Posting some pics of hickory with dark or busy countertops

Agree with Beth and she has offered numerous cost effective, good design choices working with the status of the project as it is. Consider Beth’s wise suggestions.

I will try and paint the hickory. Thanks again

Get paint samples from samplize.com and check them out on your space. Check out SW Iron Ore, SW Indigo Batik, SW Naval, SW Cyberspace. These are great colors that can work to tie things together. Hope you know we want to help you get to a good end point. Look forward and explore these ideas. I know you want a great space and it’s doable. Have faith!

Let’s help the OP within the range of what is realistic for them at this stage of the game. I presume they will not want to paint expensive hickory

cabinets, nor will they replace the floor at this point. So let’s pretend this is not a new build but rather someone moving into a house with damaged countertops and that is all they are replacing and they want to know what can best tie together this floor, cabinets, and everything.

I say go for the grey silestone that Beth suggested. If you make the overhang deep enough and use stools, the hickory will not be as noticible. The grey is soft, the veining subtle, and it helps mediate the differences between the floor and cabinets.

BUT, your home is not finished being built. So I would ask for a price for refinishing the ceiling. It is something that is very obvious, even from a teeny picture I am viewing on my phone. You have a lot of other fine amd costly thimgs in your build and popcorn ceilings look about as cheap and dated as an orange shag rug.

It has Jackson Hole, Wy lodge potential if it is done right. The hickory gives it life. Please take note that the hickory is in the island, in other built-in across from the island and in the ceiling beams... and maybe elsewhere. You want her to paint them all?

The ceilings are new sadly. Not popcorn but knock down. Only thing I can do with those is paint. This was a renovation that began the beginning of Covid. I did go to cabinet place and they talked me into this island, my fault. No sample seen. The floor is covered in grout film as that was just done. I agree with a darker island. Hoping to gradually darken it so my husband doesn’t kill me too quickly. It’s black on the other side as we have a black desk going in front of it as an office in the Greatroom.

I posted this a ways back. The stools will hide sone of the hickory but not require painting it. I offered colors just to give you options. You might be able to stain them a bit darker too.

Exactly why I told her to listen to you because of that mock up. A little bit of Hickory is great in a farmhouse or lodge... don't paint it. It's not this.

the space is so large...the hickory is actually needed. get your counter narrowed down and think about your stools as part of the aesthetic.

smaller space and no fear of wood tones and texture :

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hickory island with different wood tone on floor...look how great the aadjacent black surface anchors the look.....

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Thank you Flo. Do black on all counters? And you suggest Matt ? There’s a black that has a rust vein in it would that be better?

That would work on countertop for island. I like shiny granite. And it’s easier to care for with range top on island. I would do simple white quartz on peripheral cabinets. Pick up the rust on leather for stools. Get proper support brackets for the island countertop so you can extend on stool side 14-16”. This overhang is especially important since your cooktop is planned for the island. Then your stools will help integrate hickory and flooring by distracting the eye. Try to be patient to get things right as you can. I am sure at this point you just “want to be done!!” Right? You are close now.

On lighting, I would consider sone cable style lighting since your lighting is quite limited as far as I can see. This type system will bring light lower to your work surfaces and create interesting look too.

This is picture of metal supports that you need on your island long widths to support 16” stone overlap for counter seating. Your cabinet people have to inlay these for you before stone templating.

Paul

You want her to paint them all?

no, not all. as stated, the hickory in small doses along the stone looks ok.

Although, if being honest, I might go over it w/a slightly darker stain color (like the shelves over this fireplace? I mean, what kind of wood is that and why wasnt that done on the molding?)

Hh Jj

I've listed a bunch of pictures and examples in this comment. stick with me here!

BTW, is this ceiling really popcorn or is it a heavy knock-down texture? looks like the latter to me)

This built-in. what are the plans for it?

Between the stone, the tile floor and that hickory, it's just a lot of tones and pattern movement.

It's possible to apply a stain or toner to the hickory. you may want to do that if you would rather not paint.

for visual examples, here's the rustic hickory like what you have

Here's the type of kitchen/colors that looks good w/that natural hickory.

Notice the stone in this pic has gray/blue unertones, not mushroom/taupe like you have

Also has a darker wood floors, a knotty pine ceiling ( which has the same yellow tones) and a granite that coordinates. None of these tones/colors would work well your flooring. Since your flooring is the MAIN large ticket item throughout the entire space, you must work with it.

This is THE hickory stain color you need on your island/wood trim/and built in. This is from Dura Supreme cabinets and it's called Morel (like the mushroom.)

https://www.durasupreme.com/finishes/morel-stain-on-hickory-or-rustic-hickory/

Maybe if you contacted them they could tell you what type of stain they used. worth a shot.

I found another stained hickory called Anchor from ProSource cabinets, you could check w/them as well.

I actually like how the stain looks w/your floor tiles ) and shown w/two diff quartz options.

https://www.prosourcewholesale.com/products/cabinets/homecrest/anchor_11810010254299_36303087 

This is what you should have bought for you island if you wanted hickory.

Or, play around w/some custom stain colors and see what you can do.

