1. Whitewashed wood and watery blue. Granite counters with cool, gray tones work well with beach-inspired hues like silvery blue, whitewashed wood and white sand. Try stainless steel appliances, white cabinets, blue-gray glass tiles and whitewashed woodwork.

2. Duck-egg green and warm gray. Because granite is a natural stone, it makes sense that it would work well with other hues from the natural world. Try it with other rock and mineral colors, like duck-egg green and warm stone gray.

In this kitchen the island cabinets are painted duck-egg green, while the rest of the cabinets are left crisp white. The warm gray wall color picks up the gray of the granite, and ties in with the stainless steel sink and appliances.

Counters: Persia Pearl Granite

3. Taupe and cappuccino. Granite counters with a warm tone look beautiful surrounded by other rich, warm hues like taupe and cappuccino. Making some of the cabinetry white keeps the space from feeling too dark and heavy.

Walls: Tony Taupe, Sherwin-Williams

4. Crisp white paint and gray glass tile. For a fresh, modern look, try accenting gray granite counters with all-white cabinets, ceilings and walls. The flooring shown here is a light gray tile; dark wood would add a welcome touch of warmth to a cool gray scheme like this.

6. Black, gray and white. Another option for black granite counters is to go a bit darker with graphite or charcoal walls and pure white cabinets. A chalkboard wall would also work well in a kitchen like this.

Island counter: Absolute Black honed granite

7. Warm white. Alaska White granite counters look a bit like marble — enhance the richness by painting cabinets and walls the same warm off-white hue. Pristine white ceilings keep the space feeling open, and pendant lights add to the elegant feel.

Cabinet paint: Off White 1873, Behr

8. Sea salt and bottle green. Using two shades of a similar hue is a great way to bring depth and interest to your space. A soft mineral green covers the walls in the space shown here, while a deep bottle green brings the island and range hood into focus. Warm wood floors keep the space feeling welcoming and relaxed.

Island counter: Leathered White Spring granite; perimeter counters: leathered Absolute Black granite; wall paint: Sea Salt, Sherwin Williams; backsplash: mix of Walker Zanger tile and stone