I think real cherry, maple, teak, walnut - all of these would look beautiful. If you are worried about what will still be in style then go for the simplest and cleanest look. 60s streamlined, modern kitchen cabinet look is back and is pretty timeless in my opinion. Or if you like some decorative carvings then keep it minimal and definitely keep the backsplash and countertop only one color.

White is very on-trend, but there's plenty of market for wood, so get what you like. Even if you sell, paint is an easy fix for the determined.

(The first one is mine, and the others are modern or contemporary kitchens I like.)

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I agree white is on trend at the moment. However, beautiful cherry cabinets seem timeless to me, especially paired with an up to date countertop and backsplash.

As far as the island, are you wanting white/cream cabinets since they are on trend or because you like the look of cherry with white/cream cabinets? That combination is high contrast and a very distinct look. If that's what you're trying to achieve, then go for it. If it's to be on trend, then I'd opt for a more subtle island cabinet choice.

I think the other poster's observations about cherry are very thoughtful. Much of what went wrong with oak I think were the stains, the thrown together grain patterns and the heavy door styles.

I have a mixture of cream and quartersawn oak. After ten years, I still love my wood cabinets, so if you love cherry, you are probably not going to hate your kitchen in five years.

Anyway, here are some photos I found of the combo you are thinking about. I think the two tones can look lovely together.

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Really good point, barncatz

i did my cream and quarter sawn oak the other way. because my kitchen is small i felt the wood uppers would loom over my head, and i wanted the island to look like a separate piece of furniture as its an 1870 house.

i think going with the cabinet color you like but making it easy to redo counters and backsplash as an update might be the easiest way to go. for this reason, dont do counter-mounted upper cabinets (such as an appliance garage) which prevent you from changing counters without redoing the uppers.

Barncatz......the last 2 kitchens you pictured are pretty much what I have in mind.

Glo.......My current kitchen is dark cherry cabinets with cream island and I think I've come to like the look of the 2 different colors. I'd never have done it myself but it was like that when we moved here. I like the contrast of it. Definitely not wanting it because white is the trend. I actually try to avoid the trends and go with a timeless look. I will have to ask our kitchen designer his thoughts on the white/cream island too because the island is going to be very big. I think around 8' X 5'. I don't want it to be too much contrast either. My current kitchen is mish mosh. The previous owner worked somewhat in the kitchen cabinets industry. Not sure what she did. But at one time a pipe burst and ruined their kitchen and probably knowing she was moving soon she bought a floor model kitchen and used that to replace her ruined cabinets. Then bought more cabinets to match but they don't because some cabinets are grainier than others and different gloss. The island is cream and probably part of a different display. At first glance the kitchen is very pretty but bring in a designer or someone who lives with the kitchen and the design flaws are obvious. So I don't want the island to feel like an afterthought.

I like the comments on using a cherry that isn't too overbearing in stain color. Another consideration would be to use the cherry on cabinets and the island, but choose a different countertop for the island to give it some definition (granite, quartz, etc.). That's yours to choose, however.

I think what is "out" is a DARK kitchen. The cherry colour/tones are still en vague...but the DARK kitchen is out of favour.

I am a huge fan of natural (or only lightly stained) cherry with a CRISP white counter and very light floors. The crisp (running towards the blue/white) sets of the natural tones in cherry. It is a very handsome, timeless look.

The opposite is true as well: a VERY light cherry (natural finish = no stain) with a STRONG dark blue counter is very handsome. Some will replace the blue counter tops with a dark green if that is their want.

I love a natural cherry wood with slate or soapstone counters to get this look. The contrast in colour is the important thing.

Stay away from "dark" cherry and you should be "fine" (fashion wise) for the next decade or so.

Are you considering resale value at all, or is this going to be your "forever home"? If I were a potential buyer, I don't think 5-10 years from now I would like dark cherry any more than I do now. Of course, I'm from the generation that came of age reading apartment therapy with makeovers like this: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/before-amp-after-from-cherry-wood-beast-to-mind-blowing-beauty-250424 so perhaps take my thoughts with a grain of salt ;)

If you're going to live in the kitchen forever... are you the kind of person who finds yourself subconsciously their taste depending on trends? I know I do it sometimes--I now LOATHE the brushed nickel hardware in our current kitchen... but on the other hand, I grew up in painted-cabinet kitchens, and that's the look I have loved as a grownup too! Reading Laurel Bern's blog posts on trends has helped me try to parse out what it actually means to have a "timeless" design versus a trend:

https://laurelberninteriors.com/2015/07/01/i-think-i-just-made-a-terrible-and-costly-decorating-mistake/ She says "While this look might not be for everyone, you love it (and you’re not alone!) and that’s all that matters. Life is just too short not to go for what you love. If it’s quality and has been around for centuries, even if it’s a re-emerging trend, it’s still classic." I have no idea if cherry kitchen cabinets have been around for centuries--I mean, I don't think anyone had built-in kitchen cabinets at all until kind of recently... but it seems like a good question to think about?

