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meiraperl

How do you feel about cream upper cabinets and dark wood lower cabinet

6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

I love the richness of dark wood, but I am afraid that doing my entire kitchen in dark will close it in too much. What do you think about cream upper and dark wood lower cabinets? I don't want to do anything that will be too out there

Comments (25)

  • 6 years ago

    Thank you

  • 6 years ago

    Do you have any pics with dark countertops?

  • 6 years ago

    Some really dislike this look, but I have always liked it. We have black stained lowers and white uppers. Our counters are dark, but not black. If you google two tone kitchens or tuxedo kitchens you will find more pics. Here is one with a darker counter.

  • 6 years ago

    Thanks!

  • 6 years ago

    I'm just curious if this is a trend that will go away in a few years. Thoughts?

  • 6 years ago

    We have had ours for 14 years and ever since then people have been saying it is a trend. However, what I notice is that it has had staying power and changes with the trends. For example, I first saw it in traditional kitchens or farmhouse type kitchens as an unfitted look. Now I see beautiful examples in very modern kitchens with slab front high gloss finishes. I like the way the darker colour grounds the lowers while the light uppers open up the space. It does take good planning to make it work.

  • 6 years ago

    I prefer all the same color. But many people will disagree. Yes I think it will date kitchens to certain dates, we just don't know how long that will be yet. Do what you love!

  • 6 years ago

    Thanks everyone! I think I am going to go with it. Haven't decided on flooring but this is the upper cabinet/backsplash /lower cabinet

  • 6 years ago

    That’s a beautiful combo!

    Last Fall we installed quartersewn oak lowers and white uppers. I meant for the uppers to be a softer white/cream than they ended up being (I just chose the wrong color), but I love the outcome anyway and would 100% do it again in another house.

  • 6 years ago

    You might at least consider that tan in your backsplash and countertop for your uppers rather than stark white or were you going with solid black countertops and just using the marble as backsplash?

  • 6 years ago

    Following

  • 6 years ago

    we are going to use ubatuba countertops , similar to my current one , since we added an island with ubatuba . I looked at a more tan/ cream upper cabinet, but the company that makes the cabinets doesnt have a more tan option that is not too dark. I think we need to stick with the same door top and bottom even though that is more limiting with the color, I need to match the dark with my existing island. Thanks so much for the input! I appreciate it ! any thoughts about pain colors for my walls with this color scheme?

  • 6 years ago

    that tile in the picture is just a backsplash tile- I

    am doing 24x48 long tiles with minimal grout for the backsplash

  • 6 years ago

    I like it. Those photos above are not really dark lowers. You need light to pull this off (ceiling, ambient, walls, flooring).

  • 6 years ago

    thanks - I am not sure what you are saying . The dark door in the picture (sitting on the counter ) will be the lower counters , the off white the uppers , the tile will be the backsplash and the counters with actually be almost the same as the current counter top in the picture

  • 6 years ago

    @Michelle Perl, 4x4 stone floor tiles ("the tile will be the backsplash")?


    I like the upper/lower colors, but that countertop looks muddy. I think something whiter and crisper would complement the uppers better.

    I'm a bit challenged on flooring. Hardwood in kitchen is pretty "in" now, but it depends on the overall house style.

    In general brighter is better. I ever recall seeing anybody state they wish their kitchen was darker.

  • 6 years ago

    I have a large island / table that is uba tuba granite that I need to match up. If anybody has a suggestion of a granite that will coordinate with that given the other things in my design I would appreciate any input. the kitchen guy that I'm working with did not think it would be smart to do a different countertop since it would be hard to match it up and away that wouldn't look too busy since the ubatuba granite is pretty busy

  • 6 years ago

    While you're at it, do as many drawers as possible in the lowers. Here's why.


  • 6 years ago

    Thanks. That is my plan. I have done a few kitchens already and have found that to be the best options for storage

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I dislike different colored upper & lowers, to the point that I would not buy a home with an upper/ lower two tone kitchen. I'm OK with an island being different but don't esp. love that look either. Comes across as being a two phase remodel where one line of cabinets got discontinued & the HO could not match them up.


    Other thing to consider is that co-ordinating the other elements--floors, counters, backsplashes gets more difficult because you have added one more major ingredient to the stew.

  • 6 years ago

    Are there any pros who can weigh in on this?

  • 6 years ago

    We have a small galley kitchen. Eleven years ago we installed quartersawn oak cabinets, the lowers stained chestnut and the uppers stained sand - an off white. I still love it and left the cabinet scheme when we had to refresh some elements about four years ago.

    I agree that you should use ubatuba on both perimeter and island.

    At first I wondered if your backsplash tile was too muddy and 'fancy' for lack of a better word but with your ubatuba, I liked it better the longer I looked at the combination. You get so many opinions - including mine!

    Have you talked to a tiler about the backsplash installation - they'll require a skilled installer I would think.


  • 6 years ago

    Thank you. Can you post pics of your kitchen please?

  • 4 years ago

    Here is the finished look