Based on the useful responses to the other questions on your site, you definitely seem to be the person to turn to for sound advice when it comes to picking granite. We need some help in choosing the best colour for our kitchen countertops. Our kitchen appliances are black, the walls painted in Benjamin Moore (Canada) “Laurentian Red” (CC152). Our backsplash & floor ceramic tiles are a blue/gray (”French Quarter”). Cabinets are oak w/ a cinnamon (orange undertone) type stain. The kitchen is open onto the dining area that has honey oak hardwood.

We have a rather large island w/breakfast bar in the middle of the kitchen that, along with the counters adjacent the stove, will be done in granite, thus there will be a large amount of area covered.

We are looking strictly for resale value as we are renovating the home to prepare for a move. A colour we had considered was “Absolute Black” however I am beginning to think that with the black appliances, dark red paint, and large center island that the black will be too overwhelming and dark.

Natural light is “okay” - we are in an interior attached townhome w/neighbours on either side, thus we only have natural light coming from the North and South (kitchen is on the South end).

Any help would be much appreciated! (I can send a picture of the room if that would be useful).

Robyn

Hello Robyn,

Definitely do not go with Absolute Black Granite for several reasons. It will be far too cold and flat with the CC152 paint. Also, the blue/gray tiles combined with the black will fight with the warm oak floors and your paint color. Personally, I think the floor really conflicts with the paint color but most buyers don’t really notice kitchen floors. Also, Black Granite is not a good color for resale. It could easily drive the top paying buyer away. You can also search ‘Black Granite’ on my blog and see my other important comments about using this color.

You need to use a mainstream granite color that has highlights which will pull from the Luarentian Red paint. Movement in the granite would help and add some character and interest over the large breakfast bar area. My best suggestion is Juparana Columbo because it even contains some blue/gray veins which will provide continuity with the floor. However, this granite is pretty wild and you might not see the best quality or color selection in your local market. Check it out and you will either love it or hate it.

Therefore, I also want to suggest that you consider Tan Brown Granite or Autumn Brown Granite. You can see swatches of these on www.GraniteStock.com. These two would work well with black appliances, as well as your floor tile and the paint. They are also probably the best color choices for resale as long as your kitchen is not too small.

My best wishes to you!
Tom

Hi Tom. I am in the process of buying a townhome from a builder that I almost passed up due to the granite selection, Venetian Gold. It is a spec home and I don’t have the option of changing it. I took some friends by to look at it and give their thoughts. They liked the stone, but one suggested that the tile flooring and backsplash is not a good match. The current tile is a creamy, yellowish color with a little veining. With that suggestion, I’m growing to like the Venetian Gold, but am not sure what color tile and b/s I should have it replaced with, as well as the paint choice.

My cabinet color is called cherry spice - 42″ meet the ceiling, canned lighting, appliances stainless steel with black trim. The kitchen is open to the living area and breakfast nook, both covered with wood flooring of a med reddish brown color, living area ceiling height is a full two floors. My furniture style is contemporary, but not a cold urban loft look.

I would appreciate your suggestions for tile and paint color to maintain a sort of coffee house/bistro sort of look with this granite color.

Shari

Hello Shari,

Even though you are working around the constraints of stainless appliances with black trim and New Venetian Gold Granite, you can still achieve the coffee house/bistro ambiance. The granite color is quite popular and tames the kitchen enough to allow you to go bolder with the paint. Paint is a funny thing because it can totally sell a home for top dollar if it is the right color, but if the color is wrong, buyers usually look past it and just imagine another color to change to after they own it.

The coffee house, bistro feel would work well with New Venetian Gold and Cherry Spice cabinets. Leave the floor as is. For the backsplash, I suggest Roman tumbled travertine (4″x4″) set on a 45 degree angle with almond grout. Now! Here is the fun part. Consider a blue or sage green paint for one wall as an accent. Paint the other walls to match the floor kitchen floor walls (creamy/yellowish). If the accent wall gets a lot of natural light, forget the blue and go with sage green. Blue is very tricky and it needs to be a purple/blue, as shown in the photo below, to warm the room up. I like this best but if it gets too much natural light it will turn everything in the room blue, including your face! In which case, go with a sage green and even consider matching the carpet in the living area. See the sage green carpet swatch below, also.

The goal is to darken up the area a little to get the coffee house mellowness but you need more color than just the New Venetian Gold offers. Going this route also allows for future buyers to change the whole décor but just changing the paint color. Also, it sounds like your furniture will go well in this setting as well.

My best wishes!
Tom