On my monitor your countertops read very dingy grey, but that could be due to the lighting. Can you take another photo or two showing different lighting/angles?

Thanks, The countertops are the same in the island where it is well lighted. It looks greyish/ dull only with creamy cabinets.

Those import yellow cabinets are the problem. The cold gray of the counter clashes with the warm yellow and wood.

Either change the cabinets. Or the counters. Easiest would be the counters. Best choice would be the cabinets. They are much too much. And they scream poor quality import rather loudly. Those awful molding returns are dead giveaways.

I would get new counter tops if at all possible. If you can not afford it at this time then wait but do not put on a back splash so that you are stuck with trying to match that

The OP already said they like the cabinets.

We have all had design oops, but I'm sorry to say I don't think paint can bridge the difference in both style and color between the countertops and the cabinets. Not only is the color wrong, but the edging also feels far more contemporary than the very traditional cabinets. You can use certain techniques to pull together different things you love and make them work in a space, but it would be a mistake to spend more time and money trying to tie in an element that you don't like. Replace them and move on.

If you can't live with the cost to change all the countertops, how about leaving the island and changing the perimeter countertops? It would still be costly, but a beautiful and less expensive medium or darker granite would match the glazed cabinetry far better than the white and grey countertops that are popular right now.

If you can't change any of the countertops at this time, the mistake won't be as glaring once you have moved in and decorated to your liking. Right now your eye immediately goes to the relationship between the countertops and cabinets because there is nothing else to look at.

Good luck finding something you love!!

It's very disappointing when things don't turn out the way we expected. Sophie, I think you are being too harsh. Sometimes the decisions we make last a long time and it's not that easy to just replace the countertops or cabinets. There is a cost factor!! I made a similar mistake a few years back. I had porcelain flooring installed in the bathroom and then realized once laid that it was too "creamy". It's still there, and I have managed to improve the look with blues and greys and now I love them.

Pradeep, would you be able to paint the cabinets? I'm not sure what the cost would be, might be more than the cost of the countertops. So what I would suggest is to contact a designer in your area. Some of the paint stores (like Benjamin Moore) sometimes have designers on staff and they would be able to give you the best advice. Considering this is such a huge task, it would probably be money well spent. The designer may surprise you and have a really good solution that would save your countertops and cabinets. It's also hard to get a true picture of the colour of the cabinets and countertop. Best of luck!

Look at the dining room here, Cracked pepper by Behr...paint the island? to make it darker, OR, lighten it with a technique of your painter's recommendation to a paler tone as I thought above? http://www.homebunch.com/beautiful-homes-of-instagram-42/  In this room I see the color of your cabinets, I see the counter top color, and I see other tones that blend in nicely. Scroll down to the kitchen here, too. I think you have several conservative options you will be able to live with in this nice area.

I'm not sure if this link will work. I'm not the best at figuring these things out. The link is a picture of a kitchen with cream cabinets, white countertop and bluish walls. Just an idea.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=what+to+match+with+cream+cabinets&tbm=isch&imgil=2NrJlHkRmYbw2M%253A%253BekHZJWuRzHAFhM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%25252Fporchcom%25252Fthe-best-paint-colors-for_b_5579440.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=2NrJlHkRmYbw2M%253A%252CekHZJWuRzHAFhM%252C_&usg=__65F06o33jWPIkXgOUsl9jIL4ufw%3D&biw=1138&bih=517&ved=0ahUKEwjGtrC3z8HWAhWKxFQKHW-wA2AQyjcIOQ&ei=tKLJWcaMFIqJ0wLv4I6ABg#imgrc=FuQGwYkmAjeaNM:&spf=1506386621625

Thanks for the wonderful input . I really appreciate that all of you care and the ideas are very helpful.

I also feel that with more things in place, this will look better.

Pls give input on the following :

1. Color of cabinets :

what colors would you recommend if painting the cream cabinets is feasible.

Ms Susan, the white color in the hillsborough pic looks pretty good. what do you recommend

2. Back splash.

I have a feeling that a creamy travertine looking back splash with brown elements may improve the looks. what do you think?

Do you think changing back splash alone can bring a big change and neutralize the issue?

3. Counter top :

If we can change the counter top just on the kitchen and not on the island, what would you recommend?

4. What about knobs / handles on the doors of the cream cabinets ? can they make a difference ? what do your recommend?

You're welcome! Do you have any inspiration pictures or can you describe the overall style of your house and furnishings? The painted and glazed cabinets read old world traditional to me, but without seeing any of your other choices I could be totally off the mark. Everyone has their own idea of what home looks like and I want to make sure we're making suggestions that help you achieve your vision!

1. White, no glaze would look beautiful with both the island and the countertops. Whites are tough, so you would have to get large samples and see what works best for the countertops with the lighting in your space. Personally I am a BM fan, I would start with white dove, chantilly lace, simply white. Stay away from anything with a strong yellow undertone. Understand that painting the cabinets white would make your kitchen a more contemporary interpretation of the traditional style.

2. Travertine can be tough as it generally has a pink undertone. Another option that has a similar textural look is limestone. I understand you're trying to find a material that has variation to pull in both the creamy yellow and grey, but you might be better off with a cream ceramic tile that is consistent in color as not to add any additional competing undertones. Keep in mind that the backsplash is a verticle surface that interacts more with the verticle surface of the cabinets than the horizontal countertop.

3. Rich stained walnut would be beautiful on the cream, but the wear and tear isn't for everyone. I would look at quiet medium brown granites, something that relates to the island. Quartz is a more contemporary look that is out of step with the cabinets as they are finished now, which is part of current the problem.

