One reason I chose dark wood cabinets was because all the woodwork in my house is dark and I wanted my new kitchen to blend in seamlessly with the rest of my house. I wanted it to look like it "belonged" rather than sticking out like a brand new sore thumb. Another reason I chose dark was at the time no one was doing dark cabinets and I wanted something that was not like every other new kitchen. Four years later I'm very happy with my choice - no regrets. I have a lot of windows but I live in the woods so it's not all that bright and sunny.

If I had more sunlight in my kitchen, I would have gone with exactly the color stain you are talking about. I think it is very rich and classic. I had a white kitchen for years so we went with a light cherry this time. You have to choose what you love and will still love in years to come.

Thank you both. You have given me some comfort in my decision. Although the colour will not match the dining and living room sets I presently have (they are teak) it will in a couple of years when I can afford to replace the teak!

I'll hunt around for some of my finished kitchen pics thread (I haven't posted them on the gallery side), but for my first time, I went with a really dark cabinet and a mid-dark granite, in an end unit townhouse with the kitchen facing north east (so, no sun) and I'm thrilled. Granted, I have a small kitchen, and it is open concept, so I think that I was able to get away with such a dark choice.

I have a very light filled space and yet went with light cabinets. My kitchen faces south with a 6 foot door on one side and an 8 foot on the other. I think you should get what you want. Really, the amount of natural light shouldn't make a difference as you can always add cans, under counter lights pendants a chandelier. Get what you are attracted to. You can always use a light shade of paint and a reflective counter top to help spread the light around.... Look on the FKB and you will see very dark cabinets that look wonderful in the space and some have very limited access to natural light. Take the sample door and granite to you won home though and see how it feels in your space. The difference in how things look in a showroom and how they look in your own space can sometimes be startling. What you like in the showroom might seem hideous to you in your own home.

Chloe, I would love to see pics, thank you. Morton, I love your kitchen! Thanks for the advice. My space will be quite open and well lit both naturally and with recessed lighting, pendants and under the cabinet lights. My granite will be light-coloured.

Gibby and mbarstow, if you would be willing to share photos as well, I would be grateful.

Footballmom, I like your idea of bringing home the samples. I will do so.

lily - there are a bunch of pics of my kitchen on the link on My Page.

I always wanted dark cabinets specifically cherry. I found a cabinet maker that had a dark cherry espresso and I saw the pics and I fell in love. WE ordered them and they are here and we are going to have a lot of lights, two chandeliers one above the kitchen nook are and one above the dining area and recessed lighting, we may add pendants later on if not enough light. My backsplash and floor tile are a beigey light color as well as my paint and the counters are a mix of beiges/browns . The cabinets went in this week and I love them. HOwever I like you love the new white kitchens that are being done and this guy also had a pretty white color called i think almond creme it's gorgeous as well But again I do love what i Have and cannot wait til everything's finished. Go w/ your first gut feeling of what you like.

Gibby, your kitchen is gorgeous! Oh my gosh, what a lovely place you have! I love your backsplash as well. The colour of your cabinets is beautiful. Mine will actually be even darker, either the deep red or a brown, depending on what I finally decide. i had never even realized the impact of an interesting backsplash until this forum. I was saving money on the backsplash but I have now changed my mind. Lovely kitchen.

I went with a medium to dark stained cabinet. I was worried because I was always drawn to light colors and we have white appliances. The cabinets we chose match the darker colors of the wood parquet floor (which is light and dark). I chose a lighter granite (Saint Cecilia Light) that has colors that help tie the white appliances and trim with the cabinet color. I left the area around the windows open so that it does not feel closed in. We love the way the kitchen looks and the cabinets look wonderful as well.

Here is a full view of the counters and cabinets with the wood floors.

Here is a close in view:

Ignore the open space with the "I" -- we are waiting for a backordered cabinet.

I agree with Rosema12 - go with your first gut instinct of what you like! There are always going to be pictures of things that are also nice that will make you doubt your decision (as evidenced by all the beautiful pictures posted by forum members!), but as most people find, you'll always be most happy with your first instinct.

Morton, Your kitchen is beautiful. Can you tell me the name of your tile backsplash?
Thanks!

I have dark cherry-stained cabinets because
1) I had already had three white kitchens and needed something different; and
2) Our floor plan requires that you walk by the kitchen in order to get to the informal back of the house from the front, formal part of the house. Our dining room has dark furniture and I wanted the butler's pantry and kitchen to coordinate with that.

I've never regretted the decision.

I think it is a preference thing. I LOVE some of the beautiful classic white kitchens I have seen on here but in my gut I am a stained wood kind of gal. We are barely in the planning phase of our kitchen and I already know that I want dark cabinets like some of the ones shown above. Go with what you love and what your gut tells you that you will enjoy the most.

I love my dark stained cabs. This is the second kitchen I've done with dark cabinets, so I definitely don't regret it, LOL.

{{!gwi}}

Thank you, Sueb2009, the backsplash is Jeffrey Court's Fire and Ice in quartzite. If you search this forum on Fire and Ice, you will see a few kitchens with this tile.

I really went back and forth between cream or black and finally ended up with cream perimeter cabs and a black island. I did ask lots of opinions from friends and on another forum, but I ended up just going with my gut. Whenever I looked a pictures of traditional white or cream kitchens, it just looked right to me, but I really had to have some black in there, to keep it from becoming too bright. There isn't a right or wrong answer to this, just make sure you get what you love, and what you can live with.

I chose dark, dark, dark wood cabinets to go with the rest of the house that has all original dark wood doors & trim. The kitchen was previously white and it just didn't seem to 'belong' to the rest of the house.

I am thrilled with how it is turning out; not quite finished with the install yet.

Oh, I guess I should add that though I do love the many white kitchens I see here on the forum I must be a cave dweller, because I am particularly drawn to the dark wood kitchens(darker the better).

me, too katienic. While I practically drool when I see the beautiful creamy white kitchens or light wood modern kitchens here, my first pick for my own home is dark wood. My last house - the kitchen was darker than the ones in this one, and I had dark wood stained trim throughout (Minwax Jacobean). Loved it!

I had thought of light cherry cabinets and white appliances but light wood stains are so, so dated according to Cote de Texas. However costs for all forms of energy are going to skyrocket in the coming years and my kitchen doesn't get much natural light. Interesting decision.

Here are just a few of my new cabinets being installed as I type.. dark yes but there is barely any light except natural light right now.. I will take pics once it's ALL done..I agree w/ others I always loved dark cherry so classic to me but I love the kitchens on this forum that have the creamy white etc. so beautiful also.. that I almost thought OHY MY too dark but when it's all done you will be happy

http://s717.photobucket.com/albums/ww175/rosema12/

Thanks to all of you for your input and to those who posted photos of your kitchens. They are all beautiful. I have decided to stay with my dark field berry colour and I am also going to get a better backsplash after seeing your kitchens!