I think you should just repeat the charcoal on the lowers. There is a Maria Killam article about deemphasizing an earthy granite by painting the cabinets a deep charcoal. It’s worth looking up.

Your inspiration photos success relies on the counter color. With your counter it won’t be the same.

Two houses with very similar kitchens in our neighborhood.

Not sure if its the shelving change that made it feel cheaper despite a redone kitchen or the style issues - e.g., in the first photo - the carpet, lack of curved/popped out windows, etc. and in the second photo - uneven height, odd space between tile, etc.

Nonetheless - now starting to rethink and may want to knock out those cabinets and do some nice open shelves... and then add a light/recycled glass pendant over sink.

@thinkdesignlive - Perhaps you missed my note; we will be getting new counter tops - light white/gray/neutral marble look. And the Plummet reads more like a gray/blue than charcoal.

Congrats on the impending arrivals! With that in mind you might want to consider keeping cabinets versus open shelving. You will most likely need more storage not less for your kitchen. Removing cabinets for open shelving also means you need everything to always be straight, neat and dusted (I’m not a fan of glass front cabinets for that reason).

Painting cabinets and changing hardware will immediately make a big difference. I just redid my kitchen and though my appliances are steel I did honey bronze hardware. You can mix metals.

Also consider bringing the quartz counter up as your backsplash as well. It will lighten the kitchen too. Good luck!!

I think the charcoal color as your lower cabinets will fit the rest of the design. I agree with almat that closed cabinets are safer with little ones AND provide more storage. Using the same product for the countertop and backsplash always gives a clean look. Refacing is not as cheap as painting what you have, but will modernize the room with a different door style.

Thanks! Yes - will definitely price out having the counter top run up the backsplash as well. We have a 16 month old now, adding a new one in March, so we already have at least a decent amount of baby stuff, and we do have that buffet and another large display cabinet in our formal dining room that I've artfully filled with all of our white serving ware.

Anyway - my husband is all for keeping the uppers so probably will just keep them to avoid any i told ya so moments. :)

Ok sorry I missed that - then definitely wait until the counters are in and then post a few shots with paint samples up against the new counters....really best way to do it.

Thanks! Would’ve never thought to do counters first but since counter color will likely go with many colors; definitely going to try that.