What color are your walls? Adjoining spaces? I would choose a fairly light quartz. Do you want a plainer countertop or one with lots of movement? What other elements are in the room? Whatever you choose, lose the 4” backsplash and either take the quartz up to the bottom of the cabinets or choose a full tile backsplash. Decide which element of your kitchen you want to ne the ”star.”

Are the cabinets good enough quality to keep them, but replace everything else around them?

I would want to replace the cabinets too, because I would want all my lowers to be drawers.

You can do a photo search on Houzz. Search bar is at the top, middle of the page.

Type in "stained cabinets" and then select "stained cabinets in Photos"

Should give you lots of photos to look at.

I was able to find quite a few kitchens that look like mine with dark cabinets and light flooring, as we were considering Cambria Windermere countertops. You really have to use the filters.

'Cambria' 'Cabinets: dark wood' 'Floorimg color: light wood' and go from there.

From what I'm gleaning most people wouldn't choose our countertop because it's too busy, and they have heartburn about quartz anyway, but this is our kitchen.

I'd do Mont Fantasy, AND paint the cupboards. : ) To almost anything ......... But Espresso.

Fantasy is one of the most realistic feeling quartz as it contains a bit of warm beige/ VERY subtle veining. I just used it again in a new build with deep green cabinetry and white oak. Gorgeous. As non faux as you will find.

I like your cabinet color. I like pale grey's with chocolate. Your choice though. Mont Fantasy looks just right. Will you use it as a backsplash too? Pale grey wall paint too? Area rug with pale blue to cover the yellow floor? Thoughts…

IMO espresso cabinets were in most cases not good quality to start. The lower cabinets should all be drawers and so for me spending huge $$$$ on a new counter on those cabinets would be foolish.I need to see the flooring choice for sure and if that is real stone on there now IMO quartz is a step down Are you selling ?

How about quartz canvas by cambria.

@Connie Stackhouse Yes planning to go with a lighter quartz (white or cream). Paint will the same as the walls in the pic.

@CHISPA Thanks will try the search terms. Yes my bottom cabinets all have pull out drawers (on both sides). Upper cabinets - the microwave-cabinet combo will be gone, replacing with chimney vent,42" or 36" (have a 36" cooktop). Having difficult time finding 42" vent with right depth. Cabinets on either side will be replaced with smaller sized cabinets.

@Jen K (7b, 8a) I love your floors, are those hardwood? Do you remember which brand/name? They go well with your windermere counters. Yes, at first I also though it looked busy from the samples on the website, but they match your cabinets and look very nice in your kitchen. Will try the search terms you suggested.

@K L May use for backsplash, was thinking of doing a plain countertop (no or minimal veining) and trying to match that color with the oakleigh as a backsplash, just a thought, not set in stone.

Thanks!

@Norwood Architects I couldnt fine the canvas by cambria, maybe its discontinued.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting Flooring would be similar to the one below

@shabbu it's an LVP. Armstrong Empower Scandia Midsummer Sun. We're hard on houses so materials have to be a more durable than hardwoods and granite. We've had both and things look worn out pretty fast.

I love my Cambria because it's something I wouldn't have chosen but I tried something different with this house. I enjoy it gazing down and looking at it.

I know you want wood floors, and it's exciting to go from vinyl to real wood. Can I ask you to skip a beat and take a look at wood finishes that are less yellow/golden/orange and look at finishes that are more greyed or reddish next to your espresso cabinets? Or even better, consider stone or stone-look porcelain tile flooring with radiant heating underneath. If you still want to go with the casual look of lighter floors and dark espresso cabinets, that's your business. I only mention it because you seem to be taking the safe route of light wood floors and quartz countertops, although those work better with white cabinets. I just want to make sure someone points out that your espresso cabinets offer the potential for a much more elegant look.

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infuse warmer metals and a different /textural backsplash and maybe paint the island ..... Here are dark surfaces that get details along side w metals and some white elements.... full flooring and counter projects that you propose seem rather drastic . work on island and the smaller details. thats what I would do and save the money.

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Thank you for the ideas. I will be adding brass pulls to all cabinets (not too gold, but a dull matte finish). Will look into floors with a greyish tinge, see how they look. I did like this one.

Countertop expense I am ok with, its the floors which are double the price and turning out to be really expensive. Still collecting quotes. Backsplash I will decide last.

Shabbu, have you been searching the Houzz photos for kitchens with espresso cabinets. Sometimes so much attention is given to other parts of the kitchen, and I miss the floors. I encourage you to check them out and see which floors give the overall look you are after, whatever that is. :-)

Ahhhhhhhhh......... By the pictures, that looks nice! Can you snap a sample next to your cabinets? What are the brand, wood, stain? I might like that too!

The wood is solid hardwood, Somerset american character bare, wirebrushed, white oak.

Is this hickory? We are down to the line and almost settled on a natural hickory with our expresso cabinets. Yours looks great. Did it change color over time?