As a “shout out” to my dearly departed wife, who liked to add red accents to the kitchen, I’d like to install something with some red in it without actually putting a red counter in this new room.

It’s a cape, and I took down a load bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room to give myself a larger eat in kitchen. I’ll have a peninsula about 3 feet into the old dining room, the “kitchen side” of it will be under the new beam. There will be a small island opposite the sink, which is centered under a new garden window. (west exposure)

The tile floor is a dark slate green with some tan highlights that match the Waverly toffee cabinets from Armstrong. The appliances are stainless, including the range hood, but the sink is white porcelain farm style. The island is where the cooktop will reside. The new room is 10 x 24, about 14′ of it is kitchen, all of it is tiled.

I have been focused on light colored counters because the floor is so dark, but I’ll have 5 recessed lights in the ceiling plus a track light over the sink so perhaps I can get something darker.

Do you think it’s a good idea to mix colors between the main counter and the island? If I have a white based color will it clash with the sink? I’m more of a nuts and bolts guy, color is my weakness.

Thank you so much for sharing your expertise to help out with the confusing decorating choices! I already spent almost a month trying to make the granite decision and still cannot decide! I am remodeling our small tract home kitchen and cannot decide on the granite countertop choice. The kitchen size is about 12′ by 10′ with the honey oak cabinet and light pinkish cream tile floor. All appliances are stainless, with stainless sink and faucet. The kitchen gets the considerable light from the connecting breakfast nook’s 4 windows (facing east and north), so the amount of light is not that much of a concern. The connecting family room has the beige-orangish with some vein tile floor and the beige paint color. The connecting breakfast nook has the pinkish tile floor.

I am deciding between uba tuba and tan brown granite. I like the depth and specks of uba tuba, but am afraid that its green color will crash with the pinkish tile floor. Will the tan brown’s reddish spots helps tie in the floor color or will it just accentuate the pink even more? (I don’t like the pink tile, but the budget doesnot allow for changing it out.) Which one do you think will go better with the cabinet, the floor color and appliances? or should I consider something totally different? I want some contrast with the cabinets, but also keep the color theme consistent with the connecting family room and breakfast nook. Thank you again and greatly appreciate your help!

Pat