I would concentrate on all those other positives and enjoy the house.

In a year or so, see how you feel about the kitchen and only then do any changes, if you still want them.

I looked at your photos again. If I had just bought your house I would want to make some changes to the kitchen, but I would leave the cabinets alone. I would replace the counters with Taj Mahal quartzite and do a more unique and light colored backsplash.

I've lived with darker counters and much prefer a lighter one.

Below is a photo of TM with a similar cabinet color. For a backsplash I would use something from Encore in a crackle finish.

Amanda, forget about the Stonington Gray color for the walls, for now. Since you say it's too much wood, would you be willing to redo the floors in something else? Or, what if you refinished the wood to a different tone? one that wasn't so warm looking?

The other thing I would do first before resorting to painting, is the countertop. Perhaps if you went went something lighter? maybe a quartz or quartzite? Even a darker (more charcoal or black) countertop would look great w/those cabs.

how do you feel about the rounded island w/the steel post? To me, I'd change out that altogether and lose the curve. Then you could just paint the island. Leave the perimeter cabs natural, and go for another color on your island. maybe a navy (if you switch granite) or a charcoal. if keeping the granite, try a forest green or darker green/gray.

I think if you try those suggestions first, you'll find your wood cabinets can work very well with your design. But if you still think you want to paint them, then go ahead! (I'd still redo the island design though). Hire a pro cabinet painter (not a house painter) and make sure he removes them, takes them back to his shop to paint, after prepping them very well. find out the steps he uses. I'm getting mine done and he will be spraying them with lacquer. It's also not a cheap job. yours would be well above the 5K mark.

I am with the others, don’t paint the cabinets. They appear to be great quality and in good shape. If you find you do want to make a change, what about updating the countertop first? A light counter often looks good with that color cabinets and that might give you the look you’re going for.

What a beautiful kitchen : ) . Congratulations on your new house. What a bright, light, open space to live and work in.

Another vote for appreciating the kitchen as is, or at least living in it for at least a year.

If you do end up painting, I would be very careful about choosing a grey for the walls, since I suspect it will take a while to find something that works with the granite.

Any design inspirations to look to?

I'd look to the grey/taupe furnishings and grey fireplace surround. You can still have grey elements in the room if you want them.

Or, what if you refinished the wood to a different tone? one that wasn't so warm looking?

I would just suggest being careful with this because the wood flooring as is works very well with the wood cabinetry, and you might well end up in "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" territory, and then the beautiful cabinetry will suffer.

Pottery, throw rugs, and colorful curtain on your window. That would be a cheery kitchen. Colorful stools also.

I agree with the ”don’t paint” comments, also the ones suggesting changing the counters and backsplash. If you’re into white, a white counter and backsplash would be a great compromise....

M Miller,

Right!!

I miss Sophie so much, I have no one to *argue* over Ikea kitchens, barn doors, grey, cheapchinesecrapola, and lipstick on pigs.

Sigh.

Sophie truly made me laugh out loud, pretty much every day.

In a totally open space, your lucky that all the cabinetry looks like furniture. Widen your colour scope beyond grey.

Yes, you would be crazy to paint the kitchen cabinets white, turning it into a flip house lookAlike. Quit watching that gawd awful HGTV. And this comes from someone who’s had white cabinets th past 20 years. Live there for a few years & then reevaluate. I’m sure there’s other things to throw away $ at.

I love the cabinets. For me, personally, the counter/backsplash and the part of the island w/the curve/pipe, that's what I'd want to change.

I agree with you that that kitchen is not my taste but also think painting the cabinets would be a waste. Changong the counters and backsplash would go a long way to improving the kitchen

If you’re going to change something, change the flooring. The rest of it is beautiful.

I think your cabinets would look great painted white. And I don’t know why people thinks it’s crazy to paint wood but have no problem tearing out granite. I mean, one’s renewable and the other isn’t. Talk about wasteful!

Following

With the wood floors and the wood cabinets it's just SO much wood, which typically isn't my style (though I can recognize that it's beautiful in it's own). I'm definitely much more of a 'cool colors' person. If left to my own devices, white cabinets, quartz counter top, gray walls etc would be my go-to. Seems that this isn't in the cards for this place though. Any design inspirations to look to?

