Oh, I forgot to mention that my stove is a vintage chambers green stove with chrome top.

bump

Please don't do a wood counter! You are already in danger of wood overload. In fact, a painted cabinet would work much better in your situation than the wood ones. However, if you do decide on the dark wood, it will need to have some contrast with your floor, so watch that your choice isn't so dark there too. You will also need a light counter for contrast. Perhaps a light laminate if you need a budget choice, but there really isn't a lot that will work with Rainforest Green marble without looking "wrong". If you try to match the greens or browns in the marble, it won't look nearly as good as something like a cream or light taupe. Wilsonart Kalahari Topaz, Perla Piazza, and Pampas are good choices. If you want undermount, then quartz would be a good choice. Minerva Cream or Diana Pearl Silestone could work.

So, these are your materials?
{{!gwi}}

What look are you going for?

marcolo,

I had to take the individual components as a snapshot instead of whole kitchens since some whole concepts clashed with each other (most of the ikea pics were contemporary and the pine were very rustic, etc.)

This may help but I still need clarification on the type of look/vibe the OP is going for:

Ikea:

That knotty pine...it's going to be all over that room.

The floors might be something like this but on a diagonal??

With all the wood surrounding you, I would NOT do a wood counter. It'll be like living in a lodge. As you are right now, you're surrounded by brown with a little bit of green from the peninsula.

Honestly, I'm thinking that if the RF Green is too much, budgetwise, then quartz will be out as well. I can't think of what will mesh with the RF Green successfully with your other combinations without seeing the kitchen layout.

I'm inclined to say to rethink the RF Green altogether and look at some affordable options that will work for you. Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought one could undermount with certain laminates. Also, there are different levels of pricing with granite. You may want to look around to see if there's one you feel more comfortable with.

Thanks for the responses!

Marcolo, those are the components as far as cabinets and walls (and stove). The floor of the livingroom is the ploughed acre sheet marmoleum and the living room opens onto the kitchen, so I thought at the 54" wide 'dooryway' to the kitchen I could have the sheet ploughed acre transition into diamonds of ploughed acre and something else, black or maybe something lighter as suggested here.

I've rethought the rainforest as Live wire and Babs suggested. It doesn't seem to work. Babs, the floor is in the right ballpark, possibly 24" squares on the diagonal and possibly a small diamond or square at the intersections of the bigger diamonds, maybe 2" and definitely in a lighter color if that seems to make sense? Live wire, I think you're right in your observations about Rainforest and I'm guessing that if I can't afford to do the whole thing in it, then I should just admire it in someone else's kitchen. It's a bummer but 100+ a sq. ft. just isn't doable for us.

I felt that wood would be too, too much. How about this silestone pattern? I like that it pulls some green from the stove and might look cohesive with the honey pine walls.

I guess the vibe I'm looking for is comfy, rustic and eclectic updated mom kitchen. Is that a vibe? I have lots of wooden bowls and white stoneware pieces that I like to display if that helps. Also this stone here (shown on the existing kitchen wall will be repurposed for a fireplace surround which will be seen from the kitchen.) Does that help at all? (the stone is a bit more vibrant in person, little washed out in this pic)

FWIW, all the stuff in the kitchen pic is not mine, it belonged to the renter that lived there when we bought it.

Do I need to get my Chambers re-enameled in a different color to make this all work, lol?

I'm totally open to suggestions, folks. Other than on the Ikea cabs because of the price, although I guess I could consider some lighter ones, but it seemed the darker worked with the pine.

I've gotten 3 estimates from: big box, Sherr's and custom local and they are all about 8,000 to 10,000 more than what I can do with Ikea.

[traditional laundry room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-laundry-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_753~s_2107) by toronto general contractor HARDROCK CONSTRUCTION

[traditional hall design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-hallway-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_743~s_2107) by charleston architect Frederick + Frederick Architects

[traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by seattle architect David Vandervort Architects

I'm really drawn to the feel of these spaces and I'd love to achieve the same feel for my kitchen... the whole house, really. DH is in love with the knotty pine, I'd prefer a whitewashed pine but I want him to be happy and he's happy to allow me carte blanche with everything so I'm really trying to work the knotty pine for him.