Just as an example, I found a hickory island w/tile wood-look floors similar to yours.

do you see the diff in the hickory color compared to yours? (this one isn't as yellow as what you have. even doing a slightly darker, more taupe colored stone would help a bit)

See the diff?

here's another darker stained hickory. I think if you could get yours close to this (the built-in too) It would look 100times better

did a photoshop so you could see how looks against the floor:

Now do you understand why that yellow doesn't work?

Another photoshop, but you see how the darker colors get rid of that yellow and make it blend better? This one isn't as dark as the one above, some of the yellow is still visible

darker stained, here?

BTW, this is the floor I would have chosen for your place ^

Are you doing any wood on the ceiling? beams? really nice chandelier?

You have those beautiful vaulted ceilings.

Look how nice the beams look on the vault next to the stone

You could run a single one down the middle towards the windows (you can just see it in this pic w/the stone wall:

Or do something like this w/the plank ceiling and the beams on either side of the vault.

So many diff ideas for that: Even if you just did white

Another thing, it might look cool to paint your trim a darker coordinating color and do the walls in a white. not the best pic, but all I could find showing the stone accent wall. you see the darker trim color around the window? it's a stained wood, but you could do paint

better show of how it looks

shot of the baseboard molding I'd use, along w/some colors that would work w/the floor/stone

I'd either stain or paint the island, 100%.

I'd paint out the black on the peninsula to match the white, 100%.

If the OP does not like island wood then I'd do a light stain to tone it down and to give it a gray haze. I don't mind the black cabinets... but I would do a waterfall counter there to separate the white from the black, defining them as two separate rooms.

Depending on what you do to the hickory (leave it alone, stain it another shade, paint it) you need to make that decision first. I agree that the countertop stone you found could be lovely, but I’m with Flo on this. Virginia Mist is a perfect countertop to pull together the floor, black appliances and the cabinets. I think the darker color will add some heft to the room. And it also feels more “country” to me.

Let us know if you think you can stain the wood slightly darker. Beth gave you some excellent stains for hickory. (Is that cabinet finished? If so, it’s not that simple to stain it. The finish has to be removed first.)

Minwax poly shades semi-transparent color varnish can go over finished wood. I did it one time… turning in an orange wood to a silvery gray.

May try this first. It’s a good idea I think.

Ok, so maybe tone it down after all. You can still get a Jackson Hole lodge feel.

Lol I liked the horse better lol

Love it !!!!!

Hh Jj. You now have a “therapy Horse!” You got this!

I know someone has made a good living renting their goat out to appear on zoom meetings. Paul, I think you could have a side hustle photoshopping horse's into people's home renderings. I'd like a brown one with a big blaze down the nose.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Paul F and Hh Jj!

Best thread I have read in a while!

Black Stallion for the countertops???

Wasn’t it Groveraxel who always put the bassett hound in her mockups? 🥰

@Jj I think @Beth H makes a really good case for staining the hickory darker instead of painting it. She points out that some contrast is needed. I agree that currently it's all just nuanced shades of pretty much the same lightness. Of course it's unfurnished so that could be part of it. Have you plans to add real color or will you have an all-neutral color scheme? If the later, it will really help to have contrast in light/dark to keep your space from looking blah.

And just to show you how beautiful hickory can be... This poster for this kitchen started with a countertop question too.

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@Jj I also like the suggestion others have made visually to match the perimeter cabinets with the wall color to make the cabinets and wall fade into each other.

I love that you were able to go without wall cabinets. That really makes the area special! Then the contrasting island will be your focal point, and hopefully the view through the windows. If you are able to go without an island completely and use a table instead it would be as if the kitchen were barely a kitchen at all visually and just living space. But not everyone likes that concept. The island rules for many. Another option in the "someday" department is the stone monolith look where the island counter just falls over all visible three sides and looks like sculpture. Looks better without stools though. So if that negates utility it won't be for you.

My main point is paint the walls and cabinets the same color. Stain the hickory darker and cooler like @Beth H showed. Don't waterfall over the perimeter base cabinet... That will ruin the disappearing act that is the whole point of light perimeter cabinets.

@Jj I like your original choice of counter material. It is pretty without drawing too much attention to itself from a distance. We've all seen multiple posts here where people go insane trying to match their "white" cabinets, counters and backsplash. Sometimes I read advice to get the right counter and cabinet whites and "think about the backsplash tomorrow , Scarlet." I disagree. I think getting it all selected beforehand is a better plan. Were you thinking of just making the backsplash a 4" extension of your counter to allow the window view to shine? Is that why you didn't mention the backsplash? Maybe I missed it. I like the 4" backsplash idea for your space under the windows.

@Paul F you can do better than that... flock of crows flying towards the window?

KL,

Yes the short backsplash is what I picture as well. There is no space for any backsplash due to the magnificent windows!

Soapstone actually is one of the materials that I love the look of with the shorter backsplash! I would make it however high so hits underneath the window sill. And maybe even have it be the window sill material as well?

I very much like the Virginia Mist soapstone look-a-like granite i believe Flo suggested.

