Need help mixing materials in the kitchen

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

We are planning a (somewhat) minor renovation of our kitchen. Our
kitchen is U-shaped with a center island and large windows on one side. We have
medium-tone natural solid wood cabinets throughout which we plan to keep. We will be replacing the perimeter countertops with matte black counters (likely soapstone or honed granite.) We also plan to expand the island which will necessitate painting it. I’m considering painting the island an off white and replacing that counter with something that looks like white marble. (Though I love the look of marble our kitchen is highly trafficked and I need something that is more stain-resistant. Our cooktop is in the island.) My concern is that the kitchen will look too busy and mismatched. Alternatively, I’m also concerned that black countertops throughout will make the kitchen too dark. I’m envisioning a clean, functional somewhat rustic look for the kitchen. How can we determine if this mix of finishes will work? Are there any tricks I can use to determine if the finishes will work on a large scale because I can’t tell from sample sizes.

Featured Answer

jhmarie

10 years ago

The dark countertops can be very pretty with wood. I would suggest you do a cream or other light backsplash and make sure your overall kitchen lighting is very good. I really like this kitchen - it does have lots of natural light:

For my own kitchen which only has one window, I went with a lighter countertop and cream backsplash. Wood cabinets often have grain which gives them movement. The countertop might have movement - not so much with a solid color. In general it seems wood cabinetry does better with a simple backsplash. I chose a quartz that is light, but still had warm tones in it. I think that the warmth of wood comes through best if surfaces are slightly understated. The movement in my countertop is similar to the movement in my cabinets. If my countertop had more movement I think it could have overwhelmed.

My countertop (more of my kitchen in my idea book):

My pics -work in progress: · More Info

I do have a different countertop on my island - it is butcher block.

This kitchen has a cream island. The countertop material is all the same, but I think something that has less movement like soapstone could be used in a kitchen like this and not be too busy:

Cabinetry Product Photos · More Info

Look at as many pictures, kitchen displays as possible. I agree to see a good size sample of the countertop. I would not have chosen mine based on the sample, but they had it as part of a kitchen display and I loved it. Usually with granite you can go and see the slabs.

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Comments (7)

Elle
10 years ago
You could consider a quartz that looks similar to marble.
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luannparks
10 years ago
What is your flooring in this area? Wood, brick, tile, linoleum/vinyl? And I am assuming you have a lot of natural light coming through those windows. Would it be in the budget to sand down and repaint ALL of the kitchen cabinets? If so, using the stunning black counter top on the perimeter cabinets, I would paint all the kitchen cabinets an off-white to near white color. With the newly extended island, I would paint it a contrasting color and do as Elle said above, find a marble-looking quartz for the counter top. Very smart to use around a cook top. The marble looking quartz has tones of white, grays, and light taupe colors typically. I would pick one of those gray/taupe colors from the quartz and paint the island cabinets that color. With the lighter paint on all of the perimeter cabinets, the stunning black counter tops, and all of the natural and artificial lighting you have existing, the kitchen wouldn't seem dark at all, even if you have dark or dark-ish flooring.
cbayens thanked luannparks
cbayens
Original Author
10 years ago
The floors are hardwood, a very similar tone to the cabinets. My husband it completely against painting the cabinets. The only reason he agreed to painting the island is because we know the addition won't match. Quartz is a great suggestion. I'll definitely look into that.

The photo below is from when we bought the house. There are also french doors just out of the frame, on the same wall as the windows. We have since replaced all the appliances with stainless steel. The previous owners took the pot rack. Thanks!
baileysr
10 years ago
I think continuing the dark granite with a white Island would be beautiful. It will help keep the island connected to the rest of the room. I'm not a fan of mixing dramatically different stone countertops. It might make your room look like the island was an afterthought.
luannparks
10 years ago
Then if the cabinets must remain the golden color which is still perfectly beautiful as well, I would most definitely use the lighter paint color on the newly extended island. And perfect choice on the stainless steel appliances! They will help reflect light and will lighten up the room as well.

If there is attic space above the kitchen here, to add more natural light to the center of the room where it may get darker during the daytime with the dark counter top and the wood cabinets, maybe consider a skylight type window or a couple of tubular lighting features over the island. Check out the pictures. :)
jhmarie
10 years ago
One thing you might consider if you want a rustic look is the Kohler Whitehaven short apron front cast iron farmhouse sink. This sink can be installed on a standard sink base cabinet, so could be installed on your present cabinetry. It also comes in different colors. I have the single basin style, but there is a divided one too.

My pics -work in progress: · More Info

Another pic here:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~54988842