Kitchen with white cabinets and dark countertops

Q: Do white cabinets go with black granite countertops?

Whether youre working with light and dark hues of wood or opt for upper cabinets in white and lower cabinets in gray, black, or navy, you can definitely pair this contrasting look with black granite.

Beautiful dark surfaces stand out in spaces of all styles

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Should I get light or dark countertops with white cabinets?
What color countertops are best with white cabinets?
Do white cabinets go with black granite countertops?
Is it better to have light or dark countertops?

If you’re looking to make a statement with your kitchen renovation, black countertops are a perfect solution. The style isn't just for modern spaces (although dark stone or Corian counters certainly look sleek and sophisticated, especially when paired with crisp white cabinets). An inky surface also works in a more traditional kitchen; black granite or marble surfaces add gravitas to rustic wood shelves or a colorful tile backsplash. Love to entertain? Dark counters—whether glossy or matte—will make your dishes shine and vibrant flowers and linens pop. Take a spin through these examples from the Architectural Digest archives for a serious dose of kitchen renovation inspiration.

Photo: Joshua McHugh
Modest beauty prevails at this Montana family retreat by Lake|Flato Architects and interior designer Madeline Stuart. Lake|Flato designed the kitchen’s cabinetry, steel hood, and island; the range and refrigerator are by Viking, and the stools are by BDDW.
Photo: Joshua McHugh
Gilles Mendel's New York kitchen, designed by architect David Mann, includes a Sicis mosaic-tile backsplash, a Samsung ultrathin LED television, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator with bespoke lacquer panels.
Photo: Björn Wallander
Alex Rodriguez and his daughters, Natasha (left) and Ella, gather in their Coral Gables, Florida, kitchen. The matte-finish oak cabinetry by Italkraft is complemented by gleaming tile; the sink fittings are by Waterworks.

Photo: Joshua McHugh
Paved with DuroDesign cork flooring, architect Alison Spear’s kitchen in upstate New York features an Abbaka hood, a Wolf cooktop and ovens, and Bertoia barstools by Knoll.
Photo: Thomas Loof
With architectural designer Thomas Juul-Hansen and decorator Amy Lau, entrepreneur Michael Hirtenstein combined five raw apartment spaces into one Manhattan triplex. The kitchen, outfitted with rosewood cabinetry, has chandeliers by Brand van Egmond, ovens by Miele, and refrigerators by Sub-Zero; the wood bowls on the island are from Espasso.
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The Manhattan kitchen decorated by Shawn Henderson includes a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a Wolf range and wall ovens; the antiqued-mirror backsplash tile is by Ann Sacks, the sink fittings are by Waterworks, and the stools are from Mark Jupiter.

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In this Manhattan house decorated by Alfredo Paredes, industrial light fixtures and bluestone countertops complement white-oak cabinetry in the kitchen; the pulls are by E. R. Butler.
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Architect Mark Ferguson designed the kitchen cabinetry, marble-and-granite floor, and stainless-steel hood in this New York City house decorated by Pamplemousse Design; LEM piston barstools from Design Within Reach provide seating at the granite counter.
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Decorator Madeline Stuart kept her Santa Barbara kitchen's original cabinetry but updated the space with a BlueStar range, Zephyr hood, and sink fittings by Chicago Faucets.

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The kitchen inside this Burley on the Hill, England, residence decorated by Mark Gillette Interior Design is outfitted with an Aga range; the counter stools are covered in a Pierre Frey fabric.
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Designer Larry Laslo updated the galley kitchen of a New York apartment with a black-and-white palette.
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Paved with bluestone, the kitchen in this Greenwich, Connecticut, home decorated by Miles Redd features a Lacanche range, concrete counters, and an Elkay sink.

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The kitchen in this Hamptons home decorated by Juan Montoya, painted in a Farrow & Ball white, features Roman shades in an Old World Weavers fabric.
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The kitchen in this New Jersey mansion decorated by Matthew Frederick features a Gaggenau cooktop and wall ovens and Dornbracht sink fittings.
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The Brooklyn kitchen decorated by Nick Olsen is equipped with a RangeCraft hood and a Wolf range; windows by Kolbe Windows & Doors overlook the garden, and the RH dining table is surrounded by Soane Britain chairs clad in a Brentano faux leather.

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Dodie Thayer lettuce ware enlivens a kitchen shelf in decorators Christopher Spitzmiller and Sam Allen’s Hudson Valley home.
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Sleek ebonized-oak cabinetry, matching flooring, and black granite counters lend a moody elegance to the revamped kitchen in this Aspen home decorated by Stonefox Architects.
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Decorator Alessandra Branca’s Bahamian kitchen is equipped with a Hunter ceiling fan and a Viking range and hood.

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Michael S. Smith's Manhattan kitchen has a Wolf range, E. R. Butler & Co. cabinet hardware, a silver-leafed ceiling, and a floor of French Blue limestone by Ann Sacks.
© Roger Davies 2012

An Ann-Morris light fixture presides over the island in the kitchen of this San Francisco–area home designed by Douglas Durkin Design, which also includes a Waterworks tile backsplash, a Wolf range, and Erika Brunson chairs upholstered in a Rose Tarlow Melrose House fabric.
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The kitchen in this Manhattan townhouse decorated by Richard McGheen is outfitted with walnut cabinetry designed by Jaklitsch and a mirrored backsplash. The Sub-Zero refrigerator has customized lacquer panels, the range is by Bertazzoni, and the sink fittings are by Waterworks.

Photo: Paul Raeside
At Rebecca and Jon Bond’s Hamptons home, a trio of pendant lights from Laurin Copen Antiques hangs in the kitchen, which is outfitted with a Sub-Zero refrigerator and wine cooler, a Viking range and hood, and a Madeline Weinrib rug.
Photo: Ricardo Labougle
In Linda Pinto’s Paris apartment, onyx-hued countertops provide a sleek surface in her charming black-and-white kitchen.
Photo: Björn Wallander
In a Zurich mansion designed by Steven Gambrel, the kitchen walls are sheathed in glazed Moroccan tiles from Mosaic House.

Should I get light or dark countertops with white cabinets?

Brown, gray or black countertops are all colors that will pair nicely with clean, modern white cabinets. As a bonus, dark countertops are easier to maintain compared to lighter colors because stains or scratches will be less visible.

What color countertops are best with white cabinets?

Here are some countertop design ideas that look great with white cabinets:.

Gray to Black Granite Countertops. ... .

Bright and Light Quartz Countertops. ... .

Elegant Porcelain Countertops. ... .

Neutral Porcelain or Quartz Countertops. ... .

Natural Wood Countertops. ... .

Rich Granite Countertops..

Do white cabinets go with black granite countertops?

Whether you're working with light and dark hues of wood or opt for upper cabinets in white and lower cabinets in gray, black, or navy, you can definitely pair this contrasting look with black granite.

Is it better to have light or dark countertops?

Generally speaking, lighter countertops really present a clean and crisp look. They also have designs that seem more pronounced creating an attractive focal point. Darker countertops, by comparison, are seen as sleeker, with the darker tones and textures adding a cool vibe.