My kitchen is not quite done so I don't have it all put back together and/or decorated yet, but I don't find my Virginia Mist (Jet Mist) to be antique-y or rustic. I view it as more classic. It reads pretty neutral to me even though it does have the white swirls so I think it would look great with your colorful Fiestaware. Have you decided on a paint color? I think using a color would definitely help from pulling it in the rustic direction as well (pale green?)

Kitchen-Reno, that's good to hear. I was hoping it would read fairly neutral, but with some interest and variation. Also, the suggestion that the paint would have a big effect is something that I hadn't thought of yet. I'm sort of saving the paint choice for last, as I don't even have my cabinets in yet, so it can be hard for me to visualize. But I had been thinking of either a pale green or maybe a pale aqua.

Thanks!

I think either of those colors would look great with your other choices. I chose a soft gray, which is rather boring, but the adjoining room in my house is very colorful and I just didn't want an overload. Pale green or pale aqua would both be great.

Are you doing a backsplash? that's another way to make sure you're not introducing the rustic feel that you don't want.

I think jet mist is totally compatible with lots of styles, and particularly so with Fiestaware (which is kind of retro in my mind, too)

Yes to the backsplash. I do have my heart set on white subway tiles, though, which are pretty neutral. It's rare that I see any other backslashes I like as well as white subway.

Which is actually one other concern I have with the absolute black - I think a white subway would be kind of boring with absolute black, so I might feel compelled to go with a more remarkable backsplash. Which I don't prefer.

I have to say that I don't find it boring at all. You can always go for "remarkable" accessories, wall paint, art, light fixtures....

I have Absolute Black in gloss in a 2nd home -- as others will attest, it is a horror of maintenance with dust, water marks, streaking and just about anything that might fall on it.

Nosoccermom, your kitchen is beautiful, but it looks like honed absolute. I always think that it's so beautiful, and not at all boring, but it sounds like more trouble than I want to take on. It's the gloss that I think might be boring with white subway tiles...

Gooster, good to know about that too. I'd read more frustration with keeping the honed nice - thought that gloss wasn't as much of a problem.

I went to the granite yard again today and found this granite which I liked, but my husband thinks is too blotchy. I can see his point, but I still find it interesting. It reminds me of slate. It's called "Mogambo"

Gonna be looking around a little more tomorrow.

Agree with nosoccermom - make the expensive, hard to replace things neutral and use less expensive accessories and paint to change things up.