Before you paint anything, ally2012, were you planning on painting the walls and ceiling a different color(s). If yes, what? The current cabinet color does seem too dark for the room and white could look pretty, but everything should flow together.

Best,
Shari

spkcreative@gmail.com
www.spkcreative.com

The cabinets themselves are pretty traditional, I'm not sure painting them white will get you where you want to be, ie., more contemporary. What about a sleek glass tile for the backsplash (I can't tell from the photo what the silver material is on part of the backsplash.).

For the character that you are looking for, you could paint the upper cabinets white and leave the lower ones as they are. This picture shows a lot of natural light. If it seems dark in the kitchen, is your lighting adequate? I agree you need to have your overall colors decided upon (ceiling and walls) before you do anything. Also, it looks like the kitchen may be open to another room...family room? Dining room? If so, coordinate your colors and cabinet colors with the adjoining visible room. It really is a beautiful room, Ally, you may just be caught mid-project and you need to do a little more planning for the colors you want to use.

step away from the paint bucket!

+1 on the backsplash, it will give you the life you need.

I agree with not painting the cabinets, consider a more contemporary backsplash, and the style of the cabinetry dictates the style of your kitchen no matter which color you pick.

If anything, you could look at painting the island white instead of the perimeter to brighten the kitchen a bit.

Nice Dytecture, I like the photo on the right the best!

I think your kitchen looks fine. It just could use a little color in the backsplash. I wouldn't paint those brand new cabinets white. I really don't think that would give you the outcome you're looking for. I would also add a little color on the walls. Perhaps you can paint that small wall to the right of the fridge a vibrant color. Don't forget about runners, accessories, and undercounter lights to bring color and light. Hope that helps. Charmean Neithart

You might be having renovator's remorse...it's very much like buyer's remorse (see below for link). Wait a bit and you'll come to love your new kitchen, it's beautiful...!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buyer%27s_remorse

I agree with j222b in that it could very well be buyer's remorse. I suffered from it last year after we renovated our kitchen. We added a glass backsplash and under counter lights and it became the star of our kitchen.

Replace the wood panels in the upper cabinets in your working area (from the stove around to the window wall) with solid glass panels, either clear, frosted or waterfall glass. Even replace the two glass doors you have around the stove to remove those panel divisions. Use GLASS shelving in them with lighting and display your dishes and glassware in them. Leave the ones over the vent solid. Of course, if you didn't already do so, you need nice, pretty, new dishes and matching glasses, right? You have a lot of other good storage for less pretty things like canned goods, cereal boxes, etc.

Install a white GLASS backsplash(not ceramic) using the ones with mesh on the back with the 1x3 sized pcs on them. They can also be purchased in stainless which you can mix in with the white to make a border or any other design you may like.Would make the white less boring.
Another more modern idea for backsplash could be those wavy looking tin 18x18 stainless looking panels that look like ceiling tiles.(Home Depot at about $20 each)

Lastly, replace that sad little light fixture with an island light with at least two bulbs! Let us see what you end up doing.

PS: Using glass shelving will allow the lighting you install in the cabinet to brighten the entire cabinet top to bottom. Looking at the ones above the stove you can see that the wood shelves block the brightness and limit the light to the top shelf.

The problem is that the walls and the cabinets are to contrasting currently. Simply warm the walls and place in a simple yet contemperary splash to modernize it just a bit. I would aim for comfort ecclectic. Earth tone on the wall to complement the dark cabinets but not too dark. maybe in the sherwin williams killim beige or similar. Then run either a row of tumbled mossaics with a complementary tile on the backs splash. You could even use just mossaics for a simple install. I am thinking something with dark emperador and light emperador impressions. And wolla! Good to go!

I think the issue is that the wall color is too cool against the cabinets, which is not bringing out the best of them. As others suggested, a warm backsplash, under cabinet lighting, new light over the island, and a warm wall color to pull it together and it will be lovely!

I agree with pretty much everything everyone is saying. You have a beautiful kitchen that just needs minor touches to shine. It isn't quite the kitchen you wanted, and that is hugely frustrating after going through the expense and inconvenience of a renovation, but I think that working with your cabinets to create a transitional kitchen, rather than painting them, is the way to go. As others have said, I would prioritize a fun light colored (glass tile?) backsplash, new multiple pendants over the island, a more nuanced (but still light--taupe? putty?) wall color, and taking down the arched trim (which I think accentuates the traditional style of the cabinets that you don't like). If the trim is covering lighting or a concealed range hood, maybe get your cabinetmaker to do replacement pieces in straight lines rather than arches. Or put in a modern stainless range hood. I think that once all the details are in place, your cabinets will look great.

