I wouldn't paint the cabinets. I wouldn't put in wood floors there either - that'd be too much. I also wouldn't put in flooring or counter tops with much color, pattern or movement in them.

you do have a lot of black counter top! Maybe someone who has similar cabinets will post some pics of their kitchens to give you some ideas.

I'd think about changing the wall color - but after the decision is made on counter top and flooring.

You do need some color in there.

I agree with desertsteph, I would not paint the cabinets or put in wood floors. I think the wood in your cabinets looks good, at least in the photos. What is your granite color? It looks like it might be volga blue (aka polare blue or blue polar) or perhaps black pearl. It is very pretty, but it is a lot of black.

Maybe a lighter, neutral tile floor would brighten the room a bit. If you lightened your floor and brightened your paint, you may fall in love with those rich looking counters.

And, once your flooring and other choices are made, a new color on the wall.

I like the kitchen but somehow it doesn't seem to fit in with the white stone in the kitchen and throughout the house. The first thing I would do would be to paint the cabinets, probably a white or gray to go with the rest of the stone in your house. With light cabinets, you could keep your current granite.

I'd keep the cabinets and the perimeter countertops. Perhaps just change out the island countertop to a lighter granite with some grey and red (one of the Indian varieties) to pull in the other colors? Just a thought...

Desertsteph- You are probably right about the floor. That explains the struggle to find the right wood floor. Would you come over and clean my 62 countertops in the morning :)

Momofonlymutts (that was a mouthful :) I don't know what the granite is, but I'll find out for you. It's black with some green hues. I'll take a close up tomorrow and post. I do think a light floor would go best with the cabinets. I was just hoping for wood .. sigh :(

Doraville- I really see what you mean. Each thing is nice individually, but it's just very harsh when you are standing in it. All the other cabinets in the house are a gray/green if they aren't a match to the kitchen cabs.

Cancoi
Thanks for the feedback! Tomorrow I'll add a pic of another part of the house incase it helps everyone in knowing what will blend.

I think it would be a crime to paint those cabinets...Unless the finish is worn. But if they're in good shape, I don't think painting would be a value-adding move.

I thought these were inspiration pics...What a great place! Are there problems? Is that why you feel the need to change if you're planning to sell? It looks like a show-stopping kitchen as it is.

I do think the structure around the stove is a bit heavy, and that will benefit from more room and a new design. I'm actually sad to see you change from a gas range, because it seems to 'fit' the open beams and stone environment. The stone, wood, stainless, and flame are all elements that seem to go together. :-)

I can see the point about the black not really meshing with the white stone. I think concrete counters could be amazing, but any lighter overall look would probably make a sunnier and calmer blend with the rest of the house.

I think the slate is gorgeous. I also think it might be challenging to get a light or medium wood floor that coordinates well with the cabinets, although having a Brazilian Cherry floor, I've learned the hard way that I'd prefer to have lighter rather than darker. If you can get something that matches the wood ceilings, it could work, based on continuity. Have you considered anything other than wood?

I'm usually a stained wood person, but in this case there's so much wood - and I agree with doraville about the white stone. It feels like it wants to be painted some sort of white - maybe just white on the perimeter, and the island stays wood. The countertops are fine, and would look great with white cabinets. I would do a light colored tile on the floor - large tiles, not too busy.

Oh, and the area around the stove looks really dark - is that a dark slate backsplash around it? I think I see some lighting available in there, but it's very dark with the lighting off. I wonder if you can change out the backsplash there?

I'm with Doraville. The white stone looks like an important element in your home and likely a strong selling point for the potential buyer. Painting the cabinets white or gray, would bring them into stronger harmony with the stone. If the cabinets are lightened, the counters should work well as is but the floor might need to be changed out for a mid-tone - whether a neutral tile or wood.

"Desertsteph- You are probably right about the floor. That explains the struggle to find the right wood floor. Would you come over and clean my 62 countertops in the morning :)"

lol! i struggle with my 4' of it here!

I think the cat is formulating a plan tho...

