I vote walnut with the same counters that you have everywhere else.

I agree with Rebekah, Walnut and same counters as everywhere else. The general "rule"/ suggestion that designers go with is either 2 cabinet colours or 2 counter colours, not both.

Again this is a general rule but people have done 2 and 2 and managed to make it look amazing.

@User I do like peninsulas but there is no place for one in this kitchen. We have 49" from the sink wall to the island and 41" on the other two sides. We aren't big people so I think we will have plenty of room to move around it.

Make sure you are measuring from the edge of the countertop to the handle of the fridge - that width is much less than cabinet to cabinet.

I can't figure how you don't have room for a peninsula? I would take up much less space than the island you show, and would be more useful. Not every kitchen needs an island. How long have you been using this kitchen? Do you find that you are really short on counter space, which is why you want the island? It looks to me like you have lots of counter and storage space already.

walnut & same counters

Everything the same. I know highfalutin designers like to mix stuff up, but it always looks to me like you couldn’t afford, or couldn’t find, things to match.

I agree, I like the walnut. I do absolutely love that dark green, can you send me the color info? ~Rachel

www.homesweethomestore.com

I’d do a walnut island and same countertops as elsewhere. If you do a different countertop you will have three different countertop-cabinetry combinations no matter what you choose for the island cabinet finish. In my opinion, that would look like a kitchen cabinet store display showing a variety of choices!

You do have a beautiful kitchen :)

You have some really interesting colors going on so now no more use the same walnut as the other cabients and all the same counters everywhere FYI I think an island is going to impede function unlees you make it moveable and you need a hood for the range for sure.

walnut with same counter as elsewhere, but I agree it may be tight on fridge side from handle to edge of counter. You have so much counter space in my eyes! Looks great

Walnut, same counters. Beautiful job on your kitchen!

Agree with walnut but would seriously consider a movable/freestanding island piece in a walnut tone.

@AnnKH It is not that we wouldn't have room for a peninsula with the square footage that we have, it is that we did not design the kitchen to have a peninsula and to go back and add one know is not something that we are going to do. It would be re-configuring the entire kitchen & starting over, so that is a no go! We have been working on this for about 18 months. We have tons of counter space (double our old kitchen) but will use the island to house the microwave and as a prep station and for extra storage. We have a teeny, tiny pantry (think 100 year old house tiny) and I cook every day and use lots of small appliances that need a place to live. You are correct about the fridge handle - when I measured that, I will have to take 2.5" off the walkway space on that side. I will probably move the island towards the range about 1" to help accommodate that - thanks for the tip!

@Madcam Enterprises Thanks! We are very happy with the color. It is Sherwin Williams Roycroft Bottle Green from their historic house selection.

Well I am going to be different and say I think the island should be green like the kitchen, with the same countertops as the kitchen and coffee area. The coffee area seems off on it's own, could be a cookbook, office, bar, while the island fits right into the kitchen area. I vote wholeheartedly with the beautiful green!

I would say it could be walnut if you were going to paint the coffee area the same green as the kitchen, but I don't think that was your plan.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting I did consider a movable island but I really want the microwave off the counter so we are tucking it in the island facing the sink wall. I too was not sure if an island would work in the space which is why I did not order it when I ordered the rest of my cabinetry. I needed to live in the space for a while to see. From my current prep space next to the refrigerator, it is 10 feet to my range. That may not seem like a long distance but it is bunches of steps back and forth. Using the island as prep space will get me much closer to where the cooking takes place.

Range hood is on the list for the weekend. :-)

Thanks for all of the feedback! I think that walnut with the same counter tops seems to be the general consensus and that makes sense to me. It is hard to decide and when you spend all day looking at your own space sometimes you lose perspective and I appreciate each of your comments.

I am attaching some photos of my old kitchen and day 1 of demo. Lots of work completed by my favorite handyman (husband) in the past 18 months. 11 of those months were spent cooking in my bathroom so I am beyond happy to have a kitchen!

