Kitchen

Black Kitchen Countertops

Last Updated on April 10, 2019 by

I’ve been thinking a lot about black kitchen countertops lately. Let me explain…

I’m finally to the point where all of the major projects are finished in the entryway, dining room, kitchen, and music room, with the exception of putting a new coat or two of Waterlox on the floor of the music room. And since my hallway bathroom is finished, that means that I’ll only have my hallway and breakfast room to go in order to have ALL of the “public” areas of the house finished (not counting the sunroom, which will eventually be torn down and rebuilt).

house floor plan - may 2016

It’s only the middle of May, so I think I can make quite a bit of headway towards getting all of those areas finished by the end of this year. The hallway won’t be a huge project at all, especially since most of the drywall has already been installed. The breakfast room will be a MUCH bigger project. It still needs to to be torn down to the studs and ceiling joists, and all new drywall installed. And then it also has a foundation issue. It’s the only room in the house (that won’t eventually be torn down) that has a slab concrete foundation. It’s not level with the kitchen floor, so it needs a coat of concrete over the top to raise it up about an inch.

But at some point, I’m going to circle back around to the kitchen and do a couple of projects in there. The first thing I want to do is build a vent hood cover that can be painted to match the cabinets. I specifically bought a vent hood with the controls on the bottom so that it could be covered eventually if I decided that’s what I wanted.

My vent hood can easily be covered since the controls are all on the bottom of the unit.

And after living with it for over a year-and-a-half, I’ve decided that it needs to be covered and painted to match the cabinets.

And my second goal is to address my concrete countertops. And that’s where black kitchen countertops come into the picture.

Trying to imagine my this space with black kitchen countertops.

I was always a bit disappointed that they weren’t more of a bright white. And now after a year-and-a-half, I’ve learned just how important it is to choose the right sealer for concrete countertops. The sealer I used wasn’t the best, and I have some pretty serious stains on my countertops.

The good thing about concrete is that there are loads of concrete stain removers on the market, and some of them work really well. So getting stains out isn’t an issue. The hardest thing about concrete counteretops is finding the best sealer.

After doing some pretty exhaustive research last year, I finally think I found the best sealer for concrete countertops. Interestingly, just a couple of months after I did my research and came to my conclusion, I saw that Chris & Julia used that exact sealer on their concrete countertops.

So I’ve been planning for several months to strip my countertops, remove the stains, and reseal them. But I’m also considering adding another step — staining the countertops black. Y’all know I love a green, black, and white color combo, and when I picture it in my mind, I think it would be beautiful! I love the look of black countertops.

These Black Kitchen Countertops Are Gorgeous!

Of course, about 90% of the pictures I come across with black countertops show them in white kitchens. So many white kitchens.

So it’s impossible for me to actually see an example of what black countertops would look like in my green kitchen. I did find several examples of black countertops in black or dark kitchens, though.

But I don’t think mine would look that dark since it gets plenty of natural sunlight.

I’m also torn between the really shiny black and the satin finish black countertops. The sealer I’ll be using comes in different sheens, so I could have very shiny countertops or more of a satin sheen. Every time I think I dislike the shiny black, I see one that I think looks gorgeous.

But I think a satin or even matte black is probably more my style.

I really have no idea when I’ll get to this project, but I’m hoping to tackle it before the end of this year. And I want to have a plan in place long before I’m actually ready to get started. The only thing holding me back from committing 100% to black countertops is that I’ve heard such mixed reviews of them. If you’ve lived with black kitchen countertops, I’d love to know your thoughts! Do you love them? Hate them? And why?

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119 Comments

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  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Rebecca B
    May 16, 2016 at 8:50 am

    I think that black countertops will look nice. Im sure either matte or glossy will look good but the countertops in the meredith herron picture look cracked. I hope you don’t copy that look!

    So the dining room is finished? When do we get to see?

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kate
      May 16, 2016 at 9:08 am

      Wow! They do look cracked. We bought a houst with black (and a few other gains of color) granite countertops. I don’t much like them, but the hubs is a geologist and he LOVES them…. Keeps finding different stuff in them… Matte black would look good.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Patty
      May 16, 2016 at 9:31 am

      The Meredith Herron countertops are not cracked, they are soapstone with white veins running through them 🙂 Soapstone runs the gamut from almost solid black/gray to very ‘busy’ with veins of white (and sometimes other colors) running through them.

      In my Texas house, I have black soapstone with a matte – satin sheen and in my Arizona house we have very dark Silestone with a more glossy finish. I *love* the dark countertops in both homes, but dust is much more apparent on the glossy finish. I don’t notice an issue with (seeing) the dust on the much less glossy soapstone (I have a *lot* of dust in both houses). If dust will bother you, I’d vote satin finish.

      Patty

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        Char
        May 16, 2016 at 9:45 am

        I agree with Patty. I have white countertops in my kitchen and in two of my bathrooms. But in the guest bath I have a shiny black marble countertop. And that is the place that dust seems to be an issue. The combination of black and shiny really seems to make the smallest amount of dust very noticeable. If you’ve decided on black I’d go with a matte finish.

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        Edith
        May 16, 2016 at 1:30 pm

        I think Rebecca was referring to the “crack” lines going from the metal basket to just under the edge of the counter. I could not tell what they were. It almost looks like silver wire although I am sure it is not.
        The matte finish on the counters is beautiful though.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      May 16, 2016 at 9:36 am

      The decorating isn’t finished yet, but the major remodeling type projects are finished now that the floors are done.

