Go is to lighten. I need to see these options I am unable to visualize. Thank you I cannot visu

You lighten by adding lights.

There are people here who seem to think that if you paint everything white, you won't need electricity to see in the dark. Don't be one of them.

Your cabinets go very well with the floor; I wouldn't touch the cabinets. Agree with chispa to change out the counter and backsplash. You need more lighting -- much more. It's not color that makes a space dark, it's lack of light.

Listen to Chispa and Porkchop😊

Change the countertop and backsplash. Leave the cabinets alone. Good luck!

Add more lighting. A lot more lighting. And get new countertop and backsplash in a very light solid cream. No painter is going to give your cabinets as durable of a finish as what they currently have.

NO to the copper hood, sink, and hardware. You are trying to lighten things up, not make them match the floor. Go for a polished chrome that will bounce light around. Get new stools that look and feel lighter.

Thank you so much, is anyone perhaps able to AI a photo?

agree with the others about changing the counter and backsplash - also removing things from the counter and getting less bulky/visually heavy counter stools

Leave the wood cabinetry, get off white/cream counters and backsplash, replace your pendants with copper half-globes to modernize the look and tie in the floors. That's about all you need to do. Get rid of the tuscan scrolly wall decor over the sink... replace the black vent hood with a stainless steel one. That's about all you need to do. Here's a quick and dirty photoshop job.

Updating nice wood cabinetry with new cream counters and backsplash + updated lighting is a great fix! Lots of examples if you search.

Here's another example of how it lightens a heavy, darker wood kitchen. This had similar beige hard surfaces in the before.

Thank you! Thoughts on waterfall granite over island? Not sure if that’s a clash w the terra cotta type floors

IMO, no to waterfall on island. It doesn't fit your style. Only for modern styles, plus it is hard to match the pattern on the edges. Not worth the trouble.

No way to waterfall in this traditional kitchen :)

I have a copper farmhouse sink at our cabin. I love it because i embrace the living finish/patina. it is not a choice for anyone who wants ”shiny” and perfectly clean looking.

Listen to the advice!

On your new countertops, don’t do the ogee edge as you have now. Go with a simple eased edge - also less expensive than the ogee edge.

The very very first thing you do here is spend about 6K on an electrician to improve your terrible lighting. No point in spending on anything else, until you do that very basic thing. No 15K cabinet finishing has the same transformation effect as the 6K you spend on better lighting.

Once you can actually see the space, then you may want to do other changes. But, I bet you dial it back big time. The wood cabinets are gorgeous, and right in style. It would be a shame to ruin them by slathering them with ugly beige paint from a 5K hack who doesn't know what he is doing.

So I’m the outlier who would paint the cabinets. My mom did a refresh of her kitchen and redid the counters, got new appliances and a new backsplash and kept the cherry cabinets. It looked like a refresh where they ran out of money. For me the cabinets are a huge thing you see and if you don’t like the colour I would change it. Beige would not be my choice though.

The cabinets are gorgeous! It's the clutter, the lighting, and the backsplash, that is dragging them down. Do you have a pantry where you can store some of the stuff? Or another run of cabinets where you can set up a small appliance area?

I am with the majority on this one. If the cabinets are in good shape, I would not paint them. I agree if they're completely beat up, then the finish is already wrecked and a fresh coat of paint is fine. But they are gorgeous (to me), and a bad paint job will take perfectly nice cabinets and wreck them.

If it were me, I'd update the granite to something whiter, do a lighter backsplash, and get more lighting in there and call it done.

It doesn’t matter how gorgeous the cabinets are if the homeowner doesn’t like them. You can’t will someone to like something they don’t. If the OP really doesn’t like them then changing other things won’t fix that.

Totally agree WestCoast Hopeful. :) It isn't clear to me if the OP doesn't like the cabinets, or thinks painting them is the only way forward. She says the goal is to lighten, not "I hate my cabinets..."

