here is another view of the island and granite. Do you think a cream colored subway tile backsplash would look good? I think a cream colored island would look good as well. I was thinking the color Creamy from SW. I just don't want to paint the island then wish I never did. I would also like to continue my hardwood floors through my kitchen and breakfast area. What do you think of that? I've been searching for a tile, but cannot find anything that really strikes me. I am very conservative. The granite is totally out of my comfort zone. Can you suggest a paint color? My family room is adjacent to my kitchen and is painted in Thoroughbred by RL. I'm usually very good at decorating, but the granite has totally thrown me for a loop.

Hmmm...

It's the black appliances that are throwing me. If you went with white or stainless for appliances and a large creamy-colored tile on the floor, the look would be more cohesive.

Not sure about the cream island because your floor is so light. What about a darker colored paint on the island? Pull out one of the shades in your granite?

pmarch39, I'm loving your granite even more with the new photo. You saw the photo of my kitchen with cherry (darker than yours) cabinets, black hardware, and black appliances, so I'm partial to that look. We purposely did not choose stainless appliances. The black picks up the black in the granite, just as yours does. We have cream subway tiles as our back splash, chosen because the granite had a lot of movement. We didn't want a competing, busy look. We have oak hardwood floors throughout the kitchen.

One thing I've found when decorating, and I'm sure you have too, is that I'm attracted to numerous styles of decorating, numerous finish choices, etc. In other words, if I had to move and I was house-hunting, and I walked into a kitchen with white cabinets, black counters, stainless appliances, even though that's nothing like what I chose for our new kitchen .... well, I'd think that was beautiful too, as long as it was updated and well done. Your kitchen is very, very nice and your floor and paint changes will certainly enhance it further.

If you're considering wood floors, then painting your island cream would be very nice..love that look with the black hardware. I also think your black paint idea is good too, but I would probably sand off some of the paint to reveal the oak underneath, to give it an aged look. Otherwise, the black hardware will be lost on solid black. My friend has a new kitchen with cherry cabinets and crazy black granite with tons of movement and a busy black tiled back splash. They chose a burgundy painted finish for the island and it's stunning.

@pmarch39: You say you are thinking about wood floors in your kitchen. The color will really be tricky -- you don't want it the same color as the cabinets, certainly -- but it could really make a huge difference if it were dark. It might complement the black appliances and draw everything together. One thing that fights with your granite in the pictures is that almost-white tile floor. Do you have a dark rug or runner you could stick in there just to see? Your cabinets are really beautiful, hope you don't choose to paint them because as you say, it's kind of irrevocable.

A minor regret on the white leather modular sectional we bought last year.

When I recline in the corner, my butt inevitably ends up on the "crack" between the corner piece and the next piece. Wish we had bought a sectional with only two full size couches that connect at corner, rather than one with a bunch of chair width pieces that connect

That being said, overall I do still like the couch - it looks good and fits the room like it was custom-made for it.

Try a oblong pillow!

pmarch39, Scince you don't like paint on cabinet either leave it as is or perhaps cream wash it instead. It will look lovely with a dark floor.

Pmarch 39, really think you would like your kitchen more with a different backsplash. Your current one, with the granite going part way up the wall, makes the granite much more noticeable. Try taping up some paper over that section and see the difference it makes.

the current floor is builder grade vinyl so that will be changed out to either tile or hardwood.
pcmom1, I really like the kitchen you posted including the backsplash. Even though the cabinets are cream, it is still warm and inviting. Makes me want to paint my cabinets.

That really closely looks like your granite!

pmarsh, I do like the idea of the cream colored island with that granite. As far as the backsplash however, it should not just blend and fade away. You need something lively and bringing a little accent color too. (It can even take away from too much attention on the granite) You could bring in some aqua and blue to your beige and brown. Just enough to make it shine. ;) AND, if you go with the small 1/2" glass tile, you can bring in all sorts of colors without clashing. The 1 inch is nice too. (You could decide to do a four or five inch border and leave the rest of the wall under your cabinets just painted....There are many ideas!

Here are a few ideas for backslash:

A few years ago We went to Murano glass company in Venice. My mother fell in love and decided to buy a "gorgeous" (I never liked it and I'm her personal "design consultant" lol :) ) chandelier. It was a modern tear-drop style that and I tried to tell her that it wouldn't fit with her very traditional dining room decor, but she bought it anyway. Its been 3 years and $5,000 later and it still hasn't left the box in her basement.

Should you have the cabinets painted get them professionally done. Some how it looks rich and thick like yogurt when the pros do it. Some comment at the bottom of your post i think "design" something or another posted a lovely kitchen with the cream painted cabinets. Im going on 7 years with the same paint. You might want to change colors by then. LoL

pcmom - wow, great look of the cream with that granite.