      That black countertop is soapstone and the white is the veining that runs through it. It’s not cracked. 🙂

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Stephanie
      May 16, 2016 at 6:15 pm

      They are soapstone. It is brining.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Natasha
    May 16, 2016 at 8:57 am

    My vote is for the matte or satin!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Dale
    May 16, 2016 at 8:58 am

    I like black countertops but beware, they will show every tiny speck of dust.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Gina
      May 16, 2016 at 9:30 am

      Oh, all the dust! Plan to wipe them down twice a day if the dust is going to bother you.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Brenda Pawloski
    May 16, 2016 at 8:59 am

    Kristi, I think it depends on the dominant color of your cat’s or cats’ fur! Spoken as a cat mom! Yes, I keep them gently off the counters during food prep and when we have guests they make themselves scarce (good thing because my parents would be horrified at the sight of my cat jumping up on the counters.) My kitties are dark torties so white is good for us to see the hairs and get them off. Although I like black counters, especially when they contrast with the cabinets, I need the visual cue to take action to keep the counters clean. Not that I would turn away an adorable light colored kitty in need. If that happened I’d need a better plan.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Susan
    May 16, 2016 at 9:02 am

    I have black countertops in my off white (yes, I know) kitchen and I absolutely love them. The are honed Jet Mist granite so they are very matte. They have a subtle pattern so they have enough interest for me and they don’t show stains at all. I never liked polished black granite countertops, they are just too shiny for me, but when I saw these I thought they resembeled soapstone, one of my favorite countertop materials.
    I love the idea of black countertops in your kitchen. They would carry the black through from your dining room curtains, which look fabulous by the way.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Justin
    May 16, 2016 at 9:07 am

    I too love black countertops. In fact, if it was only my choice and money was no object, I’d probably get black soapstone like the kind found in chemistry labs. I’ve always just loved the look (even though I know soapstone is very absorbent and needs to be constantly re-sealed).

    That said, I put Ikea’s black textured laminate in my condo before we sold it and lived with it for a year and it was kind of terrible. I think part of it was that it was laminate and thin one at that, so it chipped easily and when black chips and the board underneath shows, it looks really bad. It also scratched easily and black–especially solid black, shows EVERYTHING. Dust, water spots, toaster crumbs, you name it. It was very difficult to keep it looking clean, especially if you have appliances on the counters that make it difficult to do full wipe-downs. My parents have black marble floors an they always look dirty, no matter what you do to them. And the glossy finish has warn off (they are floors, of course).

    Some of those problems would be lesser-so with concrete or solid stone. However, you might want to consider repair. If it chips or scratches, is the white concrete going to show through? Are you going to want to sand the whole thing down, re-stain, and re-seal it when that happens? Also, I can tell you that glossy is the worst with water spots–especially over by the sink. Make sure your sealer can stand-up to something like Windex and invest in some large bottles if you want it to stay shiny and pretty like that.

    I think if it were me, I’d see if I had some extra white concrete and pour a small slab and try out the finish and see what I think of it. You could try to scratch it or put a hot pan on it or leave it near the faucet to get splashed–whatever abuse you think it’ll have to stand-up to and see if you like how it behaves.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Patty
      May 16, 2016 at 9:39 am

      Justin – Soapstone is *not* absorbent at all, it is completely nonporous (which is why it’s used in labs) – and NEVER needs to be sealed. People ‘oil’ it to give it the very dark/black look that occurs naturally with oxidation over time. The oil rests on top, it does not penetrate. It eventually evaporates, leaving the lighter color. Eventually (over years?), it darkens naturally. We chose soapstone for our home because it is completely impervious to all stains and etching, requires no sealing (I choose not to oil it, and it looks beautiful), you can use any cleaner you want, and I can put hot pots directly on it. It is softer than granite, so it can get nicks and dings (in 2+ years, mine have none), but they can be sanded out with regular sandpaper. I’m a total soapstone convert.

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        Christine
        May 16, 2016 at 1:12 pm

        in my opinion, I agree with Patti…Soapstone is the ultimate choice. Get a scratch…sand it out. Put your hot pots directly on..no worries of cracking. I do love the matte look.

        Kristi..good luck..I always enjoy your work and choices…

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        Dolores
        May 16, 2016 at 1:47 pm

        Absolutely right! I had beautiful Churchill soapstone counters installed in the fall of 2015, and my contractor told me that using wax( or oil) will just accelerate the darkening process, but it wasn’t necessary. I obsessively waxed them a few times, and that’s it, haven’t done them since Christmas- mine are so beautiful and impervious to anything that hits them. If I get a scratch, I add a bit of oil and they look perfect again.I love that you can put hot pots right on them too. I LOVE them 🙂

        • Reply To This Comment ↓
          Kathryn O
          May 28, 2016 at 8:49 pm

          Hi – I just had Churchill soapstone installed and love it. I am seeing some watermarks around my sink that I want to get rid of. Any advice?

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        Maryanne
        May 17, 2016 at 6:40 pm

        So glad you spoke up Patty! Some people don’t like when you disagree with them, or correct them. I too have soapstone and have had it for 15 years. My fabricator suggested oiling it every so often, which I did in the beginning. I rarely do it now since it has darkened over the years. Mine has beautiful dark green veins with bits of gold running through in some places. I could kick myself for not taking the double soapstone laundry sink out of the home we had before this one. I don’t know what I would have done with it, maybe a pet washing station had I thought about it, but sadly I didn’t. Soapstone is more expensive than other products, but I would never use anything else if I was redoing a kitchen. I love how cold it is, like marble. I make all my pastry dough right on the counter.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Margo
      May 16, 2016 at 9:46 am

      Justin has some great suggestions. For me, it is hard to vision black countertops with green cabinets, gold hardware, white appliances w/chrome……but I’m not a designer and don’t have the decorator’s vision you have. Can’t wait to see what you decide.