How many people have thrown a bad paint job on top of very nice cabinets, and then are so sad when the paint starts chipping, or peels off, etc.. Again, my bias is I'm friends with someone who did just that. Hers cabinets were perfectly fine but she fell for the white cabinet trend, hired a "painter" who either didn't prep right or something, but regardless they're now a peeling mess.

Beige makes me nervous with that floor too.

We're all just throwing out ideas for her to consider. :-)

If lighter is the goal beige won't get you there. White perhaps. It's the only color worth spending the money to paint. Just know you are devaluing your property with paint if you proceed. Google around. Beige/tan kitchens look drab and sad not lighter. Your cabinetry at the moment is the high light of your kitchen. Find a light counter top stone you like then use it for the back splash too. Your floor has all the lines and pattern any one kitchen needs.

I keep reading comments about not painting cabinets and disagree, based on my experience. I like to paint, did a lot of research on how to do properly, as that’s key! My husband was away for 6 weeks, so tackled alone (took over 30 hours for my small kitchen). Five years later I’ve only occasionally needed Q-tip touch ups around handles on the most used cupboards and have never regretted the decision. If interested/good at painting, educate yourself and if not comfortable, get some quotes and discuss the finer details. Considering your labour/time and a pro’s cost may help you decide to paint or not.

In regards to your kitchen, don’t start off with trying to decide on details up front. Set a budget, look at a ton of kitchens on line, save combinations you like with terracotta flooring and first step, is your cabinet decision.

Your cabinets seem to be in good condition so I suggest you keep them but replace the countertops with a creamy white quartz (could be plain white or a subtle veining). Paint the walls a creamy white, replace the hardware, pendants, and faucet with brass for brightness (could also be a polished nickel or chrome ). If you don't have under cabinet lighting I suggest you install some. I would replace the counter stools with light colour ones.

White will not go with the warm tones in the floor. Ivory or cream, maybe. BUT, having said that, I agree with other responses, leave the gorgeous wood, change out the countertops, backsplash, lights, barstools.

@Moore4

Agree not a bright white but a creamy white

The OP doesn't mention the condition of the cabinets. They look to be in good shape in the photo, but so did my oak cabinets when photographed. But IRL, not so much. I painted mine and only wish I had done it sooner. I don't quite understand the assumption that the paint job will be a bad one.

IMO ahuge redo of lighting would be the first step to brighten the space . Added pot lights and new pendants all LED 4000K bulbs then see what is a must. I think we need a bit more info about the need to change the cabinets. For sure NO waterfall counter but that backspalsh has to go . Get some light colored stools not so stuffy and then analyze what is the worst thing about the space . IMO the cabinets are not the issue.

The copperhood in the sink I think would be lovely and I think I would leave the granite it looks nice with the lighting and the floors and contrast is good and Get Low back chairs that they go below the counter top so you can scoop them in a little better not so bulky and square and you can get them and if you like a beige color or a light color unless you want it to match the granite you can do that too

You could also consider a 2 color kitchen. Leave the bases and island as is an paint the uppers- not beige - a nice off white maybe. Then do a major update on your lighting and backsplash and even the counter.

Good luck!!

Please help! I need advice on paint color for kitchen walls. These dark gray walls need to go asap. I am open to any advice you are willing to share. Please excuse the mess.

Please start your own dilemma.

So sorry, I thought i put this in the correct place. My apologies. Now if I can delete this.

What color paint are you considering? I am concerned that a “beige” cabinet can look drab with your existing countertop (which you are keeping). Maybe a warm/creamy ivory would be better.
Bring home poster board and small pots of the colors in consideration. You need to see what it will look like in your space before doing this huge painting job.
A lighter color will definitely brighten the kitchen. If new lighting is in the plan, get that first.

Thanks everyone. Going to leave the cabinets and update the granite and backsplash lighter, a farmhouse sink, hood above stove and high hats for more lighting. Reccos on color of hood and sink? Also granite- off white with gold or silver tones?

If you decide to paint the cabinets, I would pick the lightest creamy white colour you can find in your granite countertop. Brass accents would make the kitchen bright and contrast nicely with the light cabinets.

Saw your post about not painting the cabinets just after I had posted the above.

