I like that your current hardware sort of blends in and disappears. There are a ton of drawers and cabinets. I think a more visible hardware is going to make the kitchen look like a hardware store. I'd stick with what you've got!

Eventually, new counters will make a tremendous difference in here.

I'd say either matte black or nickel would be a good choice but not brass, you don't have anything brass (gold) in your kitchen.

I think your cabinets are very beautiful--they look like a warm cherry, which would look very nice with black hardware. Please don't paint them--if you don't like them anymore, donate them to Habitat for Humanity or the like, and get new ones. Painting them professionally is a very expensive proposition. In addition, they work very well with your hardwood floors.

That being said, I agree that the counter tops and backsplash are what's wrong with your kitchen. The brown speckly granite and travertine b/s were top choices maybe 25-30 years ago, and personally I didn't choose them even then when renovating my kitchen. I used laminate rather than that type of granite. I'd focus on them before changing out the hardware. Soapstone or Jet Mist granite would look beautiful with your cherry cabinets.

@kendrah..yes eventually new counters and backsplash (preferably counter as the backsplash) I have seen some stunning white granite but marble would be my dream. It will be white no matter what type we pick.

The floors need to be sanded down and refinished as well and will go that nice lighter oak color ...I ❤️❤️ the Top Knobs handle you posted, I used them in our last home in the champange gold...do you think I could swap the knobs for handles?

Any suggestions on much more modern transitional pendants and light over dining table?

@lisedv

LOOVE the nickel pull you posted. But in matte black ..I used that pull in my last house...do you think I could swap some knobs for handles?

Any lighting suggestions?

I mean I guess hate is a strong word...they are a beautiful color as they are light/medium and not the super dark cherry ...

Thoughts on painting the island and what color that could be?

My thought on painting your island is don’t. In fact, don’t do anything until you find inspiration images that give you an idea of where you are heading.

You’re not going to get an ultra modern look out of this kitchen, but you can absolutely get a more contemporary look by removing that braiding in the crown, getting rid of the coffee shop sign, the dated bar stools, even the dated china display. You still need a target, an aim.

Changing this and that without a plan for the final look will give you a higgledy piggledy, confused, disordered, amateurish result. Worse, you can spend tens of thousands in the process. Find what you love, then find what you can reasonably achieve with the cabinets you have, and move purposely, thoughtfully forward from there.

I'd go for this look.

You could try an ORB something like this w/the cup pulls.

I like this polished nickel too

but I'd do all pulls.

I think a soft gold would be pretty w/the warmer tones in the kitchen

, but I'd opt to change out the pendants

if you like the black to go w/the faucet, what about these pendants and Cosmas hardware (right)

also gave you a diff island decor item, and the cutting boards/plant along the backsplash

another center island decor idea, a round cutting board w/a vase and tall stems or flower

don't forget to bring in something a bit taller for the island

here are those lights above ^, in black, w/some island decor. you need something along this size

Hood Pendant. above and below,,,

love the Hudson Valley pendants too

I feel your desire for change. I too moved in to a home with an abundance of cherry cabinets. I made changes in stages, like you want to do. However, the stages have to male sense together. Don’t start painting the island until you are selecting new counters. New hardware seems like an easy swap to make now, and sure it will change the look of the kitchen, but not for the better. Your current counters are really busy looking. A new hardware that pops is going to look crazy busy with your countertops. Get new lighitng tjat you love and can imagine using in the next stage of changes, and have that be it for this current round.

Also, if you get rid of the black hardware and black lights, then why the new black faucet?

Beth H. : Thanks so much for all of your wonderful ideas.

The barstools are gorgeous. I am so very drawn to the soft gold, champagne color pulls.. I went with the black faucet because it was an emergency and I knew it would work. We have also updated door knobs to matte black throughout the house.

I LOVE the white cone pendants with the gold inside..and also the first black and gold ones as well...Love all of the island decor suggestions. I will for sure grab something with some height.

Any thoughts on a dining fixture to go with the first pendants (black or white)..and a new fixture for the connected family room.? The previous owners capped a fixture and it is every so dark since it's north facing and I would like the ability to see better than just using lamps. This room is still a work in progress...will be replacing carpet, new media cabinet etc. (birthday decor from ceiling FYI), new coffee table, still need decorative drapes, moving keyboard etc.

