Don’t panic! Plenty of people intentionally layer white and creams in a kitchen. Marry them together.

Some of these are cooler tones but they show the effect you can look for. Playing with grout contrast or looking for multi toned tiles or even painted cement tiles with design.

More pictures please. I don’t understand the chalkboard wall so need more context. I’m not seeing a counter / floor problem in these shots - but that chalkboard wall is ????

Looks okay to these eyes. Especially with your cabinets. Maybe it's just too soon for your eyes to be objective. If anything is sending out classroom vibes, it's that chalkboard! Can you draw the periodic table of elements?

LOL!!!! Oh my gosh I just had a great laugh to your comment. I can wait and see. Thank you :D

The chalkboard is what’s making it look like a biology lab (and it does!). I agree with suggestions above to use white for the backsplash as well for that “layered whites” look. Given that you have wood cabinets it won’t look sterile at all, I think it will look great.

maybe change the color of the cabinets to a light gray, and only use a little of the natural wood colors.

Hi Thinkdesignlive, I have three posted pics on top. One with the chalkboard and counters. Maybe hu196710 is right, wait and dump the chalkboard. My husband will take a sigh of relief to hear he's not the only one who isn't too peachy keen on that trend and plenty of kind advisers are concurring, "Get rid of the chalk-board!" Seregiel, I like some of the tile samples you posted. Many thanks. I'll look those up or see if I can click on the links you have. I do love this sort of rustic/mod combo with wood but the cherry has to stay unfortunately. When I did the herringbone kitchen tile four years ago I was into French design elements. Now I like that chalet chic feel. Warm, earthy and modern.

I like your colors together but I admit I'm very confused by the chalkboard in your kitchen. Not sure that is a trend...I've never even heard of it before (though I am notoriously non-trendy!). What is it for exactly?

Yeah, that chalkboard does give it a classroom feel with natural maple and white. There is a chalkboard thing going on right now. I had tenant who (without my permission) painted a chalkboard onto a wall that doesn’t have cabinets. It actually made this cave of a kitchen look nicer somehow. Less cavelike and more appealing. (Hoping to redo that kitchen next year to get rid of the cave feeling.)

I like chalkboards. (My mom keeps a whiteboard on her kitchen wall to write down frequently used recipes... I'd more likely draw funny things on it or leave notes for my spouse and kids.) And I like your cabinets. And the floor. Oh, and the countertops. In short: I am no help at all. Can I have your kitchen?

Love your transition tile between the wood and kitchen tile! A tile like that with those same hues/colors would look so perfect on your wall and would flow quite nicely.

The countertop matches the trim as someone pointed out. Looks intentional. Love the white with light wood cabinets. Love black as a contrast but chalkboard for a kitchen prep area (I see a sink on that counter?) does not sound hygienic to me. Chalk is incredibly dusty... :/

Sorry, I inserted screen shots. I have a tiny phone so links get convoluted quick. :(

We talk all the time on this forum about variations in white, white, white and white. Everything needs to be seen together before purchasing because white-white, gray-white, creamy-white and blue-white clash with each other.
Yes, I agree that the chalkboard wall is dust-making both when you write and when you erase.

Also forgot - finalize whatever your lighting is before moving forward. Bulb temp definitely effects colors in a room.

No to using wood look tile next to your wood floors, it never looks good.

Have you considered "drawing a line" at the bottom of the cabinets and leaving the chalkboard only between the two overhead cabinets, painting or wallpapering the wall behind countertop and overhead cabinets.

Hi Felizlady, Yeah, the white on white, shades of white... oh gosh I am so kicking myself for not having my floor tile with me that day. It looked so much warmer. Strange though as the fluorescent tends to make things cooler looking. It will be an adjustment for sure. It would be nice if the slab locations could have a viewing area with different lighting. These slabs cost a fortune. Or with an investment on a slab one could think about bringing their own light with a spectrum closest to what's at home. For you folks out there shopping now, bring the tiles bring the cabinet doors, bring it all. I thought a light counter would feel really awesome but for someone whose been living with Shiva Gold for a long time the brain needs to adjust. Yup, chalkboard is going bye bye. I kept a painted backslash as I had a hard time committing. Fingers crossed, when all is done I will fall in love with our counters. Right now I'm reserved.

