- what color to go with for the granite countertops - there's a grey look, and there's a sort of beige, brownish choice. Both have that granite "design" to them. What do you think would go better with the cabinets and the appliances... something gray or something light brown, with other shades of brown in it? The gray kind of brings out the cabinets, while the brown would sort of flow well with it. Tough choice!

I would go with gray just because beige/brown just seems too blah since everything else is in the same color family. We have black granite in our kitchen with cherry cabinets. I wouldn't have thought I liked it but I do because it is a nice contrast to everything else (cabinets, floors, walls, tile) being earth-tone.

- the color of the carpet everywhere else in the house.. a lighter shade of brown, or a mid-shade? I'm thinking lighter....

I would go lighter just to avoid the blah factor. We have cherry hardwood on most of the main level with light tan berber in the living room and bedroom. It's still in the same color family (earth-tone) but provides somewhat of a contrast to the dark wood in the adjacent rooms.

-Steph