I've always had white or cream cabinets in my kitchens (currently Ben Moore White Dove) and frankly, I'm tired of them and looking forward to something... not white.

we have quite a bit of the knotty pine on walls, ceiling at a vacat place. We have a few other elements than yours.The wood with it's warmth is dominant.An understated pattern in my opinion is the best. Competing patterns will tire you, even though you can technically find one that "goes". I was set to replace counters and brought home larger stoned patterns to blend with the fieldstone fireplace wall adjacent to the kitchen-those didn't work after a day or 2 of walking by -too much. Instead, grab a tone of color in something and find a speckled or very small 2 tone pattern-will keep you loving the ambience.Wouldn't blink about picking formica-the other elements are strong-a mild mannered counter[lower cost too] can slip into your package just fine.

Would you be up for DIY painting Ikea doors or having them painted? I just don't see more wood as being the best choice with so much pine around you. But, with a colorful stove, there's nothing that says you can't have colorful cabinets as well, so would that be on your list of possible things for you to do?

Would you be up for mixing colors on cabinets? I can see doing one color around your range, but picking out that green from the range for a painted cabinet elsewhere. Or even painting your Hoosier to match the range. What are you going to do for ventilation for that range? That can often be an interesting focal point that you can pull cues from for the rest of the room. (Full self promoting here.) In one of the last Design Around This threads, I did a knotty pine cabin with a vintage range and used a cow's watering trough fitted with a custom hood liner to get that bit of rustic whimsy into the space.

Does the floor already exist in the space, or are you going to be installing it? I can see a checkerboard happening, but maybe with a lighter cream or a red or green toned color instead. In fact, a cream, green and brown and red design could work great with your range. Look at the Design Around This: Linoleum thread for more flooring ideas.

Do you have an overhead layout of the space so we can understand it's relationship with the rest of the rooms?

We love our RFG and I'm so pleased that it attracted you too. It does dominate. When you come into my kitchen, RFG is what you see first. I think RFG needs to be in the simplest setting possible or you will get a headache. Last night we had dinner at a friend's. She has a new kitchen with a blue cabinet island with a copper top, cherry perimeter with granite, 6x6 slate floors and 1x1 slate backsplash, beamed ceiling and brick around the wall oven and gas fireplace, plus a red Aga. Lots of pretty pottery etc, made it worse. I helped prep and cleanup and I was so happy to come home to my restful, simple kitchen after all that brain clutter. So please be careful about liking too much beautiful stuff. You have to choose.
Laura

Here is an overhead view of the empty space when we are done remodeling. The sink wall of the kitchen is the far left (only one without a door, lol)

Herbflavor, I value your experience with this. It's hard to find people with knotty pine that don't just want to paint over it much less adding it new, lol! I guess I was feeling the need to be simple in the kitchen because of the strong wood presence, which is why I finally thought the dark Ikea cabs would work... they aren't overtly wood like to me ('course, I haven't seen them in person yet) and I thought they could hold their own with the pine without trying to compete. Did you see the silestone pic that I posted above... what do you think about that?

Laura, I know I have to choose. Too bad there are so many choices, lol! Seriously though, I'm sitting here wondering if it was the
RF that I loved so much about your kitchen or the mellow, simple, restful vibe instead? I mean, the RF is just so beautiful but now that I'm thinking about 'vibe', maybe that vibe is what attracted me to your kitchen (after the showstopper RF stopped me in my tracks). Remember when you had the multicolored tile issue right at the end there? THAT's what I'm trying to avoid here, too much going on, and I know that you understand the place I'm at.

Live wire: I really am not enamored of painting anymore cabinets. I want to order what I want, ready to install. I've been there, done that and don't want to do it anymore. I love painting walls and edging, I dislike painting furniture and I tend to get sloppy when I get sick of it, which after the third cab or so. I would LOVE to see that thread with the pine.... how long ago was it? I've been trying to look back but haven't found it yet.

Does anyone think the dark cabs work with the knotty pine or am I the only one? I have considered knotty pine uppers but for some reason, valid or not, I reject that 'vibe'. Of course, I could see it done beautifully and change my mind in an instant. Trying to keep an open mind, here.

Design around this #3 was about 1920's kitchens, and I used this linoleum scrap to inspire my design. The greens used in it are very like your green range, so maybe some of this can inspire you. Look through the whole thread because there are some great design examples!

