How to Update 6 Older Granite Countertops: 90s & 2000s (PART 4)

Sapphire Blue, Santa Cecilia, Uba Tuba, Baltic Brown, Tan Brown, Cosmic Black

Is your kitchen being held hostage by fugly granite countertops from the 1990s or early 2000s? Do you want to update your walls or cabinets but aren’t sure which paint colors will work? Can you do white? Can you do gray? Can you do ANYTHING? And let’s not get started on what to do with that ole backsplash.

Don’t worry; I’ve got your back and am here to help.

Most granite patterns from 20-30 years ago weren’t picked with LONGEVITY in mind; they were picked because they suited the current trends, trends that no longer apply unless you’re still sponge-painting your walls and stuffing plastic bags in your bra like me valances. The ones we’re hitting today include…

• SAPPHIRE BLUE
• ST CECILIA/VENETIAN GOLD
• UBA TUBA 
• BALTIC BROWN
• TAN BROWN GRANITE 
• COSMIC BLACK GRANITE

If your countertop isn’t on the above list and you want me to include it – SEND PICS! If I see one often enough (and know the name of it), I’m happy to add a section on it! 

But not all older granite counters are a challenge, and in fact, some are friggin’ gorgeous and highly coveted. Others may not be coveted but are still easy enough to work with – the most TIMELESS and VERSATILE granite being BLACK.

The Most Timeless Kitchen Countertops

However, even some of the best-intentioned black granite countertops have flecks of pink, taupe, green, and blue that severely limit their long-term potential. This can make updating your kitchen a heck of a lot more complicated, but not impossible if you have a lil Ginger in your back pocket (I pinch upon request).

By the way, if you think your granite countertop is calling all the shots, you might be surprised to hear that your BACKSPLASH calls first dibs when choosing cabinet paint colors.

Let’s say that again in a different way…

MOST of the time, your backsplash is more important than your countertop when coordinating cabinet colors.

Why?

The visual connection is more immediate because the backsplash is on the same vertical sightline as the cabinets. With the horizontal counter, there’s more room for forgiveness.

The subway tile backsplash is PERFECT for the granite countertop and maple cabinets.

Sure, it’s all good in the hood if your countertop and backsplash coordinate, but if they don’t (which is more often the case with homes from the 1990s/2000s — and even today’s homes), you may want to refresh them too.

How to Update Wood Kitchen Cabinets WITHOUT Paint! 

In this next kitchen, the black granite countertop is still going strong, but the dated backsplash limits the room’s potential…

After, you can see how a fresh new backsplash and a coordinated cabinet paint color bring this kitchen back to LIFE!

Of course, if you don’t HAVE a backsplash, that makes things a bit easier…

The Best Kitchen Island Paint Colors – A Mixed Bag! 

ARE GRANITE COUNTERTOPS STILL IN STYLE IN 2025?

Honestly? No. I know you might love granite countertops, and I won’t stop you, but just because you don’t like the answer doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

I’m talking about what the average homeowner is installing in their home (when they’re starting from scratch).

Yes, some are installing granite, but the majority are choosing…

• white & off-white quartz counters
• warm-toned quartz countertops
• quartzite, like the popular Taj Mahal
• more affordable laminate counters

To put it simply, granite is not the most popular or trendy choice for today’s average homeowner or kitchen. Most people are looking to update their older granite countertops, not install new ones. But this doesn’t mean you can’t love them anyway!

While the backsplash is a touch too cool and modern, I LOVE this quartzite countertop/cabinet combo. 

HOW DO YOU MAKE GRANITE COUNTERTOPS LOOK MODERN?

1. Paint the cabinets and/or walls – hands down, this is the most affordable and effective kitchen update
2. Update your backsplash with more modern tile (subway tile is usually the best bet – and you don’t have to do white!)
3. Update your cabinet hardware and light fixtures 
4. Refresh your home decor and accents (less is often more)
5. You can update ANY granite countertop without replacing it with these 3 ideas

Some new but slightly traditional home decor pieces would help this Tuscan-style kitchen. 