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        Kristi
        May 16, 2016 at 9:50 am

        My goal is to sell and replace my white appliances in the next year or so. 🙂 They’re not my favorite things. When I purchased them, I had a much different idea for my kitchen. And after living with that refrigerator for a while, I’ve realized it doesn’t really suit our needs. It’s not high on the priority list right now, but since it’s in the plan, I don’t want to make any decorating decisions based around my appliances.

        • Reply To This Comment ↓
          Maryanne
          May 17, 2016 at 7:02 pm

          I thought you loved the look of that fridge. That’s too bad that they are not working for you. Try black, I think they would look better, although I am not crazy about a black fridge. Stoves and DW are fine. Are you planning on changing your vintage sink, now that you have a much different idea for the kitchen?

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        Maryanne
        May 17, 2016 at 6:57 pm

        I was going to agree with you but then I saw the response from the blogger. As beautiful as the cabinets are the appliances and countertops just don’t seem to measure up. I guess when you are doing all the work and paying for the changes you can get away with it. My husband would have a royal fit if I bought appliances and then said I didn’t like them anymore. I hate my black dishwasher (changed both ovens to stainless 2 years ago after 23 years), sadly the dishwasher won’t give up and till it does it stays. My fridge is white, but it is on a wall with nothing but cabinets and bar sink etc. It is a sub zero, so I think even if it died, I would buy a fridge and put it in the garage and just leave the dead sub zero where it is (that’s how much I love it!). I could always turn it into storage, LOL.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Peggy
    May 16, 2016 at 9:08 am

    I have black granite counters and love, love, love them. Nothing shows on them, other than occasional streaks from cleaning. Which can really only be seen at certain angles. 🙂 With your other black accents through out your house, black counters in your green kitchen would be stunning.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Peggy
      May 16, 2016 at 9:13 am

      Okay, as some have said, toaster crumbs, or water spots can be seen, but I have granite wipes that I grab and ‘whoosh’ they are gone.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Poohla
    May 16, 2016 at 9:10 am

    Kristi, remember how crazed you got when your cabinets had the TINYIST gloss to it and you had to paint and repaint them until they didn’t gloss anymore? It seems that the satin would be easier to maintain over the long haul. I’m thinking the super glossy will show every crumb and spot. Plus, how hard is your water? Down here in the San Antonio area, hard water is a big issue and you have to be diligent about keeping ahead of the hard water marks. The black will look amazing and you will enjoy it so much.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Cheryl Geiger
    May 16, 2016 at 9:12 am

    I have black granite in my white kitchen at our lake house. It is a dull finish honed, not highly polished, but sealed. It is my favorite thing ever that I picked when decorating!! It does show wet streaks when wiping it off if I let ‘the wet’ sit, but I just wipe it dry as I go and it always looks perfect!! Not sure how it would look with your green and I am such a visual person I would need to ‘see’ it to decide myself. Could you cover some counter areas with black construction paper or black poster board and live with it like that a few days to see what you think??? Just a thought…

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      May 16, 2016 at 9:40 am

      That’s a great idea!

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        Michelle Wilson
        May 16, 2016 at 11:22 am

        What I thought was to print one of your photos of your kitchen on plain copy paper. then take a black colored pencil and color your countertops black. it’s easier to look at a photo on a continuing basis than having something laying on your counter I would think. I did this with my walls and carpet. Also, I had shiny black and also matte black. Never again shiny. I’m not a perfect housekeeper and it showed everything, even water drops and streaks. My matte was honed granite and I didn’t like it much better. No I loved the color, but I had to polish it and wipe it dry or it would show mineral deposits from our hard, hard water. I’ve learned to decorate around my untidiness and housekeeping frequency to maintain a nice presentation. That’s much more important to me than fancy decorating fads. But finding the balance is a challenge. I love to watch your choices as well as mistakes. You are the guinea pig for many of us! And it’s always lovely in the end.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Linda
      May 16, 2016 at 11:41 am

      My thoughts exactly. As I was sitting here reading all comments, I was thinking she needs to put some black cloth or something on the counters to live with for a bit before jumping in and doing it…..

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Rachel
      May 16, 2016 at 12:29 pm

      green cabinets, white backsplash, black counters…
      https://www.yahoo.com/style/emerald-green-grey-interiors-055200227.html

      different style, but the colors are there.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Susan Bell
    May 16, 2016 at 9:14 am

    I have dark brown cabinets and black speckled countertops and an entire wall of windows. My kitchen just sucks the light out of the area. When we moved in it also had black appliances, those are now stainless steel and help bounce the light a little. You installed extra lighting, if I remember right, so it may not be an issue for you. If you do black, don’t do shiney — it shows every water spot, crumb, and dust speck.

    Good luck!

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Deborah Bethay
      May 16, 2016 at 10:47 am

      I also have dark brown cabinets and black Silestone countertops with stainless steel appliances. It is a very rich look but I completely agree with your comment that it sucks the life out of your kitchen. I have painted my walls a lighter color, kept my windows uncovered and increased the wattage of my lights with little improvement. My husband doesn’t want to paint the cabinets. My counters are matte and don’t show the dirt at all, in fact my family can’t see the mess they leave behind. I have to run my fingers over the counter to find the mess. I would highly recommend you find a way to try them out first.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sandy Poole
    May 16, 2016 at 9:14 am

    I Like the shiny black counter tops. my self, they just have a richer look to them. I also think if you re-stained your white counter top in a shiny pearl white they would look great!…Love the idea of a vent cover that would be a nice accent to the kitchen….Can’t wait to see the dining room all decorated with the new curtains Ect…Go gettum tiger!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sherie
    May 16, 2016 at 9:14 am

    I had black granite countertops in my last home, I loved them and sometimes wish I’d used them in my new home. They were polished so I did have a problem of hard water stains around the faucets but that’s not a showstopper. I think they would be beautiful with your green cabinets! I also think the hood vent cover would match the style of your kitchen better, we did that too and I’m very pleased with the results.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Julie Berry
    May 16, 2016 at 9:15 am

    I’ve gotten hard water stains on my black granite countertop in my bathroom, so there’s that to consider. I think a glossy finish would show every single water spot.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Elizabeth
    May 16, 2016 at 9:16 am

    Hi Kristi,

    We have black granite counter tops with mahogany cabinets and I love the look. We remodeled our kitchen about 6 years ago and I still love it. I do like the black counters on white cabinets but I love richer colored woods a bit more, it’s a classic look.

