white cabinets always compliments black, choose granite that has black. brown, and lighter streaks of color.....black and white are perfect foil for any bright color you would choose......then again if you choose sleeker wooden cabinets, a soft colored wood would be beautiful..have fun

This kitchen may be kind of what you could do. The countertops don't look like granite, but maybe silestone(quartz) which I think looks better than granite.

Thank you Beverley and Gigi.

I was hoping to stay away from white, since that is what I have now, and am very tired of it, but you are right that white probably would look good. I appreciate you taking time to write!

Arlene

what? you don't want to keep the saloon doors? :)

Hey mousemaker:

I love the saloon doors! Probably will just stain them to match the rest. It gives my house character, dontya think!

lol

Arlene

hey Arlene-ola :) i kind of like them too.. i would make an entrance every day!!!
yes, it does give some character..but i think you already have some :)

you don't want your kitchen to be too dark though..are you getting undercabinet lighting? i don't know how i lived without it! there are a lot of countertop choices, you don't necessarily need granite. i found that although granite can be beautiful, it was too busy for my small kitchen space. We got Jerusalem tiles--large 12x12 tiles--and the countertop is quartz composite.
are you taking out the overhead light? get a nice pendant or two? :)

Hi:

Yes, I was considering under cabinet lighting, depending on the prices! That overhead light is already out, couldn't stand it! I don't really want to use white cabinets as I have these existing and don't like them much. I may consider oak with a light cherry glaze, what do you think? Any other suggestions? Photos? Help!!!!!

Maybe a light maple cabinet. Maple has such as nice smooth grain. Then you will have the contrast with the floor, but also a change of pace from the white. You could use any color of granite/counter surface, but maybe a pattern with some black or other deep colors would look nice against the maple, and tie in with your dark floors and appliances. Good luck.

There's nothing wrong with a "dark" kitchen if it appeals to your taste and goes with the house. Or color. A friend did her small kitchen with all red cabinets inside and out! -- with glass-front doors on the uppers. It's stunning! The backsplash is light colored, the countertop a deep earth tone, and the cabinets underlit. With that minimal space above the cabinets, you have the option for "invisible" lighting on the top as well. The red didn't even look daring once it was done, just very chic. Any color can work, depending on your choice.

And an interesting ceiling fixture, perhaps stainless and curvy to counteract all that linear design. Perhaps curvy cabinet handles as well.

Sorry: the saloon doors have got to go. There's nothing appealing about them.

Where does that door between the stove and the peninsular open into?

I don't know if I would go with stained cabinetry. It sounds like your flooring is very dramatic in color and grain- you may be overloading your kitchen with too much wood. (Unless you are going for a cabin in the woods kind of feel- but your picture don't give off a woodsy cabin vibe.) What about a mushroom-y color paint for the lower cabinets and a lighter/creamier one for the upper ones? Then I would do a honed granite or a quartz type countertop with a honed tile backsplash. Are you keeping your cabinet layout the same? If you're ripping them out, I would consider taking the new ones all the way to the ceiling. This will give you extra storage and will make you room look taller & more elegant. You could get an above-the-range microwave to free up counterspace on the bar area. The wall with the stove and fridge looks too busy and choppy; I'd make the fridge have a built-in, sleek look and keep any cabinetry around the stove at the same height above the counter. If you can swing losing the storage, I'd take out the upper cabinets above the bar, extend the countertop out into the eat-in kitchen area and raise the new countertop to bar height. Now you have a great prep area for cooking and you can "hide" the mess behind the raised bar! And you get to add cool pendant lighting- which always adds so much to a kitchen. And undercounted lighting is definitely a must have. There are so many choices out there now- inexpensive, easy to install ones. Good luck and we hope to see pics when you're done!!

IF I MAY, DO NOT SPEND $$$$$ ON KITCHEN CABINENTS. DO THE PLAIN PAINTED ONES FROM IKEA AND PUT IN ALL THE GREAT INSERTS. GO SILESTONE ON YOUR COUNTERS AND GOOD HARDWARE. MY FAVORITE COLOR WITH THIS IS B/M GREY CASHMERE. SOMETIMES BLUE, SOMETIMES GREEN, SOMETIMES GREY. A WINNER.

Painted, distressed cabinets can look interesting and aren't at all like what you have. Here is an example.

http://www.tc-artworks.net/distressed%20cabinets.JPG

I agree with hilltop1155. I was thinking distressed cream painted cabinets, with a slightly darker cream or french grey counter. You don't want black counters, as they will compete with your floors.

Granite would be a fine addition in regard's to matching what you already have!

do not do black counters. it will clutter the space

Dear lord this post is from 2011. How does this happen Houzz?

I would suggest you paint the walls a soft white and paint the cabinets a cream color that still will contrast from the white. I do not believe you would like a snow-white that would contrast too much from the cherry-colored floors, but I do believe the cream tones would be refreshing and harmonious.