How to Work with your Existing Granite when Updating your Kitchen

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​Most of the clients we work with are trying to bring their late 1990's- early 200o's Tuscan kitchen into the white/gray/cream updated kitchen of the moment. Many of them are also looking to update their backsplash, but keep the granite. One of my favorite color experts, Maria Kilim has coined the phrase, "Bossy Granite" and rightly so. She says there should really only be ONE busy pattern in a kitchen. If you've got granite with multiple colors and movement- That's your ONE pattern. And it's the BOSS. The Boss of your color palette for your kitchen. 

If ​your are updating your backsplash, you've really only got one option when working with Bossy Granite- a solid color tile. My preference is white or cream subway tile. It's classic, timeless and it let's the granite be the boss without a fight.

Solid color tile is the ONLY option for most people trying to update their kitchens with bossy-busy granite.

While we are talking about backsplashes. If your granite was installed with the 5" granite backsplash on the wall-that's it. You don't need another backsplash. That is your backsplash. It looks wrong to install a back splash on top of that. I should know- I did it in our last house. As a matter of fact- I broke all my own rules before I had any rules. How do you think I learned them????

When NOT to install a tile backsplash. And HOW not to select tile for your granite

Dana's Rules for working with granite in a kitchen update

1. If your granite has orange, yellow or brown- your cabinet color should have a touch of cream like SW Creamy or SW Navajo White.
2. If your granite is black- you are good to go for a classic black and white kitchen. My favorite whites are SW Alabaster, SW Pure White, and Porter Delicate White. You could also use your white trim color. 
3. If your granite has a touch of gray- you can usually pull off "greige". My favorite is SW Accessible Beige.
4. If you have Bossy Granite- use a solid color subway tile for your backsplash. ​You can use a solid color patterned tile like Arabesque, but those tend to get pricey. 
5. Your best flooring choice for Bossy Granite will always be a wood floor. 

This arabesque tile works beautifully with these granite counters.

I love the arabesque tile in this kitchen designed by Karen Viscito.

Sometimes just a color change can make your whole kitchen feel updated without changing anything else. 

BEFORE painting

AFTER painting. Same countertop-same tile

Tuscan kitchen BEFORE

AFTER- updated Tuscan kitchen with painted cabinets

Once you've updated your kitchen with freshly painted cabinets and a new solid color backsplash you can start saving your money for the NEXT BIG THING-- Quartz Countertops. Read what Kristie Barnett- The Decorologist has to say about Quartz Countertops.