If you look on Houzz for cherry colored kitchens with whit countertops, you will get a good idea of what your kitchen can look like.

You might want to try new LED bulbs for increased light - whatever you do with the other elements. Your kitchen looks in great shape - and keeping your spouse from getting super angry is also important.

I really think you need to change the wall color. It appears yellowy on my screen. It makes the room look drab.

I would do that before tearing out the counters.

Jane

Thanks @jane__ny- good point amd easy to do!!

Your kitchen cabinets are gorgeous! It's obviously your kitchen and you can do whatever you want, but I'd keep the cabinets and consider replacing the countertop and backsplash to something white or another light neutral color.

If you want to "lighten up" the kitchen, consider 3500-4000K LEDs instead.

Change all the bulbs to LED 4000K then see whay you need to lighten up the space

This is a kitchen where a light creamy slab of Taj Mahal would be perfect! Avoid the ones that are too gray. Then do a zellige inspired simple backsplash. Something in a light ivory to cream, that has some character of size and color variation. Daltile’s Farrier line in Cremello really is not that white. It’s a warm light cream. https://www.daltile.com/products/wall/farrier/cremello

Gosh that’s a great space with all those windows - if it were me, i would change the backsplash and get nice simple ivory tile in there + paint the walls a warm white like maybe SW Greek White and then add a few fabulous vintage rugs -our eyes have gotten used to kitchens that resemble white operating rooms but there are so many other styles to embrace!

Taj as the counters and as a slab for the backsplash. Nuage is another quartzite variety to look at. Nuage Quartzite? like it? (houzz.com) 3500k leds are less blue than 4000k. Test what works for you.

Such pretty cherry wood, and while whiter counters are nice your counters are pleasant enough. Low cost action I would take: (1) change to the bright light bulbs and (2) get some white or light colored paper and cover up your backsplash. Step back and see if that "lightens" up your kitchen.

Then, you'll have a better idea how to proceed, and (hopefully) get your husband on board with the project.

I think @nickel_kg has a terrific idea. Using paper to help you envision just a new white backsplash will definitely help.

Does the hood have lighting? It seems like if the backsplash were lit, it would appear as light as the countertop with the second sink.

I love the glass door and window on either side of range!

Thanks for all the ’high end’ and ’low cost’ options you all!!

The paper on the backsplash is def a great idea.

Thanks @la_la Girl for some paint colors! I do believe I will paint the room in the next few.

Thanks for the light bulb specification @dan1888 and @Patricia Colwell Consulting! Ordering some of both to try our!

Your cabinets are beautiful, definitely don’t paint them! That would be such a travesty! But I would do a new backsplash, the dark backsplash looks like a black hole. I would paint the walls a creamy (not yellowish) white. Maybe add some more lighting. I don’t think the counters are really the problem, but a lighter counter does look nice with cherry.

I do think your hood is fine, you don’t need a new one. Do you have pendants over your island?

Hi @Alicia- yes, the lighter counters make the cabinets so much ’less heavy’!

There are pendants over one of the aides, a peninsula, I guess.

Beautiful cabinets change out backsplash and countertops paint walls a white maybe even the trim white…if you have an island that would be nice painted white…add lighting over island.

Beautiful kitchen. Paint the walls if you are looking for a change. You say you have under-cabinet lighting, but that was not turned on when you took your photos, correct?

🤗

Just to update… I changed the can lights to 3500 and the under caninets to 4K. Also did dond cleaning and polishing of the granite.

wdyt? Too cool now with the lighting? I may change the under cabinets to 3000 or 3500, I think.!

I have some white paint to try out on the walls too 🤞🏽🤞🏽

Question - will gold handles work on the cabinets even though everything else is brushed nickel/ stainless steel?

I like the hardware better!! Looking good.

Do you want to try more of an antique finish on the hardware. More brassy than gold…

I think a polished nickel would look beautiful..add a bit of shine/sparkle to the space.

I hadnt thought if polished nickel st all; everything else is more like brushed nickel, stainless steel. I will habe to bringsome sanples and check it out. Thanks @Home Interiors with Ease

I like your countertops. If budget is an issue You could find a tile to match the lightest shade in those counters for your backsplash. Then paint the walls white.

Here are a couple pendant ideas in polished nickel if you change out your peninsula lighting.

Make sure you look at Polished nickel not Chrome…polished nickel has a warmer tone Chrome has a cool sometimes bluish tone.

@Hellogardener- Isnt budget always a constraint lol? I could change the counters (willnot be for another 6 months atleast if I choose to go that way)

I definitely want to do the backsplash - but doing that now and counters a year from now would be stupid, right?

