Is the veneer real walnut?

I'm no expert by any stretch but I think it's looks beautiful based on the photos. I think you need to wait until other elements are brought in. I love love love walnut and I think it looks great. People forget that veneer IS wood. and there is a reason veneer is used. do you think that your family thinks it looks cheap because they have that "veneer" idea in their head??? hang in there. I think it's going to be not only good but great.

ok well I'm assuming it's real walnut.

I'm sure you will feel better when it's more complete! I was underwhelmed the first day of installation too but now I love ours. And I think your cabinets look beautiful. What type of countertop are you getting?

I don't think the wood looks fake. There is a distinct symmetry to the grain in the wood, perhaps that is what is making it look artificial? It is also hard to tell given that so much remains to be completed. What choices did you make for counters, harware, appliances and backsplash?

From what I can see they look beautiful.

I think it's looking good. I would hold out and see what it looks like at the end. If you still don't like it once it's complete you could think about painting them white I guess?

It looks like it should. If that one panel with the butterflied grain is too much, have them swap it out. They look nice so far!

That's what I would expect walnut to look like. If it's any consolation the day I came home and my first cabinets were installed I freaked out too. It was a galley kitchen and these big 42" uppers in this very dark wood made my kitchen seem like a cave. I knew there was nothing I could do about it and as it all came together I loved it. Don't panic yet.

Thank you for your comments. I sat there for an hour after posting just looking at it. I came to a couple of conclusions, but then when I read your comments, a had a light bulb moment.

Yes, the veneer is real walnut. Rantontoo, you gave me quite a scare, because that would be so me to assume something and not have it be so. However, i checked everything with the store before ordering and looked at my contract and on the cabinet company's website and it is definitely real walnut used.

My pulls will be Sugatsune like the ones pictured below:

My countertop will be 3CM Caesarstone Concrete, as pictured below.

Most the appliances are on the white side, but the range is a 36" Blue Star RNB and the fridge is a custom paneled built-in Therm. The sink and dw are on the walnut side. The sink is a 36" type with an Axor Citterio faucet and the dw is a Bosch 800 series.

The backsplash will be a back painted glass backsplash. I don't know if I want to go all white or have some hue in there.

My thought is that the cabinets just look so new and shiny, which I was calling plastic-y. When you look closely at them, you can see the little spaces in the grain (which I like) and they have depth. I am wondering if they will mellow out after they have time to settle in the house.

But rjknsf and Fori is not pleased, I think hit the nail on the head. It is the butterfly grain on that panel that looks super manufactured to me. I never even thought about changing it out, but I think I will bring it up to them after the install is complete. You guys are brilliant.

I agree with cp's 'spectacular' comment. I think maybe it's looking so problematic to you now because it's the only finished thing in the room. Once you have countertops and pulls and appliances and backsplash and paint, it'll calm down (you too!) and blend into a beautiful and harmonious, real-looking whole.

I asked about real walnut because you said plastic looking. I think it looks great so far.

The grain is much more pronounced on your cabs when compared to the first sample photo with the marble. I would not decide to remove it until you get more of the veneer installed and can get a better feel for the finished cabs. I think it will be very dramatic and you may love it. It definitely has a modern look.

Also, the color WILL mellow out.

They are very nice, really. I do like them bookmatched in the middle, but the big one is bookbookbookmatched. :P About that one panel, is something going in front of part of it? I'm trying to figure out where it fits into the kitchen.

I think your choice is very nice for your contemporary home. Hopefully when everything is finished you will love them.

I really think this kitchen will be awesome - the cabs need some other stuff around them to not just jump out at you. The woodgrain is awesome. Hang in there - it will be FINE!!!!

I'm going to simply echo everyone else's thought...so beautiful! You just need the other elements to complete it.

Also, book matching is difficult and unique. I am with cpartist--do not change that butterfly pattern. That is what says custom to me...and expensive!!

Yes, hang in there! As my contractor keeps telling me - calm down, enjoy the process, it will be gorgeous when it's finished. And you know what? He's been right every time!

OMG don't touch that panel and I will personally slap your hands if you go near any of that with a paint brush! I am not above painting things that others feel are precious but your kitchen is going to be special - it just isn't done yet. Deep breath while you let it unfold.

Fori, both sides of the panel have a cabinet. Behind the left of the panel is the high cabinet face I showed you. Under that part goes the microwave and below that another two door cabinet.

Behind the right of the panel is a shallower (more shallow?) upper and lower cabinet that is flush to the panel. The kitchen is super small, so we need every inch of storage we could take. I make all the food for the family from scratch, so I have a lot of tools and gadgets, but I don't like them living on the counters.

You are an encouraging lot! I actually got some sleep last night thanks to you. I know how the latest thing installed in the house looks glaring but that then it calms down.

Now the hard part is leaving for one week with the electrician, cabinet installers, roofers and tilers all there. And I am the reluctant GC! We have faith in them, but it is those little decisions that we are super concerned about.

Trust your instincts, you choose well. The book matched grain is fabulous. These cabinets are drop dead gorgeous (as are your counters, etc.) and they look stunning in your space already. This is all going to come together and be a show stopper, I can tell. I cannot wait to see it all -- I seldom come to this forum these days, but will be back to check out your finished kitchen. To die for - don’t change a thing!!

