Are you adverse to painting the cabinets? Going all white would lighten things up significantly

Sometimes people panic when things don't match their ideal picture- maybe you saw this differently in your imagination- but I assure you, your kitchen looks lovely. The granite has interest, but is not too busy. The cabinets are particularly handsome. And the whole thing kitchen is cohesive to my eye.

Give yourself a minute to get used to the new reality. I think you will come around. Get a nice big bowl of fruit out on the counter and enjoy.

Your pretty light floors make up for any darkness, your appliances are really pretty too. What about a backsplash? Can you lighten walls? Live in it for a bit before you do anything drastic.

I did have something different in mind when I picked all the finishes for the kitchen. Certain days I can live with it, others it makes me nuts! (Like today). This is my first post and I really appreciate the feedback. May try and swap out appliances or live with it a little longer and see if it grows on me.

Its actually really nice! Deep breaths. I'd put up a plain cream tile backsplash, and make sure you have adequate lighting. If you have good lighting the darkness won't be such an issue. Are the cabinets a natural cherry btw?

It looks nice to me, too. The only dark I see are the appliances and I would imagine you knew they'd be dark when you selected black, no?

Are you going to do a backsplash? You could bring some more lightness and sparkle with that.

I love your cabinets, your kitchen looks light and airy and the granite looks good with your choices. The fridge looks a little bossy but the angle of the photo isn't helping. Could you talk to your contractor/builder and see if it is possible to recess the fridge a bit?

I am doing a backsplash but could use some guidance on that too. The appliances are the dark stainless finish. I was going for the "fewer finger print look". At least that's what the sales associate at Lowes told me.

The other thing you can do is tie the dark and light together with a pretty runner,

I think it looks great. Your floors and walls are very light and your cabinets and granite are lovely together. I second the recommendation of a simple light cream tile for the backsplash.

I love your kitchen and I'm not getting a "dark" feeling from it.

Nonsense. This feels like a very well-balanced kitchen. The dark appliances pick up the dark notes in the granite. Nicely done.

I also love the cabinets, granite, and floor. Probably the only thing I would have chosen differently is regular stainless for the appliances, but the "black stainless" ones don't look bad. Just be aware the "black" is a thin plastic coating they put over regular stainless. When it scratches (and it will) it will show the bright stainless underneath. Funny - while your appliance salesperson sold you on it, ours steered us away from it (before we even asked about it).

I would add a back splash in a similar color to your jars on the counter, with a matching grout color. Be sure to choose a glossy material so the light keeps reflecting. If it still bugs you, consider adding glass to one set of uppers, it will show the white inside and lighten up the row of cabinets.

Glossy like Subway tile?

Not a matte finish, most tiles are glossy.

Your kitchen is really pretty, and I agree with the others. If it looks darker than this in person, then consider your lighting plan, and see if it's enough. Maybe it looks dark to you, because of the lighting situation. Do you have under-cabinet LED lights? Maybe a pretty chandalier for the ceiling, centered on the room or maybe some pendant lights? And there are rules of thumb for the color of the lights (warm or white or cool). I'll leave it to those who know to make any recommendations there.

I like your wall color! And the floors and cabinet contrast is really beautiful. I like how you kept both in the "warm" category and yet there's contrast. Overall, really, really nice job.

I think your kitchen is lovely. I also put in black appliances (not the black stainless, the black cheap lol). It was quite the shock initially. And I only have a tiny galley kitchen. With no windows. I am now quite used to the black and I have been told it looks pretty good. Wait. Be patient (always a challenge for me). And wait some more. I will bet that you end up liking your entire kitchen very soon.

I think it looks great, too! I would LOVE to have that kitchen, and I'm not just saying that to make you feel better. If I were you, I would live with it a while and get used to it. And I wouldn't consider for one minute ripping out the granite or painting brand new cabinets. But that's just me, and my thoughts are worth what you're paying for them.

There is nothing wrong with your selections.

I don't think your kitchen is too dark. The granite is especially not a problem, nor the cabinets based on the photo. If there is any change to exchange the appliances to regular stainless, that might be a little more perfect, but it really looks fine as is!

You are being melodramatic. First of all, your wall color is kind of a sad beige over your countertop, it emphasizes the darker brown tones instead of the whites in your granite. Put in a light, bright, simple backsplash, and consider changing your wall color.

Even if left as is, it is fine, and does not look like a cave. THIS is what a too dark kitchen looks like:

I agree with others that it looks fine. One easy change you could make would be to pick different knobs and pulls - something brighter that matches the pulls on the appliances. That might help lighten it up even more.

Calm down. Your kitchen looks beautiful! Those cabinets are gorgeous and everything is working together nicely. Yes, the appliances are darker but not too dark. I think you could try to swap them with stainless steel, but I also don't think that's necessary.

Is there any chance you could swap the range for one with front controls and no built in backsplash? I find they are a little less overwhelming.

Not sure if you're already planning to install a backsplash, but if you do, just stick with something light.

I must say your kitchen is a beautiful example of wood floors working wonderfully with wood cabinets. The light floors help keep the space bright and everything flows together nicely.

Heck I think it looks great! I love those cabinets. I'd leave it for a while and see if it feels less dark to you--maybe it's just the initial change that is bothering you? Otherwise, the only thing I could think to do to is switch for plain stainless (which, I understand, you don't have to have the black stainless for smudge/fingerprint proof) and...maybe then doing chrome or something bright and shiny for the pulls/handles on the cabinets?? Regardless, I think it's a pretty kitchen, and the only thing *I'd* do differently is plain white countertop, but that's what *I* want when I redo mine!

Everyone thank you. After reading all the comments I feel much better about things. This is a wonderful site, and you all are super encouraging. I am going to have to concede that my title was a bit over dramatic. But the take away in all this is some really great ideas on how to lighten things up and move forward to finish this project.