Remember, your outdated countertops can still look amazeballs if you surround them with the right paint color, backsplash, and decor – there are some granites I’ve grown to love in my Online Color Consulting adventures! The key is to stop fighting your granite and choose paint colors and products that suit it – this is how you create a space with style and intention.

As the great Britney Spears once said, let’s hit that baby one more time…

The key is to stop FIGHTING your granite and choose paint colors and products that SUIT it.

I believe the above countertop is actually soapstone, but it proves my point – going WITH IT works! 

Before, the paint color did nothing for the original granite countertops.

It’s amazing how the right paint color changes a space’s energy!

Today, the focus is on updating your older granite countertop with paint colors and backsplash ideas.

Why?

They’re your best way to get some BANG FOR YOUR BUCK (non-street corner style). But before we get started, I want to make a VERY IMPORTANT POINT about painted cabinets…

If you want to paint your cabinets and can’t find a paint color that both YOU and your countertop love, it might be best to leave them stained wood! This can ESPECIALLY be the case if you have a backsplash or tile flooring that isn’t well-coordinated with the countertop – PAINT CAN’T FIX EVERYTHING (but wine can certainly help) 

Should You Paint Your Cabinets or Leave Them Stained – A QUESTIONNAIRE

Are you ready to dive in? I know I am…

Below, you’ll find links to blog post with a range of colors, as well as ‘ALL CAPS’ links to Samplize Peel & Stick colors with a selection of colors to play with – have fun! 

1. SAPPHIRE BLUE/SAPPHIRE BROWN GRANITE UPDATE IDEAS

Oh, that Sapphire Blue (also known as Sapphire Brown) counter is always a bugger with its particular blend of colors…

• black
• rose-taupe blend (pink-violet hues)
• gray with a strong blue-violet undertone
• soft dark taupe-based brown

Sapphire Blue Granite Home Depot

Seriously, I actually had to take a deep chug of wine straight from the bottle breath before I dove into this one.

DO WHITE CABINETS GO WITH SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE?

They can, but again, you have to be careful.

Why?

While some granites (with no white in them) suit white cabinets, the particular colors in Sapphire Blue can look more dated with white cabinets. If you really want white cabinets, DON’T choose a warm white (instead, look at whiter whites), and be cautious with your wall color choice (which we get into shortly).

THE EXCEPTIONS

This countertop may have some exceptions, depending on the flooring (hopefully a wood stain) and the backsplash, which should ideally not be white.

By the way, there can be quite a bit of variation between slabs, so the examples might not show the exact Sapphire Blue you have.

DOES SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE SUIT GRAY CABINETS?

This is where we can breathe a little easier and go back to our sippy cups. Yes, you can paint your cabinets gray…ish. But it can’t be any old gray or the more popular gray paint colors like Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray or Gray Owl. You’ll want to sample the following carefully.

• Grays with decent blue-violet undertones – ideally around the medium-depths. Blue loves to move around, so make sure you hit the right one and the right depth (nothing too light or blue-green)! Also, note that blue CAN make the pink in this countertop look a wink MORE pink (in contrast).
• Colors that are even warmer, going into the medium-range taupe end of things, although they MIGHT not hit the degree of pink this countertop loves! (but we also don’t want cabinets that are too pink).

Should I Paint My Cabinets or Leave Them Stained? A QUESTIONNAIRE

Remember, some kitchens were designed to suit WOOD cabinets, not white ones.

WHAT ARE THE BEST WALL COLORS WITH SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE?

If you want to freshen up your walls, you can check out some versions of *WARM GRAY PAINT COLORS with NO GREEN UNDERTONES. You might also explore TAUPE PAINT COLORS (as they have purple-pink undertones).

*Regular links go to helpful blog posts. Links in ALL CAPS go to my curated color bundles of Peel & Stick paint samples. 