Good luck!

p.s. Cabinets can always be painted in 5 years, right?

Lori B, if you see this, I’d love to know what you did with your kitchen.

I went with cherry and love it.

Wow, what a beautiful, elegant, timeless kitchen. I’m so glad to hear you went with what you love. Thanks for replying.

I still worry I made a mistake going against what’s most popular but I’m the one who lives here and I paid for it so best to do what I want. Now that It’s been a few years since it’s been finished there’s some parts I love, some I hate. But I’m glad I am glad I didn’t go ultra trendy. I think any look is going to eventually be dated. The stark white cabinets with white subway tile backsplash and white counters with gray marbling will be so 2018 eventually like 1980’s oak.

Just beautiful.

Love your kitchen! Can I ask what you would have done differently? Thanks!

Lori B - yes, I think of that as an operating room style kitchen. Beautiful in its way but soon will definitely look from a specific time. I wish everyone could feel comfortable doing what they love whether or not it’s currently the in thing.

Ali Evan....I wish I’d looked at the door styles more. My previous kitchen was overlay doors but we were convinced inset was the way to go and no one does overlay. I HATE the gap around the doors. Like I can literally see what is in my cabinets without opening them. Would never get inset again. The brand of the cabinets we used is not the same quality as we had in our previous kitchen, though our designer/installer swears nothing changed but I know it was way better before. Kind of wish I hadn’t put corbels on island. I’ve always loved things very ornate and now I’m gravitating away from that. We have one single panel cabinet door that opens the wrong way. I’m sure I could have gotten designer to change it but whatever. The pull out spice racks on sides of stove are pretty but useless, barely hold anything. Just some things I’d do differently.

Those all-white kitchens look like science labs.

smcf03, I just posted the same thing in another discussion. I like white cabinets and love white counters but together they look like a lab which is cold and sterile and can even be a bit creepy.

bondia, that combo also dates a kitchen as trendy. Like the avocado greens and harvest golds of the '70s. When I see that white cabinet/white counter combo, I always say 5 years from now it will be viewed as a trend from this era. And will undoubtedly have to be "warmed" or updated.

I know it's only been 3 years since I posted this dilemma but I am glad I went with the cherry cabinets. I don't hate white cabinets but it just seems so overdone. Like watching the decorating shows and almost every designer reveals their kitchen design and it's the same white cabinets, white with gray marbling counters and white tile backsplash. There's just no originality there. I'm sure if I put my house up for sale there'd be plenty of people who walk in and say "These cabinets would have to be painted white for me to ever want to cook here" and that's ok. I went in an open house recently and the realtor walks us around this gorgeous home with original wood stained baseboards, moulding, doors, etc and is telling us the quotes she has for painting it all white. NO!!! Why would you do that? Wood is beautiful. Stop painting it! JMHO though.

Lori B; I just bought a condo in March and it's got cherry cabinets with arch tops and arch pulls. Not a fan. I struggled with what to do with it since I've got so many projects that need to be done, I'll have to live with the kitchen for the next 3 to 5 years, but I've realized in the past few months, that the arch cabinets and arch pulls are what really bothered me and not the cherry finish. I changed the pulls and now I barely notice the arch in the cabinets. I considered painting the cabinets white, but the warmth of the cherry is inviting and unmatched IMO. The white is just too sterile for me and if I change the cabinets, I'd have to change the counters. No thanks. I changed the pulls and now I love it. If I see another design show with white cabinets, ugh, I'm going to pull my hair out.

smcf03 - I agree about it being trendy. White cabinets are classic, white counters are classic, but the two together is unmistakably from a certain era, about 2010 to 2019 I guess?

Lori B, I'm glad you posted, it's always good to hear back about what people did and if they are happy. Cherry cabinets are so gorgeous and (to me) sophisticated looking, glad you went with that and are happy.

I don’t know, I think all white is timeless as long as the materials are quality. People can like more than one style. I love the bespoke creamy white cabinets, marble counters, glass front and glass knob look that was considered classic before hideous thermofoil or the farmhouse trend. I also love fun 50s style colorful kitchens if done well. I even love the Brady Bunch kitchen and what could be more dated than that? I absolutely love my friend’s Stickley inspired quartersawn oak kitchen and that’s what I’d choose if I were doing it again. Cherry is not my favorite however I would never say “never cherry!” I might love someone’s cherry design!

