IMO the cranberry cabinets would be what I would address I think they drive all the choices and before choosing any colors make sure your lighting is good I like LEDs in 4000K for kitchens for sure.The backsplash and wall paint are the last items to choose.

I think the lighter counters are great; a simple white subway tile backsplash 3x6 is classic but look at 4x16 for a less busy look. Paint all the walls one color a white from the countertop. A simpler window treatment. Is the floor color in the bottom picture in other rooms in your home? To me all floors should be the same color

Thanks to both of you. Yes, floor color will also be in upstairs hall and master bedroom (replacing carpet). So will be consistent. Kitchen pictures show a little darker and narrower than it actually is, but you are right, lighting could be improved. Will get new bulbs. Lights a on dimmer, so shouldn’t be an issue. Also, There is a screened porch off the kitchen, so that can impact lighting.

The whole project originated from wanting to replace 15 year old carpet, so new granite was just a bonus. Cabinets are in very good condition and will need to stay due to budget. Could possibly be painted in the future.

I was concerned about floor color with cabinets, but I really wanted some change and actually like the slightly darker shade better. I was thinking I would get a contrasting rug for under table.

Rug and curtains are going. Will need to find something different.

Thanks fro commendation on backsplash. I was thinking I need to get that afte placing order, but I guess I will just need to wait till install is complete.

Thanks again!

I LOVE a crisp white counter with reddish cabinets. As in SUPER DUPER white. Your choice is 'nice' but has too much taupe in it. Taupe (ie. gunstock wood) will clash HEAVILY with your red cabinets. The clash will be SOOOOO BAD (how bad would it be SJ?), it will be so bad you will spend THOUSANDS of dollars more just to try to fix the issue...and yet you won't achieve it because the biggest issue is the taupe + cranberry red.

So which way to go? Red and BLUE love each other. A bright white counter top (crisp white means more BLUE than brown) that has some BLUISH tones in the flex will REALLY look good with the cabinets.

Once the counter tops and the backsplash are installed you can then live with it for a few weeks/months. Get your lighting up and running properly. Get your wall colour updated.

Now you go ahead and bring in a wood flooring professional to drop down some colour swatches on your hardwood IN THE KITCHEN to ensure you are picking the right TONES.

You have a RED wood kitchen. A taupe brown (taupe brown = gray brown = wrong tones for red/cranberry coloured anything) wood floor is going to make you go crazy with the colour clash.

If you are CERTAIN you will paint out your cabinets at another time (like 2 years from now) then make a FULL story board for your FINAL look. Do NOT do this piece-meal until you have a FINAL destination in mind.

Once you have the FINAL look of your kitchen figured out, THEN you work project-by-project to make it a finished product. Don't 'guess'. You will spend double at the end because you will realize half way through you messed up along the way.

If you LOVE your cabinet colour and DESPERATELY want to KEEP the cranberry, then plan around that. If you don't care, then PLAN for the future look and work towards it.

Right now, with the cranberry cabinets 'staying' I would suggest a crisp white counter top (no taupe/brown) and get the new backsplash (white again) and the new lighting and the new wall colours in place. Now you choose the PERFECT floor colour to MATCH your PERFECT CRANBERRY cupboards.

Then the kitchen will be left alone for another 15 - 25 years.

This is my wood kitchens idea book with both new and older, refreshed kitchens. Be sure to pay attention to the wood tone of your cabinets when looking for ideas.

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

Wait until the counters are in before deciding on a backsplash because seeing the big picture can make a difference. If you go with a more patterned counter, keep the backsplash simple. Most of the kitchens in my idea book have simple subway tile - it just looks good with most wood cabinets.

I did a similar refresh. If you have not got under cabinet lighting - at least between the window and range - consider it. It was the most functional change I made and also brightened up my kitchen. Also consider changing the over the range microwave to a hood, especially if you have room for a countertop microwave next to the fridge. A stainless vent hood will look prettier and work better and open up that space a bit. If you don't change the microwave, but may in the future, reserve enough backsplash tile to fill in the space, or take the micro down, tile and then put it back up.

I have natural hardwood on my main level and slightly darker upstairs. Even just being a bit darker, the upstairs floor shows more dust and scratches. I know you would like a change, but the natural is very flexible style wise and a timeless look:)

Thank you everyone for the detailed comments / suggestions. and I apologize for the late response. The information and pictures are very helpful.

I should start by saying I am someone who is always behind the trends, etc. that doesn’t mean I don’t try to be up to date, it just seems that I am never quite there. Lol.

SJ McCarthy - very good observations on the granite. My SO really likes that granite very much. We did look at quartz, white granite, etc and he just didn’t like it. This was actually the compromise to bring in a lighter, brighter granite. That could be an uphill battle.

The flooring color is wide open though. We picked this color (gunstock) more as a neutral. We had the “natural” color and while I liked it when it was new, I would like change. But, the color I posted is open to change.

JHMarie - thank you for your idea book. I think pat of my move away from natural is that over time, it seemed to yellow. Maybe the on site finish would be different. But, we are open to flooring selection. That color seemed like the next choice up from natural. Since there is a delay due to the virus, the floor Co. Is going to provide a few samples for us to look at.

Beth - those pictures are very helpful and I agree that the cranberry cabinet color is not easy to find in photos. I think you really nailed what we are going for in the 4th picture you posted. In reality, we lean towards traditional (darker woods, etc). If our kitchen resembled that kitchen, we would be pleased.

Sadly, the cranberry cabinets seemed like such a good choice 15 years ago, but I realize styles change in 15 years. I do think getting rid of the Baltic Brown will be an improvement no matter what.

A number of people mentioned lighting and I will address that. You are 100% correct that lighting is dim. We have 4 recessed lights and some under the counter lighting. But the bulbs in the recessed lights need to be improved. The light bulbs over the island also are not great. Will put that on list during project.

I agree on recommendations of clean, simple white subway backsplash. Actually looking forward to that change.

I guess my main question (i know it took a while to get there) is could that granite work with those cabinets and a different floor color? If so, what color would you recommend. The floors are being sanded and refinished. We worked in price for a custom color, so that is flexible.

Thank you again for the valuable input and advice.

I think what we are telling you is to pick a diff countertop. To answer your question, between the cabs and that countertop you want, the floor color will be very difficult to work w/both.

I mean, it's ok, but its really not much diff from what you currently have. once the whole thing is installed, those taupe tones are going to take over.

Either paint the cabs and use that stone,, or get a new countertop and keep the cabs as is.

check out River White Granite (aka Kashmir White) it has bits of burgundy dots in the stone. very white and very pretty w/red. As you can see here:

even the floors here are more of a natural hue w/the red. they work nicely.

Thank you so much. You’ve given me a lot to think about!!