WHAT’S THE BEST BACKSPLASH TO UPDATE SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE?

Again, it can depend on the color of your cabinets, but generally speaking, check out…

• Taupe tiles with the same undertones as the flecks in your countertop.
• Warm gray tiles with reasonably strong violet-pink undertones (the key is to MATCH one of the flecks in your countertop).
• Gray tiles with a blue-violet undertone.

2.  GOLD UBA TUBA GRANITE COUNTERTOP UPDATE IDEAS

Uba Tuba is tricky, as there are so many versions and color blends. While some focus hard on a cool green and black, often with gold and silver flecks, others drop all of the green (or most of it), grabbing only black, gold, taupe, and white!

I’ve got a blog post that covers the more GREEN version of this countertop. This blog post is about Uba Tuba Gold

VERDE UBA TUBA OR SIMILAR

Uba Tuba Granite Home Depot

GOLD UBA TUBA OR SIMILAR

WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE CABINET COLOR WITH UBA TUBA GRANITE?

Most versions of Uba Tuba do just fine with white cabinets.

• The more ‘gold-inspired’ Uba Tuba countertop can handle white cabinets, as long as it’s a warm, softer white paint color.
• Avoid cool shades of white as they can come off too harsh against the golden tones in Uba Tuba.

This said, while white might be tempting, look at how gorgeous these natural stone countertops and wood cabinets look with color-blocking in Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze…

Remember, some kitchens were designed around granite countertops and WOOD cabinets – not all cabinets are destined for paint! 

Benjamin Moore’s 8 Best White Paint Colours

DO GRAY CABINETS SUIT UBA TUBA GRANITE?

Generally speaking, no. While it can depend on your Uba Tuba, the more standard gold version doesn’t love gray. Sure, there might be some gray flecks in your countertop, but if they’re hard to see from 4+ feet away, it could be hard to connect them with gray cabinets.

HUGE thanks to my E-Design clients (and readers who use my advice) who send in their after photos; I couldn’t do this without you! 

WHAT ARE THE BEST WALL COLORS IF I HAVE UBA TUBA GRANITE?

If you want to freshen up your walls, check out…

*Regular links go to helpful blog posts. Links in ALL CAPS go to my curated color bundles of Peel & Stick paint samples. 

• TAN PAINT COLORS are a good place to start.
• If you have wood cabinets, check out WARM WHITE PAINT COLORS for your walls.

The 2 Best Whole Home Greige & Taupe Paint Colours

WHAT’S THE BEST BACKSPLASH TO UPDATE UBA TUBA GRANITE?

The best backsplash to update Uba Tuba can depend on the color of your cabinets.

While this countertop isn’t Uba Tuba, from a distance, it looks similar. Uba Tuba granite would suit this cabinet color and backsplash perfectly. 

How to Update a Kitchen With Black Countertops

• With WOOD OR WHITE CABINETS, try a soft white subway tile, but not a stark one (if you have white cabinets, the two whites should match).
• Travertine tile often pairs well with this countertop, but it’s not the most updated approach – you’d at least need a subway tile layout and size. I’d lean more toward a 3×6 subway tile that perfectly matches one of the colors in the countertop.

Backsplash Ideas to Update a 2000s Kitchen

Get the best color advice…

Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING PACKAGES

3. SANTA CECILIA OR VENETIAN ICE OR GOLD GRANITE COUNTERTOP UPDATE IDEAS

SIMILAR GRANITE COUNTERTOPS: Giallo Ornamental, Venetian Gold, Giallo Napoli

When it comes to beautiful granites from the early 2000s, St. Cecilia, Venetian Gold, Giallo Napoli, and the like are at the top of the list.

However, beautiful doesn’t always = trendy, and when it comes to updating a kitchen or bathroom with these counters, you’ve got your work cut out for you!