I agree with all these comments above. Here is a picture of a kitchen filled with very traditional, dark stained cherry inset door cabinets. With good lighting, light paint color, backsplash, and your stuff, it can look warm and inviting.

A few more photos of dark cabinets, some with more traditional details, set in a modern context:

feeny: the hanging lamps / striped shades in "The Woodshop of Avon" are absolutely perfect. I think a shade like those would add a good bit of punch in any kitchen with dark cabinets.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my dilemma. I have tried 30 different backsplash ideas and I have returned 2 shipments of tile. Nothing is making it look better in my eyes. My previous kitchen was white and I loved it so that is why I am considering a color change. I am currently trying to get a few estimates to modify the cabinets so that they are not going up and down and in and out. It may help. You have some great suggestions. Thanks a bunch :-).

Very good advice here. The only thing that's throwing me off about this kitchen is the placement of the island. Why is it angled?

Just my opinion, but I just think your kitchen lacks 1) color and 2) texture. Get those going and you should see a huge difference. Right now it is all flat surfaces; no glitz or glamour. Some glass tiles for the backsplash to sparkle and reflect light, an interesting tile design insert behind the cooktop, and some pretty paint on the wall for color; get some in-cabinet lighting for the glass door sections for more sparkle; make the shelves glass so the light shines down all the way through the shelves and highlights the contents. good luck
https://www.houzz.com/photos/dark-cherry-cabinets-phbr0lbl-bl~l_41982?fi=21
http://www.houzz.com/projects/9327/North-Shore-Transitional-Style-Kitchen

You've got yourself the makings of a real designer kitchen there. All it needs is for you to add some great personal details. If you want to add some contemporary "zing" to it, why not shop for a very contemporary cut glass light fixture to hang over the island in place of that pendant. You can also add under cabinet lighting, or even lighting on top of your cabinets. Lots of these photos show those glass tiles that everyone is talking about in a very contemporary mosaic style-you would just have to decide what color scheme you want. You could paint the walls a very pristine white. White walls, and added light should brighten things up a great deal.

I can feel your frustration, but I do agree with the majority of the posting listed above. If you do consider painting your cabinets I feel that it would really devalue the total kitchen renovation. I also agree that now is the time for you to add your contemporary touches to this traditional kitchen renovation. Take advantage of the natural light in the room and add a backsplash that will capture it. Compliment the countertop material color and add some glass mosaics to give the backsplash a contemporary flair. A combination of honed natural stone and a blend of glass with subtle blue tones in it will pull together the wall color and the cabinetry making the backsplash your new focal point.
Finally go bold with your island pendant fixture tying it to the contemporary fell you are trying to achieve. Possibly one single drum shade fixture or several smaller sleek tubular glass pendant will do the trick.

Hope this helps.

Torry Manzo
Renaissance Kitchen and Home

NO WAY I would paint those beautiful wood cabinets yet. Add some rope lights to the top (between the ceiling and cabinet tops), install stainless or nickel (something bright) island lights. If that doesn't brighten it enough for you, do your backsplash and add in some stainless tiles with it. Choose a strong, bright color (red, lime green, sunshine yellow) to use for accessories for the counter or maybe a brightly colored teapot on the stove. Your island looks so plain. Maybe put corbels under the extended part of the granite. Think outside the box. I used metal outdoor corbels I found at Home Depot. They were expensive (about $70) but they look beautiful. Start with one thing at a time and build on it before you paint those cabinets. And if you just can't live without painting those cabinets white, just paint the uppers. Don't paint the island black. Leave the cherry wood stain. I just re-dec. my kitchen and because of the cost, I left (and gave a refresher coat of paint) the upper cabinets white and changed my island to the dark cherry like yours. It looks great and I love it.

I will try to gets some pic on here for you. Check back later.

How about buying some stools for the island with white leather seats, adding two more pendant lights and doing the backsplash in an opalencent white glass tile. That should add some sparkle and glamour as well as brighten things up.Paint walls white as well.

