What existing colors are in the room where they're going? What will you be doing on the surface? How much natural light does the room get?

If it's a fairly dim room using lighter colored surfaces can brighten it.

If it gets lots of natural light using darker surfaces can reduce the glare.

For food prep-counters it's good to get multi-colored so that it "looks" cleaner even if it isn't 100% clean.

And it is affected less by stains.

And whatever colors you choose need to match the existing decor.

Other than that, it's whatever you fancy. What takes your breath away and shouts, "pick me! I'm perfect!" when you're browsing.

If you go with dark, especially solid counters the dust will show. Even most of the darker marble/granite counters will show dust.

it's a pretty small kitchen in a 1907 house. NIce big windows. not trying to match the decor since we are going to change everything...

eventually.Well, what shouts pick me also shouts expensive. LOL We are on a serious budget but we are extending the counters so I can ...

In a small room, lighter colors will give the illusion of more space.

get back to baking, which I love but HATE in a kitchen with no counter space. The choices for what we can afford are pretty light or...

pretty dark.

Oh, doing a lot of baking, go for lighter colors too because flour is the worst for "dust" on dark surfaces.

I know that dark probably isn't a great color but I am attracted to it.

Ah, this really h elps me. We're buying the conters in 12-foot sheets and bartering for the service. Yay! So, it won't cost too much.

*chuckles* I'm naturally attracted to darker colors too, Karen. I LOVE wood tones. Rich Jarrah, etc.

But it's a very rare kitchen that can pull off jarrah. Has to be big and light and airy to handle the dark rich red/brown.

yeah, that's the color combo I like a lot; it's a very dark brown with red/orange in it. Of course, I could lighten it up with wall color...

and so forth.

Thank you!