Without you all, I wouldn't have gotten this far in remodeling our very small, north-facing kitchen. Thank you for all your suggestions and ideas so far. Because of you all and my interest in "warmer" colors, I have so far gotten to selecting:

* Cabinets: Natural-stain cherry veneer slab doors except the corner cabinets, which would have glass in them. I am hoping to find a gold/amber-colored glass someday. Or maybe get around to making some stained glass inserts,
* White, cast-iron, undermounted sink,
* Fridge/stove/hood/dishwasher - all pre-existing, all brushed stainless steel with black where it is not silver (I wouldn't have picked these, but they work fine so they stay)
* Aluminum (bronze painted) garden window above the sink to add more light.

Although many of you have suggested I not think about the floor until I get the countertop/backsplash settled, I have in my mind a slate stone floor - I like the colorfulness of the golds-oranges-reds in the slate I see. Like a painting on your floor - it leaves me breathless!

Which leaves me stuck on the quartz countertop/ backsplash combination that will complement rather than interfere with everything else that is going on. I have been surfing the web for images, but I still feel unsure, especially since I keep reading on here that the cabinet color will darken a bit over time. Gulp.

1. I am looking for a countertop that is simple/understated in color but won't clash with everything else I am considering, but still a warm-toned color. I had considered either Cambria Oakhampton or Ceasarstone's Espresso, but now they seem way too dark for such a small space. So now I am pondering:
Ceasarstone's Wild Rice
http://www.caesarstoneus.com/en/The-Catalog/Pages/4360%20Wild%20Rice.aspx
or
Cambria's Hazelford or Cherrybrook (I haven't seen these colors yet but should be able to see the samples this weekend.)
http://www.cambriausa.com/en/Designs/design-palette/

2. And if I thought the quartz was overwhelming, the backsplash possibilities are seemingly endless! Yikes. For the backsplash, I was thinking about a subway tile that will put some zing into the kitchen without clashing with everything. So I picked up some Fireclay Tiles just to get some colors going, and so far with the Wild Rice sample I have, I have been drawn to some brighter blues and some deeper reds:
Blue Violet
Azurine
Claret
Beet (a glass)
(https://www.fireclaytile.com/tile/colors/)

Does this sound too busy? Too crazy? Experiences with any of those quartz colors? Any advice for how to pick all these elements when none of it is in place to really ponder?

Thank you for not just shaking your heads at me (which is what my extended family is doing). Cheers!