I agree with your husband to and extent. Right now the kitchen feels very monotoned. The cabinets and the granite, that is also the backsplash, are very similar shades. Either the cabinet colors should change (although I kinda like the look of the cabinets at the moment) or a lighter/darker granite should be installed. Because even the fridge is in that medium brown tone.
For the kitchen table, I would add some contrast and make sure the colors differ from the table top.
Good luck!

You certainly have the brownest and darkest kitchen I think I have ever seen. Your husband is correct. Your island needs to be white as do all of your cabinets. It is generally agreed that the most beautiful kitchens have a contrast between floor and cabinets and between cabinets and countertop.

This photo is shows brown floors and countertops with white cabinets. This is basically the look you would be getting.

The pinky red above the sink needs to go. It should be the same color as your breakfast area. The chairs and bench in the breakfast area need to be white. The blinds need to be white.

You need to get rid of the builder grade can lights and put in new led can lights. You also need led counter lights.

Once the cabinets are painted, you may be able to keep all of the existing hardware. I also think your bar stools will be fine with the white cabinets.

Here are a few tips for painting cabinets. The doors, drawers and all hardware need to be removed before painting. The doors and drawers all need to be numbered in an inconspicuous spot and the number taped over before painting. This way they can go back where they belong. All the wood will need to be sanded before being primed. I recommend spraying the doors and drawers. (I bet your husband already knew all these tips!)

Trust your husband. I think he has a good vision for your kitchen.

Best wishes!

The last post I wrote was at 12:30am my time, so I wanted to circle back to this. I agree with nimrod25 that the kitchen looks very dark. I think you have three options (regardless of the option you chose, I would get rid of that dark red paint in the room).

1. Paint all the cabinets like nimrod25 mentioned. You don't necesarily have to do pure white (I am not sure that would fit with the decor of the room). You can paint the cabinets in a beige color as well.

2. I am in the minority right now where I still like wood. I am hoping this grey/white craze ends soon so that designs have character to them again..haha. But I understand what the style in for the kitchen with those cabinets, the only problem is that the (a) granite, (b) back splash, (c) paint color make the room look very dark and a little muddy with the cabinets and the granite being the same tone. Here are some pictures of similar kitchens to yours where the rooms look a lot lighter with different paint and granite choices

3. You can do what your husband suggests and paint the island. HOWEVER, I think if you chose just to paint the island, you still need to replace the granite and back splash on the other cabinets (similar to what is in photo 2 of option 1). Put a more solid counter top on the wall cabinets and put up a single colored back splash. Otherwise it is still going to keep looking too dark and busy.

Good Luck!

Hi Lily - I also agree with your husband and some of what the other designers have recommended, but the renovation does not have to be complicated. The cabinets need a face-lift = a lighter paint color. The walls, a contrasting but similar paint color, and at least 3 pendent lights over your island to brighten up the entire kitchen. I would keep the beautiful granite island counter-tops, and perhaps replace your kitchen table up against the wall with leather bench & table seating

as you mentioned, also adding a long 3 light pendant / billiard
light over the table. Below are some paint color recommendations for cabinets, walls, and some island pendent lighting ideas. I hope this helps! If I can be of further assistance with your renovation Lily, please don't hesitate to contact me. :0)

Hi, I agree to paint the cabinets. Also get a smaller range hood. It is very distracting.
Try to stay away from browns, stay with lighter, brighter neutrals in your kitchen and adjoining living room. Too much brown is a little depressing.

Big problem to me is backsplash is way too dark for the cabinets and what appears to be black oven underneath MW. Would leave cabinets alone except perhaps island.

I like wood cabinets, please don't get me wrong. However, I see two options for this kitchen as do my our colleagues who have posted so far:

1. rip out all the flooring and granite

1. paint the cabinets

So... Thousands of dollars to replace flooring and granite, not to mention the ecological impact...

Or... a few cans of paint and primer?

Additionally, it is likely that removing granite will destroy the cabinets.

To me the choice is easy. :D

White cabinets have been around for at least 60 years, I can attest to that because I'm 63. While they may not be the in vogue look, they have lasted. I sure can't say that about mosaic tile and avocado appliances. ;)

Thank you all for the suggestions.

We will be changing the kitchen cabinets for sure as we want them to be bigger and wider. The back-splash and island are being changed as well. I don't like the mosaics and my husband who is a granite fabricator has a great vision of what he is going to do there. The Viking hood is staying. This cost us way too much money and we love how it works as we do lots of cooking in our kitchen and entertaining has been a part of our life. The bar stools will go bye bye. I hate the quality and look of it. The red part above the sink will be changed... this was just a temp. cover up.

I agree that we need a contract and that is why we are thinking of changing the cabinets and the color of the island and back-splash.

The dining table might stay. Its custom made by my husband. I won't know till I see the finished kitchen.

OK, I will stay away from brown.... my husband don't like it either.

We also want to have a timeless look. Don't want to visit this project every 15 years....

Hoping to start working on it next month.

Considering what your other colors are, I believe your cabinets would look nice in a soft grey that is three or four shades darker than the grey tones in the tile. Then, the white-painted island would look wonderful. It might be a good idea if you would upholster the chairs in an accent color you really love so that the accent color would stand out from all the neutrals.

I think it must be the angle your first photo is taken from that is very deceiving. Is your Viking hood an island chimney hood? Is is so huge and the side facing us looks practically flat. Is it really chimney shape and I can't see it? If so it makes more sense.

In my opinion, your kitchen will always be hampered by that range hood. I understand that you love it, but it stands out in a very negative way. I hate to see you spend so much time and money without ever attaining a beautiful look.

We ripped it all apart and started building a new kitchen. Here is where we are so far. Got the doors for the cabinets and deciding on paint colors. We are thinking white for all the cabinets and dark blue for the island. The counter on the island will be white quartz. So excited!!! Also got 2 Industrial Modern Screen Pendants from Shades of Light that will be hung from the skylight. Ohhh, can't wait for the final reveal!

@Lily Akopyan

Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming back with an update. I'm excited for the final reveal too!

That is looking really wonderful! I'm so glad you were able to keep the floors. The white and dark blue will be perfect. Looking forward to the final reveal!!!

I would paint the walls a color that lives better with the granite. The granite is the big investment here, but I see walls that are red and sort-of-green-pea-soup color. It may be the lighting or the camera, but both wall colors clash with the beautiful granite.

@felizlady You are about 4 years too late.

The OP posted a kitchen update (today, 1/23/2019) with what's happening now . . . all of the original counter, cabinets and appliances are gone. The new cabinets are being installed and they're in the process of choosing cabinet colors.