Granite Color Advice - Verde Fire Granite and Indian Black Granite
Tom-
Talk about stress!! We are just starting to build a new home with the kitchen as the center of the house opening to the great room and breakfast room with a sun room visible through a 4′ French door opening. Kitchen has a counter on 2 sides and a 4×6′ island in the center with the stove, fridge and baking center on the opposing walls. We thought of honey colored Bamboo floors throughout the house except for the sunroom which is up for grabs, paprika cherry with black coffee glaze cabinets, nickel handles and pulls, and stainless appliances. Anything is up for grabs except the stainless steel. We looked at Verde Fire for the granite on the island, Indian Black for the counters, with a curve and then a straight bullnose edge so as not to overwhelm. We found some subway, shiny and slightly rounded tile in a soft green with brown/grey undertones that we thought we could use for the back splash which matches the Verde Fire green which we would install in a vertical position.
After looking at it a 100 times, nothing looks good at all. What with you do given the same scenario–nothing is definite except for the stainless appliances. Oh yah, and then there is the issue of what to use on the floor in the sunroom which opens to the pool so has to be water resistant. House tends to be craftsman/traditional in a very casual way.
Hello Susie,
Seldom do I hear a client want to use Verde Fire because it is so outside the normal kitchen style pallet. I hear about it on fireplaces and bathroom vanities most often. I think this is because this stone might not give that good kitchen sterile feeling like other true tone granite colors. Still, I love that you are considering it and I just want to make some suggestion around it for you to think about.
I like the idea of Verde Fire for an island accent with the black glazed cherry cabinets. It would be too much to have it throughout but what an awesome look as an accent. I don’t like Indian Black Granite countertops because they always show dust and finger prints and they never show ants! I am pretty biased about this so if you really love the black, just be prepared to deal with the continuous maintenance. I want you to consider a very dark Verde Ubatuba for the perimeter countertops. As I have mentioned elsewhere on my blog, Dark Ubatuba Granite is the best color with stainless. If you find some very dark slabs, this will compliment the Verde Fire and the subway tile.
Way to go on the subway tile color! The color you described sound perfect but I would not go vertical on the layout unless you are running it all the way to the ceiling at some area. Normally, subway tile runs horizontally in a brick pattern but I have seen it vertically when there is an area that goes to the ceiling to tie in the long vertical intent. I think this is a good rule to follow and feels accurately planned out.
The bamboo floor sounds perfect as well but I would suggest a lighter more natural color without much variation. Perhaps this is what you meant but I wasn’t sure.
I hope this helps! Best wishes and please send a photo of this kitchen when it is done.
July 26th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Hi Tom,
We found a letter a guy wrote to you about Verde Fire. We have just purchased a home that is beige from head to toe! (very monochromatic and model home looking)-everything my husband and I don’t like! So we are going to remodel a little at a time. The first thing that goes is the travertine beige flooring, and the second thing that goes is the very boring granite. We purchased the most gorgeous slabs of Verde Fire. It really is stunning. It is bold, but we will only be using it in the kitchen. (island and two counters). The backsplash we selected will be used brick with a pencil line around it in patina copper. The flooring we have selected is hand scraped engineered hardwood floor in 8″ planks-a rich, but not too dark reddish brown. We are going for the rustic look throughout the house with accents on copper pots, comfy furniture, gorgeous tapestry area rugs, etc. You get the picture.
Question: We want to change the color of the kitchen cabinets. They are in fine shape, but the color is that light blond-no character, and very contemporary looking. We do not want matchy to the floor obviously…that would be way too dark with the Verde Fire and the hardwood flooring. What do you think? We have on board a great faux painter-but we don’t know what direction to go—creme with a carmel glaze? The
house has all white plantation shutters that we intend to keep.
The walls will be warmed up a bit from a cheap dull beige to a warmer light honey.
Your input would help so much.
Thanks,
Judi Mottus