    Blessings,
    Elizabeth

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Amanda
    May 16, 2016 at 9:18 am

    The house my husband and I bought three years ago was only 60% completed at the time, and my job since has been to finish it. One thing the builder had done was to install polished black grant countertops every where (over cabinet bases that had no doors and drawers). I really, really dislike them. They show every fingerprint and water ring while hiding crumbs and such. I am constantly cleaning them only to have them look dirty within the hour. If I didn’t think it a total waste to throw out “perfectly” (ha!) good countertops, I would. However, I just can’t bring myself to do it (or to ask my sweet husband to fork over the cash for new ones), and so I will live with (and continue to clean) them.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Lynne
    May 16, 2016 at 9:19 am

    I have black granite in my kitchen and I have been pretty happy with it for the past six years. The cabinets are white and the backsplash is travertine (a choice I would not make today but have to live with it). My counters are shiny and while I initially wanted honed granite I am glad that they are glossy because of the fact that they reflect light. My kitchen doesn’t have good natural light so the high gloss on the counters turned out to be a good thing as it is very reflective in my situation. The dark counters hide spills very well but dust is very obvious, however I wipe them down daily so that’s not a problem.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Roxanne Veinotte
    May 16, 2016 at 9:24 am

    If you could do it, try to get a samples like a cutting board sizes and place them in several spots over the next couple of days to see how it would look against the green, then you can see if shiny or satin or matte would be best with the natural (daytime) and kitchen light (nightime) hitting on them.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Susan
      May 16, 2016 at 4:01 pm

      There is an app called “paint tester” that allows to you take a photo of your room and change colors of anything in it. I’ve used it to test different colors on furniture ice wanted to paint as well as the walls. It’s not perfect but you could try and see what the countertops would look like black that way.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Bonnie
    May 16, 2016 at 9:29 am

    I have black countertops and I love the color. Unfortunately, they are a laminate made to look like granite, but if I could afford to replace them I would still want black. They look great with white subway tile like you have.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Carolyn Mahoney
      May 16, 2016 at 12:28 pm

      I also have black countertops which were made to look like granite. They have lost their shine in areas. I am wondering what I can do to them to restore the original glossy look.

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        Bonnie
        May 16, 2016 at 3:00 pm

        Hi Carolyn, I used Rejuvenate to restore the sheen on my countertops. I purchased it at Home Depot. Good luck.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Carmen
    May 16, 2016 at 9:30 am

    These photos might give you a good idea of what it might look like:

    http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=128428

    http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=128425

    http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=128426

    http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=128424

    There is white veining in these counter tops, but it definitely gives a good idea of the color combination.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    PML
    May 16, 2016 at 9:37 am

    I had black matte countertops. I really liked them. The worst thing, which wasn’t bad at all, was that sometimes I would go to clean them and realize there was this gross dirty area that I didn’t even know was there. They hide the mess which is kind of a plus when you have five kids. 🙂 I guess some corners did get a dust buildup if not wiped down daily…not a big deal at all. They were nice. I think satin would probably show dirt and messes easier and be harder to get perfectly clean. I can’t imagine that is going to be something you need to consider very much in your household though.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      PML
      May 16, 2016 at 10:03 am

      Guess I should read the other comments BEFORE I comment. I said what everyone else did. 🙂

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Andrea
    May 16, 2016 at 9:37 am

    Interesting- my first reaction to black countertops was… “really?”. I have so many questions! Then you mentioned you had plenty of natural light. Then I also remembered that our previous house had black countertops (went great with the white cabinets) 😉 lol They were just laminate with a subtle grainingbut they were without a doubt- very pretty. Had a subtle pattern and color variation – but mostly just all matte black. But I can totally imagine a shinier version. I’m just having a hard time picturing it with your cabinets. I have no doubt you will do it and it will look fabulous!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Candice S
    May 16, 2016 at 9:38 am

    I had black granite in my old house. It was installed by the previous owners. I hated it. With such a reflective surface, it showed every crumb and water ring. Cleaning without streaks was a challenge as well. If you do go with black, use a different finish besides glossy.

    Maybe test it on some sample concrete first.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Dottie
    May 16, 2016 at 9:46 am

    I like the idea of black, too! I found two images of green kitchens with black countertops, but the greens were either too sage-y or olive-y, so I did a bit of photo-editing and put them on Pinterest for you. I couldn’t get the second one blue enough. But you can get the idea, I hope.

    https://www.pinterest.com/1ofdabest/for-kristy/

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Connie
    May 16, 2016 at 9:48 am

