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mnotor I meant to attach more images...

Decorative Overlays you could go with a concrete overlay and go with colors to complement them both no demo so faster and cheaper the a new countertop. below are before and after

mnotor Dytecture- would love your thoughts on a counter color...

Urbana ~ Designer Ellen Crystal http://www.cambriausa.com/en/our-collection/design-palette/ if you click on link, see a few quartz counter options. The site has a feature that ties your counter selection .... as an example "DURHAM" with a few suggested paint colours from Benjamin Moore. you could select the proposed grey for your cabinet tone. Then use that counter surface. For an upgraded look, try a glass mosaic with a medley of the tones from the counter & the paint tones suggested.

Your floor tone, while a definite salmon pink will be fine with the neutrals. You can always pull in that "pink" with some well chosen accessories.

most important is looking at all your possible material selections with your floor, in your space in day & night lighting. Keep in mind your undertones. NO Yellows or Greens ! That will only make the floor look more pink.

Senior Designer~Urbana, Victoria, BC

bevballew I say either black or a very soft color that blends with the floor color unless the top is very pink.

auroraborealus No more black countertops pls! So hard on the cook's eyes! Concrete requires floor joists checked by inspecotr and needs to be sealed. If your cabinets are good quality and floor is great just a few cosmetic and hygeinc changes required. What about a grey wash rather than paint to enhance the oak grain with a deeper shade on the bottom and a lighter shade on top? Then take your take your cues (and doors) to the kitchen centre: perhaps Martha Stewart Corian in Bedford Grey? Soft looking and hygienic. Also lots of less textured soft greys in granite available out of Canada and Brazil in 2013. Silestone a little boring in gray textures in 2013. Keep it all soft to mask the pinky floor tones down. Try to make it look like old salted terra cotta.and scrub, paint, and seal the grout lines to look salt stained. Some white paint blotted unevenly on with round edge of makeup sponge will do the job well. Seal it and let it look loved and lived in. A well loved kitchen is warm and homely.

Decorative Overlays with a concrete overlay you only resurface the counter you already have. The weight is very minimal and you don't need to do any thing to the joist. The final finish is seamless and you do not have to seal after. Cleans with 409!

Twisted Minds Custom Designs Auroraborealus, I'm not singling you out, but I have seen this misinformation about wieght of concrete tops many times on this site and again must clear up some misconceptions. Concrete tops weigh approx. the same as granite, or other natural stone (18 lbs. per s.f.). I have yet to see the issue of weight brought up about granite, but people consistently believe concrete tops will bring down the floor. Unless the house is very old, poorly built, or cabinets are of a very cheap quality, the majority of cabinets will hold the weight without issue, and if cabinets are of weaker construction, some simple bracing will stabilize to alllow installation. I've created a FAQ's page regarding concrete countertops to help homeowners and builders alike learn more about the material and decide if it is a building material they may be interested in using. Please read and use the information included in your future postings regarding concrete.

http://www.houzz.com/discussions/346684/Concrete-Countertops-FAQ-s-by-Twisted-Minds

Deborah Butler, Brickwood Builders Scottish Meadow granite would be a good choice if you are taking your cabinets into a gray tone and would work with your floor. Here is a link to one of the granite warehouses we use that carries this stone. I would keep the backsplash very neutral and in the white/gray tones.

http://www.ohmintl.com/live-inventory/all-locations/scottish-meadow

bevballew Love that granite with grey.

mnotor Thank you for the awesome suggestions folks. I don't know what I would do without this input.

carolins I followed the link to Deborah Butler's suggestion and really like that one.