I am wanting to break up some of the darkness

If you're going to paint the islands, paint them the same color. Too much going on otherwise. As for the color, I notice blue chairs in the adjacent dining area. What about going with blue to tie it all together?

Cherry & Blue · More Info

@beverly I agree I don’t like the look of that!! Thank you. I fell in love with the lights so I am not changing those. Would you suggest the same color on the islands? And if so what do you see? We just want to update the house and make it feel more “us”

If you think those lights work in that kitchen, then there's nothing more to be said.

I’d be more concerned about the lack of ventilation over the gas cooktop. And, quite frankly, getting the cooktop off of that teensy afterthought of an island.

The stained cabinets look very nice and I don't think the paint colors you are looking at are going to brighten up the space.

If it was mine, I would have brightened up the space by getting rid of the two tier counter and making it all one level. A wider counter surface in that light quartz would have opened up the kitchen and lightened the space. I would also get rid of the 4" quartz backsplash and put the same quartz as the backsplash or an off-white tile that matches the quartz counters.

"I’d be more concerned about the lack of ventilation over the gas cooktop. And, quite frankly, getting the cooktop off of that teensy afterthought of an island."

Agree. There's a break in the countertop on the perimeter off to the left side where the glass cabinet is -- is that an entryway?

No to two colors on islands, One of which should not even be there.

Can you post more pictures of the kitchen from all angles?

The issues here are not paint or stain, though I do understand your desire for a light and airy kitchen.....( better ways than those lights, which would be lovely in your bath or bedroom )

Most important is a good layout for function, and you do not have that. The cooker on that island is first example.

Please take more pics, all angles?

I would be removing the oven stack and putting a range in that spot and proper ventilation over the range. Totally remove the center island, and make the dogleg island all one level.

Agree that those pendants are all wrong for this space and need to find a new home. Possibly in a bathroom or bedroom.

ETA; Just noticed the appliance garage--that would get the heave ho. That will lighten up the corner and added needed counter space next the range.

About the pendants…as others have said, they are wrong for your kitchen. You love them, then repurpose them in another room.

The wood cabinets are not the problem. As mentioned all the other things are.

Beverly what app or software do you use to show my kitchen in different colors?
Thank you all for your valuable input. We did not build this house and we are not looking at a complete Reno. We will be taking out the appliance garage and the function of this kitchen works great for us even if it’s a bit dated. I’d love to drop the island to be level but that isn’t happening either. I was just hoping to get some insight of possibly changing the color of the islands. Sorry pics are a bit dark suns coming up off the lake

Well? You know what you want : ))

I’d paint the outside of the big island same as walls in the other room. Leave inside of the big island and the central island alone to match your cabinets.

Btw, what do people have against two-tier islands? They seem like a great way to avoid countertop kitchen stuff from visually leaking into the main room as well as a way to prep on a counter while someone’s sitting there without messing them up with scattered food. But - I’ve never had a kitchen with any kind of island so haven’t worked with them.

"It works for us"

This could be more a case of you are used to it, or it's a better kitchen than one you had prior to this or you've never had a great layout in any kitchen.

Nobody here can tell you how to spend your money, but this is a kitchen over due for an over haul, and that is layout versus cosmetic finishes.

We may word the advice in a manner not to your liking , but that doesn't alter the truth in that advice : )

Look, your cabinets aren’t dark. They’re actually a medium tone. Certain areas of the cabinets are dark…specifically the indented areas, like on either side of the fridge and oven stack…because the recessed lights were layed out incorrectly. Those wimpy chandelier pendants don’t help, either.

Painting the two islands, will do nothing to update the look of the kitchen. Arched doors aside, the overly large, diner-like raised, angled island counter, surrounding the puny cooktop island lacking ventilation, are the elephants in the room. Correcting these issues is where your money should go. Not in paying for professional painting of the islands.

It may not be what you want to hear, but if you’re not going to correct the elephants, leave the kitchen as is.

To answer your question, the islands should be the same color.

I dont think any of the color swatches you have work.

The dark gray goes best with your counter, but dont think it works with the wood color.

Your light samples probably work ok with the cabinet wood color, but not the counter.

@richfield what color do you see working?

Unfortunately im not a great help with specific color recommendations.

But if you are jn the US, both Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore have online color consultation. SW is free. BM consultation plus color mock up is less than $100.

Leave the islands wood. At least it is cohesive now. This is the classic ”lets do SOMETHING, even if it’s the wrong thing.“ And it is the wrong thing.

This thread is classic GW being jerks. I agree with joot07….. paint the one side the color of your walls. Leave the rest of the wood, which is lovely. Your pendants are fine.