Please help with countertop selection!

7 years ago

I need help - I am going crazy over countertop selection!

4 slabs of Taj Mahal have gone back to stoneyards from the fabricator because of serious flaws filled with fillers. One pair they fabricator didn’t even take delivery on because of a crack in the outside one on the truck. The next pair we could not place the templates on in an acceptable way without having a ton of waste.

SO round 3 of going to stone yards in Houston! This time I found some River White granite that I actually found stunningly beautiful. However, I was going for a calm feel, since this large island is in the middle of an open concept area with our family room. Cabinets will be cream, heavy on the yellow side (too much to repaint all trim in the whole house!), on the uppers and island and black on the perimeter bottoms.

I have been dragging around a trim piece with the creamy white color trying to make sure my selection of countertop does not make the trim look too yellow, which happens when they are too gray.

Here is a photo of the latest consideration, River White, along with a tile that is similar to the off-white cabinets. It’s very hard to get what the stone looks like in a photo. There is some beautiful what looks like iridescent Mother of Pearl in the stone.

Please share your thoughts! I am a crazy person at this point!!!!

Featured Answer

njdcgirl

7 years ago

Sherryl - sorry, I changed my user name b/c it had my full name - I'm Kristin from the other post above with the river white granite and the maple cabinets. The backsplash is a cream tumbled glass tile from Lowes. We tried it with white subway and glass, but didn't like it with the cabinets. The cream backsplash brought out the warm tones of the granite and helped it go better with our cabinets and beige tile floor, which we didn't want to switch out. Here's another view.

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Comments (38)

waverly6
7 years ago
I love it. Beautiful granite.
mvcanada
7 years ago
I like the granite very much. I think I'd wait to choose the tile until everything else is installed. Sometimes seeing it all put together completely changes your thinking about what you want or what the space needs.

Also, remember that when looking at an entire slab, yes, it might have a lot of movement and feel busy, but when it is cut into tops, it is not going to feel the same way. Now, a slab for an island, depending on the size of the island, yes, you are going to get the look of an entire slab, but not so on the perimeter pieces.

Do you have pictures of the rest of the space? What do you have on your floors? Do you have lighting choices made etc?
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Pam A
7 years ago
You are not alone. Picking countertop material is incredibly difficult because you cant take home a piece of the slab you want and see it in your own light, and you are picking a $$$ horizontal surface while it is vertical. It's like choosing wall paint based on how it looks in a showroom floor. Madness!

Are you looking at the same 3 stone yards? I went to about 4 yards in roughly the same area (within a 15 mile radius) and while they were large with many slabs ... I wasn't finding anything that made me super excited. So I went to a yard in a crazy expensive town (property taxes there are 4-5x what they are here). Smaller selection BUT oh my gosh so worth it. Stones I had not seen before, gorgeous slabs, and shockingly ... pricing was not any higher than the other yards. So if there is a yard you have skipped because "it says exotic, I can't afford it ..." please just go look.

River White is pretty, but read up on staining issues. Taj Mahal is one of the bulletproof counters and if that was part of why you chose it, you might be disappointed with River White. What about a nice White Macaubus? That is very creamy. Good luck! (It's not you, this honestly is HARD)

GRRi
PRO
JAN MOYER
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I must ask...............Is this new cabinetry and has been ordered? Or you are painting existing cabinetry? Either way....... I'd limit black to an island, and ANY kitchen is too big an investment to work around a trim color that can be changed . Just saying. Also............in any top with significant movement, there will be waste for a pleasing result.

"The next pair ( Taj ) we could not place the templates on in an acceptable way without having a ton of waste." Maybe reconsider that statement ....? Your new selection IS going to read very gray.
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
The cabinet doors are being painted to match the tons of existing woodwork and trim in the house. And I do love the color, but need to be careful of the warm tones with too much gray in the granite. I’m going back to the stone yard this morning with trim pieces and wall color with me.

And, yes, part of the problem is seeing the huge slabs standing upright, and then photos from an iPhone always look grayer than they actually are. And the tint change you can do on the phone isn’t exactly right, either.

Here are a couple of photos of the former kitchen, along with the design of the new one. The surround of the Island is staying. I personally love the light cream island instead of the dark that everyone seems to do. It makes less of a barrier or something for me.