Thanks @HU-187528210- another direction that hadnt crossed my mind. i will pick something up to try. i would like it to be a bit more ’modern’ than antique.

Okay- one kore update. I got some sample white paint to try on a couple of walls. I need to watch and see if I like this or go a shade warmer.

wdyt?

I really like it..has just a slight hint of grey from what I see..looks great with the stainless and wood cabinets…what is your white trim color?

I think I would prefer matching the walls to the trim color. On my screen the second picture is pulling way too blue next to the trim and warm cabinets.

Agree with Jennifer Hogan. On my monitor, the second picture is a cold blue-gray white, which won't compliment your cabinets or your countertops.

@Home Interiors with Ease- the trim is currently something I dont know. My usual trim color is SW marshmallow which I intend to paint the base molding (unpainted now) and the trim etc.

Thanks @mcarroll16 and @Jennifer Hogan- Yes, it seems a bit cool to me too. I think this is Alabaster. I may try my marshmallow on the walls too on my next free day 😂

I realised i had my can of marshmallow from last time so I just haphazardly put it one side.

Pop quiz - can you tell which side? 🤣

Any

votes? or go even warmer?

Ha! No, on my monitor I really can't tell. The left side looks a touch brighter and cooler, but it also looks like it's just receiving more light on the surface. Looking at the less shadowed parts of the right side, that color seems pretty good.

Its really bizarre - usually marshmallow doesnt read blue at all. it could be that there is snow on the ground and its a very cloudy day… or the lights at 3500 are too cool.

Well, all of picture 2 looks warmer than picture 1. No part of your last picture looks blue or gray on my monitor. Left side just looks a bit brighter and cooler than the right side.

I can't, nor would I expect to be able to see a difference. The colors have a .8 delta and the human eye generally doesn't see a difference of less than 1 delta.

The thing that may be more noticeable in person is that Alabaster's undertone/hue is more green than Marshmallow, so where sometimes Alabaster can pick up a green tone Marshmallow is less likely to pick up green.

Luminosity, Chroma and Hue of each:

Luminosity: Marshmallow 92.6 / Alabaster 93 - virtually the same

Chroma: Marhsmallow 5.7 / Alabaster 5.6 - virtually the same

Hue: Marshmallow 93.47 / Alabaster 99.95 90 is yellow

The focal center of yellow is 87 and yellow green is 116. Low chroma yellows appear more green, so this is where Marshmallow may be a bit safer than Alabaster.

😳

Wow @Jennifer Hogan- thats some impressive technical info!! The right side as seen directly on the screen is alabaster. The marshmallow reads just a bit warmer IRL. I have it on the molding seen in the entry between the cabinets too.

Thanks you all for weighing in and the suggestions! Totally appreciate it. I have some new hardware coming next week and will hopefully finish painting by then to give an update!

If you’re ambivalent about “maybe changing” the countertops, you can remove the backsplash now and just paint the (repaired) wall in whatever white you choose for the walls. Just use a paint finish that can be wiped. Then you can choose a new backsplash and countertop at the same time.

(BTW - the two whites look the same on my monitor.)

Or you may like the painted backsplash enough to leave the countertops as they are. The goal is to ”lighten up the room”.

Thanks @RedRyder- yes, I have come to the conclusion that doing the backsplash while not loving the counters will be a bad idea.

Just to add data for anyone contemplating whites - IRL, the marahmallow has a mild creaminess compared to Alabaster which does have a tiny blue tint in this light.

Okay - more updates. the new hardware arrived. The gold by itself is nice but I am not sure if its too ’shiny’ relative to the appliances..?

The top also has ine new handle which is too dull for me lol.

You could take a scotch brite pad to one of the shiny ones, see if you can make it look a little less shiny.

I think it looks nice though

You really should try polished nickel..looks great mixed with stainless appliances.

@Home Interiors with Ease- ugh, it gas not been an easy hunt for polished nickel pulls with 5” and 7.5” spacing, leave alone the styles I want!

Oh, and a readonable price point ☹️

https://www.myknobs.com/pdp/mng856/mng856-2/mng-hardware-5-centers-pull-in-polished-nickel

https://www.cb2.com/6-mansion-polished-nickel-brass-handle/s660703

https://www.signaturehardware.com/avignon-solid-brass-cabinet-pull-with-backplate-antique-brass.html

All monitors are different, but on mine the brass handles in the large pantry doors look the best. I like the softer corners and the finish.