A Splash of Granite Color in a Brown Pallet
Hi Tom,
I’ve just purchased my first home and am in the process of remodeling bits and pieces of it. One area that I’m looking to remodel is the kitchen with granite countertops.
I’m finding it hard to choose a color though (mostly because I don’t have that interior decorator savy), so any thoughts that you might had would be very helpful.
The kitchen is U-shaped with hardwood floors (original and 19 years old, so I think it’s oak). The walls are Spanish Sand and I’m planning to get new stainless steel appliances. The kitchen also flows openly into the family room.
Here are some shots from a virtual tour, but I also have some of my own shots which might be helpful.
http://www.obeo.com/tourimages/39/399559/breakfastnook_500.jpg
http://www.obeo.com/tourimages/39/399559/kitchen2_500.jpgI’m also thinking about redoing the fireplace with the same granite that I choose for the kitchen (though I may just use the same tile that I’m using for the entry way). Here’s a shot of the fireplace as well: http://www.obeo.com/tourimages/39/399559/livingroom2_500.jpg
Right now I’m thinking of going with Tropical Brown as a safe bet. Tan Brown is also on my list. I’m generally thinking a brown color would go well (but I get the impression that black would be too dark). I’m also thinking a darker granite would be better overall, not to mention it would hide stains better.
What do you think? Feel free to ask me any other questions and let me know if I can send you more pictures. Thanks!
He-Joon
Hello He-Joon,
You have your basic brown pallet going on already so rather than continue with another shade of brown, introducing another color here in the décor would be best.
Currently, with the white tile in place, you have your basic semi-upgraded cookie-cutter kitchen with an upper bar and pass through opening. To get the update and upgrade that you want, choose a granite color in the range of one of the primary colors. Since the primary colors are reds, greens and blues, what does this tell you about brown… boring!
I do love Tropical Brown and Tan Brown with stainless but the room needs to be big and the décor should almost always be modern-contemporary. Again, it would not look bad, just boring and give a ‘track home’ feeling.
That all being said, most blue granites are quite expensive and will conflict with those Spanish Sand walls that you have. Dark greens like Verde Peacock or Verde Butterfly would look great and are a very inexpensive granite color.
What I really like for your kitchen is red. I don’t mean bright cherry red, but the deeper, more intelligent red like Juparana Bordeaux. This is really the best color that I would recommend, although the greens I mentioned above are fine too. Juparana Bordeaux has the perfect mix of blacks, beiges and reds that would substantial upgrade your kitchen and work perfectly with your walls, cabinets, floor and stainless appliances.
Check Juparana Bordeaux Granite at your local granite yard and write back to me if you just hate it! I think you will love it.
Best wishes and thank you for supporting the Rock Blog’s World Vision kids!
July 4th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Hi, Tom. I really appreciate the opportunity to send you my question and make a donation to such a good cause at the same time. Here’s my setup – like others I’m trying to identify a good color for granite countertops. To stay within budget, my designer recommended I stick with the Milano Stones collection, groups A-C (need about 65 sq ft). This collection includes Giallo Veneziano, Dakota Mahogany, Baltic Brown, Tan Brown, Tropical Brown, Verde Ubatuba, and Verde Butterfly.
Looking in to the kitchen from the adjoining hallway, the entire kitchen space is L shaped. The foot of the L (I hope this makes sense) is an eat-in kitchen area off to the right. To the left is a small open area with French doors along the left wall. My kitchen’s functional workspace is the top of the L, essentially an upside-down U-shaped working space with a narrow peninsula across the left-front. There’s a window over the sink on the left wall. Prior to the peninsula on that same wall is the set of French doors. This wall with the natural light faces north. The floor is terra cotta tile (various shades of orange) with black grout. I will have KraftMaid cherry cabinets – honey spice color (very simple full overlay, raised panel style, called Knollwood. Sample Knollwood picture - http://www.newoodsmiths.com/KraftMaid/Knollwood.JPG Interestingly, this picture has a similar floor to mine although mine has square-shaped tiles. The cabinets in this picture are darker than mine will be.).
I need to replace the fridge and range – probably stainless steel. I have a good dishwasher in black that I’m not going to replace for now. The walls will be painted – maybe a cream with very soft orange undertones to complement the tile and cabinets (but I’m not wedded to this color – I’ll decide that last). I have pretty decent overhead lighting and will have under-cabinet lighting as well. The workspace (U shaped) area of the kitchen is about 12 by 8, not counting the “foot” of the L from the French doors to the eat-in area.
Back to the granite question. Given the space, colors, and budget concerns, do you have any suggestions for what color granite to go with? Other thoughts on what I’ve described are welcome, too. Thanks for your advice!
Jennifer