Thank you all for your input and encouragement. Good to know I’m not the only one who goes crazy over this!
PRO
JAN MOYER
7 years ago
To what does the blue door lead?
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
Pantry. It’s an antique door from Newport, RI. I also have a real antique fireback from early 19th century, “Piper dancing with dog” for over the range, which is a Wolff.
PRO
JAN MOYER
7 years ago
JMHO........ But my bet is the elimination of a jutting corner walk in pantry, would /could have led to a FAR better layout and more functional kitchen. I knew you were going to say pantry : )
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
Huh, would have never thought of that. I do use it and it’s being renovated too. I have tons of glass ware, vases, serving pieces, etc. I don’t use it as a food pantry, but more of a butler pantry. There will be a wood countertop with storage above and below.
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
Pantry inspiration
PRO
JAN MOYER
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
A useful pantry doesn't dictate WALK IN. You entire kitchen may have had far more possibilities, to include a better fridge locale, a better island shape. Who KNOWS?

This is why we ( pros) say over, and over and over..........get a pro KD before you simply begin painting or replacing cabinetry. Look at ALL the possibilities, even if it may mean a bit of a wait or more savings time $$$ allowed.

Nobody can say what may have been possible here, we don't have a detailed demo of before with every possible dimension. But your "shelf" wall isn't great either. Imagine what THAT may hve been. Hard to say.........

You're not getting a better DESIGNED kitchen, you're changing colors and surfaces. Fine if it makes you happy, but could have been far better than what is planned. I can't lie : ) I'd have a sledgehammer at that walk in, most likely.
felizlady
7 years ago
Yellow-cream cabinetry does not work with gray-and-white counters because they are from different families of color. Do you wear a gray top with a cream-yellow bottom? Of course not.
You can use black counters or a multi-tone granite which includes the color of your cabinetry in its several colors. Do you want big contrast or colors which blend calmly with each other?
Your next issue, once you find a counter which goes with your cabinets, will be the backsplash. It needs to work with the counter AND the cabinet color. If your counter has a busy pattern, you should probably choose a solid color tile for the backsplash....and the three materials need to live together nicely.
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
Yes that’s why I’m taking a trim piece to the stone yard today, to see if the cream in it is creamy enough
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
thank you all, because I agree with Jan, IT’S JUST PAINT! I can change the island surround color easily, and the custom doors have not been painted yet anyway. I have never been happy with that super yellow-y trim color! (And Jan, I am happy with the layout, hence we are not changing it. The main thing we were doing is changing out the cabinetry from the builders-grade with empty, messy blind corners and non-full overlay doors.)

So I picked up some SW paint colors. What do y’all think? This sample of White River granite is not as warm as our granite, but see if this would work. And the second photo is the slab with the yellow-y color already in place. I know photos are hard to tell.
Beth H. :
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
well, based on that pic, I'd say NO. it's too yellow.

Can't you change your paint color to more of a white? (sorry if I missed that explanation)

here is river white in these pics. see if this would work for you:

This one is honed), but notice how it looks w/the crisp white and gray tones.

try looking at Delicatus Cream (also known as Alaska White, but they have a cream version) Looks similar to this one:

or maybe Black Horse? This varies quite a bit w/the veining. but it does have creamier white tones

The Cielo Blue quartzite would work.

These are pre-fab granite, but they have the right tones to work w/your colors.

Typhoon bordeaux also has creamier whites
Aglitter
7 years ago
If you were set on quartzite originally, try Aria stone gallery in Houston. I just visited the Dallas location of this company yesterday, and they hand pick every slab. The quality is impeccable. They specialize in quartzite but do carry a few granite slabs as well.
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
Beth that is SO helpful. The first photo with the batten white paint chip sample would be a potential new paint color. It’s still too yellow?
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
Here is a photo of the granite I fell in love with. I’d like to try to make this work by changing the off-white paint color of the Island and cabinets and maybe then the whole house. It needs to be a SW paint color because that’s what the company doing the cabinet doors prefer (or else they paint match).
Beth H. :
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Here are some SW whites. as you can see, your paint sample is really yellow in comparison. SW Alabaster is comparable to BM White Dove.
if going for a match w/this stone, I'd pick something on the left column.