    Hi Kristi, First, the black counter-top that some readers think looks cracked appears to me to be soapstone which does have some white/light colored veining. I don’t have the black counter-tops myself but since it is very popular with builders in this area several friends have them. Although the matte finish seems easier to keep, all of them talk about the problem of keeping them clean. They still show every bit of dust, crumbs, water and anything else that can hit a vertical surface even on days they haven’t even cooked anything. Think of all that will show during the rest of your remodeling/redecorating. Even though I am home most days (retired) I don’t want to wipe down my counters several times a day. Yes, they are really pretty. Why not try painting and sealing a couple of pieces of wood, wide enough to mimic counter-top surface and let them sit on your counter-tops for a while. Or, as one reader commented, do a mock-up of a concrete and try it out. But, if you like to clean your kitchen often, then go with it, girl!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kim
    May 16, 2016 at 9:49 am

    I have lived with black countertops…I never will again. Just resting your arm on one will leave a mark. They never look clean. I guarantee…the one with the shiny black countertops…they must never use their kitchen. I actually had black granite torn out of my baths and replaced with white Quartz. The black always looked dirty…everything showed.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Christine
    May 16, 2016 at 10:05 am

    We had solid black tiled granite countertops before we remodeled and I hated them with a passion of a thousand suns. But, your mileage may vary!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jane
    May 16, 2016 at 10:06 am

    I had black laminate countertops for years…….never had a problem with them. They seemed to hide lots of crumbs and spots. I replaced the countertops last year with a black granite and still like them….though I don’t have a cat. The granite has a shiny finish which seems to be a bit harder to keep clean than my matte finish on the laminate.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Bonnie
    May 16, 2016 at 10:11 am

    My experience has been that unless you’re the type that thrives on getting things “clean and shiny”, you are always better off avoiding glossy finishes of any colour! I like things to be clean alright, but draw the line before shiny, as I don’t enjoy the constant polishing. I also think concrete just isn’t meant to be glossy!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Dottie
    May 16, 2016 at 10:15 am

    PS I forgot to say that I think choosing the countertops based on your cat’s fur is the most brilliant idea yet. Thanks to Brenda, I’m mentally reviewing all the surfaces I hate/love, and aha!… The ones that hide the cat fur are my favorites. (I know she prefers the contrast so she can see and clean, but I hate to clean.) Do they make countertop in calico?

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jess
    May 16, 2016 at 10:49 am

    I’m going to give the same feedback as others : plan on needing to wipe down your countertops several times a day. I lived with black countertops for a couple of years before redoing them… You will see ever crumb, smudge, and fleck of dust that has the audacity to settle onto your countertop. They look amazing (especially if you get lots of natural light in your kitchen), but they are kind of high maintenance to keep looking clean.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Cindy
    May 16, 2016 at 10:50 am

    I have had 2 kitchens with black countertops. The first was a house that we bought that already had matte black ceramic tile and oak cabinets which I painted white. The second house had shiny black granite. The black looked beautiful but as others have said it shows everthing. The matte was better than the shiny by far. I’m not sure how much light you have in your kitchen but in my kitchen with the black tile, it seemed to just suck the life out of kitchen facing east even with painting the cabinets white. The other kitchen was open layout with lots of light and we didn’t feel it was dark, just drove me with streaks, and keeping it looking clean.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Karen H
    May 16, 2016 at 11:07 am

    Kristi, I had black countertops in my last home a few years back and I absolutely LOVED them. They were granite and the finish was pretty shiny, but, at the time, I had shiny black appliances and I think they went together nicely. My kitchen was also very well lit by natural sunlight, so it never felt small or cramped at all. I would actually choose those very same countertops again today!

    I know whatever you decide, it will be beautiful. You have a knack for making the finishing touches you choose looking fabulous! Good luck!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Fern
    May 16, 2016 at 11:19 am

    I’d love black granite if I could afford them. I would get the shiny kind over the matte finish because whenever I’ve seen the matte finish in black or white, they look grey or cream/off white to me.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Paige
    May 16, 2016 at 11:20 am

    Use photo shop to try it out. Personally, I can’t wait to get rid of my black countertops!! They show EVERYTHING! Something with some veining or variation in color might be better but my matte black drives me bonkers. Have fun picking something out and I know you can make it look great!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Janet
    May 16, 2016 at 11:26 am

    I had shiny absolute black granite countertops in our old house and I loved the look of them. I love anything black; dogs, cats, furniture, cars, clothes etc. But, the old countertops showed every fingerprint, every water spot, dust etc. I’m a clean freak so I was cleaning them constantly. I have black countertops in two baths in the new house and they don’t seem to show fingerprints as badly but they do show dust and water spots. I would think a matte finish might not show the dust etc as badly.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    CeeCee
    May 16, 2016 at 11:27 am

    My mother-in-law has black granite countertops which I like, however, I have noticed she has a few chips and they really stand out. I don’t think this would be a problem or as much as a problem for you and concrete countertops because you know how to fix things :)!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Casey Elliott
    May 16, 2016 at 11:33 am

    I think black countertops are nice, but all your images have stainless steel. Will black look good with white appliances? Im not sure, personally. Right now all the white in the room helps the appliances recede and lets your gorgeous cabinets shine.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Karen
    May 16, 2016 at 11:39 am

    our counter tops are dark wood, not black, but they show water stains, crumbs, dust and everything else listed above. while I like the look of dark tops much better than light ones, next time I would choose a lighter colour just to not clean and wipe everything all the time… I suppose it’s really a question of how devoted you are to cleaning (or a spotless look :))

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    denise
    May 16, 2016 at 11:50 am

    I have black glossy marble in a 1/2 bath. Love the look. HATE trying to keep it clean. Dust and water spots and finger prints and cat feet… Every little speck of EVERYTHING shows–in detail.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Allie
    May 16, 2016 at 11:50 am

    Hi Kristi!