I think your kitchen is lovely and original. May I ask what part of the country you are in? Just my two cents if this were my kitchen, I would keep the cabinets as is and lighten up the countertops. Have you considered using a light stained concrete? You could also use this on the floors. I think lightening them up will give the kitchen a nice "airy" feel to match your stone. I think opening that area more above the range will be the best improvement all around!

clkw,

What are the things you don't like about your current kitchen? As you know, there are a myriad of different directions to go, but by pinpointing the contentious areas, it's easier to come up with a plan.

I am guessing the blackish shiny granite is driving you crazy do to the daily dust & muck marks? (I am changing to a leathered quartz and granite in my kitchen for that very reason!) So, I would look at lighter counters. I think painting the cabinets an off-white would be great way to lighten up as well. Your slate floors could stay, if you painted the cabinets because you'd have a nice contrast.

Changing to an ebony stained wood floor, like you mentioned, will show dust again, so you'd be trading the counters that drive you crazy for a floor that drives you crazy.

I guess part of it is how much work, money you want to sink into the project. I also had dark slate floors in my kitchen and got them taken out. I loved them, but I was tired of the darkness. Is that why you want to change? Are you wanting a lighter look? I am replacing my slate with a light stone in the kitchen and it already is making me feel much happier being in there! If you changed the floor to a lighter color, I think then you could keep the cabinets in their natural wood state and lighten up the counters too.

I interested in what you decide to do!

Could you post some pictures of rooms with white stone near the kitchen? Do you have an overall theme or style?

Wow, so many great responses!
I will work on my answers and more photos this morning and get back to you
Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers! I'm a cat mom :)
Desetsteph, do you like my staircase for that little 3 legged cat... he lives on that counter!

If you are going to sell in 5 years, I would not drop a dime on the kitchen. Looks terrific for resale as is.

subjimata has it right! It is a very lovely kitchen as is.

I am doing major changes in mine, but I plan on staying at least 20 more years!

Is this the house that's on a river or lake in Texas? I remember seeing the pics you posted previously. Those were brighter and the dark counters weren't detracting. There are dramatic mid-tone granites that would look great but even more that take away from what's already there. These counters contrast nicely with everything in the room without being dull or making a statement themselves.

The only thing I'd definitely change is the wall color which is dreary in these pics. The kitchen and the adjacent room have a modern, but rustic, Southwest theme. Even the stucco around the range would fit in if it was a color that adobe came in. Accentuate what you have instead of trying to turn it into a generic, mainstream, could-be-anywhere room. I would also make sure that the landscaping outside the living room and kitchen also fits into the modern Southwest theme.

Unusual as that alcove is, it is the perfect setting for an impressive range. Like an altar to cooking. A cooktop would look wimpy there-even if the structure was reduced to columns. If you're bent on having induction, maybe a supplemental cooktop or hob could be installed on one of your other counters.

I wouldn't expand the refrigerator/freezer capacity unless you'd be using it yourself. Most of the folks I know with houses like this use don't require that much cold storage. They use caterers for parties and are often away at vacation homes. If you need the extra capacity, I'd look into undercounter appliances. (I have no knowledge of them.) Right now, the balance of counter space vs fridge/pantry is pleasing to the eye. Twice as much fridge-either SS or wood-will form a wall and make the kitchen feel smaller and more boring on that side.

Since you're looking to sale in 3-5 years I agree with not spending money on a major redo. Maybe just paint the walls. I think you'll have trouble recouping your investment in such a short time frame considering your kitchen looks fine for resale.

I realize it might be different in person, but the hood looks like a cave because of the dark, non-reflective tile. Maybe find a match-near miss in tile for the white stone OR a lighter tint of the wall and re-tile the range surround. Glass would be ideal. Gold tones like Oceanside cane.. or cough red.

Wow, you all are being so helpful, THANKS!!!! I spent all morning on my reply because I appreciate your help so much. And ignore my messy desk. I won't pretend to say it doesn't always look like that :)

I want to answer each of you individually, but some of the answers will overlap.

Here are some more pics so you can see how it fits into the rest of the house.
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You'll see the reason the stucco over the range and fireplace are that color because it matches the stucco accents outside of the house. The rest of the outside is in that same white stone.