Hi Sheepla, Yes this is a trend. It's supposed to feel like casual chic. Sort of old school rustic but urban or shabby even playful. I have been crazy enough to jump up on my counters and draw elaborate holiday and birthday signs which was really fun but I will probably consider a nice framed chalkboard on the side wall if any at all.

Ephma, I cracked up laughing when you said my kitchen looks like a biology lab. Humm, maybe I'll be starting a new trend. But seriously, I laughed hard. I like you all here with your fun and helpful comments. You've lightened my cloudy demeanor about this kitchen ordeal. It looks better on the picture or maybe my mind has to wrap it's head on this choice I actually made. Yes, that white on white cream thing could be very good. I do like some of the tile ideas posted, at least it has given me a definitive knowing that I don't need extreme contrast to make this counter work.

Oh gosh, I never would have mentioned biology lab for fear of sounding rude, but you said it in your original post! I think if you lose the chalkboard it’s all going to come together and the counters will look great.

If you want to look at tile, hope someone like Beth jumps on this. She knows ALL the tile.

Just get rid of the chalkboard wall! I think you’ll be happy with the counters with a different wall behind them :) I wouldn’t want chalk dust floating around food prep anyways. I think it’ll end up looking really nice! It’ll be nice and bright. I really like your cabinets too.

Right now it looks fine to me but the counter top and floor do not touch. Will it bother you where the waterfall touches the warmer floor?

Everything looks fantastic. Only thing I'd change is replacing the chalkboard paint with backsplash.

I agree that the black chalkboard wall was too dark, and dusty. Without it, the white of the counter looks fine to me. That said, I love having a chalkboard in my kitchen, but mine is a relatively small, thin slab of green slate so it doesn’t stand out or have a huge impact in the overall feel of the room. (It’s also a very different style of kitchen).

I wouldn’t recommend having a chalkboard over a counter both for hygiene reasons and because as a teacher, I know how hard it is to write on a board (white board, chalk board, smart board) if you have to lean over something to reach it.

I’m voting with the group. The black chalkboard is not working. Your lighting may also be correct, but wait till you change out that black blob in the middle of your charming white and wood kitchen. I can’t imagine what else you should consider because that’s all my eyes see. I would photoshop it for you if I could, so maybe someone who knows how to can start offering other visual options. And yes, pray that Beth chimes in. She probably can give great ideas even with that black monster.

emmarene9 I agree with you on the floor and counter-top colors don't work and that is what I was worried about. The island came in and it is huge and it is white with gray and it is gorgeous. Your eyes are drawn to it. The floor is a pain as I just got samples and it just doesn't fit but it's an OK thing. The island somehow is commanding the attention so you just pass the off colored floor as a "Well that's not totally right but look at that island!" I fell in love with the color of the stone and will have to find that special back-plash that hopefully makes me forget about the floor. Zermatt (countertop) is heavenly!!!! I will post an updated photo when all is done.

Hi RedRyder, Once the island came in its full glory that blackboard looked silly. Now I'm searching for the perfect back-splash and starting to relax as I've come to LOVE the stone. I was terrified that it was too white as I was so used to my old slabs which were Shiva Gold. For this island, I would flip the floor, cabinets, everything. It is so pretty.

Ephma , You are so funny! I did mention biology lab and loved your comment :D I thought it was funny that you agreed with me and yes it did look like a lab until the island came in and wow, nice. The island makes the blackboard silly so I have to find something fun to pull it all together. Thank you.

You could try changing your light bulbs to a whiter light....different bulbs give off different colored light.

The type is under-cabinet lighting you have can affect how white the counter looks.

A chalk board can be fun and add a bit of wimsy in a kitchen but not as backsplash it makes no sense there. As for the floor I think it works with what you ha I would not have done that trim piece

If you want the chalkboard keep it- get what you want not what is expected!