Santa Cecilia and similar counters often have the following colors…

• creamy, soft, off-whites
• beige/tan, warm golden hues (yellow-orange)
• varying shades of light to dark taupe
• a touch of burgundy/maroon
• almost black-brown
• some of a flash of soft, warm white

Santa Cecilia Home Depot

While this next kitchen isn’t as warm as Santa Cecilia or New Venetian, it looks similar. The reduced warmth and simple subway tile leave room for a fantastic green paint color on the cabinets!

While it’s often best to repeat a color that’s in the countertop, sometimes you can create a gorgeous palette with a color that contrasts or complements your countertop’s colors (just make sure it really does accent and doesn’t clash).

In this next kitchen, the cream cabinets (Sherwin Williams Antique White) are too yellow for the countertop, backsplash, and floor tile. Cream can be a tough sell with a kitchen palette like this.

Why?

Many people think their travertine tile backsplash or flooring is cream (yellow-based), when it’s actually BEIGE (orange undertone).

By the way, there are several varieties of these granite countertops, and there’s always variation between slabs. The examples might not show the exact St. Cecilia/Venetian/Giallo that you have.

The 5 Best Off-White Paint Colours

THE BEST WHITE PAINT COLORS: ST. CECILIA, GIALLO ORNAMENTAL, ETC.

If you’re hoping for white cabinets, you need to tread carefully.

Remember, many kitchens were designed around wood cabinets and can’t handle what you might throw at them.

Often, these countertops can handle a bit of white, but it must be warm and soft, not stark or clean. The exception can be Venetian Ice, as some slabs don’t have an overly warm white.

I also can’t give specific whites, as we’re talking about a) four-five similar, but different countertops, b) some of these can vary even within the same type, c) I’m a Color Consultant and GIRL’S GOTTA MAKE SOME MONEY! d) I provide you with a TON of links and blog posts featuring gorgeous colors to explore. 

I’m leading the horse to water, but you gotta do the drinkin’! 

However, I am here to get you off on the right foot. I have two helpful blog posts full of lovelies.

The 4 Best Warm White Paint Colors: Benjamin Moore

Sherwin Williams 3 Best Warm White Paint Colors

I also have a premade Samplize Peel & Stick bundle full of my FAVORITE WHITES to compare for almost any kitchen.

If white seems overwhelming for your kitchen, a happy medium is painting your main cabinets a soft off-white paint color that speaks to the lightest, most subtle shade in your countertop.

THE BEST PAINT COLORS FOR THESE COUNTERTOPS

Luckily, St. Cecelia and Venetian Gold suit a reasonable range of paint colors, but this can vary depending on the slab or countertop, so sample carefully.

• Various shades of off-white, light, and light-medium depth beige and tan paint colors often work with these countertops (depending on the one you have).
• Some WARM SHADES OF OFF-WHITE.
• While it greatly depends on the exact countertop and slab you have, you can also check out some OFF-WHITE & LIGHT-DEPTH TAUPE PAINT COLORS.

By the way, this particular countertop and its friends take up a HUGE part of this blog post.

Why?

Because it was one of the most popular granite countertops in the early 2000s, many of my Online Color Consulting clients are trying to update them. This means I kept the above info to the point and created an ENTIRE BLOG POST dedicated to this and similar countertops.

How to Update Venetian Gold & St. Cecilia Granite Countertops – THE FULL MEAL DEAL! 

On the other hand, if you want to keep it simple, keep on reading!

WHAT’S THE BEST BACKSPLASH TO UPDATE SANTA CECILIA OR VENETIAN GOLD?

When it comes to these countertops and white subway tile, it’s the hardest no possible –  it doesn’t get any harder than this (that’s what she said).

If you want a white subway tile backsplash, put on the brakes and shift into a new gear. Instead, take a look at…

• Off-white tiles that hit the soft off-white colors in the countertop – nothing whiter!
• Light-medium to medium-depth taupe tiles with the same warm violet undertones as the flecks in your countertop. Find a paint color that works with your cabinet and countertop, then take that color sample to the tile store with you for matching!

