What Color of Granite Countertops Are Best With Light Maple Cabinets & White Appliances?

Floor and wall color should also be considered in the final selection process.

Granite countertops are a favorite addition to many kitchen designs. Thousands of colors of granite exist, each with its own characteristics that can help it fit into a number of kitchens. Maple is a low-grained species of wood with a naturally pale color. It can be stained a deeper tone, which can allow it to work with a large number of granite colors. Taken together with white appliances, a kitchen design could range from light to dark with granite colors and still work well.

Gold-toned Granites

Maple is a warm-colored wood. When paired with white appliances, use a warm granite that has small flecks of white to complement both. Look for stones that also have small flecks of cranberry or blue in them to give you a palette for kitchen wall colors as well. Choose stones such as Giallo Ornamentale, Colonial Gold, Delicatus, Santa Cecila and Golden Butterfly. Avoid stones with too much orange, such as Madurai Gold to avoid overpowering the light cabinets and appliances.

Silver-toned Granites

Gray stones are frequently paired with light cabinets and appliances for the cool-toned contrast that it brings. While solid gray stones such as Pietra can cause the kitchen to look too cold, softly mottled granites with blue/grays and whites mixed with browns can contrast nicely with the warmer cabinets. Look for stones such as Sapphire Blue Brown, Gold and Silver and Sierra White. The key to pulling off gray is to ensure it has a warm undertone like a tan somewhere in the stone. Avoid stones that have a blue cast to avoid making the kitchen seem too stark.

Green Granites

Green is one of the most complementary granites available. It can be warm or cool toned, and is frequently mixed with golds and whites to help it work with warm cabinets and white appliances.

Look for stones that have a lighter green hue to avoid going too dark. Costa Esmerelda, Coast Green, Golden Lightning, Earth Green, Laurentian Green and Peacock light will all complement light maple and white appliances. Avoid dark stones like Verde Uba Tuba or Butterfly, which will look too heavy in the space.

Wild Granites

Maple has very little graining or pattern to it. Depending on the style of the door, it can handle granites that have a great deal of pattern and color at once. For kitchens with a lot of open space, a busy granite can be a focal point in the room. Use a granite that has a lot of color and pattern, and use these colors elsewhere in the room. Silver Sparkle, Wild West, Kangaroo, Red Multicolor and Fuco will all set off the plainer cabinets while injecting color into the room.

References

• Kitchenology Blog: Color Combinations
• Daniel's Kitchen and Bath: Kitchen Remodeling
• Marble and Granite: Granite Slabs