Let me ask a silly question. When did you decide that's your go to? What influenced that as your go to? Have you always been drawn to those colors or has this been your "go to" in the last 5-7 years?

For example, are these also the colors you "go to" when you dress yourself?

I ask those questions for a reason. For example, my neighbor who lives behind me just finished building and decorating her house. Everything is white, gray, brown and black with a few pops of color. But that is so her and I know that's her because everything she wears are those colors too!

thanks for all the suggestions, folks! I am kind of surprised at all the comments to replace the granite vs painting the cabinets - I thought painting would be far easier, though maybe i'm wrong on that. Sounds like I have more to think about :)

Pottery, throw rugs, and colorful curtain on your window. That would be a cheery kitchen. Colorful stools also.

Agree with this for now.

I would not do anything for at least a year. Live with it and really figure out what works and what doesn't. I wouldn't even change out the counters for now. Just move in and feel it out. As you live with it, you can then decide what colors and what works and doesn't.

I think your cabinets would look great painted white. And I don’t know why people thinks it’s crazy to paint wood but have no problem tearing out granite. I mean, one’s renewable and the other isn’t. Talk about wasteful!

Because painted cabinets will NEVER hold up as well as those cabinets because they could never be painted the way they should be to make them last. And when in a few years they start to chip, they'll look like cheap garbage.

And no. Do not change the flooring as that looks to be expensive flooring compared to so much garbage nowadays.

Sammy brings up a good point about the renewable resources in this kitchen. I don't think it needs improving and wouldn't change a thing but I'm not a pro who's keen on the latest trends. Can granite countertops be reused?

Rather than changing out the flooring, which I very much disagree with, I would sooner add a runner or two. In grey if necessary.

Beautiful kitchen...love the cabinets, counter, flooring. Maybe changing the backsplash to lighter whiter color would help you?Please no gray with the wonderful warmth you have.

It’s your kitchen, you should make it how you like. I don’t know why you wouldn’t paint the cabinets if you like white. I don’t think the counter will go well with gray paint, but another color may look nice.

Hi Amanda
There was a great article on Houzz earlier this week about kitchens with wood cabinets. When I saw your post it immediately reminded me of the article. Maybe it will help with some design inspiration.
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/see-how-1-kitchen-style-works-with-5-types-of-wood-stsetivw-vs~117632354

Personally I think changing the countertops will make a significant impact on the feel of the kitchen.

Nothing bugs me in a kitchen more than floors and cabinets that match exactly or are a near match. It all blends together and is visually underwhelming. I can see your dilemma. Something has to give and painting is the easiest and least expensive. Since it's your home that you will be living in for a while I say paint. I like the cabinets and the floor and the granite but they don't work together at all. Maybe consider a color besides white.

This is my wood kitchens idea book with both new and older, refreshed wood kitchens.

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75202366/list/wood-kitchens

Some thoughts: Your overall layout is pretty good - always a plus because it is a waste of money to make any expensive change with a poor layout. You have a ton of storage space - At least compared to my kitchen - probably 3x more storage then I have:) (Do I see two fridges?)

When there is more than enough storage, one possibility is to remove some of the upper cabinets. I would need to stand in the kitchen and stare at the walls for a few months to really do that - but I am short and if I ever build a house, there will not be many upper cabinets. I do not dislike the granite - it is not my style to use stone for both counter and backsplash though it looks high end to me - probably why it is not my style as I tend towards a more cottage look - nothing wrong with it - I probably would look at a simpler subway tile backsplash.

Some of my recent additions to my idea book have warm wood lowers and white uppers. The chipping and problems with painted over finished cabinets seem to occur more on lowers - though the most used uppers can also show wear - but they don't get spilled on. If it could be done to look intentional - and not like you just quit painting, white uppers might be a consideration - and perhaps less uppers too.

This is from a Parade Home in my area I went through this week:

Hi Amanda-

It's your house and your money, do with it what YOU want.

There was a similar thread about a month ago put up by someone who purchased a lovely house in the Palm Springs area in the mid-century modern style with gorgeous wood in the Kitchen and everyone on Houzz including me, being horrified that she wanted to paint the cabinets.

Jan Moyer (a Houzzer) made the excellent point that this Houzzer had the perfect right to have the house that she wanted accorded to her own tastes, not according to the rest of ours.