Beth, I am curious to know your opinion on painting or getting new doors on a kitchen like mine? I LOVE a beautiful white kitchen with a pop of color. We moved in 3 years ago and the kitchen is 20 years old. (I secretly can't wait for our electric stovetop to go because we will put in a gas range and get new counters at that time)..We would not do any layout changes, except take down the breakfast bar.

But until then I would like something that I LOVE..not tolerate and I think refreshing the lighting and the pulls will satisfy for a bit. LOL.

Thanks.

Here is the media stand that we love

Kendrah

yes, of course I wouldn't be painting the island until it's time for new counters. I was just curious about thoughts and colors in general. I mean...I want a white kitchen..The cabinets are 20 years old....My thought is to just get new doors/drawfronts in the future with new counters. We would not do a full reno at all.

The matte black faucet was an emergency purchase that I knew would work with everything. The current black pendants are circa 2006 along with everything else in the kitchen..I wouldn't have chosen a single one of these finishes in 2006 for myself...and just tore out the limestone backsplash in my last kitchen..only to buy a house with the exact same one...painful.. LOL.

All wood is back for cabinetry. And cherry is creeping back into the forefront.

Your cabinets are beautiful. What is ”dating” the kitchen are the pendants. Also, if you had less stuff visible through the glass doors, you would have a more streamlined, contemporary look.

Door fronts, etc. are not necessarily cheap, and you have a lot of cabinets. You could sell your cabinets, and just get some white cabinets. Someone would love to have those cherry cabs.

freedomplace1

I'm not convinced that this color cherry will every be back in style...but that isn't really what I'm concerned about..I just don't like them..lol. I mean, I could even get behind a 2 tone kitchen with leaving some of them cherry.

They are solid wood doors, dovetailed solid wood doors - Schrock cabinets with MDF boxes. We could never afford to rip out the kitchen and redo it at this point. No idea what the cost is to reface, but surely it must be significantly cheaper than tearing out the kitchen?

The glass doors...That whole thing IS a servery, china cabinet..So I'm not sure what else people put in thiers...But mine has 100 year old family china and crystal that I adore. :) Though I will be googling maybe how to incorporate some modern/contemporary WITH my china on display :) . I welcome any ideas.

I had an almost identical kitchen to yours. (2004!)

these were custom made birch cabinets. all solid wood and in great shape. this kitchen gets very little natural light and I was tired of all the dark, overly ornate wood. I chose to paint, refacing the doors and drawers so they would all match (in the before the top drawers were all slab, I don't know why)

hated the micro over the stove top, so I moved to below the oven and modified the drawers there. had a custom vent hood made by the same guys who painted. island drawers too

I redid the floors in the whole area, got new countertops, removed the garden window and did a black casement window, had all the foo-foo trim removed (rope/fluted, plinths, etc) from the cabinets, moved the micro to under the wall oven, new countertops, added large drawers to open shelf area in the island, a coffee bar, and did a custom tile work back in the pantry.

Before from the other angle. don't even ask me what I was thinking. (glass mosaic was a thing at the time and I did that entire wall myself!)

We did have to widen this opening in order for the new fridge doors to open.
Did the cement tile and wood shelves myself. leftover marble piece for the top.

I chose quartz for the perimeter, calacatta marble for the island. cabs are very similar to Simply White (pre cat lqcquer, sprayed off-site) that match the walls/trim, also Simply White.

This was 5 yrs ago

Beth H. :

What an absolutely gorgeous kitchen....I remembered that when I was doing our last kitchen that I had seen yours and LOVED it....So million dollar question..5 years later how is the paint doing? If I understand correctly, you had the doors painted? as opposed to ordering new factory ones?

LOVE LOVE LOVE it all! I've officially just gotten completely over the "oh my gosh, you can't paint cherry" idea...so I thank you!!

With the white or black cone style pendants, any complimentary dining area fixture ideas?

Thanks again so much!!! I think I'll grab a couple of champagne pulls and black ones to see how I like them.

Oh I love your cherry cabinets and your entire kitchen. Sure new counters, hardware, backsplash, light fixtures.... could alter it and maybe you would be happy but...... I gather from your posts above you really detest the cherry. You want white.

Research as much as you can and perhaps hire a professional to paint them. I think there are some horror stories of people who painted and regretted it. But there are happy endings too with painted cabinets. Check out these links below to learn all you can to make your own space what you desire. Looing forward to seeing your new space unfold and be the dream you want.

Nina Hendrick Our painted cabinets 5 years later

My favorite paint guy....

