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Espresso. The word itself is full of rich, aromatic connotations. Espresso wood cabinets are a bold statement in the kitchen, whether you are going for dark luxury or crisp contrast and bright elegance.
How do you find a countertop that will work with your beautiful cabinets, accentuating their best features and creating a consistent aesthetic throughout the room?
In this article, we will explore the three main pairing categories you need to consider when trying to find the perfect natural stone or quartz counter to match espresso cabinets. These three categories are primarily based on color, but we’ll briefly touch on the importance of texture as well. They are: Cool, Warm, and Impact.
Pairing Cool Colors with Espresso Cabinets
Espresso wood makes a wonderful setting for a granite or marble with a cool palette. The darkness of the cabinets creates contrast, while the dark brown espresso color keeps the overall effect from being to “cold.” Think of this approach like a black and white kitchen with the warmth turned up a notch.
In this category, we find classic choices like White Carrara Marble, Alaska White Granite, and Bianco Antico Granite along with more contemporary counters such as Pacific Salt Quartz (from Q Quartz) and White Macaubas Quartzite.
Note that each of these counters has some darker veins and swirls running through a cool white or gray background.
But you don’t have to go white or gray to pull off a stylish cool palette with espresso cabinets. This is where texture and soapstone come in.
Soapstone is a smooth natural stone with soft-to-the-touch matte finish. Found in a small range of gray-blue, gray-green, and gray colors, soapstone and espresso cabinets are a great pairing if you are leaning towards the industrial-chic look that is so in style now.
Soapstone’s “raw” stone element and a touch of faded color will form the perfect counterweight to any dark wood.
Pairing Warm Colors with Espresso Cabinets
The great thing about espresso cabinets is that they work well with both cool and warm colors. One particularly well-suited range of granites are those with amber, copper, and caramel colors. A few well known granites in this style are Juperana Persa Granite, African Ivory Granite, Imperial Gold Granite, Golden Crystal Granite, and Golden Sparkle Granite.
These stones all have a warm, medium color with lots of accents in deeper wood colors, chocolate, and black. The base colors of these stones create just enough contrast with espresso cabinets while maintaining a gentle, consistent palette. The darker accents tie in the cabinet color. To complete the look, pull your paint colors from your stone’s accent colors.
If you prefer lighter stones, consider a granite with a mixture of cream or white background and caramel, gold, black, and dark brown accents.
A few choice selections in this color family are Colonial Gold Granite, Yellow River Granite, and Persa Gold Granite. Espresso cabinets respond very well to golds, buttery creams, and even bright yellows.
If you have the right granite, there’s no reason why espresso cabinets can’t be right at home in a bright, sunny kitchen.
Countertop and Espresso Cabinet Pairings with High Visual Impact
So far, we’ve discussed some more subtle, easy-going styles. Often, espresso cabinets are the go-to choice for homeowners looking to create a bold, contemporary space.
If you are going for high visual impact, you’ll have choices from a wide range of countertops materials, including granite, marble, quartz, and quartzite.
One popular pairing in this design category is espresso cabinets and a solid white or cream quartz like Artic White Quartz, Snow White Quartz, or Canvas Quartz (all by Q Quartz). The sleek polished surface of a solid quartz is a statement piece. On espresso cabinets, it’s a guaranteed contemporary show-stopper.
Of course, you can also find good high visual impact countertops for your espresso cabinets by moving in the opposite direction…towards bold colors.
Red counters like Sparkling Ruby Quartz or Bordeaux Granite can stir up an appetite with their warm colors. In the cooler tones, you’ll find that “wow factor” with Dynamic Blue Granite and Azul Imperiale Quartzite.
You can also create bold visuals by choosing unique patterns. There are so many incredible granite patterns as well as some exciting new quartz products on the market.
Among the dynamic natural stones that pair well with espresso cabinets, you have Black Marinace Granite, Titanium Granite, and Stonewood Granite. And in the quartz category, there are bold patterns like Q Quartz’s Calacatta Classique, a Calacatta Marble look-alike.
Not sure what look is right for you? Visit a local fabricator with a large selection and variety of granite, marble, quartzite, and quartz.
Bring along a sample of your cabinets or a drawer. Take the time to discuss your design preferences and goals with your fabricator.
Ask them to point out countertops that fit the style you have discussed and hold the cabinet sample up against full slabs to see what feels right for your personal style and unique home.
Image source: houzz