    What brand/type is your range hood? We’ve been looking for one similar to do a build in hood, I’m struggling to find one with the controls on the underside. Thanks!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Darlene
    May 16, 2016 at 11:52 am

    Things are looking great! Good job 👍
    We replaced our original almond colored Formica from 1986 with beautiful varigated shiny black granite @8,000 worth. We had a very large kitchen with skylights and huge view Windows. As much as I LOVED the look and it’s what sold our home, it was a project keeping it look that way. It is upkeep, normal, but it showed every streak and I felt I was constantly wiping the counters. I did have a lot of natural light. In our new home, lots of light and Windows again, I am not going black. We are not sure exactly what product we will use because the kitchen is a gathering place in our home. If we choose granite, it will be a varigated lighter tone. I am not sure if a matte finish would be harder to keep streak free or not. I do love the look of both matte and shiny. In a small kitchen I think shiny would reflect light and bring life into the kitchen.
    Good luck and can’t wait to see what you decide.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Maureen S Donahue
    May 16, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    I retouched your image to show black counters. Ugh. But I cannot post it here.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Linda
    May 16, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    I know whatever you end up doing will be beautiful, but I just worry about the small size of your kitchen making everything look too dark and closed in. This is just my opinion without really knowing the size etc of your room. I need light….hehe

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      designdreamer
      May 17, 2016 at 7:37 pm

      As you know, I usually don’t voice my opinion, and I rarely have one because I’m very indecisive, but I have to agree with Linda (above). I’m afraid that black counter tops will make it too dark as well, and you don’t have any windows IN you kitchen if memory serves me. It seems that the pictures of the combo (green, black and white) all have direct light. But what do I know? I have pretty dark corian counter tops myself, but I also have LOTS of direct (windows) light. My cabinets are the dreaded 90’s honey oak. 🙁

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Chefhollyg
    May 16, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    I am a professional chef, and I cater out of my home kitchen as well as cooking in my restaurant. I installed honed black granite counters in my kitchen several years ago and never regretted it. I do not have a dust problem, I do not wipe them down corner to corner on a daily basis. I will say that when I bake, flour can “dust”‘the counter and it needs to be wiped down, and when wiping with a damp sponge I follow immediately with a dry towel to avoid water streaks but I’m anal about those kind of things. I LOVE them and would highly recommend! Note that I used HONED granite which has a beautiful satin-like finish, very low luster.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Tracy
    May 16, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    We bought our first house last summer and it has black faux-granite countertops. While the color isn’t one I would have originally chosen, it is SO GOOD for hiding dirt and crumbs. I try to keep it pretty clean, but I don’t have time to wipe down my counters every time I use them. I would get black counters again for this reason alone in a heartbeat!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sara H.
    May 16, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    I have glossy black granite countertops and I love them. I will say that the glossy black does show fingerprints on the surface that i don’t think matte would show. The good thing about dark granite is it’s much more dense than lighter varieties so I keep a bottle of vinegar and water close by and spray them when I notice prints and because of my cat (I spray a quick mist before I do food prep because I figure the cat was on them when I wasn’t looking!) I have had them for 10 years and I really don’t think they get that dusty-I have never needed to dust twice a day as someone else said ! I see more dust on my white vinyl blinds than I ever have on my countertops!
    I think black countertops would look great with your green cabinets but if you’re worried maybe you should paint some foamboard and lay it on top to see what you think.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Cathy
    May 16, 2016 at 12:41 pm

    I’m sad to see your fridge go, I love it. But if it doesn’t work for you its gotta go. I’m surprised you haven’t Photoshopped black counters in to have a visual. I love, love your kitchen. You are so humble about everything you do; I’d be dragging strangers off the street to say
    “Look what I did!” You amaze me with every post.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Betsy M.
    May 16, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    I remodeled my kitchen last year and had black quartz countertops installed. They are fairly solid, with very little “speckage”. If I could have afforded soapstone, that would have been my first choice. But I have no regrets. Love them! The fact that they show water and oil marks quickly doesn’t bother me a bit! There is just the two of us, both adults, and it’s simply no big deal to either of us to see a few water spots, even on a regular basis. My cabinets are a medium toned blue with a grey-green undertone, btw. Like you, I change my mind frequently and will be repainting some of them in a grey and some of them in a deeper, more vivid blue.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Rachelle
    May 16, 2016 at 12:56 pm

    I have black countertops and absolutely love them other then you can see a sheen of dust even after they have been wiped down. I try and keep clutter to a minimum so it makes it easier to keep the dust away.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Debra
    May 16, 2016 at 12:58 pm

    Oh….black….ummmm….gulp….well….it is my unprofessional and probably very unpopular opinion that between the dark counters and green cabinets, they will suck every inch of light from your currently bright room. Think of the green chairs and black table. Even with your wonderful tilework, that counter….hmmm….well…yeah. That said, you have proven me wrong before so ultimately go with your heart.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    jill
    May 16, 2016 at 1:01 pm

    I have black soapstone countertops and LOVE them. (I even have an island made of deep green cabinets) The look is black but b/c its soapstone, its a very satin-y warm look. I don’t have any problem at all with fingerprints or dust.
    And for some of the above comments on soapstone, mine did NOT have to be sealed and mine have zzero chips or stains. Several years ago I did put soapstone wax on them but that was not required to seal them. I did it to keep them the satin-y black and they have stayed that way.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sarah
    May 16, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    Instead of granite, I had a man-made recycled glass countertop installed 3 years ago. It’s shiny black with flecks of amber (beer bottles, I think). My cabinets are painted white bead board with black handles and hinges, white bead board backsplash, stainless appliances, under cabinet lights, black cooktop, Silgranit metallic gray sink, and dark gray slate LVT floor. I love the whole look and get many, many compliments. I keep a spray bottle of vinegar/water handy and wipe the counter once a day, then use BarKeepers Friend once a week for deep cleaning.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Alexis Whitehead
    May 16, 2016 at 2:29 pm

    My two cents is that a less than perfectly smooth material like concrete will never have that super smooth glossy finish, no matter what you put on it.
    I have seen gloss sealers on plain grey concrete tops (kind of an industrial look) and it looked crappy. The gloss reflects light all wrong on a rough-ish surface and it honestly looked cheap to me.
    A matt or satin sealer ends up with a honed look and I think it looks great. (Then again I had the polished finish honed off my caesarstone tops, so I may be biased!)

