I was using "honey oak" to refer to the color, though I did assume the cabinets were also oak wood. I think tatts is probably right that they are maple with a cherry stain, though it's possibly cherry wood. As people have pointed out, the walls may exaggerate the yellow/orange in the wood, but it is there. More than shows in my photos, less than in the realtor's photos. I agree it would be a shame to paint over the wood.

I was going to suggest a cream or off white countertop with whites and greys in it, but I really like those inspiration photos! I would have never thought to do dark blue walls with the darker gray soapstone, but I think it looks great.

You certainly have a lot of options, being that you can choose flooring, countertops, wall color and backsplash. I think the cabs look great with very light countertops, too (Beth posted a few inspiration photos). So I guess I would try to decide what overall look you are going for, and take it from there. Once you make a few big decisions, the other pieces should more easily fall into place.

this is natural cherry.

I redid a desk top w/these boards. you don't have a cherry stain because that would make it much redder and deeper. They have warm cherry, or black cherry stain, but its a very reddish hue. if you put that on maple it would look weird.

if you look at the trim pieces around your doors, you can see the natural pink hue that is normal w/cherry. maple has more of a white tone to it. plus, I can tell by the wood grain. and that one knot that is visible on the panel next to your window.

your cabinets are worth more than maple. trust me. they're cherry.

In general cool grays and warm wood tones don't bring out the best in each other. However, small doses of gray, warmed up by being combined with creams and perhaps a bit of beige can work well for countertops. There are many out there. Some of the marble look ones that read warm may have that combo. Back in the day, marble was used to top wood washstands and it worked, but I don't recommend real marble for a hard working kitchen as it requires more care then granite or quartz or soapstone. The dark counters do look good in beth's pics. I have a quartz similar to what I described above with a simple cream backsplash:

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~57088087

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~54988831

Computer monitors do not show true colors, but something like my countertop may work with your floor. Note my cabinets are oak - you can tell by the amount of grain:) I did find that changing to a cooler LED helped brown up the cabinets. I think they throw out some bluer light tones which neutralize some of the red tones in the wood. The LEDs seemed too bright at first and I was going to change them out for warmer, but I got used to the change and now like the light the way it is.

I didn't even see that you also suggested soapstone, Beth, until just now. Great minds, I guess. And I was also looking for images with slate floors, which I love almost as much as I love soapstone. ;)

Thanks, Beth.

Andrew, what is the flooring in the adjacent rooms?

I think the paint color is making the whole room look dated. If you painted a lighter brighter neutral color and a pretty backsplash I think it would look like a brand new room.

Old oak floors. Don't like the nails, but they are the original floors and I'm inclined to leave them.

Sammy, right? that first photo you posted, I almost posted too, but it had the white cabinets. lol

I like that stone, jhmarie.

wow Andrew, cool place you have. how old is the house? any other original items?? those floors are really nice. (I can see how you'd want to replace that tile though!)

I'm told 1925. There are original wood trims and doors, but painted over. I saw photos of a nearby listing that looks like the same builder with unpainted wood, but I think it makes the house seem dark and the wood is quite grainy.

it can. but all that vintage woodwork can be beautiful if you have a enough light. it can be a bit 'heavy' at times.

is Your floor laid on the diagonal like this one as well? I like how they edged it w/the darker stain.

Yes, also diagonal. Stripping all the trims and doors would be a huge undertaking.

I prefer something softer than tiles on the foot for kitchen floors where you stand a lot. You might have original oak under those tiles, unless it was removed when the tiles were installed. I would do red oak to match the rest of the house or Linoleum, which is period correct and a natural material. (Not vinyl.)

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yes, it would. personally i like white crown and baseboard molding.

so it's a craftsman? hows the exterior?

Bill, no offense, but no. I see you're a painter. he has custom cherry cabinets. they're in beautiful condition. now why would you advocate painting those? if anything, sell them as is, (to someone who actually appreciates fine wood) and bring in some poplar or birch cabs. Then go to town w/your painting. I'm sure there are tons of 80's oak cabinets with your name all over them.

(besides, these are solid wood panels. we all know paint doesn't really care for solid wood panels)

Unfortunately at some point someone put aluminum on the exterior. It doesn't look terrible, but I'd prefer wood.

Beth H. Yup--to a man with a hammer, everything is a nail.

Andrew, not bad,,it's cute. a few tweaks here and there. congrats on the new place. i'm sure it will look great when you're finished.

tatts, hah! spit out my coffee on that one.

I'd strip that woodwork in a heartbeat. Can't believe someone ruined it with paint.

Were I you, I would consider continuing the floors into the kitchen. I think they would be beautiful. As someone else suggested, maybe they're hiding under the tile! If not, I think a slate tile with soapstone counter tops would be beautiful.

Your house is what I like to call a Craftsman Colonial Revival--VERY common in the northeast, especially in New Jersey. :)

Edit: I looked at your profile after I wrote that to see if your location is listed, and you DO live in NJ!!

I was wondering what to call it. Craftsman-influenced, but not really craftsman.

Since you are doing a new floor I suggest removing the awkward little cabinet with it's little counter top. I'd rather just see the wall. I did some wall and counter top colors just for fun

Thanks emmarene. Interesting idea. I think the space to the right of those cabinets is for the garbage can so it's out of the way. I'd hate to lose counter space, but after I unpack I'll have a better idea if I need it.

I'm not sure if anyone is still following, but I got some information about the cabinets. They are not fully custom. They are Kraft-Maid installed 15 years ago. The wood is birch. The stain is called honey spice.

so what did you decide to do? I can guarantee that those cabs will look 100X better with new flooring, wall color and countertop. If you still don't like it, you can always paint them later. start w/the easier things to change. (and really, that flooring isn't doing anyone any justice. even if you left it and painted the cabinets, it would still look icky).

I'm going to leave the cabinets alone. I'm thinking maple flooring and soapstone counters. Mid-tone grayish blue paint. Not really sure about the backsplash. One on the photos showed a grey subway tile that worked well. Meeting a designer tomorrow.

Sounds like a plan and very exciting! Wait until your paint and counter tops are finished before deciding on a backsplash. It's the one thing you can live without and your counters always look different in full pieces on the plane than they do on the vertical.

Designer suggested one change: Match floor wood/color to old oak floor in adjoining rooms. Something like this.

Good idea. You probably won't be able to match floor boards that are that old but you could probably come close.

Glad you decided to keep the old floor -- those inlays are something you can't reproduce anymore and give the place a lot of character. Hope you get it into ship shape soon!

Some pics of the final result. Granite instead of soapstone. Thanks for your advice.

Good for you! Looks like a new beautiful kitchen.

Looks great Andrew! Congratulations on the finished project!

Very nice! Under cabinet lighting would be a great addition too.

There is under cabinet lighting. I never think to turn it on.

Ok, all set then!

I may be too late in this discussion but here's my advise anyway......I love the cabinet color and would not touch it. I would definitely change the orange paint to something light and neutral. Changing the drawer handles too would make a big difference. And finally, if anything, I would change the flooring to wood or luxury vinyl planks, that would make the biggest difference of all and look totally awesome!