentage of Orthoclase that makes it softer than the granites I mentioned above.
Remember to always seal your granite. Take a look at www.GraniteStock.com to see hundreds of colors.
Best wishes,
Tom Cordova
January 1st, 2007 at 6:53 am
We just purchased kashmir white granite countertops and want to put a backsplash on the kithen walls. We would like to know what you think would make a good color match. Thanks.
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:26 am
Tom:
We are the final stages of a rather lengthy remodel of a 1980 ranch home that up until the granite installation, we will have done all work ourselves.
The kitchen is 10 x 13 with G shaped kitchen with the 3 x 8 peninsula across from the sink wall, which has a large 102″ bay window that is the same level as the sink wall counter and will be covered with granite. The cabinets are raised panel hickory spice, stainless steel appliances, and the floors of the kitchen, dining room, sitting room with red, black, white brick fireplace with cast iron insert, and the entry are all Italian porcelain tiles, called Red Rock that are rust, reddish, tan, and brown tones in a pattern of 6″ and 12″ tiles. The kitchen color is called Realto red, which is a rusty cranberry color and the adjoining rooms are a light Toasty tan. The penisula will be very visible from the adjoining living room, which is a darker Toasty Tan with solid hickory floors, color Saddle. The light fixtures, door handles, and fans are Antique or Oil Rubbed Bronze.
The suggestions by some installers were Giallo Veneziano and Dakota Bordeaux. But these are a little homogenous and overused in our area. The Crema Bordeaux and Juparana Bordeaux are a good color match, but there is concern that they would compete with the beautiful floors.
We keep coming back to Shivakashi and also like Golden Oak. Based on my description, what is your opinion about these for our application?
Everything looks so beautiful that I want to make the right choice for the granite. Thanks for any help. I am tired. ~Kay
June 6th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Do you not like shivakashi? I’m considering it with natural cherry cabinets and stainless steel appliances. Our floors are mirage oak
December 19th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
I’m on a tight budget for a remodel in a home I recently purchased. We are keeping the tile that is already on the floors. It’s a light color (off white or very light cream color). I like the silver sea green granite, we have oak cabinets but I cant decide on a backsplash. Do you have any ideas? Does it matter if we went with a light colored ceramic that doesn’t match or floors exactly?
September 15th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
Hi Tom,
I am doing a small kitchen remodel in a condo I just bought. I am going with golden maple cabinets (pic attached), a few of which will have glass inserts. This is a galley kitchen with no window and is rather small but still gets some nice light. The floors are a slightly lighter honey maple.
I am wondering what color granite and backsplash you would suggest. We are totally open for new suggestions but have thus far tried to narrow it down between Black Galaxy (or Absolute Black) with white subway tile as the backsplash or Verde Butterfly with perhaps a light seafoam green glass tile as the backsplash.
Though I know it will be taste specific with these colors, we still want it to have some resale appeal (in a few years).
Would love to hear your thoughts!
Thanks!!!
Gabrielle
March 20th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Tom –
We have a modified A frame home with reverse board and batten natural cedar siding in the woods on a lake. I like anything Frank Lloyd Wright like – nature inspired, simple, clean lines. We are doing an entire 1st floor remodel. The stacked stone fireplace, lots of windows and plate glass panel railings are staying. Everything else goes. We are looking at 4 3/4 dark oak stained and finished on site flooring, natural maple shaker cabinets and stainless steel appliances. It is an open galley plan with a 160″ wall to wall run with stools on the living room side (no upper cabinets) and the back side has a 42″ hallway back to a pantry a 24″ cabinet, then the stove with a stainless range hood that goes to the ceiling and another 24″ cabinet, then the counter depth fridge completes that run.
I want a backsplash that goes under those two 24″ cabinets that flank the stove and goes all the way to the ceiling behind the hood. It will be the focal point of the kitchen.
I am having a terrible time picking a granite and backsplash combo. I want something that won’t date, be too hard to keep clean and has no pink undertones. I don’t want something “typical” or too matchy watchy with only golds and browns. Right now I think I like Surf Green because Costa Esmeralda seems too grayed off and depressing. I want something relaxing and inviting that is semi interesting but doesn’t scream “look at me!!” with a plainer complementary back splash. I have been really considering maybe a backpainted plate glass.
Any suggestions? This is the hardest most expensive decision ever!
Thanks in advance for any help.
Vicki