The great part about an article as such is that it gets us thinking from a different perspective.

Sometimes the 'remorseful' buy just needs tweaking with a different paint or background. Sometimes, despite what we paid, it just needs to go. That's what's great about craigslist!!! At least we can recoup part of that cost. And for me, the difference is worth the price of my frown every time I come into the room.

A suggestion for pmarch. Also like the idea of continuing the hardwood into the kitchen.

pmarch39 I hope you don't put a busy back splash with your lovely granite!!!
The eye won't know where to look...leave the granite the star.
lily46 expressed it perfectly when she said the paint will have a smooth yogurt feel and look if done by a professional.
I mentioned before that I would consider painting the island a warm color from the background color of the granite.
pcmom1 has posted a wonderful direction to take your entire kitchen and your beautiful (not boring and "seen before...a lot") granite.
I would also paint the entire kitchen....remove the 3-4" granite...not really backsplash...add a simple warm white subway tile..using an antique white grout color (not white)....step back and see your countertop be the star it is.
As mentioned have the cabinets professionally painted...(go see painters work on wood cabinets)...seal the grout...(easy peezy).
Make the floor a coffee tone wood or 18x18" dark mottled warm brown tile laid in a brick pattern.
Guess you can tell I am into your project. I deal with a lot of granite countertops. Yours is refreshing and I think a very wise choice.

No busy backsplash for me! I've attached another photo. The other side of my kitchen has a desk and cabinet along with my table.
I think I hi-jacked the intent of the article! LOL, sorry. i wish I new about Houzz before i purchased the granite.

Like I said before, I really like your granite, and there is much you can do with the rest of the kitchen to bring the beauty out and slowly learn to love it as well.

Oh my goodness I am so glad I found this thread. I've been losing sleep for the past week over our purchase. We special ordered a sectional from Lee Industries and it took 8 weeks to get here. Finally arrived and I don't like it at all. I'm scared to tell my husband. We moved when I was 8 months pregnant so I feel like I rushed to pick this out. Spent WAY too much money on such a hurried decision. I can live with the big sectional (even though wish I had picked something a little more modern with cleaner lines). But the brown color I hate. I am dying to decorate this room with creams and grays and pale green/blue (Restoration Hardware style). For some reason I thought I needed to go darker w/ the fabric because we'll have a toddler running around soon. However, there are many darker shades that aren't this ugly brown. And now this couch keeps me from using the entire color scheme that I love. I am scared to tell my husband that I don't like it because it was so expensive. But I don't want to invest in furnishing the rest of the house with this big piece of furniture that I don't like :( I may try to get a quote for new slipcovers. Any idea on how much they'd be for this big old thing? Would love any advice you guys have! thanks in advance!

Fabric paint or a throw & different pillows. Sheets?

pmarch39, Really your granite is ok. I wish I had it!

Brown sectional can be a neutral background. Layer on the colors you love! And let the kids play and drink purple kool-aid on it!

Cream, green, and blue will look good with your brown sofa. Just layer on the pillows. My sofa is brown leather. I have gold, red, and green pillows. Anything goes with brown! Except maybe gray - and that could even work in the right tones. Don't worry - this will not be your last sofa. You will eventually end up with just what you want - in the mean time you can use this one without worry.

My golden maple kitchen cabinets that have gone yellow over the years! How durable is the finish if painted professionally?

@monarc, maple takes paint VERY well

Pmarch 39
I agree with all the comments . The granite you have is actually beautiful. It just is too busy for the wood cabinets. If a professional spray painted the cabinets and you removed the dated 3 inch backsplash and put up cream subway tile your kitchen would be amazing .
The wood clashes with the granite and it's Color is dated. Spraying your cabinets and adding subway tile and a roman blind in your kitchen would be a cheap fix over replacing the granite and it's the best part you have .

kati730, the photo looks like an OFF brown, maybe with some yellow tones in it? is that right? A popular color scheme is gray white and muted mustard yellow, try a few pillows and a throw to see if that helps you like it more. Browns are neutral, just keep in the same family, example there are greenish browns, yellowish browns, reddish browns. I may not be explaining this correctly..... but my point is, pillows and throws can be returned/ exchanged if they don't work for you.