I am in this same dilemma with cherry cabinets I love but dark countertops and backsplash I don't. This photo is my inspiration for updating my kitchen keeping the cabinets. Thoughts? https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/viscont-white-granite-countertops-with-cherry-cabinets-contemporary-kitchen-boston-phvw-vp~12346675

Alison Randall, that is a beautiful kitchen and should be a great inspiration. Cherry cabinets are so elegant and classic. If you need any help putting colors together for your kitchen, I highly recommend Maria Killam, she has her own website and is also on Facebook and Instagram. She knows colors.

Thanks for this post, Lori. I’m debating whether to paint my cherry cabinets but I’m not crazy about that painted look either. The cherry doesn’t bother me, I just think my kitchen looks outdated and I’m trying to figure out how to improve it... any thoughts on cherry now that more time has passed from anyone else? I’m thinking of painting my island a creamy white...

I just redid my kitchen I left the cherry cabinets and added more.

I put in a black island instead of the cherry cabinets with Japarena Persia granite. I think it depends on what you like. I personally hate the modern farmhouse with all the white!

On the topic of cherry being outdated - Sometimes classic elements of decorating become trendy for awhile, but when the trend is over, those elements are still classic and timeless. Cherry cabinets are one of those elements. The trend is over but the beauty of cherry is timeless; cherry cabinets will always be gorgeous. If you love yours, be grateful you have such a beautiful element in your home and enjoy them.

12 years ago when we redid our kitchen we went with light cabinets and a dark island. They tried so hard to talk me out of it because darker woods were more in-vogue at the time. Our designer told me white cabinets were outdated but I didn't care. It's what I wanted. I have never regretted it! Go with what you love! The only thing that dates my kitchen now is the backsplash but even that still works enough for me. Not what I would choose now but not worth changing either. It's your house, who cares what anyone else thinks?

White cabinets have been classic for at least a hundred years. The trend may be over but if it's what you like, hooray, it's timeless! Personally I enjoy a classic look much more than a trendy look anyway.

Lori B What color stain did you use on your cabinets. They look stunning.

Bill.....the brand is Shiloh and cherry bourbon with black glaze.

We installed “cherry” (actually solid maple) stained shaker kitchen cabinets 17 years ago, with very light backsplash and quartz counters and stainless steel appliances. Over the years I have wondered if it is becoming dated but I updated hardware and lighting and still love it.. it works well because the cabinets are very clean lined.

elizabethharlow, you have a beautiful, classic kitchen, I don’t know how anything like that could ever become outdated.

Thank you

So glad i found this thread. We just remodelled our kitchen with dark stained cherry cabinets. However, i sarted to regret this decision after seeing so many white cabinets. Maybe I will mearn to love my new cabinets, cause i cannot re-do them thats for sure.

They look smart and different in t he contemporary setting. White would have been bland and boring.

likestonehomes....look at the picture you posted and picture all those cabinets in white. White walls, white cabinets, white counters,.....nothing would stand out. It would feel so sterile. I think you made a great choice.

Awe, Lori thank you so much, Cheers (: Though, when we have more $$$ we will get a new SS fridge and new stools too!

We just installed two shades of cherry in our new home construction. and LOVE them. Everybody does white nowadays. We dislike the sterile look of white, not to mention the maintenance. And, in our view, stained cabinets, depending on shade, are warmer and more inviting. Who cares what everyone else does. It's your home and you need to like it. Be an individual. There are far too many lemmings.

likestonehomes, your kitchen is beautiful!

@bondia, thank you! I just posted the reno.

My kitchen looks exactly like LorB's. I still doubt myself but after reading this thread I know I made the right choice. I've always thought dark cherry looks so classic and rich. I have light countertops, backsplash and floors. I know I would have regretted white.

Lori B if you are still here can you tell me what your countertops are? thank you !

JoAnn.....Typhoon Bordeaux granite. I had initially found that pattern on Pinterest and totally fell in love with it. When we went to the granite warehouse I went searching for it to show my husband and we both did not like it at all. Looked at multiple slabs and definitely didn't like it. But it was SO pretty on Pinterest! Went to another granite warehouse and LOVED it! We still absolutely love it. The movement, colors, it's our favorite. I'd have never thought there could be such a difference though from one warehouse to the next.

Wow, I looked at it online. There is definitely a lot of variety in the photos. Some of them are very beautiful! Congrats on finding what you want!!