We're in the midst of getting everything ordered/purchased for our kitchen remodel.
H has left the countertop and flooring choice up to me, but I'm having a really hard time choosing!
Our cabinets will be this color & style:

The kitchen is kind of small, it will almost be like a galley style when we're done - layout in my blog, so I'm having a hard time choosing colors that will fit the space.
I know we want to do a laminate floor - the snap in kind. I was thinking either really light laminate wood or darker laminate tile.
For the countertop, I have no idea what color to choose. I would like to do the kind that's a step up from laminate - I think it's like a manufactured stone.
I'm thinking about doing a blue-ish color on the walls, but I haven't finalized that yet either.
What color flooring and countertop would you do?
Re: What color?
Stand up for something you believe in.
Countertop color options:
http://solidsurface.com/sheet-material/overstock/corian?___SID=U&gclid=CLf2tv2TjagCFcq8Kgod7V8cDQ
First, I would ask how long you're planning on living here...if it's not your "forever home" then I would make the most neutral choices possible. If you will be living here for quite some time, then I'd say you can have generally have more fun and choose things that are more to your specific taste.
What are the prominent colors in your home right now?
How do you want your kitchen to "feel"? Warm and cozy or crisp and clean, etc?
<a href="http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/adia83/?action=view
We'll probably stay in the house about another 10 years at most. We're usually pretty 'neutral' people anyway, so that shouldn't be a problem.
Blues, greens and tan/brown are the main colors in our house now.
I'd like it to feel more towards crisp and clean.
This one, for sure, with slate colored tile flooring and blue walls:
http://solidsurface.com/index.php/sheet-material/overstock/corian/aruba-dupont-corian-9-25-x-27-75-x-0-5-overstock-8825?___SID=U
Stand up for something you believe in.
What do you think of this for the floor?
http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Laminate-Flooring-Laminate-Tile-Stone-Planks/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbejq/R-100529231/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
I like that one. Won't work with the countertop above.
I like these countertops with that:
(lighter)
http://solidsurface.com/index.php/sheet-material/overstock/corian/granola-dupont-corian-9-5-x-25-75-x-0-5-overstock-7152?___SID=U
(medium)
http://solidsurface.com/index.php/sheet-material/overstock/corian/thyme-dupont-corian-30-x-63-25-x-0-5-overstock-8843?___SID=U
(darker)
http://solidsurface.com/index.php/sheet-material/overstock/corian/canyon-dupont-corian-14-5-x-26-5-x-0-5-overstock-6412?___SID=U
Stand up for something you believe in.
TBH, I'm not a big fan of the floor. My mom has something similar and it just doens't float my boat.
What are your other flooring options?
For countertops, I like Sahara, Beach and Linen. They're all really light and bright and will go with any color paint that you choose now, or in the future.
<a href="http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/adia83/?action=view
I like the medium one.
What about this one?
http://solidsurface.com/index.php/sonora-dupont-corian?___SID=U
Maybe a lighter wood laminate?
I like it but it leans a littler darker on the color scale, so you'll have to compensate with lighter paint. If you're fine with that I think it looks good.
Stand up for something you believe in.
Like this maybe: http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Laminate-Flooring-Laminate-Wood-Planks/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbejk/R-202191105/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
ok, another question:
If I go with a darker floor, should I go with lighter counters and vise versa?
I agree with Rach. I particularly like Sahara and Rye.
I like this countertop best out of the ones that have been posted. If you're going with a darker countertop, I'd balance that with lighter floors, and visa versa. I'm not a big fan of hardwood or laminate wood in kitchens. For me, with the cabinets, it's just too much wood, especially if it's a gallery kitchen. I like the slate or ceramic tile look much better. I don't hate the slate that you posted, but if you use it or something similar, I'd go with lighter countertops.
Can you give us an idea of paint color? That might help.
Ditto, I like Sahara or Beach. Both neutral, which is nice.
As for flooring, we did new laminate this past year, and did something like this:
http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Laminate-Flooring-Laminate-Samples/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbejo/R-100686614/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
but the "tiles" were the same size. I might have a picture. Are you definitely ordering online? I'm terrible with decisions like these (hence the fact that the new floor replaced a floor I had previously picked out and hated). This time when we were looking for new floor, I went to the local home depot and took some samples (they didn't even charge me I don't think). That helps because a) you can see it in the light of your house and at different times of day, and b) not every home depot stocks all the same stuff (unless you are planning on buying it online either way).
Good luck!
This would be super wood overload for me.
Also, I think the floor kass linked is too close to the cabinet color.
I feel like you need some distinction.
Stand up for something you believe in.
DD: I would like to do a lighter, brighter blue on the walls - almost like a blue/green
Kass: We're going to buy the flooring in-store.
I agree - that's sort of why I've been leaning towards darker tile floors.
ETA wonky computer.
I agree now looking that it might be too similar to the cabinets. If you are buying in store, I would go see what they have in stock. They might have something in store that they don't have online.
I like the lighter wood floors, but they do look somewhat close to the cabinet color, so maybe go for a shade lighter or darker - if possible. You could always break it up with a nice area rug or runner though.
As for your question about contrasting the floors and countertops....I don't think you "have" to have darker floors just b/c you have light countertops. In fact, I think too much contrast can be a bad thing...it could end up looking harsh with light cabinets, counters and then - BAM - dark floors out of nowhere. I'd go with a medium floor if you want more contrast but nothing super dark. Just my 2 cents!
<a href="http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/adia83/?action=view
Do you like this? I'm undecided.
http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Laminate-Flooring-Laminate-Tile-Stone-Planks/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbejq/R-100523069/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
You may want to go with a lighter floor, like the one Kass posted, or something like these.
http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Laminate-Flooring-Laminate-Tile-Stone-Planks/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbejq/R-100523069/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Laminate-Flooring-Laminate-Tile-Stone-Planks/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbejq/R-100684114/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
We're about to tile our kitchen, so maybe this will help you visualize another look. This is what it looks like now.
Countertop closeup
This isn't the exact tile, but it's pretty close.
http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Tile-Stone-Tile-Ceramic/h_d1/N-5yc1vZarszZ1z1191g/R-202562232/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053