Congratulations on your new plan! I think you will be happier much longer with your new vision. As to the two tone suggestion that is a failed design look. All people see is half done, too stark a contrast. It might work in very large very expensive kitchens but never ever in your average suburban home.

My first thought is beige cabinets would not look good. Sounds like you may have made that realization also. Your cabinets do go well with your floor. However, the backsplash doesn't. Would suggest you replace it. We don't use a lot of dark countertops in our projects but I won't suggest you replace your current countertops with light colored one. That just doesn't seem appropriate. Will suggest you keep the current countertops but if you do replace them I'm thinking perhaps a medium grey tone would work.

If you’re getting new countertops, remove one door and take it with you to the stone yards and countertop providers. Keep it in your car in case you spot a countertop place you haven’t seen before. If you find a stone you like, ask for a sample piece to take home since your indoor lighting will make it look different.

Your sink color will be dependent on your countertop choice, so save that decision until you find “the one”. Same for the hood.

Backsplash choice is absolutely the last. If you don’t see something you love after your countertop is installed you can just paint the backsplash for now and tile shop later.

Same for hardware update.

Sounds like you are heading in a great direction now. To make the kitchen brighter, warmer, and more open feeling, I'm a fan of color drenching with paint and countertops. Pic a nice creamy countertop, the color you might have wished you could paint your cabinets. Then fine a paint color that matches. Run a 4" strip of your countertops as your backsplash instead of using tile. Paint your room and the remaining space under your cabinet. Get good under cabinet lighting.

This will make your space feel lighter and brighter. It will provide a field of color instead of strips or blocks of color. A chunk of color each for the farm sink, a countertop, the hood, a backsplash tile can get kind of busy looking in the average or smaller sized kitchen. I think you will feel the biggest change in your space if you avoid this and instead drench with your countertop and closely colored paint.

ditch the chairs

At my other house I had my wall color the same color as my cabinets since the cabinets were previously painted I repainted it all and I like the feeling in the kitchen all the same color there but I did like some contrast with the countertop you have that with the back of the countertop and the countertop on top goes pretty good otherwise get a beige color countertop that has some interest in it

I did have AI render. Is the white quartz too much contrast W the cherry cabinets and floor? I know AI is making it look brighter. Don’t want to spend a fortune on countertops, want to go lighter and this seems the best price as I can use 1 jumbo slab of Calcutta. Also would like a white iridescent type backsplash. But again not sure if this will be too harsh in contrast. Thank you

Here are cherry cabinets with white quartz countertops. Your current backsplash makes it hard to envision. It will look brighter, for sure.

Thank you! Calcutta duke is the quartz which looks just like this. Would you suggest using same Calcutta duke as backsplash or instead tile? I have been leaning toward metallic or iridescent tile to brighten but not sure if it will make things too busy and not sure which would match vs clash

If you can do the same stone on the countertop and backsplash, it gives a very clean look. (And one less decision!)

I would not add iridescent tiles to this kitchen.

Here are multiple ways to brighten your kitchen:

--Declutter like crazy. All that clutter sucks up visual space and airiness. Air dry dishes inside your deep sink, not on the countertop. Put paper towels and dish detergent under the sink. Just keep small appliances you use every day and attractively contained utensils on the countertops.

--Change the countertops to lightly patterned warm ivory with beige veining/pattern/speckles that will go with current backsplash.

--Get brighter, unpatterned ivory light shades.

--Change out counter chairs to ivory and get smaller ones. The ones you have are too big for your small space.

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P.S. You're considering the wrong things like cabinet painting, expensive copper hood, huge counter chairs, etc. I think you're not registering how your current cluttered countertops and "stuff" distract the eye and make things seem dark and crowded. You have a very small space, which should be as open and airy as possible. Get a stainless hood so it connects to your appliances for a smoother, simpler look. Same with the lighting--too ornate for the space. Change to ivory shades like those in the photos. That's a really simple fix. Same with the counter chairs. Get ivory ones with wood legs in same finish as the cabinets. Everything needs to connect.

Maybe you can add a runner across the island on top a light colored one