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Stephanie
    May 16, 2016 at 3:09 pm

    Hi Kristi,

    Love your blog!

    So we moved to our new house and it has black counter tops (just cheap laminate) with white cupboards. At first I wasn’t sure but with two small kids and six animals, I can say that I LOVE them. Best colour ever!!!!! Our sink is black too. If I am too busy to clean them, they look fine to have company over. Every spill is camouflaged. My husband can cook and get messy and I don’t freak out because they look a mess.

    Note: We also have them in the bathroom and that is a different story because toothpaste is white and it does show up and need to be cleaned.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Gilmer Gal
    May 16, 2016 at 3:22 pm

    Black countertops in my last kitchen, and I swore never again! Then, the house we bought had black granite also. I was crushed, and will definitely change them once my husband isn’t looking! They show dust so bad, and are hard to keep that nice shine. They do look beautiful, but it’s not without a lot of work. I tried to warn my friend when she remodeled her kitchen. Now, she wishes she had listened!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Carolyn
    May 16, 2016 at 4:40 pm

    So glad you asked. I loved the look and idea of black countertops. I had matte black laminate countertops installed two years ago. They are pretty. BUT, they show every last tiniest bit of dust or lint or crumbs or hair or water marks… They never ever look completely clean. And gee whiz, I never realized how much salt my husband spills on the countertop or how much of the sugar actually ends up on the counter instead of in my teacup. The worst part is, I bought a beautiful black sink to match, and I hate it! It always looks gross from the hard water. It has to be regularly oiled, which I find I do not do often enough. It’s embarrassing. And the black drain we bought, the paint is peeling off it. The countertop remains for two reasons. One, because the installer made the snide remark that he would be back in a month to replace it since black was such a terrible idea. And two, I can’t afford to replace it. Hope that helps! 🙂

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    ann
    May 16, 2016 at 4:59 pm

    Elle Decor June 2016, p161

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      May 16, 2016 at 5:35 pm

      I LOVE THAT!!!! So I guess if I do the black countertops and it looks too dark, I can just paint my upper cabinets white! I actually really love that combo of green lowers and white uppers!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Debbie
    May 16, 2016 at 5:24 pm

    Had shiny black countertops at our old home. Looked beautiful, but difficult to live with as they showed dust, water marks, crumbs, etc. If you want black I’d lean towards matte or satin. If your kitchen isn’t going to just be used for photoshoots, shiny black may drive you crazy.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Karen Hackett
    May 16, 2016 at 6:10 pm

    Couldn’t figure out how to post the picture I colored of your wall of cabinets with black counters, so I created a Kristi board on my Pinterest account. My Pinterest account is Karen Hackett. I used a slightly grayed color to simulate the matte or satin finish. I think it would be beautiful.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Suesan
    May 16, 2016 at 7:21 pm

    I just saw an article about green kitchens the other day and the first one showed the green cabinets and black counters. https://www.yahoo.com/style/emerald-green-grey-interiors-055200227.html. I originally thought they had featured your kitchen.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Christy
    May 16, 2016 at 7:41 pm

    My shiny black countertops are a nightmare! ALWAYS fingerprints. Everyone who walks in the door puts their hands on them. They would be beautiful if I didn’t actually have to use my kitchen. 😉

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Seattle Sue
    May 16, 2016 at 9:13 pm

    A friend of mine bought a condo in San Francisco that came with shiny black countertops with a bit of red flecks in them. She hated them and what she mentioned most was if ants showed up after a rain or something, eek, she couldn’t see them espasily on the shiny black countertops. I’ve used a light moss green Italian granite in homes that has a very regular tiny pattern to the graining and love it because it’s not too light, not too dark, it’s just right. I love the look of your white counters but Agee if you’re going dark to mock up a sample countertop with what you already have on it and try out new approach. And I got for honed. More expensive looking.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Paula Fuller
    May 16, 2016 at 10:15 pm

    Christy I had black honed kitchen counter tops and loved them. I don’t remember a problem with them showing dust etc. Although I really think glossy black counters would look best, sometimes practicality does trump beauty for sanity’s sake. I think that black counters will look wonderful and will tie in perfectly with your new dining , entry etc. that you have now rethought.I love this new direction you have chosen. Can’t wait to see the finished product.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kelly
    May 16, 2016 at 11:06 pm

    Inherited matte black countertops and after living with them for years, finally paid the big bucks to have them polished to a shiny black. so.much.better! No comparison. Old, worn out looking versus beautiful. Dull, matte black is horrible. No other way to put it.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Dee
    May 16, 2016 at 11:19 pm

    I love the matte finish black soap stone counter tops. I wish I could fit them in my budget. I know you are staining your counter tops. I think the glossy tops would show every streak and water mark and finger print. Not to mention flour, sugar, and dust. I can’t wait to see your kitchen with the “new” counter tops.
    I saw a commercial for (I think) Behr Paint app. You can take a photo of your room and change the color of the walls, counters, etc.
    OR use inexpensive fabric, towels, or plastic table cloths (Dollar Tree) to cover the counter to see if you like the look. Just a thought.
    BTW I LOVE YOUR BLOG.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jann
    May 17, 2016 at 1:59 am

    I think the black Matt or satin finish would be very nice.
    I have had friends that have concrete countertops…..they love them but they do and can stain…but you know that….you’re a smart designer, seamstress, home decor queen!!!!!!!!!
    I think the black with your green will be fabulous!
    Might redo your cabinetry hardware….. but hey…..that’s a walk in the park!
    Whatever you decide will be fabulous…..it always is!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Susan
    May 17, 2016 at 6:19 am

    We installed black shiny Ubatuba granite in the first house we built and regretted that choice immediately! They never looked clean, always showed dust and crumbs and fingerprints… I just installed a black matte granite in my daughters bathroom and that shows some dust but not the fingerprints. Food for thought..