Kitchen Cabinet colors The Paint People videos

another favorite Video... Paint People These Cabinet colors that work in kitchens

Update a cherry kitchen without paint Maria Killam

and

Cherry Before and After paint Maria Killam

Carla Aston Which wood cabinets to paint

Cherry Cabinets Transformation Youtube

Interestingly enough, Beth didn’t just paint her island, she re-faced it. And she is a pro, so she probably had a plan before she started. See how well that works?

Beth - What process did your painters use to paint the cabinets and how has the paint held up? DId they remove and spray them?

Emtek Alexander pulls in matte black:

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

Gorgeous pulls! Love them.

@eam44 Thank you for your completely sarcastic and UNHELPFUL comment...Where exactly did you read anywhere in any of my comments that I am just going to hack job throw some paint up? Yes..this forum is for getting ideas and creating a plan....so thanks.

@Boxerpal it's not that I detest cherry..it's just that they are 20 years old and are damaged, worn and this kitchen is north facing...i use EVERY SINGLE LIGHT all day long...and I'm over it...It's not like they are these stunning, solid wood box cherry cabinets...They look 20 years old up close.

Absolutely....I'm just information gathering at this point..I mean, this kitchen is beautiful....Our only options are to leave it, or have it painted/refaced...Tear down isn't even on the table..and honestly, the footprint is fabulous...The original owners took down the wall to a very small dining room and created the peninsula/breafast bar and the beautiful china cabinet/servery. It's amazing. ..Sure we could put in some boxes at the top...but I honestly kind of love the crown..(there is no braiding or roping, just stacks of it. .Would it matter if we took it to the ceiling? )

Thanks so the many links..can't wait to check them out...Meanwhile...sigh...Updating the lighting and the pulls will have to tide me over...

@Boxerpal do you have any dining table lighting ideas to go with Beth's pendant suggestions?

Thanks ever so much..

Not sarcastic at all. There are people with a lot of experience on this site, and there are pros that have been doing this for years. They make it look easy, but ask Beth how long she planned before she started the reno that gave her that result. Ask people about their process.

Where did I read that you were going to do a hack job? Have you read your own posts? The thread title is about hardware, the second post is about pendants, and the fourth post is about painting your island. You are a little scattered, and that’s fine if you are doing thought experiments. But this forum is full of posts that basically say, I painted my island blue, now what? It’s hard to walk that back. Try not to be one of those and I’m sure you’ll be fine. Best of luck.

@M Abbot gosh maybe my words were harsh. I tend to use Detest a lot. And I agree if those cabs are something old and unappealing you should repaint them. As you can see by my links there are many who have repainted and created really updated kitchens with paint.

You asked...

@Boxerpal do you have any dining table lighting ideas to go with Beth's pendant suggestions?

No, I only have the ideas I like. @Beth H is a wizard. She will probably have ideas far greater than mine. I will bow to her...

But here are some I like not sure if you do. I tend to like unique light fixtures that match other lightening might call it matchy match.

19316 Sean Avery Path · More Info

Pemberton Addition/Renovation · More Info

Cherrywood cabinets have a rich, warm hue that can be beautifully complemented by various hardware finishes. Here are some options that would look particularly stunning:

1. **Brushed Nickel**: Offers a modern, clean look that contrasts nicely with the warm tones of cherrywood.

2. **Oil-Rubbed Bronze**: Provides a classic, traditional feel with a darker finish that complements the depth of cherrywood.

3. **Matte Black**: Creates a bold, contemporary look that stands out against the rich color of the cabinets.

4. **Antique Brass**: Gives a vintage touch and enhances the warmth of the cherrywood.

5. **Polished Chrome**: Adds a sleek, shiny finish that can create a sophisticated, elegant appearance.

Each finish can bring out different aspects of the cherrywood and set the tone for the kitchen's overall style.

Geez, if you're going to take the time to comment, just do it in your own words. The above treatise is so obviously AI generated.

Am thinking might be good to match your faucet so that you don't have an unrelated assemblage of metals.

You mentioned possibly painting the upper cabinets. Here is an inspiration for you to consider.

I think your cabinets are very nice, great quality and to replace with like would be very expensive.

New counter tops, hardware to match the appliances, and backsplash would be where I would spend my money. Baby steps.

Nothing wrong with the granite, either. The backsplash is the issue, as it most often is.

OP doesn’t like cherry. And she doesn't have to like it. If she wants white cabinets, that is what she wants. The two-tone pic is nice to post, though, since she did mention the idea of that.