BTW – there can be A LOT of variation between slabs, so the examples might not show the EXACT Venetian Gold/Santa Cecilia/etc. that you have.

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE channel for more great Kylie M. content! 

4. BALTIC BROWN GRANITE UPDATE IDEAS

Ahhhh, Baltic Brown, you’ve been kickin’ it for a long time, my friend, and I know ALL of your dirty secrets, including colors like…

• black
• MAJORLY orange-hued (leaning orange-pink rather than orange-yellow)
• peach tones
• green (cool green-blue, not yellow-green)

But, NO TWO GRANITE SLABS WERE CREATED ALIKE, and this is the case with these brown granite countertops, as Baltic Brown is available in slabs that are a bit darker and richer like this…

Or lighter and brighter like this…

Which makes it REALLY HARD for me to specify which direction you should go in. So, I’m going with what I see in the AVERAGE consult with Baltic Brown.

Painted Kitchen Cabinet Updates: Before & Afters

DO TRUE WHITE CABINETS GO WITH BALTIC BROWN GRANITE?

For the love of everything beautiful – no. Because Baltic Brown doesn’t have legit white in it, true white cabinets look stark and out of place in a kitchen with these countertops.

I think my one exception would be if you have no backsplash (or Baltic Brown is on your backsplash, too), and wood floors – then I might humor warm white cabinets. 

However, you CAN paint your cabinets a soft, warm off-white, as long as it doesn’t lean into yellow/cream. Baltic Brown favors an orange undertone that leans slightly into red (or pink) rather than yellow.

Some modern off-white, beige paint colors (they must lean more orange-pink) can be interesting partners to Baltic Brown.

Ideas to Update Your 1990s Kitchen

Remember, I blog for free to help you update your home. I do Online Color Consulting to support my family! I’m not able to give away ALL the colors I use, but have included some helpful info to get you where you want to go.

DO GRAY CABINETS GO WITH BALTIC BROWN GRANITE COUNTERS?

You can paint your cabinets gray, but they can’t be a TRADITIONAL or standard gray paint color; they need a MASSIVE shot of green in them and absolutely NO VIOLET OR BLUE! Along with a heavy dose of green hue, you’ll also want some depth –  no off-white or light depths for THIS countertop.

The Best DARK Green Cabinet Paint Colors

WHAT ARE THE BEST PAINT COLOURS TO MATCH BALTIC BROWN GRANITE?

If you want to freshen up your walls, you can check out some versions of…

• gray with DECENT green undertones (green-blue NOT green-yellow, so in other words, a COOL green)
• green-blue shades (leaning hard into the green with a GOOD shot of gray to calm it all down)
• BEIGE PAINT COLORS with a focus on an orange-pink undertone

While this next Baltic Brown example is more brown-based (less peach/pink/green) and in low-light, look at how pretty Sherwin Williams Dhurrie Beige looks with it…

Find more colors like Dhurrie Beige here: The Best Slightly Darker Beige Paint Colors

WHICH TILE BACKSPLASHES UPDATE BALTIC BROWN GRANITE?

I like working with Baltic Brown, as it’s pretty clear on its preferences…

• Some travertine tiles. The key is to choose an updated subway tile pattern, not a diamond or square-lay pattern. Your Baltic Brown must lean reasonably into beige tones.
• Gray tiles with a strong green undertone.

Wood Kitchen Cabinet Updates: Real Homes, Real Budgets

5. TAN BROWN GRANITE UPDATE IDEAS

I don’t know who came up with THIS creative name, but WOW. Not only is it boring, it’s not even accurate!

Tan Brown granite, as you can see, has a range of colors in it, including…

• Salmon/peach (pink-orange)
• Darker, stormy gray
• Bare flashes of warmer gray and taupe
• Black
• Sure, there’s a bit of brown, but really…

WHICH WHITE PAINT COLORS GO WITH TAN BROWN GRANITE?

