I like Irene's posts, but even the first more formal kitchen cabs with the big hood are much simpler than OPs. I feel that paint on these cabs would look like wanna be coastal, used to be Mediterranean.

Love the sea salt color for the cabinets. I wouldn’t call it wannabe coastal, I would call it a traditional (American style French just like Tuscan ) formal French country kitchen. Seems to be an enduring and classic style in some higher end homes.

It would be an easy fix in my opinion and would go with the current floor.

I'd paint them something like this color

If you must paint the cabinets, I would antique glaze the cabinets with an off white and then maybe dark and island to really bring out mediterranean feel in the kitchen

Wow, lots of input and we greatly appreciate it.

A few questions for you...is taking the marble up the backsplash truly considered dated?

If the cabinets will be painted, is a light pale oak (BM) or a light blue like coventry gray island color enough of an offset to not make the room look to stark? We were thinking of doing 2 medium sized darlana lanterns in dark iron above the smaller island and possible mixing in some brass pulls/knobs but would love your input.

The floor, unfortunately, will be staying. Its throughout the entire house and not sure the budget would allow a complete change on that.

Wow, beautiful kitchen. What a shame to replace anything. Just seems like a waste of money.

I wouldn’t paint the cabinets. I think the look you have is exquisite. If I were to address anything in the room, its the:

Hood - which is very heavy. Perhaps put a less ominous one in - like stainless.
Wall paint color - as others suggested a blue would be stunning
Backsplash - could be updated
Pulls - maybe something more modern

Otherwise save your money for retirement and enjoy this lovely kitchen.

I just don't see any light blue gray mixing in with your flooring.

Have you thought about hiring a local designer because it seems a mish mash of ideas. You could waste A LOT of cash and have it not look good at all...maybe a designer would be better at taking your ideas and finding a more cohesive plan.

If you want to lighten the look of the kitchen, I would try painting the walls, taking out the current “hood” and replacing with a custom metal one, and replacing or painting the tile first before painting the cabs.

Hi Jonrobison,

Could you perhaps remove the range hood cover for a more modern stainless, and exchange some of the upper cabinet doors for glass ones with in cabinet lighting?

Swap out the chandelier? And the hardware?

Start with a few baby steps?

I think the majority of us is still having a hard time attacking this lovely kitchen.

I don't like how the range hood hides the corner from view. I would replace it with an interesting stainless steel version and remove as much of the ornate woodwork as possible around the stove area. Even if you have the cabinets painted - an expensive endeavor - they will still come across as formal. I like the idea of starting with the hood replacement and glass doors on some of the uppers.

Have to agree with Melissa; the beige tiles will clash with grey veining and paint.

If you aren't careful with the paint, it will end up going full late 90s Tuscan or French country. Probably not what you want.

Another idea: Have you considered paining your walls instead of the cabinets? Now you have brown on brown. Paint your walls an off-white color or slightly grayish/bluish tint. Also updating that light fixture will make the kitchen look brand new.

If you completely remove that hulking wood piece around the stove, and those other ornate pieces, as others suggested, paint a neutral wall color as Alexandra suggested, change out the lighting, new counters and bs.... I wouldn't touch the cabinets. It def would go a long way to giving you a completely new look.

I would remove the range hood and replace with stainless steel one.Could you change the panel on the fridge / freezer with white cabinet front and do that with the pantry cabinet those tend to be the more ornate. A creamy white counter . Change chandelier to something more transitional. Just suggestions you have an incredibly beautiful kitchen.

Has anyone used mystery white marble? Seems to be a hard thing to find online in finished kitchens yet it seems like every one of our local stone suppliers Jane it in their inventory...
Again, thank you everyone for your input.

wow its a beautiful kitchen.. I would keep it like that.I have a white kitchen but want yours basically :) You can change the wall color like a light soft blue,and some turquoise accents .If you are going to change it I would not paint it myself,they do face lift to the cabinets more professional look.Maybe just change the granit and keep the cabinets ..such a lovely shade of a brown :)

Everyone has given suggestions on walls, cabinets, island, hood etc so I'll skip those subjects. When you decide what to do with the cabinet finish, make sure you change out those horrible outlets on the front of the big island. Right now you've got stained wood with black outlet plates and some white dot in there and it ruins the whole effect of the island. While the countertops are being changed out, take that opportunity to switch the outlets to a color that will more closely match whatever finish you choose and then a plate that's been finished the same way. You want to make those disappear!