Katie730...STOP losing much-needed sleep..it won't help. Everyone makes mistakes. But not everyone dwells on them. Lucky them.
My sister once ordered an enormous, turquoise leather sectional ...online/ sight unseen. Her 'Santa Fe Period'...talk about an elephant in the living room...took years to get it out of her house...
So, it could be much worse!! Once you aren't so focused on that brown sofa, you'll get used to it...use it, enjoy it, work around it and eventually, sell it on craigslist (or on consignment at a guild shop...they are amazing!!!You might even end up liking it.)
For years, I lived with hideous commercial carpet..so trendy in the '80's...that made our den, the central room in my home, look like it had been paved..after a few accidents( toddlers!) and other fish to fry in life, it wasn't such a big deal. I also splurged on exquisite silk-screened dining room wallpaper. It was installed when I wasn't at home. My babysitter said it 'looked like an old house coat!'
I had to leave the dining room door closed for weeks! Every time I peeked in, I got upset. Eventually, it became my favorite room.

katie730, to me, a brown sofa is no different than brown wood furniture in the room, like your coffee table. Treat it as if it were brown wood furniture and go with the color scheme you love for everything else. Your accent pieces, throws, pillows, window coverings and wall cover will define the color scheme, and the brown sofa will blend into the room along with the brown coffee table and other wood furniture. Nice sofa!

My claw foot bathtub. I dreamed of having a claw foot tub for many years, I found the tub online and had it delivered when I was remodeling my small guest bath, it was gorgeous I could barely contain my excitement. It's still gorgeous 4 yrs later, however, it's too small to bathe in, great for bathing the grandkids and my dog, but I can't stretch out in it and I'm only 5'4, I can sit in it with my knees bent but that's not my idea of a relaxing bath. Now I fantasize about putting the tub in the backyard and filling it with flowers and plants and just getting a normal tub in the bathroom but that seems like a waste of money right now...

Judy, I'm planning on getting a claw foot or standing bath tub for my master suite. They make longer models (I think up to 72") where you can actually lay down. A friend of ours has a 70" tub that she let me take a bath in and it was perfect. (I'm 5'5")

ok thanks guys, I'm starting to let the anxiety go. I was just so excited about our first house and decorating it...and this sofa threw me for a loop when it arrived. But there are definitely bigger problems in this world. Thank you for the comments :)

Katie - Personally, I think the color scheme you had in your head (greys, light blues, etc) will still look lovely. If you paint the walls the blue color and then add some pillows to the couch, it won't feel so much like a big, brown lump in the room. From what I gather from your two photos, it looks like you're just starting the decorating process. The nice thing about a brown couch like that is that it can play the part of a neutral really well when paired with colors, textures, and metals in your room. I think once you get further along in your decorating journey it will all come together. That is, that's what I always tell myself. :)

Katie, People here on HOUZZ are all very helpful, I suggest you start your own ideabook and ask for advice. There are many decorators and wannabees * like me :), on here to help you. They will make suggestions that are wonderful that you would never think of for yourself. You don't need to buy everythiing at once, but it is good to get the basic plan all done to start to avoid making many mistakes, and then take it a step at a time., keeping your budget in mind, and share that on your request for advice too, or you will get people suggesting $1000 vases for the endtable LOL, ( I am exagerating) but most can help you in whatever budget you have. good luck... so exciting to have your own home to decorate!! Can you tell I am a Realtor?LOL

You don't have to add paint,unless you want paint.

Katie, So many cool pillows out there for your brown sectional. How about an ikat print in blue,ivory,tanish khaki.Then go with the blues for accents.Your brown is not dark. Theres alot you can do with it. Good color choice with kids.Hope you had it treated. It will help with cleaning.

Play with those colors. Go to Marshalls,TJ Maxx, etc.I think you made a smart purchase!

ok thanks so much everyone! Feeling better about it...

Buy a throw and break up the expanse of the brown sectional and cool pillows!

katie730
I have brown leather couch, ottoman and chair. It looks good with gold, olive green and off white pillows. Olive patterned rug would tone down the brown and make it more of a neutral. New rug, pillows and artwork with help alot!!

I should have spent more money on decent lamps.

My dear hubby says I will regret getting this shag carpet; he thinks it looks dirty. This is a sample. Do you think I'll regre it?

Oops! That's "regret"

He might be right. Try a lighter color, sort of off white. Bring color and patterns with pillows on your couch.

I think you need a brighter and larger rug right there. But, on the bright side, that rug would work well as a spot for a puppy to lounge. Will hide the dirt!

Too small.

The piece of rug is just a sample. So before I have buyers remorse I can get opinions. As for the color of the rug, still undecided . I have a huge very colorful painting going over the sofa and teal and coral pillows pillows on the sectional. Would the colors in the painting and the rug clash? this project is taking forever.! I'm going to go eat a turkey. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Happy Thanksgiving, pull colors from the painting for rug from art.