The wall left of the fireplace will be replaced with a window, to match the right side. The TV will go above the fireplace. In removing that stone wall, there is going to be some patching done to the wood floor, which means we'll probably have to refinish it. That makes it a good time to change the color if we want to. I think I'd prefer a cooler brown tone if we keep the cabinets natural. The floor could use it anyway because there is a huge fade spot from the sun (which is why a light floor would be better). Changing the wall to a window will give us a much bigger lake view so we do believe that expenditure will enhance the value of the house.

The office pic is the room that connects to the kitchen. There is a tiny tiny bathroom right of the desk which is our only guest bathroom. This room connects to the garage. The main house is on the other side of the kitchen. We were going to replace one of those desks with an enlarged nicer powder room, broom closet, and new pantry.

The long hallway goes to the bedrooms and laundry room.

You can see the courtyard through the front door that leads to the front entrance. You can see that except for the kitchen, everything in the house is very light.

Yes, I have been wanting to change the paint color. I'm glad nobody seems to love it :) The house is old enough now, that it would need to be painted before we put it on the market anyway. I hope you all pick my color when we are done with the kitchen!

Rhome (and everyone) Thank you! The finish is actually very worn on most of the cabinets-see pic. We were talking about refinishing them. I did an experiment with one door using some Murphys oil soap this morning and it it came out like new. I don't know how long that will last? How are you supposed to clean or treat wood cabinets? I am in Texas and people here do like their gas. I figured if we sell, I'd put a big sign up over the induction that says, this is hooked up for gas!!!! The slate is pretty, but ours is in horrible shape. I've enclosed pics so you can see the chips. If I could live with it, I'm not sure if there is a way to make them blend with a dark sealer, if that even exists. The main reason I don't like them is they are so textured they are a trap for crumbs, mud, kitty litter, and even dirt from the previous owners (see pic that shows how deep the groves are next to my finger). I hadn't considered anything but wood until yesterday. Maybe we could replace it with a light stone that is a little smoother so at least I can keep it clean. You'll see there is tons of the white stone on the other floors. We don't know if we can put that in because that stone is extremely thick and we may not have the room. But, we could match that pattern or match the pattern on the walls. Matching the walls, or just coordinating with the other stone floors may be better because I'm not sure we can match that pattern close enough.

Charlikin- My husband had thought we should lighten up the area around the stove. It seems everyone agrees with him. I have enclosed a close up of the area. It's the slate that matches the floor. Eventually, I will have everyone give us input on how to reconfigure it. It would be nice to lighten it up and open up the view to to living room windows.

Galleycook- Yes, nail on the head, the white stone is everywhere. If we were staying, I would definitely paint the cabinets because I would enjoy how it blends more.

Hunt7191- Thank you. We live in Austin TX. So many of you like the idea of lightening things up around the range. Concrete could be a good option.

Doonie- Thanks. The hard to clean floor is my number one complaint. The black countertops that only look clean for a minute is #2. In general I love dark surfaces, but I'm getting practical in my old age :) I am tired of the busy look of the cabinets, but I do see that if I went lighter with the floor and countertops, I would enjoy the cabinets. Hmmm, does anyone think we should paint the cabinet on the stone wall so it blends in? I'd love to see before and after pics of your new stone floors.

Doraville- you got it... tons of pics !

Sabjimata- Thank you. And you are absolutely correct. But, the impractical side of me would just love to do something so I enjoy it for now. But, it only makes sense to be indulgent if I can at least make it look a little better.
Riverspots- Great memory! And I remember your comment then too. You said I shouldn't gut the kitchen, and all the wood 'speaks to it's location'. You won! :) I do agree the house is contemporary with rustic elements. I think they picked the wall color to blend with the stucco and the slate stripes. We did lose a lot of plants in our cold winter and are replacing them with location appropriate plants so they don't freeze and die. Other than that, I have no eye for landscaping. If ultimately everyone convinces me to keep everything in the kitchen, I'm open to it. A friend suggested I invest the remodel money into someone helping me keep the counters and floors clean :) :) You and Rhome are squashing my induction dreams :) Speaking of... we have one oven. If we do something, does everyone think I should put in two? If we don't do the wall ovens, we could replace the range with a bigger one if we can give up some drawer space on either side. Actually, our current fridge is overflowing because we live in the country and have to stock up at the store. Our freezer is tight, but we can get by with what we currently have there. And most importantly, right now I'm so happy I can say I've never had a caterer :) Full disclosure: not that many wonderful meals have come out of this kitchen either.. I'm a horrible cook!