TRY GREAT BARSTOOLS AND PAINT THE WALLS A DEEP BLUR/GREEN...BM/ STRATTON BLUE. I CAN SEE YOUR CONCERN, BUT TRY A LESS EXPENSIVE FIX FIRST. A GREAT PAINT COLOR CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING.

Hi Ally, I think your kitchen will look beautiful and more how you had envisioned by adding some colourful accessories, island stools and new paint. And, if you wanted to take it further you could add a more contemporary island light and a glass backsplash tile. You have a beautiful kitchen that really only needs a little dressing up.

Please don't add the corbels to your island as mentioned in one of the comments above. I love the clean lines of your island which give it a more contemporary look as opposed to traditional. The corbels would detract from that.

Good luck to you!

I know you said that you reallllyyyyy want to change the cabinet color, but if you can hold out just a bit longer, I'd say keep trying other things as frustrating as it may be.

If I were you, I'd get a long runner in a vibrant color, replace the sunburst thing with a large, modern print in a nice black frame, get a couple stools in a vivid color [i don't know why, but i keep thinking red, even though red isn't a favorite of mine. i think it would work here....like old industrial metal stools painted red? i dont know...] and tile the backsplash in a warmer hue. Right now it feels too cold and that's why you keep looking at it like it's dungeon-y. And maybe replace the narrow trim on the floor with something that would offer more impact? like 5" baseboards?

Also- is the room that you were standing in painted a light blue? That may have to change as well in order to give a sense of cohesion. Good luck! Please post photos when you do whatever you decide to move forward with!

Lots of great suggestions! Please post new photos of your kitchen if you make any changes to it. And again, good luck to you!

Lots of great suggestions! Please post new photos of your kitchen if you make any changes to it. And again, good luck to you!

Lots of great suggestions! Please post new photos of your kitchen if you make any changes to it. And again, good luck to you!

Hi, I agree with NOT painting the cabinets. A project like that always seems like a better idea than it turns out to be, especially on brand new cabinets..... would you consider changing wall color adding colorful backsplash and maybe a set of glass blown pedant lights over island in a coordinating color to your backsplash. you could even add more color by getting colorful stools in an accent color to the backsplash that you choose. Many more options are available to you besides painting cabinet, I would leave that as a last resort. Place you great just needs tweaking....

I've been thinking about your project since I lasted posted a comment Ally, and I took some pictures of materials from my showroom for your backsplash that might give you the feel you're after. Since you mentioned that you have a tight budget I've picked some "Budget Friendly High Impact" products to start out with.
Tell me if I'm on the right track or the wrong train.

Torry Manzo
Renaissance Kitchen and Home

Here is our kitchen with pendants and under cabinet lighting. Not much better. Still ugly. Here is the ugly range. I want to modify the cabinets so that they are level with each other and not up and down and in and out like that. The price tag for this modification is $4000 because the cabinet over the range contains the blower. I am considering purchasing a saw and modifying them myself as a first step. I cannot add a backsplash until this cabinet is corrected.

Here is the window. It matches the range and has to be modified. The window looks and feels boxed in. The pilasters has molding all around in such a way that when I reach to empty out the dishwasher, I cut my arms. I also hurt my forehead on the molding near the range. Talk about bad design. My own kitchen is attacking me.

I can not feel your pain at all. Sorry. Each new photo makes the kitchen look even more appealing to me. I like the "up & down" of the cabinetry too; that gives movement to the all over design.

Before you take a sledge hammer to your new cabinets, consider that the range hood is not even with the adjoining cabinets so that you won't whack your head when you are cooking. The arched cabinet is the perfect spot for some gorgeous tile.

Looking at all the pictures and the ones you most recently posted, I can see your concerns. I would not paint these cabinets. My mother is the CEO for a construction business and I would love to have cabinets like these and I considered painting mine to get them dark, she said NO because the upkeep is terrible with the kitchen being a place that spills, splashes and high heat can be a problem for paint. Love the pendants and the under cabinet lighting you have. The room seems to get a lot of natural light too. I would think the color on the walls would be making it seem dark in there. I would consider changing this. Cheaper to paint walls than ruin brand new cabinets and/or floors. The window feels boxed in because you boxed it in. If it is bothering you so much I would definitely remove it, you need to be happy. Get more quotes from other builders if too much. Otherwise if you leave as is add a pendant light or something in it to make it look like it belongs but I have to agree with you, it does not. The cabinet over the range should also go. This can be replaced with a stainless steel hood if you can afford. This will definitely give you the contemporary feel you want. Don't overthink it, just do. It is a beautiful kitchen though very nice.

