thank you very much to everyone who responded! I'll look into espresso and charcoal grays. As well as the steel backplash. Emmarenes, I'm living abroad in India, and the only granites in my budget are the local ones. I was advised against the gray and white local ones because i was told that they would not hold up well in the kitchen. I could have gone with a black galaxy as well but i have that granite now and despise it because of the way it hides ants and bugs so well. we live in a tropical area and there are always critters here and there. My first choice was a Brazilian white granite but it was triple the price. This granite is called Shiva pink, so it has a pink salmon and gray look to it. Im really hoping I don't hate it once it's installed. The stoneyard was a 9 hour trip up and down and i was just pressured to make a choice after several undecided trips. And I'm getting new cabinets put in. but I think I can wait for them to put the slab before staining the wood. Thanks for that idea :)

this is looking good. finally someone on houzz has listened! Thank you. I would leave it as it is since any items you place up there needs to be maintained and that is one more task we would be adding to the lady of the houzz. but if you are still wanting to add something for that first client impression may be few large glass pickle jars or just two of three colourful glass sculptures. as would perhaps know - less is more in modern design.

Hi Murthy, See from the window reflection in your kitchen, I think that you've got the glossily finished tile for your kitchen. I hope that it's not glossy tiles and probably the light effect in the photo. What kitchen countertop are you planning to select? Select cabinet color in accordance with the kitchen countertop material. -Thanks -Neelam -Lines and Profile

I've seen a lot of photos and I have come to realise that I really like the pastel/muted color pallete and have also come to know that they are good for small rooms. I really liked nickel grey and silver grey. Do both of these colors also belong to pastel color pallete? I am not able to find a separate section for pastel color pallete on asian paints' website. So it's difficult to find similar colors. Thanks for helping me.