For an example of the variations in granite with the same name see this example of Giallo Vicenza
http://www.graniteamerica.net/Granite/637.jpg

Versus the one you are being shown.

# 2 matches better, but is kind of ugly.

I don't know why granite is so trendy these days. Formica or Corian are better, imho. In ten years, granite will be out of style, and you'll want the next best thing.

lol @ glatt - so granite is like that pale blue and pink from the 70's?

not yet, but it will be in about a decade

I'm just picturing all the home improvement shows with the hosts rolling their eyes at a kitchen with granite the same way they do with those old ugly ones from the 70's.

Personally I love the granite - Its great once you get used to it. Formica & Corian scratch and chip. I've "abused" my granite pretty good without any ill effects whatsoever. Its durability is, IMO, unmatched.

#1 would stand out nicely against the other colors.

Will it be used for the work space or for something else?

I am going with the cosmos brown. Purely based from the colors you have already chosen. :)

I kind of agree with Classicman. Although I probably won't ever be in a position to design (or buy) my own kitchen, I love going through magazines and such, and the current trend of gigantic kitchens with gigantic non-floating "islands," granite, and acres and acres of woodwork is pretty loathsome to me.

But --it's not my kitchen, and it's moot anyway.

That's exactly what I told my wife. To me, granite counter tops are like really shiny chrome wheels.

I do not like #2...at all. Although I'd be a little wary of the darkness of #1, I'm really not fond of the 'busyness' of #2.

Second one will show less dirt.

This.

They also never tell you, when you're picking out the granite, that one piece is rarely enough to get the whole countertop, so you get these random grout seams two-thirds of the way along it, and half the time the pattern direction doesn't even match up. My best friend designed their kitchen from the ground up, and she now hates every single thing she chose, but especially the busy, dark, seamed granite countertops.

Are those samples even real? I don't think we should necessarily take them for granite.

I marble at your punning cheek

He counters everything that has been said! He probably consulted his cabinet, but he'll eventually sink under all the partitionship.