Is the backsplash changing? What is your inspiration? I would use honed absolute black everywhere or absolute Black on the perimeter and wood on the island to tie into the uppers.

We'll keep the travertine backsplash. That sounds like a good combination! My only concern with wood countertops is they can scratch over time and we do heavy duty cooking.

That stone is so perfect with your cabinet colors that I can't imagine anything else being half as nice. I guess you need to take a couple of doors with you to a stone yard and poke around -- there are so many variations, that no name or other general suggestion is going to help as much as looking at specific slabs or at least samples.

Do be aware that you may not be able to save the backsplash if you pull up the counters - if you're attached to the design over the stove, that might factor into your decision.

I agree that your current stone is a very good fit for your cabinetry and backsplash

We love it too but thinking it's time for a change to brighten up the kitchen, not to mention the new sink and that there are chips in it despite previous owner filling them in.

We had installed the backsplash a few years ago. No under the cabinet lighting. Maybe brighten up isn't the right word.. maybe freshen up with a new look for the countertops

I'd keep the granite and spend the money on painting the lower cabinets a nice fresh white. It looks dingy because that glazing is dingy. and dated.

have the cabs professionally painted (i'd paint all of them, but that's me) and you'll be amazed.

any of these whites will work

Then switch up the hardware. Under cabinet lighting and a lighter runner

Your granite will look brand new if you do the other things.

if you switch out the granite to something lighter and whiter, its going to really make the lowers look dingy and dirty. and if you get the solid black or charcoal, then you're really not brightening up anything.

again, your granite isn't the issue here.

want to see mine?

I had all the dated rope trim and fluted trim removed while they painted.

You have rustic cabinetry of two different colors, and a detailed backsplash that you want to keep. There’s only so much freshening up you can do and have it work together. Maybe just have the stone near the sink retrofitted for the new sink.

Thank you all. Beth, your kitchen looks amazing! Your advice is appreciated and we have contemplated painting the lower cabinets. Not sure whether to paint them solid or do a new glaze.

If you're going to glaze don't bother. Glazing went out in the 90's.

zdr, glazing is out. Look at kitchens in the last few years. do you see any w/glazed cabinets? No. If you lived in a shabby chic cabin or an old french chateau, then maybe the glazing would work. The look was big back in the early 2000's. Times have changed.

Just do the paint. if you like the two tone, keep the tops as is and paint the bottoms. You could always have the top done afterward if you like how the lowers look.

Do what I did and have all the fluted/rope trim removed.

Or, if you like the two tone, pick two different colors. or paint the island in one of those dark colors I posted w/the granite picture, and paint your other cabinets a solid white.

something like this, but w/the Iron Ore or Wrought Iron color. (I did the latter)

Didn't realize glazing went out that long ago. I'm starting to like the idea of dark painted cabinet/island and top white cabinets If I do that and change the countertop to a white granite with veins, should I leave the travertine backsplash as is? Or will it clash with the paint combo? Or just redo the design above the stove? Thanks so much for your inspiration and time!

White counters are a pita. You see every crumb and water droplet.

I like the honed black idea. Another idea- Check out Cambria Windermere. It has the right colors, is brighter than what you have, and has movement in the veining (which serves to hide crumbs and water droplets.). It has a copper veining that will look great with both your upper and lower cabinets and your backsplash.

The travertine backsplash is also dated as is the pattern behind the cooktop.

IME nothing shows crumbs worse than honed black granite. I have one friend with it and it’s her greatest regret in an otherwise lovely kitchen. OP, if you’re replacing the counter and redoing cabinets, that backsplash needs to change as well.

Cambria windermere looks good. Can't believe the travertine backsplash is outdated too! We just had that installed a few years ago to go with the existing countertops. What if I change just the design above the stove and leave the rest of the backsplash? Any ideas what to put above stove?

Are you leaving/re-doing the lowers white? I'm having trouble seeing past the light on the bottom, dark on the top, to my eye it looks top-heavy and quite unbalanced. Maybe re-do the lowers in a darker color? Or paint the top cabinets light too.

You don't need to remove your countertops to retrofit an apron front sink, however, with the apparent swoop in your sink cutout, you're going to have to have an apron front with a faucet deck which means a custom built sink:

I can hook you up. Since Houzz doesn't mind spamming me every single time I change threads, I don't mind spamming them.

Mxk3, thinking the lower cabinets and island to be dark and the top to be white, and use cambria windermere or something similar? Maybe keep the travertine backsplash as it will go with the cambria windermere. Not sure yet about backsplash.

Joseph, that was my initial plan to retrofit with a custom sink that had a faucet deck, though I'd need a 33 to 36" wide sink to cover the front drawer panel hole. I'm sure the custom sink would be significantly more than a prefab retrofit sink so I may just put that difference into new countertops.

The base cabinets are the only "off" note to me. The wall cabinets, the granite, and even the travertine tile are independently pretty and work well together. Painting your base cabinets to dark charcoal or black might give a dramatic refresh, balance out the top-heavy feeling, and cost less than a full makeover so you could order the custom sink.