Maybe add to the entry and adjacent dining room large rugs that tie in colors of black, grey, and warmer colors of the yellow golds of the hickory? Then add a warm solid wood dining table set in a medium color that is in the hichory island?

Just thowing out ideas before you get crazy expensive with redoing finishes is all.

My furnishings are dark. We bought an oversized sectional in a “u” shape to accommodate my X-Large family. We moved onto the land with our 3 adult children. We each have our own homes. That’s why the Greatroom is so large. I also breed gypsy cobs, they are in their corrals in front of my massive windows.

The majority of my art is antique landscape pictures from Vienna that I’ve had forever. My thought was to keep the everything kinda bland so my pictures and a few antiques would pop. My first ( there’s been a lot ) moment of stupidity is definitely the hickory. Wasn’t my first choice but I listened to the cabinet maker without seeing if before it showed up. It’s actually meant to be installed in the front entrance ceiling , and …….. 😬 my bedroom. I know. I know

Wild Hickory... nuts.

- Euell Gibbons

I kno Paul F, but had I not screwed up I wouldn’t have met these wonderful people !!

That was a joke for the older people that remember Euell Gibbons. He was a man that used to do commercials for grape nuts, cereal… he used to eat leaves, twigs, seeds, and famously wild hickory nuts. I don’t mind your little bit of hickory wood. It would’ve taken a gargantuan effort by a designer to pull it all together though. Hearing that you don’t care for it kind of settles it. I admire that you flying by the seat of your pants like you’ve been doing.

@rebunky I love soapstone too. I want it in my kitchen (at the moment), but I want mine to be dark. I think soapstone comes in a light grey. This is Virgina Mist granite you like? This other picture is one of my inspiration pictures with a soapstone counter, but I know it's too dark for most people.

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KL,

I think there is seven diff types of soapstone. some are really soft.

the harder one can be found like this, and oiling it makes it blacker. (mineral oil)

This is Negresco. honed. similar in look. it's either a granite or a quartzite.

If you like the look, Silestone Eternal Charcoal in the suede finish would be a nice alternative

Virgina Mist (aka Virgina Black, Jet Mist) comes in diff shades. that one you have pictured looks like it's been lightened in the photo. these are all V M.

this is leathered Belevedere (I think), or maybe it's Copa Cabana. one of them has more golden brown tones it

Black Forest granite is another beautiful one. some have more white than others.

Here it is honed on an island:

Leathered Steel Gray granite:

Jurasic Gray

another cool idea, get a custom made wood butcher block done w/black resin. you can have as much black as you like. Etsy and other wood artisans can make one for you

A factor in why I suggested Virginia Mist (or similar) is because you get the soapstone look but much easier to maintain. Keep that in mind. You have to go to stone yards as see what’s in stock. Take samples of your drawers in both your white and your hickory wood plus a piece of your flooring. Also, a drawer pull/handle. By having all these examples with you, you can assess better the overall look.

I put Virginia mist on the island with a good sized overhang, and a solid white to match the cabinets? Also I should paint walls white too? That’s what I’m understanding 😊

Don’t know how deep your window sill is..but I would layer a piece of stone on the window sill..handy spot to place small things..and also protect the wood sill from water damage over time

Oh wow! Those gypsy cobs are magnificent animals!

So had to add the GC paintings to your mockup. 😉

I attempted to show you black soapstone countertops. First with leaving the hickory island alone and then with it painted white.

This is not the perfect rug, but shows kind of what I meant by finding something subtle and has the greyish floor colors, the hickory wood colors, and soft black in it.

I posted a SW light “greige” called Shoji White. That would go on walls and right up including ceiling. Easy peasy. Wow I never heard of that horse breed! Amazing!!

Or if not soapstone, then a look a like granite like the VM or one of the ones Beth mentioned would work great too.

If paint the island white, that Negresco or the other ones that have some white veining in it would be so pretty!

I like the SW Shoji White that Flo suggested. Here it is in your room.

I left the window wall alone so you could see the difference between the Shoji and what you have.

Sorry forgot to tone down the wood ceiling!

Except, now I feel like it is missing some warm wood tones. 🤣 But I am sure some your wood furniture would do the trick.

Love how the space is evolving. I've never heard of a Gypsy Cob. What a wild looking horse!

Ok, I need some credit for detecting the horse energy before anyone knew she bred horses! Beth came closest with how this place should look. I don't think the OP likes it but that inspiration photo gives billionaires Jackson Hole lodge. I'm not sure how to do it but it could be great.

I like soapstone for the antimicrobial and heat properties. Thanks @Beth H for the list of options. ☺️

In this kitchen though, I still like the light marble @Jj originally chose, or any light stone, because it would blend in with the walls and perimeter white base cabinets. I think the soapstone she chose for the island also is fine, and so would be the grey granite. Use of strong contrasting values for the island supports the disappearing walls concept. I think a bold waterfall on the base cabinets end makes it reappear and is contrary to what I assume is the goal.

Again thank you all for taking the time to help me. I so appreciate you all. Will take what you’ve taught me ….. stay tuned for updated pictures ❤️