Painting all that cherry is going to be massive and costly. She will need a good furniture refinisher - not just any painter. Refacing will not cheap, either. I still think she would make out better by just selling them, intact, and getting some kind of white cabinets.

Cherry is making its way back into the forefront of kitchen cabinetry, and the existing cabinets have value. There are people who understand the quality, as you do, @elcieg. Such people are not going to care that these are not last weeks cabinets

Cherry is the richest, most luxe of any wood. Cherry and similar tones in mahogany. It is all that you see on super yachts - both then and now.

Boxerpal oh goodnes...i apologize if that came off salty...Next time, I shall reread before I hit submit..The all caps were just to emphasize the fact that I put every single light on in the kitchen because I feel it is so dark. I'm so sorry that came across poorly. :( ..yes, they are just worn on the most used cabinets, chipping here and there.

OOh, love me an orb chandelier. I agree with complimentary lighting for sure...sometimes I think it is all looking nice together because the colors and shapes are similair and then someone says the styles are totally different and I'm like...ugh.

I like the word detest..it's a good one :)

@eam44 .yes, exactly...I'm seeking information and opinions on what I should do. I am not at the renovation phase yet...I'm information gathering. I have been following Beth on here for years, I know she is a pro...BoxerPal as well has wonderful advice and information to give. My title yes does say hardware, but if you read the entire 1st post, it actually asks about all 3 things...Hardware, lighting and painting. :)...Yep, never going to be the random I felt like throwing some paint up, now what people.

elcieg

Definitely going to do "some" baby steps in the form of pulls and lighting..But the thing about the backsplash and counters...I'm not certain I would be satisfied even after those 2 things...Which has evolved a little since I started this thread.. I was "hoping" i think that I would see an updated cherry kitchen that kept the cabinet the original color and fall in love, but I have yet to see that. As well, after seeing Beth's kitchen and learning about her project I've just gone completely over to the dark side....paint it all :) So what I'm saying is, if I do countertops and backsplash and still hate it..that seems like an expensive mistake? I'm not sure, but I guess I'm assuming you cannot fix/reface cabinets once you do countertops? Or can you?

Norwood Architects Good point, I'm going to buy a few different colors to see how they look...I think if I did the white cone pendant (fabulous looking) I could get away with it, if I could find a light with a champagne rod/cord.? ..But it will likely end up black...LOL.

freedomplace1I guess if one likes the pattern of the granite...This kitchen was done in 2006.. I feel like, even if you love granite this is still dated? I have seen some absolutely beautiful white (I'm not sure if that is a real word for granite) granites (not quartzite).

As far as the cherry goes..They are solid wood doors and drawers, but the boxes are MDF..I guess I don't see what "value" is left when they are worn and damaged and require a complete refinish to begin with to make them look new again? Won't painting and refacing certainly cost less than a gut and redo I would think?

I know there are 2 camps of "never paint" and "Paint it if you want to"...some things i would never ever paint..but these...meh...LOL. If I saw some amazing 2 tone kitchens with this color and updated BS and counters I could be swayed then update doors later?

In all seriousness...Can one actually do baby steps for this kitchen? Like do BS and counters? And then decide about cabinets?

@Boxerpal Oh my goodness..have you SEEN this pic? Now this is stunning....I was so excited I saw that it was cherry, but a little more digging and it's actually Alderwood...But i love the marble style quartz they have with this. What a beauty.

I would change the island lighting since that usually easy to change out. Maybe retail shopping 😄 get some color put on the counters or Nice stand mixer of fav color if like baking or leave out fav colored pan 😄. Artwork on one wall in your dining room, curtains suprised don't have any. What color is your walls? Did just paint them?

Won't painting and refacing certainly cost less than a gut and redo I would think?

Maybe not. It depends on what you mean by painting. A good, off-site professional spray booth paint job with a paint specifically formulated for cabinets costs almost as much as new cabinets. (Yep, I looked in to it with my former cherry cabinets. We decided to live with the cherry and wait an extra 3 years until we then put in new cabinets.)

Learn about different kinds of cabinet painting jobs and how durable they are. Then start getting quotes.

There are so many pics online about people who had their kitchen cabinets painted. But they always say, "We just had them painted." I want to see the post a year after someone had them painted so I can judge the quality of the work.

M Abbott, actually they've held up very well. no chips or peeling.

