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 :)

Manpreet, Congratulations on your new home! You can go with BWP ply with laminates. You are right in your choice of matt and glossy laminates for base and wall cabinets respectively. Without knowing your tastes, I am taking a chance to suggest you 14541 for base and 21187 MR+ from merino catalog. It looks good. Thanks, Nitin CORNERSTONE DESIGNS Bangalore.

that's what I meant. The cabinets below and above the counter can be finished with a light toned wood grained laminate. if you feel that is too plain, another option would be to go with light wood grain below and plain off white above. Maybe add a couple of wood grained shutters above also to break the monotony

Visual below is similar case like your preference of using wooden texture laminate with black counter top & lighter floor. Check out misty oak, pine, birch... in laminates!