Design Around This #8 was about animal prints. My inspiration was the cow print stencil for the floor, and that's the one I used the knotty pine and vintage range and cow trough hood. It has white cabinets though to keep from wood overload. It's a bit kitschy, but there might be some takeaways for you. The whole thread again is pretty great inspirational reading.

deed:the knotty pine you have chosen in "honey" has to be shown. Do you have a pic? Reason:I've seen the old stuff with original topcoat in wide plank tongue/groove and newer,lighter colored milled stuff which is totally different. Honey shades can be all over the spectrum-this is important-does it appear light so you can go darker with cabs or is your honey staining giving it a caramel look-the knots will make it look even darker-how knotty is it? I wouldn't pick the silestone you have there, but put out more info...knotty pine can work-I've even seen it morph into formal cottage, not just rustic lodge-there are a lot of factors.Keep on with your planning.Happy New Year-be knotty, not naughty!

I'd try the link at the bottom and these other 2 by Nevamar for a nice laminate. I got samples and was very impressed with their patterns and how different some of them were from other mfrs. I'd do a plain pale ceramic for the bs.

http://www.cabinetparts.com/p/nevamar-laminate-sheets-for-countertops-NMH4001H54X8/

http://www.cabinetparts.com/p/nevamar-laminate-sheets-for-countertops-NWZ0001TH54X8/

Here is a link that might be useful: Makaresh by Nevamar

Herb,

This is the pic of the honey pine from the Buffalo Lumber website. My sample is not nearly as shiny and yellow looking in person, of course it could be my monitor that renders it so yellow. I hated it til I got my sample, actually.

It's not the caramel of the old pine at all more of a warmish golden....definitely 'honey' toned. I'm not sure how knotty it is, but the 5" sample I have has one good sized brown knot in it. The planks are 5/8" thick and 5" wide tongue and groove. It's nice quality stuff for sure.

And I LOVE that old flooring, live Wire! It speaks to me, as Navin Johnson said. Great colors! (I do love my greens) I have to work tonight so I'll check out the design thread more in depth.... thanks for the link. And thanks for the laminate link, dianolo... I check some of that out later tonight, too whilst everyone else is being naughty. :)

Stayin' knotty for now....

Here is a link that might be useful: knotty pine website

You're welcome. The link one is the one that occurred to me for the granite as a perfect blend. It is mellow and incorporates the colors without bringing another real pattern in. I'd never do a completely solid laminate due to previous experiences from 2 previous owners, but a mottled type looks holds up well. If you used a light bs in either bone or pale yellow, I think you would have a nice look with the other elements. Order as many laminate samples as you can because they are so much better than looking at a monitor. They are free, so why not? Some samples looked much different for better and for worse than what I saw on my computer, so give it a shot yourself.

Okay, critical eyes, I've played around with the idea of lighter countertops and lighter b/s. What is not working?

Is it the floor and the pine or the cabs and the pine or everything and the pine?

is the fruitwood stained pine panelling out of the question-that's the route I'd go, anyway-with the honey, I'd lean toward the Ikea Abstrakt gray slab door, then Formica in something like 6222, 3496, 7267-get a slightly whimsical shaped cabinet knob-is there anyplace to mix in a glass door or 2, an island in a painted coastal[muted] color-elements like that to keep it light and fun which I gather is how you are leaning with the vintage stove and choice of pine...

Off to bed for awhile, hope to see some GW feedback! Of course, if anyone is nursing a hangover, this may just make it worse, lol....

Thanks

The dark uppers are really heavy. What about using white, just on the uppers? And use some glass doors on select cabinets, possibly using glass paint to get your pretty mint green all around the room? And a green glass tile instead of the plain white? The tile is slightly deeper in color than the range to add depth, and I just used the same for the glass uppers, although I'd probably want to go lighter than the range for them. Different variations of the same color lend interest, but keep the overall look harmonic.

{{!gwi}}

And maybe use a yet deeper version of the green for bar stools or chairs?

Maybe something dark and modern in the lighting to contrast yet tie into the darker lower cabinets?

Wow, that's better! Thank you Live wire! You're absolutely right, heavy is a good word for those dark uppers. I'm not sure what glass paint is? For painting glass or for making a panel look like glass... probably for painting glass, right? I was going to have a couple cabs have glass and maybe even stained glass, FWIW. So, it seems to me that if I keep the green stove, then it's the stove that drives the color scheme? I love that last light. There are a couple like that on Overstock that I've been admiring. Interesting.

