Thank you all. Yes, as stated in the original post, we are definitely adding 2 floating shelves on the empty wall. And I will decorate them similar to pics that BeverlyFLADeziner and Beth H. : posted.

The fridge: we previously had it shoved in the corner with no built in. Hubby wanted a built in. I don't like built-in friges unless they are counter depth. I do love the pantry pull out beside the fridge. But to me the built in looks off, so maybe he should go ahead and build it all the way to the ceiling.

Decor: I am a modern minimalist. My hubby is a very strong traditionalist. But, we both love antiques. My dad and his Grandpa passed away last year and most of our decor/antiques come from them. The box ontop of the fridge was his Grandpa's personal machinist chest from 1940. Our house is open concept and small, so we don't have many places to display items - that's the reasoning behind keeping space above the fridge.

Dan1888 is correct. The wood color picked is what I had picked out in my mind and a large hood was definitely what I would have chosen.

M Riz - Hubby doesn't have Instagram. But I have saved many pics of black and natural two toned cabinets in my inspiration folder that I love.... the wood color to me seems too deep/yellow to Mach any modern kitchens, that is my main concern, that and the fact I'd rather have no upper cabinets. I feel the wood yellow cabinets don't go at all with the floor

Paint color: Hubby loves the grey colors, especially the dark grey. We repainted the whole house with the remodel and I did convince him to let me paint the one wall in the kitchen light grey as the whole space was dark grey before.

Hubby: He is set in his ways and wont budge on what he wants. I really do love him! He has worked very hard and done every bit of our whole house remodel by himself, plumbing, tearing out walls, electrical, taking off popcorn ceiling, building new closets, putting in new windows, laying down flooring, and making all the cabinets. He is a talented good, kind man and I am extremely thankful to him.

Thank you for all the suggestions. I hope it grows on me and I can let go of what I wanted in my head!

I agree with others that the wood cabinets look really nice and once you do a few things to tie the two elements together, you'll like them a lot better. Painting the inside trim of the window black and adding matching wood shelves (Beth H) are great ideas!

Adjacent livingroom in our small open floorplan home

You can work with this!

Love the idea of adding shelves as @Beth H. : suggests.

The space above fridge is not wowing me. i think a cabinet to go above there to the ceiling will tie in nicely with the other wood cabs. The decor there doesn’t do anything for a ”modern” vibe.

Wall color: I do not care for the gray. I think it’s too dark. I think a white or much lighter gray would be much nicer.

Maybe it's just me but I don't see oak in these cabinets . They appear to be maple and a nice match to those black cabinets. I think there needs to be a big cabinet above the ref and pantry to fill that in. The shelves you are going to add will be great! I would change the paint - that gray is do nothing for this space . There are a few excellent designers on here for color suggestions.

I'm sorry it isn't 100% what you want, but he really did do a good job.

What of he went to the ceiling with an open cabinet that the chest could be displayed in, that would make it look finished and purposeful, maybe add a light.

also, make sure your lighting is “day light” anything less will make your cabinets appear a bit more yellow

I think it looks wonderful!

Personal opinionion: I would put wood cabinets above fridge, open shelves like Beth suggested, brass pulls and lights. I feel like the black lights pull the ceiling down where the brass would elevate.

Tie in with brass brackets for shelves. I understand the want of a hood- I did too. But I didn't have room for both. You might soon appreciate the compromise.

Love the idea of brass lights!I think that will help lighten.

I would still encorage a different wall color. Those grays are really dark.

The sentimentality of the chest is appreciated—how about remove the plants and blue glass, then center and square the chest on top of the fridge.

I think it looks great! Except the wall color: it makes the wood more yellow. Off-white would be much better (and everything Beth said)

ptreckel, The OTR microwave is simply sitting on the counter until it is installed. It's not a countertop microwave.

I would have considered the new OTR microwaves that are half the height.

@Rhoda Kindred

You are so blessed to be married to such a kind, creative and hard-working man... which makes it even more difficult to make tough decisions and communicate honestly, but you already know that...

It's a beatuiful kitchen, what a treasure!

It's beautiful, and your husband seems wonderful! I wonder what if all nickel or black hardware would tone down the hues of the uppers so you would love them instead.

Whew. I was expecting an amateur cabinet job. The whole room looks very professional. I actually like the cabinet color and think Beth's and Beverly's shelf ideas and black window frame will finish the room nicely.

A hardworking and talented man is not an easy find in today's world. Count your blessings in stead of finding something wrong with this wonderful kitchen that has his hand prints all over it. I'm married to a contractor, I watch in awe when he works...he can do literally anything. Gratitude usually let's you see things in a different light and realize how little is "wrong".

