SoCal Granite Choice Help
Dear Tom,
Your website is very helpful, Thank you for it. We also live in southern California, so I hope that you can help me pick out something and I will be able to find it locally. We are just beginning our kitchen remodel of our 40 year old home. I need help in picking out a flooring and also granite to go with our cabinets.
A little about the space. As you walk into our home the living room is on your right, if you continue to walk straight through from the entry the dining/kitchen space is next and is approx a 15.5′ x 24′ space. The kitchen is “U” shaped and we will have a large center island approx. 51″ x 80″. We will have all stainless appliances. There is a window that looks out into the backyard above the sink as well as a sliding door that goes out to the backyard these both face east. We want all granite countertops. We will also have a granite buffet area (sits on base cabinets) opposite the window wall that is approx 6′ long. This extends into that dining part of the room. So, the cabinets we have chosen are Kitchenmaid maple with the Nutmeg Glaze, We are thinking of using a Versailles pattern travertine in either a cappuccino or a walnut color for the flooring that will also include the entry way. This has a variation of cream and warm brown shades in it but it is not to light as to show all the dirt. I would prefer wood floors but I don’t think it practical with a dog, 2 cats, 2 teenagers and a pool in the backyard. What do you think of this choice?
As far as the granite goes, we have looked at Santa Barbara and Giallo Humatia. I saw a Lapidus in a magazine on some similiar cabinets, but it was hard to really see it. Not sure if it would work.I do not like any granite with a peach, pink, rust tone to it and nothing too dark. I think I want something with a warm brown, cinnamon or nutmeg spot in it. Something warm. I just want to make sure the flooring, the cabinets and the granite all go together. I like the Santa Cecilia and have it in my bathroom but read your “track home” thoughts on it in other posts. I haven’t decided on wall colors yet.
I definitely appreciate any help you can give me. Sorry this is so long.
Kim ( Thousand Oaks, Ca)
Hello Kim,
I really like the Versailles patterned tile flooring in a kitchen as long as it is in the dark tones as you mentioned. This makes for a warmer and lower maintenance floor because the grout joint will be a little darker and not show every speck of dust and dirt. Be sure to seal it well and get a good quality travertine selection without too much pitting.
The cabinet color and glaze is also right on target with a well thought out updated décor that will be timeless. Finally, stainless is a must as you have mentioned.
Certainly any granite color that is peachy or yellow would ruin the room. The perfect granite color to me for this combination would be Terra Brazilis or something very similar. There are a ton of new colors coming on the market so you need to take a walk down the isles of some of the large suppliers in Southern California. I would suggest going to the Bedrosian Tile slab yard in Orange (on Pacific) and see their huge selection. You can ask for manager Dan Drew and just tell him that Tom Cordova said to give you a tour. Their prices are reasonable and the selection is gigantic. If you need quality fabricator/installer, let me know.
The Santa Cecelia color is certainly one of the lower cost granite and it is right for some kitchens that really need a certain specific color and temperature. I would not recommend it for a kitchen with a big island and travertine Versailles pattern floors — too cheap looking. You need to look at the semi exotic level, like Terra Brazilis and others.
Other colors that would go well are Dark Juperana Persa or one with a little more deep green like Esmeralda Quartzite (this would look amazing).
Regarding the edge detail, consider a Roman Ogee edge detail like the one shown on www.HomeGranite.com.
Thank you for your support and anyway I can help out a So Cal neighbor, let me know.
