Hi, Tom,

My introduction to World Vision was through my mother. She has never been well-off yet has sponsored a child since her college days… 55 years and still going!

We need help choosing a granite color (and maybe advice on floor color). What shall I tackle first: the kitchen design or the granite choices? Let’s go with design.

We have purchased traditional style cherry cabinets with a sable/nutmeg finish, no glaze. Our kitchen (remodel) is a galley style, about 10′x17′. One side has a pantry cabinet/3′ of granite/sink under window/5-6′ of granite; the opposite wall has stainless steel refrigerator/2′ granite/range with black ceramic cook top/2′ granite and over a bit is a 42″x48″ island.

We’re thinking of tumbled traverine for the backsplash. The walls are painted light beige/tan. I should mention the other appliances are stainless too. Until I read some of the postings I hadn’t thought of anything but a stainless undermounted sink–should we consider black?

The ceiling is 8′ and the kitchen gets no direct sunlight as its window faces east but is under an overhang. After the remodel the kitchen will open northward into the family room (which also gets little direct sunlight). That said, we live in So. Cal. and actually do have mostly sunny days.

I like movement/pattern in a granite and would like to walk into the kitchen each morning and say, “Wow, that’s a fabulous work of art!” My wife prefers subtle but distinct movement (not sandy looking) and wants “blend” and “balance” so the kitchen won’t look too “busy.” Help!

The first granite I chose was called Crema Beach (that bold chunky look!). There was some concern that it would be hard to decorate around. Next we considered Incas; right colors but maybe boring. We were trying to stay away from yellows, so we thought of Bianca Romano. I think a roman ogee edge looks nice.

Since we suspect travertine is too slippery for our two large dogs and three pool-loving kids, I’d like the floor to be medium dark porcelain tile that sort of blend into the cabinets. My wife is concerned that will be too dark.

Thank you for considering all of this!!

Paul

Hello Paul,

Thank you for the great explanation of your intended remodel. It is very helpful to get so many details.

Let me start from the ground up. Dark porcelain floor tile would really close in your galley kitchen. I would not recommend it. In addition, dark colors are just flat out hard to keep clean. Being a Southern California resident myself and father of small children, I can confidently say that you floor will always look dirty if you choose a dark color. The sable/nutmeg finished cherry cabinets are screaming for a lighter color floor.

That being said, I recommend looking into a travertine designed porcelain tile in a color that matches the tumbled travertine backsplash that I will mention a little later. Some of the best porcelain knockoffs of travertine that I have seen are at Bedrosians Tile and Marble www.Bedrosians.com on State College Blvd in Anaheim. Don’t go with natural travertine for kitchen floors. It is just too high maintenance in an area that involved cooking grease and other food products that love to stain natural travertine. I would avoid the really light colors and choose a classic mid-cream cross cut travertine design in 18×18 format of porcelain tile.

Now the floor needs to work with the cabinets and the granite. Think cream, not bone or gray. Cream will work with the cabinets. The floor is somewhat mottled now so I want to recommend the following granite colors for the countertops. Juparana Gold Rush, Indian Parana, and African Ivory. These granite colors will open the kitchen and present style and artistic intent. In gallery kitchens, tile on the splash is the way to go. In your case, tumbled or hone travertine in a 4″x4″ size is the perfect. These granite colors have black accents that have just the right amount to go with your appliances. They have the background hues to mix with the tile splash and the dark cabinets. You can see swatches of these at www.GraniteStock.com and you will notice they don’t look the same. You can also see some good travertine backsplash combination in the online kitchen gallery at www.HomeGranite.com.

One of these granite colors should ‘move’ you. That should be the catalyst that makes your decision. That feeling is what will make you enjoy the granite every day and for many years.

Lastly, I do like a black sink in this décor rather than a stainless sink, except if you choose the African Ivory. It is not a décor breaker to use stainless but it really would put the final splash of style in the kitchen. Go with the Rroman OG if you have raised/recessed panels in the cabinet faces. Go with a flat edge if the panels are flat.

My very best wishes and thank you for supporting the Rock Blog’s World Vision kids.

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