Good luck with the rest!

BTW, if you take the hood out and change out the tile, stub off the pipe that supplies the pot-filler faucet. It's dated and I've found that people hardly ever use them.

I missed your question. The 4" backsplash was out of style ten years ago.

You'd have to be crazy to paint those cabinets. Someone who paints those obviously has no idea what they are doing. I think your doing the smart thing putting lighter countertops even though the ones you have are nice also. Other than that I think the kitchen is beautiful. The lamp over the island is beautiful but I hate the shades. Maybe you can get those crystal bowl things, then it would be gorgeous.

That's what I like for your kitchen

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Paint those cabinets, please! I am like you. I do not care for wooden kitchen cabinets and see no inherent value in them that must be rescued from a paint brush. I have a feeling you might be better off with one of the pretty colors instead of white, though. Also Maria Killam has a post about dealing with travertine when you want to get rid of the heavy wood- it can **absolutely** be done. Cream and white get along just fine. Stick to your guns and make your kitchen into what you like. (I am not someone who needs the perfect updated kitchen as seen on in magazines- but if you are like me and do not care for the heavy look of wooden kitchen cabinets, then please ignore the advice from those begging you to rescue them.)

Here is the Maria Killam pst about updating from the Tuscan brown trend.

http://www.mariakillam.com/tuscanbrowntrend/

Two additional things- one, do not go in the weathered gray look. You will regret it fast- I can imagine people will try to sell it to you for being easier to paint over the brown. Don't buy it.

And second, some wooden kitchens look great- modern ones for example or simple Shaker ones. But the faux formality of an imagined, nonexistent European ideal is particularly off putting in this kitchen.

Good luck,

Galilee, I love that light in the first photo!

Yeah, why are there so many outlets on the back of that island? Do you ever use them?

I would also consider staining your existing cabinets. Perhaps with a color similar to the island in this kitchen we did. These are stained Alder cabinets for the island. I think a similar color for your cabinets would be very beneficial to your kitchen as well.

The countertops are Caesarstone quartz Frosty Carina. They look like they have a similar look to what you have selected for your kitchen.

You could also benefit with an update to your existing backsplash above the gas rangetop. This subway tile backsplash we did above the gas rangetop in this kitchen turned out nicely.

Lastly, upgrading your existing pendant lights over the small island to something similar to the more modern design here could really help make a difference.

What color are your walls right now? Are they a shade of yellow?

Well...we have decided to go away from the mystery white marble because it seems too stark white paired with our floors.... It's hard to know because we always love the clean look of white marble kitchens.
Do you think the mystery white was a bad choice? We are starting from scratch now and very unsure which way to go...
I'm in love with white macaubus, do you think that will look better? Or does anyone have other ideas ?

I think a lot of us concentrated on the cabinet questions and not the counter.

Research oil (body and cooking) and white macaubus. I too like white macaubus; it was on my short list but I could not find slabs I liked. I do not think the mystery white was a bad choice but it will etch. I think with either stone, you will need to change the wall color.

I really think it is worth getting a professional in. It is a large space and it sounds like you are going with high end material..Ultimately, it will save costly mistakes from happening. Good luck

Especially if you do a lot of cooking, consider the practical aspects of your choice. Marble is very high maintenance and stains easily. We all know the feeling of walking into a room and being able to see the tiniest flaw, simply because it's our home and we know it's there, not because the flaw is noticeable. I hate that feeling so I always pick the material that provides the performance I'm going to need.

This project you doing is it in Montreal?

Question for everyone....

We are down to white macaubus quartzite with white cabinets OR mystery white marble with pale greige cabinets. The mystery white marble is a white marble with subtle tan and grey veining whereas the macaubus which is more of a taupe color quartzite with striping of golds and blacks.