BM Simply White is my favorite. it's a perfect 'neutral' white. (really has no visible undertones)

here is Alabaster. notice the cabs closest to the doors and natural light. nice bright white, yes? now look at the left side where it gets indoor lighting. takes on more of a creamier white.

so, make sure you have the correct task lighting temp bulbs in your kitchen area. 4000K would be perfect.
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
Wow, Beth, that’s amazing!!!! That sure saves me a trip to SW to discuss this by asking what the formulas are!!! What about the second one in the column? It’s hard to read, but I think it’s Dawny or something like that. I don’t have any pure whites anywhere in my house, but do have some taupy colors, besides the creams. Would Dawny work to bridge that and still look good? Does it change colors like Alabaster?
Beth H. :
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
here are some other pics for you to compare. If you think you want a creamier white, then grab a few samples and try them. remember, if your bulbs are very warm temperature (under3200) then it's going to make the creamy whites look a lot more yellow toned.

Downey would be a bit creamier. tried to find photos

Downey:

SW Shoji White (very much an off white)

Pure White. see the diff?

Snowbound

Creamy:

Dover White

https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/inspiration/gallery/interior-rooms/kitchen
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
Those photos aren’t popping up yet. Hopefully they will soon!!! I AM SO GRATEFUL TO YOU!
Beth H. :
7 years ago
really? I see them. are you on your phone or the app? the app has tons of issues. if you have a desktop or laptop, use it.
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
Ok I’ll switch - I’m on my iPad pro
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
That is really helpful On my Mac now. So this tells me I need to get the color cards from SW on Monday and go down once again to the stone yard! I can't believe I have become a crazy person over this! I am normally not indecisive! I'm just out of my element and don't want to make a mistake. It appears to me that this White River has some creamier tones in it than some of them seem to. That is what drew me to it, and you wouldn't believe the GORGEOUS Mother of Pearl in it (at least that's what it looks like). Photo don't do it justice.
njdcgirl
7 years ago
We actually just updated our kitchen with River White and I the slab we got was fairly warm. We went with a cream backspash and I love it with our maple cabinets. I think it can definitely trend warm depending on the slab.
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
Kristin, I'm so glad you said that and posted your photo! Can you post a photo of more of the stone and have your backsplash in the photo too? Does is look somewhat like mine above? It's so hard to tell when the stone is at the stone yard and then they have to cut it before they bring it into your space! Thank you for posting that! I'm still going to repaint our trim and have them paint our upper cabinets a different, less yellow white - I never liked all that yellow anyway, and it's just paint!!
njdcgirl
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

Here is my stone at the warehouse - mine looks less gray than yours. Are your darker flecks a dark burgundy Or charcoal? Mine are definitely red.
njdcgirl
7 years ago
here is a close up with the tile. Not the best lighting so sorry for that. My stone has some mother of pearl looking

flecks too, and also some lighter areas that almost have some tan which is why I think it looks ok with the warmer backsplash color and my cabinets.
njdcgirl
7 years ago
Sorry - not sure why the pictures didn't post. Let me try again.
njdcgirl
7 years ago
jacqtopia
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hi Sherryl, Houston peep here. If you are still looking at stone I highly recommend going to Pomegranit Stones at Clay Road and Hempstead (290 area). The stone yard is all inside and they have a humongous selection in their warehouse. They are very kind and reasonable to work with, no pressure, and had the best selection we found anywhere. We have purchased recently 2 slabs of white delicatus for our kitchen and a slab of fantasy brown for master bath from them. (thank you Harvey).

Definitely check them out if you aren't 100% with the stones you've picked out.

Also Daltile and several other tile companies have showrooms within a couple of miles there on Hempstead.
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
Great to know! I saw that one when I was going to several but did not go in. Will go in the morning! Thank you so much for telling me!
jacqtopia
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
You are so welcome. Good luck with your hunt.
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
njcgirl - That’s GORGEOUS! Do you have white cabinets? What is the color? And I LOVE that tile! What is it? Is it a pure white?
Sherryl
Original Author
7 years ago
Ok thank you everyone! You really made a difference and convinced me to JUST CHANGE THE PAINT! I’m going with SW Dover White - I went this morning to the SW store and bought 3 samples, painted them on a trim board and took them to the stone yard. All would have been fine, but Dover. White has just enough warmth to work with the rest of our house. I will probably have to repaint some of the loads of trim, but it will be worth it!

Y’all are the best!!!!
Johns Creek
7 years ago

My cabinets and trim are Dover White (#2 and #4 from left) Island is a dark gray stain (#3 from left) walls are Collonade (#1) and I found a Sea Pearl Quartzite that is a beautiful match. Have you seen any Sea Pearl? Similar to Taj Mahal.