I do have one or two doors where the paint has cracked right where the center panel and bottom rail meet. I'm betting he didn't caulk before he painted

This is the only one doing it. its the door under the sink. I just need to touch it up w/a small brush.

here's the rest

The benefit of refacing is that older kitchens usually have solid wood boxes. So changing the doors and putting them on the old boxes makes sense. Unless you need to adjust the layout dramatically. With refacing, you can add new boxes and they will match the old ones because the doors are the same.

Is refacing expensive? Yes, but if you matched the good wood of an older kitchen, probably a similar new kitchen is more than double. Most new kitchens are not made the way the old ones were.

I’ve refaced 2 kitchens and completely remodeled two. That last full remodel was cherry and it was lovely. I used nickel hardware on the doors and drawers.

Yes, you can change the countertop first and reface later. A new countertop is more likely to damage the lower tiles of your backsplash.

If you don’t love your kitchen it doesn’t matter what everyone else says. Do what makes you happy within your budget.

It’s cheapest to buy a bag of hardware and see if that change is enough.

I have cherry cabinets and I love mine. I got new counters that are very white. I used a quartz and I love them. I think they are Prime acropolis...not 100%. Then I got Polished Nickel hardware. I did my faucets in polished nIckel and did my lights in Gold/brass. More on the brushed gold color. We are still finishing things or else I would post a photo.

@Boxerpa l will certainly continue to collect ideas....I cannot wait until it's time for the kitchen....will continue to wait patiently. :)

Katherine CanonWe have painted since we moved in..Honied White by SW... I wanted what I call a "happy cream" color...nice, bright with a hint of yellow..and I absolutely LOVE it. It brings so much brightness to the back of our home which is North facing. Updated the 2006 Ancient Gold that was there previously.

The eating area had these hideous valances and bamboo blinds that covered so much light..so we threw them out!! :) We have put new window treatments on most of our windows, however the doorwall (eating area), servery area and front formal living room I am not putting any drapes up..They would cover part of the windows, and it's mostly private behind us.

We are still waiting for the perfect art work for some of the empty walls in the house, but we can't put anything on the walls of the dining area as it's tight when we have the table extended and it would just end up on the floor.

Definitely need some counter decor as Beth noted in an earlier post.

Beth H. : That's amazing. I will definitely look into this. At the time did you also price out replacing the doors with painted ones and having the rest painted etc? Wondering if it was significantly more expensive to do so?

Also..I just LOVE this combo...

Like it makes me feel lighter....LOL.....I also LOVE the black one in similair style with the gold chain with black pulls...But I'm definitely leaning towards this white one....Any chance you can suggest a light for the eating area that compliments this one? :)

RedRyder Thank you so much for your response. Yes, the layout we absolutely love...Unless I had money to burn, then I'm sure I would put the windows back in the stove wall and get rid of the uppers and I could go on..But yes, the whole kitchen is very very nice quality and the boxes are in fantastic shape.. OH and Thank you so much for letting me know we can do the countertops and backsplash and then do the cabinets later...The stove will be quitting on us in the next year or 2...it's fernickity now and we won't be prepared for a reface at that time, but counters and backsplash could be done.

If you don’t love your kitchen it doesn’t matter what everyone else says. Do what makes you happy within your budget. Thank you...getting used to the idea of just doing what we will love, but will look amazing.! :)

M Abbott, the kitchen guys I used to paint gave me the option to reface. my orig cabs had the slab front on all the top drawers, shaker on the rest. In order to make everything cohesive, he said he would replace all of the doors/drawer fronts w/solid maple rails/stiles and MDF center panels. 2K more. it was actually a pretty good deal. got all new soft close hinges with them. I think it was worth it. and less work for the painting people. they didn't have to sand the old ones.

@M. Abbott - I refaced a quartersawn oak (custom) kitchen despite all the people who told me what a nice kitchen it was. I wanted white. So I refaced it in an ivory that matches SW Creamy. It makes me happy so I am passing along my own philosophy- It’s Your Kitchen (Do What You Want)!

Here are my before and after refacing.

It’s a nice kitchen, @RedRyder. Was nice before and also nice, now. :)

Only thing is - you do not have the generic white counters, or marble or fake marble. Nor do you have the latest flavor of the week granite, etc. I mean... I admire your courage with posting your lovely kitchen and those counters here. There is at least one ”pro” who frequents this site who would literally travel across country to your neck of the woods, to tear out that granite with her bare hands.