I love those cabinets (but not in that color!). For inspiration on painting that brick, look at subway tiled kitchens. Squint and pretend they are painted bricks. See? Looks good! Are you sure they're fake brick? Not that it really matters. It looks like a neat place--congratulations! I had cabinets just like that in my first house, but they were avocado green. I painted them white. I've missed them ever since. My counter had an ivy patterned Formica, so I didn't have the counter worry you do. (Hey you have a matching bifold door, already painted white!) But they do in fact look great in white. So, if you're keeping the counter, and why not, what about using white on the upper cabinets and a totally different color on the base cabs? Like a deep yellow or blue or well, you get the idea. The brick/backsplash area would then be a nice accent color, maybe. Were you going to keep the brick bricky? It isn't bad, and it looks good with more colors than you think. It ought to look good with yellows and tans. Cabinets are hard to paint (but worth it). Get that color right the first time. The brick, if painted, can't ever be brick again. But walls are easy. Go ahead and be daring.

Hi Judith! Could you post a pic of the furniture? And honestly no! If you go with an off white (try BM Cloud White or SW Toque White) and maybe a textured door (something like the pic here), you can have a really clean look that white brings without being too contemporary! As for your flooring, we suggest something neutral, maybe a mid beigey brown, not overly busy and go for a nice wide plank, it will help to contrast the more traditional furniture! Let us know if you need any help with the design, we offer some e-design services for free :) good luck!

We had our kitchen gutted and redone with cherry cabinets, maybe slightly lighter than yours. If you have real cherry (not cherry color stain), you may decide to keep them. Although cherry paints well (as compared to oak), painted cabinets don’t hold up as well as factory finished. The other advantage is that they don’t show the dirt! We kept our oak floors, but had them refinished in clear water-based poly. Over time, oil based poly yellows, and that may be affecting your floors. Remember, dark floors make your space darker, as well as showing every speck of dirt. The trend for the past ten years or so has been dark floors and white cabinets, although I sense that is changing. If you love it, go with that, but not because it’s popular! As to the island, remove it before the floors are done, in case they don’t extend all the way under it and need to be patched. The stone countertop can be cut down if you decide to change the island. Don’t make any kitchen choices based on not having a dining table. Go to Goodwill and pick up a table at least to tide you over.

I think it's easier to use one color if there is no clear delineation to allow color changes. I don't know how easily you can see the color of the granite with that yellow casting its shadow over the surface, but I'd be tempted to prime out the yellow to give a blank slate for better color selection. Thankfully, the previous owners made appropriate floor color choices, it makes your job much easier. I'd lean toward a soft white for the space. For the open spaces, you may consider walls, ceilings, doors and trim all the same color with the trim and doors in a different sheen.