Kitchen 2020 · More Info

Kitchen 2020 · More Info

Kitchen 2020 · More Info

Kitchen 2020 · More Info

Kitchen 2020 · More Info

How about another opinion? :) I agree, it's "in" the kitchen more, so go green and how about a walnut top? That pulls both cabinet selections together, but it does make the island stand apart as the counter would be different. Can you do screen shots of different ideas and pop them into your photo? That might help you decide the look.

Your kitchen is beautiful. I love the green! I actually would vote for green (with same countertop) since the island is in that space and the walnut seems like “another space”. I hope you absolutely can open the fridge door since you need a stationery island to hold the m/w, etc. Your husband did a great job!

Wasn't it your husband who wanted green with wood top? My feeling is if the island is walnut it looks like you divided your kitchen in two because you couldn't decide which you liked better. The suggestion of green with wood (walnut) I think is brilliant compromise. Hubby will be pleased his choice was chosen, too.

@ladymojo I think that could look very nice but I am hesitant to go with a wooden countertop as this will be heavily used for prep. If it was more for seating and gathering, I think that would actually be a great fit. We went with walnut on the coffee bar so that it would look more like a piece of furniture versus standard cabinetry. It is a nod to the style of our house - craftsman - and a transition from our dining room which has traditional craftsman details. There will definitely not be any painting of the walnut. It is actual walnut, not a walnut stain.

*Ignore the pile of tools in the corner - work still in progress!

Kitchen 2020 · More Info

Kitchen 2020 · More Info

@Keepthefaith MIGirl Great suggestion about taking some screen shots and putting them in my photo. Thanks!

What a project! Simply gorgeous. Look forward to seeing the final results.

I think you can’t go wrong with either choice and it will be beautiful!!!

I don't have an opinion, just wanted to say I love what you've done!

I love you kitchen! I have a boos walnut butcher block prep table where I do all prep and even cut on it is in great shape after years of use with just a little maintance. Every few months I scrub it with a blue scouring sponge and oil it. I would not be afraid of a walnut butcher block used prep area. This is ten years of use and I have not oiled it since early June.

@roarah That is beautiful and I do like the look of butcherblock! The microwave is a big hang up for me. I spent 15 years looking at my microwave over my range and I just don't want to see it anymore!!! It has to be hidden away yet convenient. We don't cook in it but reheat lots of things and use it daily so it needs to be close to the refrigerator.

You have done such a beautiful job! Really love your choices thus far. Trust your instincts or your husband if you have decision fatigue😊. What a wonderful kitchen!

I love your kitchen, especially the green cabs; and if I were to do an ‘island’, I would look for one of the old kitchen work tables that poster Angela suggested above to give some elegant patina contrast. We had mahogany counters in another home and we had no problem keeping them looking good—and my kids were careless and messy, lol, and OK, so am I.

I vote green island. What a beautiful kitchen!

Not your green but I think this would bring it all together

Where exactly will the microwave plug in if it is in the island?

@vinmarks Electrical in the island. You put a plug in the back of the space used for the island and plug that bad boy in.

If it were mine, I'd put that counter height table from the other room were you're thinking about an island and enjoy my breakfast there. Then you can hsve it do double duty as an island when prepping. It's a beautiful kitchen!

I would go with a walnut top for the island. My sister has walnut counters and they are gorgeous. You and your hubby have done an amazing job!

Leah - I’m with you on NOT wanting to see the microwave! Mine is also hidden in our island because, like you, it’s just for reheating. You might want to place it at the end so no one interferes with the cook.

I like to have at least 48” between counter edges and fridge (or island and fridge) to allow two people to move around comfortably. Match the island to the kitchen cabinets. I would have a walnut or oak butcherblock top on the island,
and I would wipe it every week or two with a bit edible mineral oil to bring out the color. I do not cut directly on my
butcherblock..I use plastic cutting sheets and replace them when necessary.

Hi Leah, Have butcher block counter surrounding my island stove, used for prep, washing, serving, etc. Was oiled many times in the early days, it stands up to water, wine, tomato, just fine, I chop on a cutting board, but other than that. Too much fear about wood IMHO