Have you considered staining or painting the cabinets?

No to staining the cabinets ,Yes to painting the cabinets and did try one old door but not that good of a turnout .I have been hearing a lot of painting techniques with the chalk paint I tried that and it's not a look I want. I have been hearing a lot of painting techniques with the chalk paint I tried that and it's not a look I want . I have been hearing about jobs turning out well with the Benjamin Moore paint I think I'm just a very fearful of trying to paint them . Don't want to put any money in countertops or backsplash and still be unhappy with that old oak

Have a professional do it. Less than new cabinets but done well and should last, if you are going to spend the money get it done now.

I really like that floor! I think there is nothing wrong with the oak cabinets, using oak is a slightly dated look but these are still quite beautiful.

Is it just your indecision on the color that has brought this project to a halt?

You need to either take the plunge and deal with the cabinets or (if possible) just put on the old countertops again because the old countertop seem to match very nicely.

Solid black countertops show every speck of dust. Given your floor, black with some other color in it perhaps gray perhaps gold would probably look quite beautiful. Yes! You could use black countertops with this oak. But they will never change the oak. Only painting or staining will do that.

If you painted or stained the cabinets, what color would you paint or stain them? And would you still be considering using dark countertops with that different color?

I cannot imagine that a black bar pulls would ever look good against this color oak. Given the color of the appliances I would go with stainless pulls.

If I were to get them professionally painted I would go with the white .cant put the old countertops back on because I had an offset sink with the window and had to get two new cabinet s to fix that.Iave been told by lots of ppl that the black countertops and bar pulls would be the best to help out the oak.I did think of dray for the countertops.

If you didn't change the cabinets in any way, I would go with a crisp white counter. A creamier white would go with the cabinets but not the floor. If you get granite, steel grey might work, but I would prefer something lighter and quiet, more like Bianco Romano which has elements of grey and beige.

I've seen worse oak cabinets, both color and design wise.

If you decide to paint, and can't afford to hire it done (and you would have to be sure to get a painter with experience in painting oak!) there have been a couple of threads describing how to do it. I believe it involves sanding, using a base filler coat, sanding again then using a special paint like Cabinet Coat.

I have kept my cabinets oak and have worked with them with a vintage / french country / cottage style.

If you can afford quartz, a warmer "marble look" one would go nicely with the cabinets. Mine is not technically "marble look" but it has warm tones to it. I chose a cream backsplash. I have to admit that I think it is the new farmhouse sink that really ties my kitchen together. The Kohler Whitehaven "short apron" style fits on a standard sink base so is popular with remodels that are keeping the same cabinets.

If you need to use laminate for counters, the Ikea farmhouse sink is an over mount sink that I think could work with a laminate. If you can find a different space for the microwave, a pretty hood, either wood or stainless would be a nice touch. I purchased mine unfinished and stained it to match the cabinets.

Here is my kitchen:

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~58830325[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~58830325)

Chalk paint is quick but not durable enough for cabinets. Painting cabinets is a difficult job that should only be done by an experienced and patient DIY person. You can look into a professional paint job, but that can be expensive. Oak is not a paint grade wood because the grain texture shows through the paint. People paint it anyway and many are happy with the results. However, wood moves with changes in temp and humidity which cracks the paint at the joints - so need to do touch ups. Factory painted cabinetry is usually MDF or a combo of MDF and wood because that paints up better and is more stable as to temperature changes.

If this was my kitchen I would look into finding a new place for the microwave, possibly have a cabinetmaker retrofit the cabinet next to the stove, or any other cabinet, get a pretty hood, farmhouse sink, new light counters and backsplash, and brushed nickel knob pulls. I might remove the panel from two of the cabinets - not sure which - maybe one on each side of the sink- and replace with glass.

Good luck:)

I'd have those oak cabinets painted white and then consider Quartz "Minuette" for the countertops.

I have made several calls about having them professionally painted. Just have to wait for a phone call and see what they have to say .

I just looked that countertop up,looks. Beautiful but was thinking on granite sure I could find something that resembles it but it is beautiful With white cabinets .

That does look nice. Have you thought about a brown granite-- like coffee brown or antique brown, fairly solid in color and quiet? There are all kinds of browns so you'd need to make sure the tone is right with your cabs, and possible one could also have some of the colors from the floor.

I have seen a few kitchens done with antique brown and thought they were beautiful and rich looking.

Are you interested in laminate? There is a gray version called soapstone sequoia that might look nice with your floor. We have a black granite counter in our bathroom that looks like your inspiration photo. I have vowed "never again!" It shows everything and is a total pain in the neck trying to keep it looking clean. We love our soapstone sequoia laminate, though. It was a good pick for our kitchen.

In case you like the antique brown suggestion ...

I have leathered antique brown in my kitchen. I haven't been able to cook in my kitchen yet but life is happening in the house so some crumbs are making their way onto it and the subtle variations in color seem to avoid the "never again, you see every crumb" syndrome of the black granites. I love it.

I like white cabinets so I'm happy but if different colored cabinets had been in my budget I've seen some really stunning royal blue with marble cabinets and a fantastic green with butcher block cabinets. Here's the antique brown ...

Mine actually has a patch of copper flecking, which I love.