Re: black granite------ I'm not a pro or anything, but we put a home depot grade black granite as our vanity top in a bathroom and the spots and finger prints do drive me crazy, and I'm the last person to call a neat freak. It never seems clean. I was recently at floor and decor looking at granite (dreaming of finishing a basement) and saw a honed black granite that looked really nice if your heart is set on black. I've seen that (honed black) in a kitchen in a luxury home and it looks extremely nice. It's a bit more expensive, but worth considering if choosing between black granites. Personally, I'm more of a marble fan and have marble in the kitchen. It's more high maintenance (meaning, you just have to use common sense and not treat it like you did in college). I've also owned a home with silestone and that is one durable and tough stone.

I think this is a really nice kitchen - you've done a nice job. The only thing that is throwing it off are the two different floors in dining and kitchen area. I'd like to see the same flooring continued through both areas. I think you'll be very pleased with the difference it makes. Since you do not like the wood or the tile, perhaps a porcelain 12x24 tile would work for you. It's very durable, so you wouldn't have to worry about the Newfies scratching it and very easy to maintain. You'd could opt for one of the wood grains on the market or one made to simulate stone. I think a greyish color would work well.

A15) @Dara Cooke: If you can't afford a quartz or granite worktop from day one then I would recommend using a laminate worktop as a temporary solution. If you don't put tiles up as a backsplash then replacing the worktops can be relatively easy in a couple of years.

Hi there everyone! I am just wondering what countertop material is preferred for busy kitchens? This will be for the service industry. A brand new restaurant with a modern all-white design. I am not set on the countertop color but I am open to ideas. Do you prefer quartz, marble, granite, etc? Thanks!