Nkkp- You have wise advise too. Seems everyone is on board with paint!

Bmorepanic- The hood does indeed look like a cave, even when it's lit up. If we do the new countertops, do you think I should use the same material in there, or would you like glass or something similar to the stone regardless. I will ultimately ask everyone for their input once we get the major things taken care of.

I hope I answered everyone. Thank you for reading all of this!!

Correction.. I used Old English oil, not Murphys oil soap. If anyone has a green alternative, I would love to know.

What a lovely, unique house and it definitely looks contemporary to me. You certainly have some interesting challenges. Whatever changes I made would be contemporary ones. I just love the contemporary feel and the lake views!
1) If those marred cabinet doors are part of the kitchen, then you definitely need to think about doing something with them that includes a good sanding. If you painted, it could be either light or dark depending on how much more light you are able to bring to the room and what you do with the counters. I would also consider replacing the doors, if they aren't suitable for painting.
2) If you go with a light cabinet color, then you would keep current counter. I can tell you really hate your current counters, but it would probably be the most expensive item to replace other the the cabinets (you have a lot of counter) and personally I would have a hard time justifying it unless I was staying a long time. Going with a dark cabinet color would allow you to go light with the counter.
3) I would try to do the range backsplash with stone similar to the rest of the stone in your house. If not, then maybe a light tumbled marble or travertine.
4) Is it possible to use stone on your floor in the kitchen that would match the stone on the floor in entry way or staircase room? I think the flooring in the kitchen needs to match the other stone or the other wood in the house. The color of the wood I like is that on the ceiling in the living room(?).
5) Did you consider getting some advice re countertops? Maybe it has been sealed too many times and something could be done to strip it.

"Desetsteph, do you like my staircase for that little 3 legged cat... he lives on that counter!"

i saw the staircase - that's great! the little sweetie only has 3 legs? then he needs all the help he can get!

I posted a link to PW's Lodge. It's on a ranch in OK. They redid it last year... scroll down to the 2nd and 3rd pics and you can see her concrete counter top - and most of the kitchen.
To the far left of the screen is a list and 'the Lodge' is toward the bottom. click on that and it'll take you to other threads regarding the Lodge remodel.

Here is a link that might be useful: PW's lodge

Doraville- Thank you
Except for the doors directly under the sink, after using the Old English Oil, they all look brand new again. It turns out I just wasn't cleaning my cabinets properly and I was drying them out.. ooops :)

Matching the stone on the floor to the rest of the house is an excellent idea. I like the idea of using a surface we already have. If we can't get that stone thin enough, it has been suggested to use a concrete made to match.

Yesterday, I realized our faded patch of wood floor, which is mesquite, matches the color of the ceiling wood. I want to see if the floor people can lighten up the rest of the wood floor to match that faded spot. The upside of that, is the floor is already as faded as it's going to get, so then we don't have to worry about the floor fading after we've redone it. So if anyone thinks it could look good in the kitchen, I'd be open to that too.

Would the sealer on the countertops affect how clean the countertop looks? I had assumed it was just the color? I would love your thoughts about this. If anything, it hasn't been sealed enough.

Desertsteph- Scooter say thanks! My house is littered with staircases everywhere. When he wants to get on something, he just stands there, stares at it and whimpers. When I put him on it, he just starts to purr and purr.

Thanks for the link to PW's Lodge. I haven't seen that many concrete counters and floors so it's very helpful for me to see pics to help me visualize what it could look like.

I would love to see it when it's done. Good luck!