I hope the wine cabinet is filled. You need a glass or two.

Your cabinet maker is doing an outstanding job with the book matching of the grains. It's a real beauty.

Veneer is an art form. For some reason people have the impression that veneer is cheap. Actually, it is just the opposite. Real veneer, and this is real, is much more expensive.

We all go through this questioning phase as things begin to be installed. It's natural. We are nervous about our choices and doubt ourselves. Like I said above a good bottle of wine at the end of the day will get you through this phase. You are going to be fine and we can't wait to see the reveal.

Homechef59, yes! I think my husband and oldest son fall into the veneer is cheap camp and I was letting them influence me. Well, my 13 year old son's hygiene scares the bejeezus out of me, and my husband only wanted a VERY traditional house--just like the past two we have owned. I gave him his huge man cave in which he can do whatever he wants and the master bath is traditional, so he can give me this.

DLM, I promise you paint will never touch that kitchen. I know that would be sacrilege.

My dad was a lumber broker. i wish he was still here to talk me through this. He knew everything about wood.

Sometimes when you spend a lot of money, you get "buyer's remorse" regardless of how great the results are. It's a natural response. But then you'll get over it. There have been many threads here that say things like "my counters are in, and I hate it", "my flooring is in, and I hate it", "my backsplash is in, and I hate it". Then the posters calm down.

Your cabinets are fabulous. To die for. Your kitchen will be a stunner. Give it some time, and as others have said, when everything is in and complete it will really come together.

I think it's going to be awesome ! Wait till it's complete, I bet you will love it ! Don't forget to post more photos too !

I am in LOVE with your cabinets. They are beautiful. Don't listen to husbands and 13 year old sons (!). haha - in all seriousness, it sounds like your husband has "traditional" style, which to me means doesn't really have much style or design eye of his own. My husband is the same way. So when you show him something not traditional but beautiful, he has no concept for whether it's nice or not and his reaction is to not like stuff, because he just doesn't know any better. But he's generally always wrong - and usually admits it a year later :) Seriously, your vision is amazing and your house is going to be beautiful. Your husband and son are smoking crack.

Looks good from my view. I am looking forward to your finished shots.

Those cabinets are fantastic. The book matching is very well-crafted, lovely and your obviously have a very talented cabinet maker to have done such beautiful work. As previously stated, high quality, real wood veneer is a real art form and you have been given a kitchen that is truly great art.

If you have it when it's done, I'll gladly come take your cabinets off your hands. Especially that back-to-back butterfly effect book-matched cabinet. TO DIE FOR.

Calm down, drink that wine, don't listen to your DH and DS because they really don't know what they're talking about, lol.

And please, PLEASE, give us more progress photos and do a final reveal post as I am dying to see the finished project. I expect your kitchen will be one of my favorites just based on what you've shown so far. GORGEOUS!!!!!

The beauty will be in its simplicity. Can't wait to see it all done. I love walnut.

If it helps, I just noticed that I have a walnut panel that looks just like the one of yours that I thought was a bit much. My door fronts are solid so they don't have the veneer matching, but the sides are plywood and do have it. And it's TOTALLY FINE! Once the color changes, it'll be less stark.

Let. This. Go. Stop listening to the guys. That is a cool clean, modern look. It's not my look -- I'm a decor dinosaur -- but it is going to be all the rage when finished.

I made it a point to never listen to my DH when it comes to decor being installed. Honestly, he fixates on certain things and can't see the whole picture until it comes together. Once the big stuff is all done, THEN I listen to him, because he'll come up with little finishing touches that are perfect.

Personally, I like walnut a lot (teak is our fav, but try finding that in kitchen cabs!) and that bookmatched panel is absolutely spectacular. You will NEVER find that in any laminate. It is a beautiful piece of art, and I agree, it definitely says "custom" to me.

jakkom - I think we may have the same DH

Wow!! The three of us are married to the same man.

welll, I will have to wait a week a see how everything looks. I feel better now, though. I have been pining for this kitchen for years. I think it is buyer's remorse that shall pass.

"jakkom - I think we may have the same DH"

uh-oh!

"Wow!! The three of us are married to the same man."

oh my word!

THUD...

Um make that five of us as I see desertsteph is also married to my DH and the others here.

Lol on the husband clones!

SFtreat, I am looking forward to your reveal so much. I cannot tell you how many walnut or sapele book matched kitchens I have saved.

I'm so fickle because on one hand I love the vintage cottage style kitchens with painted cabinets and on the other hand I equally love the super modern look like you are planning with the slab door where the wood grain is the main star.

Anyways, I just wanted to chime in as one more to say don't worry, it will be gorgeous!

It is great. Every so often in a build project you will find hours and days where you just FREAK and stress and in a week or a month or a year you will wonder what all the fuss was about. I love them.

Sounds like DH and DS need some education on what veneer is, and how hard book matching is, and how your cabinet maker and installer are artists and geniuses! I just know you'll love your kitchen! :-)

I'm in the love it camp. I can't wait to see more.

My friend has fake walnut veneer, the kind that's a realistic looking photo until you see repeats everywhere. Yours is real and beautiful.