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Chris
    May 17, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    I think black counters will be dramatic and bring the kitchen closer to your original Cameron Diaz inspiration kitchen. I’d finish the breakfast room first though and then do as Cheryl Geiger suggested, cover the counters with black craft paper and live with them a week or so since black would be irreversible. Wish I got Elle Decor so I could see the green, black, and white kitchen; I love different uppers and lowers.

    It may be possible to get that veined soapstone look which is very nice and breaks up the black slab. It seems they used the actual sealer as a resist. Definitely something that would require a practice slab.
    http://www.concretenetwork.com/stained-concrete/design-ideas/floral-pattern.html

    There’s an excellent hood idea on another blog which kept the storage of the cabinet above the range.
    http://www.ninahendrick.com/diy-storage-range-hood/

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Ellen
    May 17, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    It looks like all the commenters have covered nearly everything. I got black granite, highly polished along with the house when we bought it. I hate it, the hubs loves it, so we are probably stuck with it. It shows dust, etc., but one person was right when she said you can’t see ants! Or shudder, roaches! When we first moved in there was a problem — which we got remedied immediately! — but it was gross. Then too, I have some issues with my eyes, and if something is very dark, like a black cooking utensil is right under my nose, or my glasses, I can’t see them because it fades into the background. I have actually laid some large wooden cutting boards and tempered glass sheets here and there so that I can find things better. I do have under-cabinet lights, and I still can’t see some things.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Whitney
    May 17, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    We lived in a house that had black granite countertops. While I personally love the look of black countertops, the reality of it wasn’t what I’d hoped it would be. While they were gorgeous, you could see EVERYTHING on them!!! Every single crumb or speck of dust showed on them. No matter how often I cleaned them they always looked dirty. Ironically, our next home had pure white countertops. Same problems different color. LOL

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Janet
    May 17, 2016 at 3:21 pm

    I don’t have black countertops but I love them… You could get a couple of cheap rolls of black gift wrap and “wrap” your countertops just to get the effect of black without any commitment… I’m often indecisive (I love everything!) so when I can’t decide, I look for the temporary ideas.

    Love your blog and ideas and that you do everything yourself. You’re a rockstar!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Grace
    May 17, 2016 at 4:51 pm

    I have black granite and absolutely hate them. You have no idea how much dust accumulates on them on a daily basis until you have them. I will never do a dark countertop again, never! I guarantee if you go black you will want to change it back!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Natalia
    May 17, 2016 at 8:50 pm

    I have black countertops and would not do it again. They’re dated and they show spots. There are better choices, I think.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Ellen W.
    May 17, 2016 at 9:50 pm

    I’m fascinated to read everyone’s comments on this topic. Quite a bit of variance! I don’t have my own black countertops, but I do have views on the subject. 🙂 I love dark countertops – my dream kitchen would have soapstone counters. I think black counters with your green cabinetry and white backsplash would be quite striking and in keeping with your aesthetic. I encourage it! I also encourage a matte finish. I don’t know what it is, but I find polished stone counters to be cold and unpleasant to the touch. Love hewn surfaces, which would feel more like your concrete.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Eddy
    May 18, 2016 at 7:31 am

    Kristi-
    The black countertop design can be a great option. One of my homes that I sold in 2014 had black uba tuba granite and it was a nice look off of the white cabinets. If I had installed under cabinet lights, it would have been great since it would shine off the counter. I think it would be a nice design choice for your kitchen, but consider –
    – a glossy finish would help reflect the sconces and task lighting you have and keep the room bright. the cabinets and trim have satin finishes and a black matte counter would add another surface that absorbs the light in the room. I’d imagine if someone wore a matte green dress with shiny white pearl jewelry,they’d go with a glossy black purse/clutch and shoes over a matte black.
    -a matte black may look heavier in that room too. playing off the dark cabinets is doable ( i really liked the black-on-black kitchen photo you used) but your kitchen also has dark floors. the black-on-black photo was framed by the light/white floor, walls, and ceiling. I envision it may feel cave-like, even with the natural light the room can get.
    It would still be a nice design with the matte. There is a little trick to help if you decide to go that route: change your light bulbs from warm white to daylight bulbs. The bulbs would help amplify the feel of natural light in the room, so even with dark cabinets, floors, and counters it could feel like mid-afternoon, even if you walked in at midnight

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Debbie
    May 18, 2016 at 8:24 pm

    Kristi, I saw this pic from Elle Decor and thought I would share. It reminded me of your green cabinets as soon as I saw it. https://instagram.com/p/BFjR3imFJ8l/

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      May 18, 2016 at 8:31 pm

      Oh my gosh, I saw that, too! I’m sooooo tempted to paint my upper cabinets white when I redo my countertops black! 😀

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    JB
    May 19, 2016 at 10:22 am

    Not sure if you saw this on AT, but the first image really spoke to your idea: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/6-inspiring-black-and-green-kitchens-221908
    I am a HUGE fan of soapstone counters, so I may be a bit biased, but I think the black counters will look great.