When I thought about it, I realized that Jan was correct.

After all, it's not like Amanda M is painting over the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

They are just cabinets.

Amanda M- There are PhotoShop photo editing programs that would allow you to change the color of the cabinets, walls, counters etc so you can see what things would look like.

Also, some of the paint companies have similar programs in which you can upload photos of your room into their program, and "paint" areas of your room with their colors.

If you do decide to paint your cabinets, please do do it the right way.

Please hire the very best people for the job who have experience painting wood kitchen cabinets, and please check three references. And be prepared to spend over $5000 for starters.

Another thing you can think of doing if you don't want to paint is to replace some of the doors with glass, or glass with panes, either clear glass or frosted or reeded glass so it gives a lighter look to the kitchen.

Just read through the comments and want to say that you are one gracious woman, Amanda! Your post was simply asking for help on how to change the look as it wasn’t quite your style, and I felt like (almost) everyone was aghast at how you could possibly want to change a thing. I think you are entitled to your sense of aesthetic and, while the kitchen is lovely, sounds like it just doesn’t feel like the ideal one you would design for yourself. Agree there’s nothing wrong with living in it for a year or so to decide on the best changes, but, my goodness, let the poor woman have her own opinion! Good luck and congrats on your new home!

"Up date" is where I am stuck. The kitchen as is looks very updated!! Wood is back in YEAH!! The hardware/lighting/ appliances all look very UP TO DATE. Sorry but another vote here to embrace it as is.

Having the cabinets painted by a real professional may be very expensive since there are a lot of cabinets. They are beautiful as is!
If you want to paint the walls, I would suggest you look at fabrics for inspiration: fabrics that have the color of the granite and a little bit of the cabinet color included with other colors. Use one of the lighter colors for walls. Use the fabric for window treatments and fabric-covered cushions for any seating in the kitchen and breakfast area. A runner rug can always add some color, too. I like to have rugs where I stand to prep and at the sink.

It’s too bad you want to change everything. While I wouldn’t choose those cabinets or granite if I was starting from scratch building a kitchen, I do appreciate the beauty & craftsmanship of it all. The wood cabinets are like a refined shaker style and the wood tone, if you have to have wood cabinets, is perfect. Not heavy & dark and not knotty pine and bot bleached out. Just a smooth, lovely medium wood.

As for the granite, again wouldn’t be my first choice but looking closely I think it’s softly gorgeous. Like a beautiful slab of variegated light jade.

Wood cabinets are coming back in style after an overdone pure white decade and yours are exceptional both in color and style. If I was you I’d hold off on doing anything to them for several months if not even a year and see if you don’t come to fall in love with them.

If I had extra money to throw around, I’d replace or renew that fence I’m seeing out the living room window before I ripped up a beautiful kitchen :)

I agree with sugarcakes2 on this “Nothing bugs me in a kitchen more than floors and cabinets that match exactly or are a near match. It all blends together and is visually underwhelming”

Think about refinishing your floors to their natural color so they don’t blend in with the cabinetry. The first thing I did when we moved into our house years ago was refinish the floors so they didn’t match my golden oak cabinets. Seven years ago we redid the kitchen but this time I went with cherry cabinets. I kept the floors natural.

While my cabinets are not the exact color of yours I think the picture below will give you an idea of how your kitchen could look with lighter floors. Redoing the floors is probably less expensive than professionally painting all those cabinets or replacing the granite

Good luck with your decision. It will be a beautiful home whatever way you go.

Amanda: I was in your situation four years ago when I bought my house. It’s a wonderful, spacious farmhouse and everything about the house was what we wanted - location, land, style of house, Interior layout - except the oak kitchen. It was not my taste and so many people told me I was crazy to consider spending money to change it.
Although the layout isn’t great, I refused to live with a kitchen I didn’t like. I have redone 3 other kitchens and wanted what I wanted. (I cook a lot.) So I refaced the kitchen after one year here. The floor was grey tile, and I changed it to match the floors of the great room that it faces. I changed the lighting and countertops. Now everyone thinks it’s gorgeous. Most importantly, I love it. We will be here forever and I don’t want to live in a house where I am unhappy every morning when I make my coffee. When you can afford it, paint the cabinets. Take a year to figure out what color. My granite counters are a similar, but lighter green. Once the cabinets are painted, you can reevaluate the backsplash and counters.
It’s your house. It’s got too much wood (so does mine) and you have to love it. It doesn’t matter that wood. You want white or something to complement your taste. Take the time to figure out what color. My paint is Creamy by SW, but the doors and drawers were replaced by Home Depot. (Not cheap - painting will be less.) I disagree with every post here that tells you to love it because it’s new and a pretty wood. Here are photos before and after of my kitchen. The change in lighting is totally obvious.