4. If you do not paint the cabinets and Lee the countertops, pewter or antique nickle hardware would be a subtle way to repeat the grey color in the countertops and keep the old world styling of the cabinets. This is an easy solution that would help the countertops fit much better!

To sum it up.... If you want to keep the more old world styling, a cream ceramic backsplash with pewter or antique nickel hardware would be the best way to achieve that look. White cabinets are more in line with current trends and eliminate the problem with the undertones.... but this is your house and it's all about what makes your heart sing. Either way your kitchen will be beautiful!

This may not be a "top recommendation" if you were starting from the beginning, but possibly may help with working with what you have:. What my eye sees as the worst is where the cream cabinets are directly near the greyish countertop. What if you did a darker brown wooden trim around the countertop, similar color to your island. And maybe as you mention bring in a brown hood and/or brown beadboard backsplash? And maybe also paint/faux wood stain the vertical corbels (or what are the spindle parts called?) in the base cabinets?

Thanks so much. We were pretty down yesterday but i feel that we are making a lot of friends who are so willing help and be involved. Three lights - you have shed a lot of light on the subject. We didn't realize the modern cut of the countertop and the antique look of the cabinet. Thanks, engrgirl for your inspiration and nice ideas - paint. We can paint the wooden hood we are doing in the cream color ( same color of cabinet). I feel from your comments that with a good back splash, bright lighting and a handles/knobs to match the counter top, we may be able to make it work. Also, the countertop looks really white above the brown island and the greyish tinge could be from poor lighting - once we brighten the area, it may appear whiter??

Again, i will keep asking and please follow our project. I really appreciate and will count on you in the future.

Good night

Red Silver, I really like the looks of the kitchen in the home whose link you sent us.If we can get close to that, it will be wonderful. Many thanks

Well, I like the cabinet color. It is true that your photos appear to show the countertop in shadow, but on top of the island, the counters appear white-ish. Cream and white happens to be one of my favorite color combos, so I would have to agree with Red Silver (and maybe others above) who think the way out is to paint out the island, and go with a light-colored theme in the kitchen.

It is hard to achieve the perfection that we all see in beautifully staged Houzz photos, with different lighting, things that don't come out as expected, and things we never thought of. Once you get a beautiful yet simple backsplash in there, and everything moved in, I think it will all come together. Your countertop edge is relatively simple, and I think that's a fine and nice choice. I would not change it out--that option is always there down the road when everything you're doing now is done, and and you can see a single choice like that with clarity (and have the budget). Good luck!

I don't know how they do it, but it might be interesting to have the island lighter with the color of the cabinets painted over it, and than wiped off, to just see the dark highlights in streaks? BUT, if having the island darker is your preference as someone said, due to other wood in your home, than when you see the whole picture, and the appliances in play, you will see a different hue in all your surfaces. I don't encourage WHITE OR DARK in a kitchen. DARK is hard to keep the smears and dust off to look CLEAN. WHITE, is going to yellow with time and especially around the cooking appliance where fumes and grease go airborne. So your cabinets are the pERFECT color of a creamy yellow, not a naseous LEMON or an ORANGEy yellow. Light in a kitchen as yours will be very nice and the colors of the walls such as just the right warm taupe color or pale gray, or just the right dusty blue, or even dusty green-gray or gray-green, show you have versatile basics that will stand the test of time as soft good colors come and go, for window treatments and linens. I read somewhere that in paints, the most timeless choices that wear on one to 'live with' long term, lie in the 'dusty' shades family. I think there is some truth to that. Being there in person, you will be able to make the best judge, and you can always ask someone you trust to confirm your decision or guide you to an option you have not thought of, based on all the ideas you have seen here. It's great to have so many options!

Once I read this (and had already noticed the island) I quit reading.

The countertops are the same in the island where it is well lighted.

You need to get adequate lighting in there first of all. Your counter looks white in the light. So get lots of light in there, and then see what does or doesn't need to be done. Tread lightly/work conservatively. ;)

It's a relief to me, to think the cabinets all, don't have to be repainted! Whew. That is so much WORK!!! And don't chunk the counters. A long way from complete. One step at a time. . . :D

I love that cream and white look!! There it is!

Thanks Lexi. The pic is a perfect inspiration. We were thinking of a 3x6 whitish cream colored lime stone like tile for back splash originally.

does the group think a whitish ( subway or stone) or a creamy white is better ?

I feel less burdened , thanks to all of your wonderful and detailed inputs.

does the group think a whitish ( subway or stone) or a creamy white is better ?

I would get some of each, in different styles and designs, and bring them home to play with. I have found over time that what I think I would like, and what I actually do like, can be two different things. You never know how something will truly go with something else, until you get the two together. ;) Explore all options!

If you do that, than any color of curtains or towels or rugs, will work right in...beth09..creamy and gray whiteish, or whatever works in person.

I would not recommend an unpolished stone. It could be hard to live with, but it is sort of in vogue now. It is not sealed to stains... If you use an electric mixer, or splash some food on it, drop an open ketchup bottle or can or cola, it could stain permanently. Make your kitchen easy to live in. You have some great opportunities so far. Mix the tones, but use a sealed ceramic tile, or a glass tile or a faux marble or something that will not stain permanently over the coming years of enjoying your kitchen. I have seen folks use the typical 4x4 ceramic tile and make it appear to be subway tile just by alternating the joints 2 inches on each layer. Why? Because 4x4 white and cream tile, is much more affordable than the subway measure of tiles? Try to visit the homes of cooks that have stone backsplashes from 3 or 4 years ago and see if the stone is stained? There is likely some sort of sealant you could apply to it, if you wanted, however. A paint store, can tell you about that.

Hi! I was wondering how construction is progressing. What did you decide to do?