Would love to know your opinions keeping in mind our current travertine floor.

I think you need to carry the tan over in the mystery white marble to marry with the travertine floor a bit.

Go with the quartzite! More durable and the accents in the veining will lend itself to the travertine floor and whatever color you go with for the cabinets and iron lanterns/knobs

I️ grew up in a house with dark oak wood cabinets it was more French country style than yours but I️ always hated them also. My mom and I️ renovated the kitchen and painted the cabinets white and did a Greige stain on top. It’s beautiful and not stark white. However stark white would look amazing in your kitchen too but definitely the hood Mediterranean detailing would need to be changed. All white kitchens are beautiful but they can be very boring. White is classic and never goes out of style so I’d ignore anyone saying to not paint your cabinets white cause that will always be good for any style and resale wise. Personally if you’re going with white or off-white/ griege cabinets I️ would go with the counters that have more color and movement in them and will pick up on the fixtures you choose. Your travertine floors are very neutral and gorgeous! They will still look great with white cabinets and the quartzite counters, I️ would suggest maybe going with an accent black splash above the cooktop under the hood that pulls in the tan/Taupe from the floors and veining and well as using that color family to choose the paint color for the walls. That will help marry the floor and counters. And then the fixtures (lighting and knobs) will be the perfect accent to your bright but neutral kitchen! Also I️ would suggest if you pick an accent metal adding a trim to the hood. It’s an awesome look and doesn’t have to be expensive!

Maybe I’m missing something here, but why is this kitchen considered Mediterranean?? This looks like a totally traditional style kitchen.

Who cares what style it is. The cabinets are nice and should be left alone.

Yes I suppose it could be considered traditional, I suppose I call it Mediterranean because of the exterior of the house being that way. So.....let me throw another wrench into the picture...
What do you all think of Tah Majal quartzite vs white macaubus quartzite vs mystery white marble for our kitchen....

Hello everyone,

An update to the kitchen renovations....we have began making a few modifications to the kitchen, we have removed all the crown molding on top of the cabinets except for the ceiling crown molding. The kitchen already looks cleaner and less zig-zags....the woodworker is saying we can't leave them without crown.....so.....do we go with a short crown, tall crown, flat crown, cove crown.....I am totally overwhelmed with what to put on the top of the cabinets for fear of duplicating the business we are trying to reduce in this kitchen. I greatly appreciate any all comments, and HELP!!! Thanks everyone.

Short matching crown is my vote.

It sounds like you're already loving it, so happy for you!

Can you post some pics?

Have you considered replacing the corbels flanking the range with something more simple and coastal prior to painting?

Yes Sally we are planning on corbels like this...

Hello all, we are in the middle of paint and countertop selection STILL and I wanted to ask for some help! Thanks in advance! We live on the water in Florida.

WALL samples...directly next to each other butting up to baseboard is pale oak on left and winds breath on right. Directly above them is accessible beige on left at 60% and revere pewter closest to ceiling trim on right. For reference I have white dove to the left of RP and directly above accessible beige.

ALL COUNTERS and SPLASH...decoding between Taj Mahal and Calacatta extra Oro Supreme...

CABINETS to be painted white dove for perimeter but not sure on the 2 islands as it kind of depends on countertop choices.

Would love to see how this turned out!

That Calacatta extra Oro Supreme is GORGEOUS! That one takes my vote! :)

I personally wouldn't move the hood. I know others hate it, but I think it has a lot of character - and simplicity is not always the best route.

Why not paint all the cabinets in White Dove, and the Island and ornate hood in the Sea Salt that Irene has above?

Would love to see the finished product. We just moved into a house with a much smaller, yet very similar, kitchen and we are at a loss of what to do to update it.

J Robison = how did this turn out? we need to see pics! Im doing the same type of updates.

Don’t choose “griege” ....that’s like giving up because you can’t make up your mind. Pick a paint color or a stain color.
And once you pick a color and have the cabinets refinished, change all those electrical outlets and covers to match, or at least to blend with, the cabinet color...no single white plugs with black covers on brown cabinets! Was there a sale at the dollar store?!