what i'd give for a kitchen like yours! It has a wonderful design to it... however it maybe that you are reacting to the movement in it. I notice that the counters have a lot of movement, and that combined with the wood grain in the cabinets and floor would be more than you are used to. Try a temporary measure to take out one element and see if it quietens down, like using butchers paper over the counters and backsplash and see if you see it differently . It might help you to decide on your way forward which allows you to enjoy the quality cabinetry you have.

I can certainly understand why you wanted white cabinets, RedRyder. OP's kitchen is much brighter though.

On my monitor, all the elements harmonize and look to be high quality. The white walls could be a touch warmer but this cool white does lend it a modern vibe. The granite's gold veining echoes the cabinets. The floor doesn't match exactly on my screen and looks to be a lovely finish that suits the home. As cpartist pointed out, painting wood cabinets rarely yields a strong durable finish. This is usually the main reason why people aren't keen on painting wood cabinets. Not aesthetics, per se, but quality of finish. Of course, OP is entitled to her own aesthetic but we're pointing out that this kitchen looks very good as is and perhaps it would be a good idea to "give it a chance", so to speak. Renos are expensive and wasteful when a room doesn't "need' one.

Wow. Passionate responses!

I think you are getting such a strong reaction because posters here can quickly see that yours is a special kitchen. It is well designed, and everything appears to be high quality. This is not a Home Depot kitchen*.

I opened this thread expecting to see the usual honey oak cathedral cabinets with a speckled brown counter. Your pics literally made my jaw drop (just a little). I stared for a long time. My split-second initial reaction was that kitchen was very ... assertive. It will not be ignored. It is like she is the most beautiful woman in the room, AND she is the tallest AND she is wearing high heels!

So... even though you prefer blonds, no one here can imagine why you would dye her gorgeous coppery red hair.

(I don't know if this beautiful woman metaphor is working, but please allow me to continue a little more with it.)

However... maybe you could take off her high heeled shoes.

My first thought was that the cabs weren't the problem for you, but the granite was too much. But is it? On reflection, I don't think so. If you need to change something, consider replacing just the backsplash. Choose the lightest veining in the counters - it looks like a cream or white - and install a plain tile backsplash. It will brighten the room considerably. But the counters, being horizontal, don't contribute much darkness. Plus they are unusual and LOVELY. Oh yea, and expensive to replace.

Like so many others, I suggest you live with the kitchen for at least a year. After putting all of your belongs on the counters and shelves and adjusting to color after living in your old house with the white and Stonington Grey, you may be surprised that you are quite enamored with this special kitchen.

If not, find some tile, and color match it to some paint. Paint several boards and place them in front of your backsplash. Live with that for a while to decide if it will give you the changes you want. Basically, I'm advising you to go very slow and try to do a good-sized mock up of any permanent change you want to make.

Then again... if you hate this kitchen, you are allowed to! As someone previously said, this isn't the Sistine Chapel, and it is YOUR kitchen. Who gives a %&#$ what I - or any of us - think? Ultimately if you do decide to paint the cabinets, please spend the money and hire a professional who will do it correctly. I live in an average COL area, and a project like yours would start at around 12K.

Best of luck to you!

Nicole

* Not that there is anything wrong with the Home Depot kitchen. I have an IKEA kitchen - which I love - and would also be happy with the big box kitchen, as long as it was designed right.

Strip and stain them

Well, Beverly's mockup convinced me that the current stained wood cabinets look pretty ideal in the space.

Nicoletouk, Love your beautiful woman analogy.

Do you want to lower the value of your home as soon as you move in? Then paint the cabinets. And kiss 5-figures goodbye.

True in concept, but grossly overstated.