Just get rid of that cabinet and buy a modern looking stand alone hood fan. Get a great backsplash (simple and clean, like a subway tile that matches your counters - white? Off white?) and it will look just fine. Also, maybe lose the curved piece above the window if you want a more modern look. Your cabinets are fine, don't paint them, just work with it. Choose a paint colour that's soft and compliments - lilac just makes it look cool, with warm cabinets... Try Shellbourne Buff from Benjamin Moore. The small square doesn't look like much, but wait 'til you get it on your walls. Perfect for that cabinet colour. You may love your kitchen after all.

I agree with others that you should not paint the kitchen yet. Live with it for a while and focus on the walls and backsplash.The fact that the moulding doesn't reach the ceiling is what would drive me nuts instead of the color of the cabinets.

The walls SCREAM "paint me!!"...and tile the back splash. I hope you post the "After picture" soon.

Just my 2c. I think some of the earlier comments were on the right track. You have warm, dark cabinets and cool colored walls. Soften up that contrast first by using a warmer shade on the walls, a light brown/light beige, etc. Then below are some ideas for a backsplash to go with the brown cabinets and not against it.
http://tiledaily.com/2012/04/25/small-brick-glass-mosaic-brown/
http://tiledaily.com/2011/12/22/tumbled-travertine-and-glass-mosaic/
http://tiledaily.com/2011/10/23/emperador-dark-marble-and-glass/
Personally, I think you can easily work with what you have right now and a few right changes, can bring that kitchen to life.

Paint them in a heart beat Ally2012 and never look back. Not a fan of the up/down, in out thing either.I'd also consider removing some of the uppers that are on either side of the window. Feeney posted some great kitchen pics that show how open and bright the kitchen can become. I moved into my house 14 years ago and hated the kitchen cabinets. I tried everything from changing the wall paint 5 times, flooring 2 times, backsplash (5 times), counter 2 times lighting (3 times). For 14 years I made myself nutz trying to make that kitchen look better. Bottom line is you can't put lipstick on a pig. In the end, new cabinets were installed this year and finally the kitchen looks great. YOU DON'T LIKE IT and should't be convinced to. Just cause it's new dosen't make it appealing. Hope to see after pics soon.
Good luck to you :)

We have a solartube skylight in our kitchen and the natural light is amazing. Its about 6in diameter with a filter. Just a thought.

WAIT!!! Please don't paint the cabinets. We just remodled our 1970's kitchen. It was teeny tiny with avacado green counter tops and fake dark walnut cabinets. I wanted so badly a light kitchen. White was my first choice. When we went to the showroom my husband and the designer where pretty much picking our dark cherry cabinets. I started to like the color because it had red tones in it and it looked Rich! The whites and glazed ones where pretty but not as impressive! So, we had our kitchen opened up installed the cabinets and had Madura Gold Granite put in. Hardwood floors in Vineyard Cherry. They actually don't have red undertones in them, but brown. We are in the process of picking a backsplash I am partial to stone and glass mosaics. We are painting the walls a sage green. I think the kitchen looks super contemporary! It also looks transitional. In the showroom on the dark cherry cabinets the drawer pulls where similar in style to yours but much longer/taller. They were in shiny stainless steel. My hubby thought it was to contemporary with those handles so we opted for round brushed nickel knobs that we bought on Ebay.

I thought I wanted light and bright. But I got rich, dark and warm. I love it!! Sometimes what we actually think we want, isn't really what we want after all. It's been 2 months now and I love it even more. Try to live with it for a while and see if you change your mind. I feel dark kitchens look more contamporary than lighter ones. I hope you change your mind!

If you must paint, then why don't you go with Dytecture's idea of painting the island only. This, along with a glass tile backsplash, under counter lights, new pendant and wall colour would probably give you more of the look you are after. It would be such a shame to paint all those new cabinets, IMHO.

As I am in the lighting business I am a bit biased, but I would consider under cabinet lighting and in glass lighting for your kitchen, you could even add LED lighting to the upper cabinets that do extend to the ceiling. This would light that kitchen up quite a bit and at night really add a nice warm lighting that will fill the room. Hope that helped.....