If you’re hoping to update your Tan Brown granite with white cabinets, it can greatly depend on your flooring and backsplash. Generally speaking, there’s a good chance your kitchen can handle a soft, but not super warm, white paint color. This chance increases I you have wood flooring, not tile.

If the above kitchen’s owner wanted white cabinets, they’d have to update the backsplash, too. 

DOES TAN BROWN GRANITE SUIT GRAY CABINETS?

You miiiiight be able to sneak in a darker, warmer shade of gray, but combined with the black base of this countertop, it could look pretty heavy.

If you don’t want white cabinets and are tired of wood, you might consider sampling a range of taupe paint colors in the light-medium to medium range.

How to Update a Kitchen With Black Countertops

WHAT BACKSPLASH TILE UPDATES TAN BROWN GRANITE?

Let me try to cover all the bases here…

WOOD CABINETS: White seems a bit too harsh. I’d rather lean into the soft, warm gray/taupe flecks in the countertop with a 3×6 subway tile.

WHITE CABINETS: White cabinets on white subway tile could be a bit drastic. I lean more towards connecting with the warm gray/taupe flecks in the countertop. This might be a bit darker than you want, but if you go too light, you might miss the bus.

NON-WHITE WARM GRAY/TAUPE CABINETS: Oooo, this is where you might be able to sneak in a white subway tile, depending your flooring (with me hoping it’s wood).

Remember, a LOT depends on the other finishes in your space – I’m just trying to hit some general ideas here :). 

6. UPDATE IDEAS FOR COSMIC BLACK COUNTERTOPS

Cosmic Black is one of my favorite granite countertops. While I’m a big fan of black granite in general, Cosmic Black’s veining offers some gorgeous colors to pull from.

What I find interesting is that, more so than most other granite countertops, some choose Cosmic Black for their newer builds and renovations, whereas the others are usually avoided!

Cosmic Black granite usually contains

• Black…obviously
• Orangey-gold tones
• Taupe
• Muted off-whites
• The odd slab leans heavier on gold and some creamyish colors

DO WHITE CABINETS GO WITH COSMIC BLACK COUNTERTOPS?

If you want white kitchen cabinets, I’d check out soft white paint colors – nothing too sharp or cool-toned. This said, I wouldn’t go TOO creamy warm either.

WHAT NON-WHITE COLORS GO WITH COSMIC BLACK?

If I had Cosmic Black granite counters and wanted to paint my walls or cabinets, I’d check out…

• A range of flexible, light, and light-medium taupes – probably leaning into the more subtle options.
• The odd slab suits muted shades of beige with some gray calming them, but NO green undertones. However, taupes are usually better.
• Slab-dependent, check out flexible, warm off-white paint colors.
• With the gold vein that pops up in some Cosmic Black slabs, you might be tempted by cream paint colors, but they’ll come off too yellow.

DO GRAY CABINETS GO WITH COSMIC BLACK GRANITE?

Again, it’s not that you can’t, but softer, warmer shades are often better. You might sample a few slightly darker, warmer shades of gray, but I wouldn’t get too carried away.

This next countertop isn’t Cosmic Black, but it has some similar colors…

This might be more like Cosmic Black & Gold granite.

WHAT BACKSPLASH TILES GO WITH COSMIC BLACK GRANITE?

With Cosmic Black, I’m inclined to lean into the colors found in the veining. In particular, I’d focus on the moderate depth, subtle shades of taupe and find that exact color in a 3×6 subway tile.

READ MORE BLOG POSTS IN THIS 6-PART SERIES

Paint Color Ideas to Update Your Outdated 2000s Home (PART 1)

The Best Backsplash Ideas to Update a 2000s Kitchen (PART 2)

Ideas to Update Your 2000s Home: Hardware & Lighting (PART 3)

5 CASE STUDIES: 2000s Kitchen Updates: Tuscan, Travertine, & More (PART 5)

Ideas to Update Your 2000s Bathroom (PART 6)

Get the best color advice…

Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING PACKAGES!

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2025 WITH MORE GOODIES FOR YOU!