Hi, Erin--

Do you know the white of your trim color on the doorway in the kitchen? If you have a paint code for it, I'd recommend using that same white on your cabinetry for consistency since your upper cabinet run is nearly adjacent to it, and avoid introducing a bunch of similar-but-different whites you'll have to keep for touch-ups.

White uppers like Edwards suggests could really help open up the visual reach of your room, and give you a solid idea if you want to commit to doing the lower cabs later, too. It will definitely help your awesome pendant lights stand out - love those! Cheers!

PAINT. PLEASE. :) I have this very same granite.. i used sea froth on my cabs and i love the light airiness contrasting w the granite, with just a hint of taupe

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/89/f3/c3/89f3c34fdcb7535734ff9a52f3114903.jpg

Paint the whole darn thing: ) Use the existing trim color . Easy Peasy.

i also painted my walls the same color to keep it harmonious :)

Sw white duck is a great color that looks nice with mid tone wood.

match the trim color or you will be back here saying your white cabinets look yellow compared to your trim! you can always remove the small piece of baseboard and take it to the paint guy to match.

anything on the yellow side might clash w/the gray wall paint. Try one of the cooler toned whites. Have you thought about painting them a gray/tan tone to match the granite?

you can buy the white paint right off the shelf w/no added tint. it's a pure, bright white.

better yet, bring home some samples of the white and paint it on one of the doors. (obviously this means commitment!)

maybe one of these middle shades?

If you're not sure, I wouldn't! Maybe paint the walls a different color and accessorize with color.

I don't really like wood but your cabs are actually pretty nice. Just paint the kitchen something like Bennington gray and put more modern handles on the cabinets. Then a nice classic plain backsplash and you will be ok.

bennington gray:

Do what your heart tells you to do. Now light painted cabinets are "in", a few years from now it might be dark wood cabinets are "in", a few years after that it might be purple and orange are "in". Who knows. If we all followed what is currently "in" we would be ripping up or houses every few years.

Erin, I would definitely paint the walls and spend money on a backsplash! I may be wrong, but I feel that a warm wall color vs. a gray for the wall, would be best. Gray is a bit cold and your cabinets have such a pretty warm feel to them. The back splash can have variations of grey to compliment the granite, but still on the warm side. The Impressive ivory from SW is nice, but just an example.

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I vote for leaving them as is and just updating the backsplash. I think the 4" backsplash and hardware are contributing to the dated look. As another poster said, if you paint the cabinets white your black appliances will really stand out. I also agree with picking a wall color that goes better with the cabinets.

the other thing is white cabinets show dirt so much easier. I thought I wanted a white kitchen until I put in white bathroom cabinets. Everything shows on the white.

paint only the uppers and add backsplash

We would suggest a white color for the upper cabinets, it would definitely brighten things up!

You're kitchen cabinets look great with the countertops. You have great suggestions so far, but if you are not 100% sure then reschedule until you are. You can always make the appointment again.

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Personally, I would leave your cabinets the way they are.

Comparing Nidnay picture to yours, I like them better the way they are. Just doesn't look right in white.

Good job Nidnay! What a great way to compare! I hear professionally painting cabinets can be pretty expensive. Perhaps clean up the finish on the present ones with a coat of wax or polish, change the hardware and add a backsplash instead.

Also changing the appliances to match the SS microwave would brighten up the kitchen.

Yes, white does not go well with that granite.

Just for you know, there is a Marble kitchen paint also making from special oil, highly durable .

better to give a professional to do it but it can help your dilemma ,and upgrade the kitchen .

If you are going to paint do just the uppers! BUT I think the cabinets are good. While wood is not always my first choice, I think if you spent the money on matching appliances and painting the walls a color that really complimented your cabinets and counters you will be ahead of the game. I think you will have to deal with these eventually anyway. The counters and cabinets look like a great combo to me. New hardware would also be a nice change IMO.

I'm in the paint camp. When I went to Sherwin Williams I told the 'paint guy' that I was painting kitchen cabinets and I wanted white. I asked him which was the best white. I couldn't even finish my question when he said; "bright white". I guess that is what 90% of the professional painters are purchasing for their clients. Easy peasy and I didn't have to agonize over the right white.

if in doubt let it ride.

I am all for painting brown wood cabinets white. I love white kitchens, and painted my own knotty pine cabs, trim (crown, chair rail and baseboard) all white, and it was a HELL of a job. I did it myself, but I did it the right way, and I spent over a week doing it. Be prepared to either pay a good sum to a pro, or spend a lot of time prepping and painting. It's not a job to be done quickly. And if you do paint, the cabs should definitely be the same color as the trim.

All that said, your granite does NOT work with white. Unless I was going to replace the granite too, I would leave the cabs as they are. The gray walls are great with white, but they too are a cool color and they are not working with the warmth of the cabinets and the granite. I suggest leaving cabinets alone and repainting the walls a more agreeable color, and adding a nice not-busy backsplash.

I am in the don't paint camp but if you do....Usually when I see before and afters of people painting their cabinets I am not impressed...mostly because I think people are going too white...like stark white...especially when they are keeping their existing dark or warm granite. Recently on a different thread a pro recommended Shoji White and I thought it turned out beautiful. Worth picking up a sample to see how it looks with your granite:)

and the before and after...

I also vote for leaving wood as is. Makes kitchen look richer in tone than any white. And wood is far more forgiving in terms of hiding wear and tear than painted surface - especially white. As another pointed out, it's the gray on walls that's wrong. Very few grays work against warm wood tones, usually looks good only next to barnwood/salvaged wood that actually may have some gray in it, despite what's "on-trend" now. Look at warm whites/tans.

Another thing I don't like is the racing-stripe look of white baseboard between painted walls and wood floor. Baseboard looks better when either same wood/tones of floor colour or same/similar tone of wall. Makes too much of a contrast in room with lots going on already w/cabinets, appliances, etc.