My second home is under construction, I've been stressed out about all the decisions I need to make, hoping I'm making the right designing choices that I would have to live with for a long time. I need help designing my kitchen, so far I made the choice on the cabinets, I'm going for Maple, but can't decide between Honey or Spice maple. Next I would like help deciding on countertop, my choice is laminate, but can't decide what color goes better with Maple cabinets. Also what flooring would look nicer, hardwood or ceramic tiles. Please help...

This is just my opinion, I'm just giving you my two cents . . . I would reconsider going with a laminate. I think you might look at corian or other solid surface countertops. Less spendy and less over the top than granites and other natural stone. It will last forever and will outlast laminate. I think it will pay off in the long run. I love wood and am in the planning stages of a remodel and am torn by the same decision you are. I'm leaning toward ceramic tile. Big ceramic tile, narrow grout line, set at an angel. Lots of ceramic tile look like natural stone choose a neutral if you can, maybe something sort of sandy, maybe smidge darker(not beige) which should complement you cabinets nicely. Why not take some photos of space and bring them to a home improvement center and work with their design staff to work out some of your dillemas. Thank you for letting me unleash my inner control freak.

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Originally posted by Mayerling:
Also what flooring would look nicer, hardwood or ceramic tiles. Please help...

We are using maple cabinets, however ours are a painted/glazed finish rather than a natural color. We went with white quartz countertop, but there are many nice laminates to choose from. We went with tile. I wanted hardwood, but the rep for the hardwood, said in view of my description of our 7 yo spilling ice cubes and "forgetting" to tell anyone, we should probably not consider hardwood.

It is an exhausting job to pick out everything for a new home. If you get stuck on something, put it aside and work on something else. Then go back to it with a clear head. It will all come together eventually. Show pics of what you are looking at.

Here are some links to photos of kitchens.

This one has maple colored cabinets, green countertops and bamboo flooring...more modern in feel - hgtv kitchen 1

This one has honey maple cabinetry, a glass tile backsplash and what looks like shiny porcelain floors - hgtv.com kitchen #2

Hope these ideas help.

Ladecorate
Cococozy blog

Thanks guys for all your inputs. I follow some of your advices, I put off the decisions for the kitchen aside, and moved on to other things. Now I'm back on my kitchen, so far, I made my mind on maple spice cabinets, couldn't afford Cherry, I decided to go w/ the ceramic tiles, I have two toddler boys and my current hardwood floors couldn't get any more scracht.
My sale rep. gave some samples for the countertop to take home along w/ the cabinet door and tile samples so I could look at them and make my mind on the colors.