[JavaBrewer]

If there is any possibility that you will move/sell in the future then stay with a more neutral color/pattern. It's really fun to walk the slab yard and find some really unusual pieces. I was tempted to go with a really bold slab for our island that had colors to match the rest of the kitchen but thankfully didn't go that route. Stay with mostly earth tone slabs with hints of color you like.

We toured a home that was slightly above our pay grade - but could have made a couple changes and pulled it off. The killer was that the PO installed granite in the huge kitchen and all bathrooms that was mostly varying shades of green with a touch of blacks and gray. Tile floors and walls in the bathrooms followed the trend. I would have had to demo and replace all of it...no thanks. The worst I have seen was a black and salmon colored granite kitchen. Barf.

I really like the SS top (rick-l) as a smaller accent - like for a coffee/wine prep area. Even though SS is wildly popular for appliances and sinks be careful going for full kitchen counters. I know some folks who think those belong in morgues and would never OK a kitchen install.