It's a lovely kitchen; I would absolutely not spend money to bring it down to today's trend. If that kitchen were mine, here's what I'd do:

- Switch out the all-white accessories in the display areas to something brighter. All-white looks kinda "blank" against these deep, rich colors.

- Add colorful linens, especially a nice colorful curtain over the sink.

- The one thing I don't like here is the same-as-countertop backsplash. That wouldn't be a big change ... but, still, I wouldn't do it until I'd lived in the house a while.

You say you're staying in the house long-term. Someday the cabinets will show their age, and it'll be time to paint them /cover up all the problems they will have developed ... and then it'll be worthwhile, but right now they look perfect.

Oh, yeah, any doubt anyone had just flew out the window:

Well, Beverly's mockup convinced me that the current stained wood cabinets look pretty ideal in the space.

Yes that mockup is pretty darn awful.

Gorgeous kitchen, but I hear you about the wood cabinets/wood floors. It’s a lot. I would be tempted to do rugs in the kitchen to break up the wood on wood and give you some of the colors you love. Then live with it awhile. After that, if you still need a change, you will have had plenty of time to get to know the house and exactly what you want for this house, and time to separate from the last house.

Because painted cabinets will NEVER hold up as well as those cabinets because they could never be painted the way they should be to make them last. And when in a few years they start to chip, they'll look like cheap garbage.

Oh, please. Plenty of people have painted cabinets that look gorgeous and have held up beautifully for years. Like anything else, preparation, materials and execution are key.

Btw, if and when they do chip or start to show their age, you just get ‘em touched up. You know, like anything else that’s painted.

I agree with everyone who is suggesting that you wait. New countertops might be an option if you want to change the look of the kitchen and bring in some of the colors that you love.

strip and stain them?? People who casually mention this have never stripped wood cabinets. This would cost more than painting. And stain them, what? gray? White? Not all wood grains can go lighter. you'd end up w/a white wash version from 1995. so, no. if you're paying all that money, paint them. Or leave them as is and change the things around it.

RedRyder, your current kitchen looks nice, but those previous quarter sawn oak cabs were gorgeous! Nothing like the the 1980's oak cabinets. It just proves that people like different things. You're obviously the one who has to look at it, so you should be able to get what you like. Same here w/Amanda.

Amanda, do what you like. I just mentioned trying a few other changes first, since those are an easier fix. If you really dislike the cabinet color, then by all means, change it.

I'm on my phone so won't have time to reply individually, but thank you everyone for your thoughts and ideas! lots of interesting things to consider. living there for a while is probably correct, and certainly the less stressful option!

and yes, I should have added in the first post that I recognize the extremely fortunate spot we're in - there's no "need" for a Reno, and the craftsmanship is lovely - just not a style I ever would have chosen.

thanks for the help, everyone!

Amanda, I am a white kitchen girl through and through. Did one in my previous home and doing another full gut reno to get my white kitchen in this house. With that said, I would not paint those cabinets, they are really beautiful. We are living in our third home since we got married. Someone once told me to wait at least a year before making any changes and it’s the best advice. We waited almost 4 years in each house, and the plan that we had initially actually
changed significantly in both of our “forever” houses...yes we’ve had two...so far...ha!
So, my advice would be enjoy your beautiful new home. Live in the space, and see how you feel about it after a year. And, honestly, if I did anything in that kitchen I would put in new counters and backsplash...but only after living with it for a bit :)
Enjoy your beautiful new home!

Beth, those quartersawn oak cabinets were 9 years old in 2015, it from the 1980’s. I just couldn’t live with them. I understand many people would have.

Didn't read all the comments but just so you're aware these cabinets are CUSTOM! Not only are they inset but I do believe the island was built as one piece. Not every cabinet company offers that kind of customization so this kitchen is HIGH END. Add to that the fact that all of your appliances have custom panels - and two frig/freezer! Sweet! As a designer who has had the opportunity to design at this level I'd CRY if you painted over the beautiful cherry.

The floor is a natural red oak and I can see it continues throughout your space and stairs. A good flooring re finisher could sand and stain your floors to give you contrast and update your look. You'd have to be willing to rent a pod and move out while he does the floors but that might give you enough of a personal stamp to make this space your own. Paint the risers white and enjoy. By the way, I like the white accent pieces - you've staged the kitchen very nicely...