Your ceilings are beautiful! Yes, I don't see that mirror adding anything :-(

Nice mirror, where's it going? Install glass doors or frosted ones in uppers. Love the ceiling.

I was going to hang it to the left of the black door to help reflect some light into the house. Perhaps a colored frame would help bring some life to this room? Running out of ideas.

Ok do that & do lighter color shades/blinds , & lamps. Art.

Watch that mirror doesn't look like a door due to the room shape. Two of my clumsier family members would run into it, like a fun house mirror. :-)

Mirror with a silver or nickel or brass frame.. the black is heavy.. add some more plants.. maybe a round rug to break up the floor and give it a pop of color?

Also can you paint the black door frame white?

All of my exterior doors are black so I probably won’t paint it white. I’ll try a different color mirror though and see how it looks! Thank you!

If you can't find a big mirror in another color, you could also do a vertical stack of three large square mirrors. I think that is less likely to look like an exit, also.

I would go with a very light marble-like countertop like Frosty Carrina quartz or Organic White by Caesarstone. These are very light stones but they also imitate natural marble which goes well with the traditional look of your kitchen. As for backsplash, I would go with something really light, also. Whisper White Arabesque tile is a very light, straightforward white tile but if you want your backsplash to shine, consider glass tile backsplash like Crystallized Glass Ice White with interlocking pattern, or Arctic Ice 3x6 for a less busy look. I would also completely remove the cabinets next to the window as they are soaking up the natural light.

If I remove the cabinets next to windows, would open shelves make sense? Or just leave open?

Put a tall plant in front of mirror.

Open shelves next to window.

Echoing what someone else said, I would also see if there's a way to find and alternate home for any of the things currently stored on the counter. They're also adding to the dark feeling.

If can't lighten the choices of appliances in color.

Add glass to a few cabinets. It really lightens the room

I said that way above!

So I picked out counter slabs today. Going with Viatera Minuet. I also found a floor tile that I’m thinking of going with (middle tile in photo)

Before I pull the trigger, any suggestions?

Thanks!

The center tile is the best of the three but I would go lighter still. Try it at night and see if it is too dark with your lighting.

You're getting a new sink, right? :D

You still haven't added the lighting? I'd do that first, before getting new counters and picking anything else.

Yes to new sink and faucet. Lighting won’t be done until winter.

@tqtqtbw here’s a picture of them at night. I actually think I like the flooring more in the lighting.

Yes to the light gray one.

Get a few more of the light gray tiles to check out the pattern on a larger scale. Will it look blotchy? The gray floor in the inspiration I posted just above is a more even gray color.

It is a little blotchy but I liked it because my dog is black and I spend too much time vacuuming . I’ll get a few more samples and line them up.

Hello!
I would like to paint my bookcases. Can I please get some paint and colour suggestions ? Thanks. Any

Amy - start a new thread instead of hijacking this one, please! You'll get more responses, too. thx!

Mirror the space above the cabinets.

@jbtanyderi, the space over the window? A horizontal mirror or mutiples?

Paint the walls a good semi-gloss white and add brighter bulbs to all light fixtures. The brighter light will reflect of the brighter paint. If that doesn't work, consider adding the recessed lighting as previously suggested.

We have a similar 12" X 24" tile in our sunny MB. Please look at a variety of tile layout options. There was a thread recently where tile layout was vigorously debated. I'll look for it. Meanwhile, here's my MB. I love everything about this room.

I like that tile as well! Very nice. The good thing about the tiles I picked out above is that they’re through Home Depot so I know if we run out, it’s a quick stop down the street and won’t cost me an arm and a leg! I wish I had white cabinets!

I am interested in reading about layout. If you can find the thread, please share! Thanks!

When you get ready to tile, try to over buy in your color dye lot number and return unused tile. We have had other people notice a slight difference in the installed floor due to using a differnet dye lot.

YES! Check all the tile you buy to be sure it matches. I recently had to take back a whole load of different trim tile.

Anyone following this, here’s an update! Counters and floors are done. Backsplash and under cabinet lighting happening this weekend.

looks great.. love the floor.. is it porcelain? name? size? very nice counters as well..

Thank you! They’re porcelain, not sure of brand or name but we got them at the Home Depot. I’m so in love with the counters.

Looks great! Do under cabinet lighting; led if don't have it.

Backsplash in

Love the backsplash. So serene. Do you still have the name? I want to recommend it for my mother's remodel.

Great job updating! Everything looks great!

Love the counter selection and Love your tile backsplash! could you possibly give me the name and where you bought the tile? what color grout did you use!

WOW, looks so great! It's so much brighter!

I'm so glad you didn't paint your cabinets!

Thank you for sharing your updates. So often commentors don't get to see suggestions implemented. Your kitchen looks great!

That looks so beautiful! I love the update!

That is so beautiful & enjoy!

Thanks everyone! Still need to update the lighting but so happy with the updates so far.

The time is a glass tile I found at Lowe’s on clearance. I’ll admit, it was a total pain to work with and the cuts were not completely clean. It came out alright doing it ourselves but I’d definitely leave glass tile to a professional if we did it again.

Ahhh, it’s so easy to spend other people’s money so here I go. I think you would get a lighter feel if the cabinets (gorgeous) remained dark on the bottom and the top was lightened. Check out other photos on Houzz to see what I mean. Dark on the bottom grounds the look and makes it welcoming. Light on the bottom can look off balance. You could add painted open shelving in one area and leave the pantry as is. The big thing for me ( spending here) is the refrigerator. If you were to replace it with counter depth and the side were not black I think you would be surprised at what a difference that makes.