Herb: The knotty pine is only because it reminds my DH of his childhood and his heart is set on it, although it might be a good idea to order a sample of the fruitwood, which I acutally prefer... online pic-wise anyway. I'd have never thought of such modern cabinets with the knotty pine but that is also an interesting route to think about. I can't say that they are really my style... or at least I've never considered anything like that before. Seems like they'd be seen in a more 'cosmopolitan' setting than our little rural river house. Hmmm. You know, that knotty pine in the kitchen has been flummoxing me since the start. I have no problem with it in the living room but since the LR is wide open to the kitchen, it just felt like the two rooms should be visually cohesive... kind of like the kitchen should be an extension of the living room, if you follow me.

Thank you so much for the input, you've both given me some new ways to think about this.

Lord. I thought I was almost done deciding and now I'm not so sure.

Woo. Hoo! j/k...

You know, that knotty pine in the kitchen has been flummoxing me since the start. I have no problem with it in the living room but since the LR is wide open to the kitchen, it just felt like the two rooms should be visually cohesive...

Since the knotty pine is making it difficult for you, have you considered only continuing it on the ceiling? The ceiling continues from the living room to the kitchen, but you have existing breaks in the living room to kitchen walls. You could use the doorway to the porch and the wall by the stairs to define where the knotty pine ends in the living room. Then you would be free to use whatever color you like on the kitchen walls.

Deke: YES! I have thought about it over and over... If you look at my 'vibe' pics up higher in this thread, you'll see that exact thing. I guess I'm not sure what to use on the kitchen walls in that instance so I kind of shied away from the idea. It feels like my 'knotty pine everywhere in the kitchen' is kind of my crying uncle.
I wish Marcolo would do a 'design this' thread featuring my situation, hint, hint.
I'd like this little house to be wonderfully comfortable and beautiful but I feel like I'm going to screw it up somehow.
See: I love this...

[traditional laundry room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-laundry-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_753~s_2107) by toronto general contractor HARDROCK CONSTRUCTION

I agree with just having the pine on the ceiling in the kitchen. Also, your flooring choice seems a little dark with all of the wood walls, so have you thought about revisiting it? The slate in your last inspiration pic is nice and slate comes in all manner of colors, including multicolor and some lighter tones as well.

Live wire: I am right now revisiting the flooring choice, funny you should ask, lol. I guess I picked the dark linoleum looking for something reasonably priced that seemed durable and easy to care for and was not synthetic. I've never had stone floors. I worry that they'll be cold and hard on our feet. I do love the look of the floors in that pic, though. Haha, it's gotten pretty far from "countertop choice help", hasn't it? More like "back to square one help, please".
This is really helpful, though and is causing me to slowly realize that by crying 'uncle' to choices because I don't want to screw it up will effectively accomplish exactly what I'm trying to avoid. Duh.

Better? Doing the fridge wall since it's easier,lol. Thought I'd see how the whitewashed pine looked on the horizontal just for fun.

I guess I picked the dark linoleum looking for something reasonably priced that seemed durable and easy to care for and was not synthetic.

Have you checked on the pricing for installing the Marmoleum? We just had some installed in our new home and, where we are located, it is more expensive than wood or tile.

Hi, I didn't read the details of each post but I think the knotty pine is too much. Your inspiration pictures are very different than the images you are posting with the knotty pine. I think if you look at the inspiration images you will see harmony in soft contrast and textures. I love the wood cabinets and the contrasting walls. I think the knotty pine would look better sparingly used or not at all. It is great that you've posted your questions and images. The feedback is so worthwhile.

If your dh has his heart set on the pine, I think using it on the ceiling would be a fair compromise. It would be best if you did not shut his choice out but let it flow on the ceiling from the other rooms.
As for the floors, the dark bistre would keep you from yet another wood grain and would work well with the RFG counters.
I definitely think a light tone bs would be in order and using glass in the uppers or going with a lighter painted color for those would also help. Don't be afraid of some darker elements as long as you use some lighter ones to balance it all out. If you also pick light color accessories and kitchen electrics, that will lighten up things. I'd keep the green as mostly the stove and not overload green in other materials. It will help to highlight it if it is its own element.

I just came across this thread again and was wondering if you'd come to a decision? I think you should take a hard look at your inspiration photos and the photos that include the knotty pine that really make your heart sing. I'd look at the amount of pine in them and the other elements and try to incorporate that into your kitchen. I agree with enduring in that the photos you've posted of the kitchens you like and your mock-ups are nothing alike. I'd love to see you get the kitchen of your dreams but fear that if you go the direction you're heading in, you'll dislike your kitchen...