I think it looks nice. Your changes brightened the room, so I would not paint the cabinets.

Looks so nice. I’d leave the cabinets as is.

Looks beautiful! Do not paint the cabinets. Perhaps add a runner to the floor for a bit of color, if you feel it needs something more.

Looks great! Leave them be.

I think you are done. It looks bright and nice. Lightening those cabinets would be a huge job and I can't see where it would be worth the effort or expense...your kitchen looks wonderful. Nice job on the hardware and the backsplash in particular! It's just what your workspace needed.

Beautiful refresh! Leave the cabinets alone.

Any suggestions for the runner ?

If your family room is visible from the kitchen, take your cue from colors in that room when looking for a runner.

Looks great! Add a colorful (light background) runner and perhaps a green plant or two to soften the space.

Looks good. Don't paint the cabinets.

Try to keep the kitchen counters uncluttered and add an orchid for a bit of color/texture.

Beautiful transformation! Your before and after pictures should be used as an example and inspiration for others who are trying to refresh and update their kitchens.

I applaud your excellent upgrade.

The cabinets and backsplash are good as they are.

Suggestions for a runner have much merit...pick colors that make you happy.

Adding a live plant or two is also beneficial .

An aloe comes in handy for quick treatment of minor burns.

Check out Dash and Albert by Annie Selke for pretty runners in all manner of colors, materials and patterns.

https://annieselke.com/c/runner-rugs

Looks wonderful, don't paint your cabinets! I did, had mine professionally painted about 7 years ago, I have to periodically with paint touch up around the handles that keep getting little scratches down to the orignal finish. He removed the doors took them away and refinished them professionally, the rest of the cabinets look great just a problem around the handles. Maybe just the type of knobs we have I don't know. Just to say your cabinets look good as is.

Your cabinets are fine as they are, but at this point - with these new counters, they could be painted or not, imo.

The granite worked better in the kitchen, imo. It worked better with the color as well as the style of the cabinets. The backsplash was the culprit, as it most often is. Those granites have a lot of movement - and the busy, over the top, tiled backsplashes have never worked with it. These granites are better without any backsplash, or just the riser, imo. That is what I have in my kitchen now. Gorgeous granite (and wood cabs) with just the riser - which I love looking at the riser, because it‘s a big chunk of the same gorgeous granite.

Anyway - for the look I think you are going for, stripping the cabinets to a light wood finish or painting them a light taupe color would work. The new hardware you chose would also potentially work better with either of those options.

ETA:

You did an outstanding job. It looks so fresh, bright as well as calm. I really like your cupboards as is and I think you will regret painting them. it’s so much easier to hide a scratch or nick on wood, painted cabinets - even those done well - typically require more attention and touch ups.
I second the suggestions to try a runner if you think your lovely kitchen needs something more.

Oh, very well done. And I really like the wood cabinets.

“Any suggestions for the runner ?”

I suggest GelPro mats that look like runners. This is the GelPro elite mat Mabel in ruby red and sandalwood. These are two of dozens of options. I picked the red for you because it is such a classic oriental look, and it will pair beautifully with your wood tones and creams. It subtly brings in a little color, but it will not steal the show. Sandalwood is the backup 😂

Standing on tile floors for extended periods can be really tiring. These mats are great - they provide cushioning so you can stand all day if you need to. It is easy to keep them clean (paper towel and soapy water), they last for years, and they are made in the US. They are expensive, but worth every penny.

Looks great! Are your countertops solid white? They look like solid white - but I’ve seen some with subtle veining that look like solid white in photos. If they are solid white, would you mind sharing the details (manufacturer + specific color)? Thanks!

It looks like you used Bedrosian Cloe White for your backsplash? I have that in one of my bathrooms that I recently renovated - but your backsplash appears to have less variation between tiles. It’s a nice improvement over what was previously installed!

Also, will you post some more photos - I’d like to see your entire island.

EDIT - I forgot to include my opinion re: painting your cabinets or having a lighter wood tone. I like stained wood cabinets - they also seem easier to maintain (I selected stained wood cabinets when I built my house MANY years ago in 1996 - even though white painted cabinets had started to become popular - I wound up keeping the house and using it as a rental - and the stained wood held up nicely for many years). Your kitchen looks very nice as it currently is - I would keep them ”as is” if they are in good shape (finish coat is intact).

What lighter wood stain are you thinking about possibly doing? Would you reface the current cabinets - or actually have them stripped/sanded down? My understanding is that it is a BIG project to strip/sand them in order to stain them a different tone. What species of wood was used to build the cabinets?

The cabinets look quite a bit lighter in your ”after” photo vs. your ”before” photo. Looks like there was a different level of natural light entering the kitchen. I assume that the changes you’ve made look just as nice when the wood looks darker as they do in your ”after” photo.

It really is a personal decision. Do you have several other projects that you are planning on completing in your home? Having your cabinets professionally painted or stripped/sanded and restained isn’t inexpensive.

Professional cabinet refinishers use products that are much more durable than what is used when completed as a diy. The way painted cabinets will ”wear” will be very different if you hire this project out to a professional.

If you have other projects that you’d like to address, you could put the $$$ towards those projects - your kitchen does really look very nice after your update!

Very well said, dani!

That’s quite a transformation and improvement…well done!!! Cabinets look great.

Your kitchen is beautiful! Wouldn’t change a thing.

Wow. It looks great! I wouldn’t touch the cabinets.

Ruggables.com have a lot of runners - which are washable too.

Here are some visuals for the Dash and Albert runners:

You might consider bold colors and patterns:

Dash & Albert Stone Soup Handwoven Cotton Rug, Multi, Runner-2'6" x 8' · More Info

Dash & Albert Pali Blue Handwoven Jute Rug, Blue, Runner-2'6" x 8' · More Info

Dash & Albert Blue Heron Stripe Handwoven Indoor/Outdoor Rug, Blue, 2' x 3' · More Info

Dash & Albert Fiesta Stripe Blue/Green Indoor/Outdoor Rug, Multi, 2'6" x 8' · More Info

Or something more subdued:

Dash & Albert Malta Blue Handwoven Wool Rug, Blue, Runner-2'6" x 8' · More Info

Dash & Albert Kali Natural Handwoven Jute Rug, Natural, Runner-2'6" x 8' · More Info

Dash & Albert Simba Black Handwoven Jute Rug, Black, Runner-2'6" x 8' · More Info

Dash & Albert Jute Handwoven Natural Rug, Natural, Runner-2'6" x 8' · More Info

Your kitchen turned out beautiful. Perhaps a washable thin runner to brighten the area... look into Ruggable rugs.

I agree that your kitchen looks beautiful like it is!

The floors do not contrast with the cabinets and to me, it seems purposeful. Less contrast can be calming and simpler. Anything decorative on your counter, or a rug as the pros suggest, will stand out even more and be a beautiful "statement" piece.

Love the way your kitchen turned out.

What a difference! Looks great

You could do something similar, Steph!

Honestly I am going to do the same thing in my kitchen. I have sturdy cabinets. So nice to see how they came out for you. Well done. And you can live with it for awhile and then rethink it. But I love it! Would love to see the whole room in a pull back photo. Looks intentional.

PS If you want inspiration and you get HGTV series of Christina on the Coast she just redid her parents kitchen in episode one of the new season. Looks great. Her parents like the floor plan and the solid hardwood flooing they put in 30 years ago. It was a wonderful win win. I think you wil enjoy it. I definitely did.

Looks absolutely awesome and I would not paint the cabinets! Use colors from the other rooms in the runner.. or something very neutral ..go with a lighter color..