Ptreckle- it is most definitely a otr microwave. It is vented and has a light. Hubby installed it today, along with the kickboards.
BeverlyFLADeziner we did consider a newer microwave, but it would stick out more above the stove. I think it was a good 4-5" deeper. I can/process alot of food and want more clearance for my pressure canner!
I think having the microwave installed definitely helps the cabinets. I like it better today than yesterday! I'm trying to convince hubby to let me paint the other wall the lighter grey also. So far he says no, but I do think it would help. Also, M Riz - I do like the idea about a box above the fridge. He's not against the idea, but he said he's getting tired of building cabinets, so I may have to wait for a few months! And, yes all lights are daylight. We purchased strip lights for under the upper cabinets also.
lucky998877 you are so right. I'm going to try to work with what I have and not complain! Afterall, I don't know of anyone else personally whose hubby has made them cabinets, let alone done a whole house remodel in less than a year, while still working a full time job and taking care of our mini farm.

Here's pictures tonight after he installed the microwave... I'm definitely starting to like it more and will figure it out as we go!

Help! I hate my new kitchen cabinets · More Info

Thank you all so much for the ideas. I'll definitely post pictures when we get it all finished, if not before!

Help! I hate my new kitchen cabinets · More Info

Here's my bathroom that hubby finished. He made the vanity from an old dresser and added drawer slides, etc. I love it!

Current bathroom before remodel · More Info

Reading you OP, I was preparing to see a train wreck! Far from. It looks really great! What a talented sweet hubby you have. He’s a definite keeper!

My husband of almost 30 years is a GC and he remoldeled our entire fixer upper house too. I am very very grateful to have him as well. He can do pretty much everything, and he’s super cute too! 🥰 Although he can’t make custom cabinets. That is in another league.

The cabinets he made look very professional! On my ipad, the wood stain matches perfectly with the flooring. It doesn’t look at all like dated honey oak to me. They look to me like those could have been original to a mcm home. He definitely nailed the mcm style you were going for.

I know you are very appreciative to your husband and I can tell you are trying hard to find the balance of give and take, picking your battles, etc… It can be quite a challenge in a marriage, especially if you both have strong opinions on design. But for the most part, you seem to be on the same page, so that’s good.

I will admit, I probably would have a hurt tongue from biting it so hard when it came to having the dark grey paint on every wall. Well, at least you got the one light colored wall right?

And, I definitely am with you on not loving the microwave hood. Now this is just my opinion, but I think they have no business adding the word ”hood” to the description of ”microwave hood”. They are completely worthless as a hood that is intended to vent out cooking fumes.

I actually do like the upper cabinets though. I think you will actually love having the extra upper cabinet storage. And who knows, maybe down the road, once your hubby sees all the nasty filthy grease build up all over his beautiful cabinets that he spent painstaking hours making, he’ll change his mind and install a real undercabinet hood. (Ducking) 🫣

Please update us once the shelves are in. That will tie it all together.

Oh and I almost forgot. I love the antique tool box! I think I would move it down on counter, where you have the mixer, and actually use it. It would be my ”junk drawer”. A place for pencils, pens, scrap paper, sticky notes, small handheld tools, matches, and all the other little stuff that I want handy as I sit at the peninsula.

Looking good! Your home is beautiful. Soon you'll be changing the title of your post to: I LOVE my new kitchen!

It's not the cabinets that I think looks bad, it's the wall paint -- it is utterly depressing and dragging the whole room down.

I also love the antique, but I think the refrigerator cabinet looks unfinished without a cabinet on top.

Glad to see the microwave fits! And has all the bells, whistles, and chimes needed to function in that space. Your husband is fabulous at construction! Love, not only your beautiful kitchen, but that bathroom vanity is to die for! BRAVO to him! And to you! You both have a good “eye!” Love how you have incorporated antique pieces in your home to blend with the modern. VERY good!!!! Enjoy!

What were the design choices in this kitchen that you made? Id like to see what it is that you like (your style design wise).

While I agree that it's great you have such a handy husband, it sounds like you gave in way more than he did - microwave, wall color, upper cabinets, cabinet colors...so I really think DH could compromise a little more with YOU. Insisting on an OTR microwave is strange to me, but if he is the cook, then it should be his decision. If YOU are the cook, it should be yours. As it's too late for a lot of the things YOU wanted, you should at least insist that you get a wall color in the kitchen that will enhance the work that was already done.

(Just repeating what I said below, that I think it looks great - just that it sounds like you compromised a lot more than DH did).

The comment from BeverlyFLADeziner above about the half size microwave is a great idea. I plan to find one for my home. If you're ready for a new range, I would also recommend a similar one in her picture where all of the knobs are in front of the range and not cluttering the wall. I had one in my other home and it made a big difference.

I would just change the dark grey wall to lighter and add shelves to left of window.

I think it looks great. I would definitely take the cabinet around the fridge all the way to the ceiling. To me, as it is now, it looks as if someone forgot to install cabinets above the fridge. Overall it’s a beautiful kitchen and design. With some of the added touches mentioned by others, it’ll be magazine ready. Nicely done!

I tried to mockup how it would look with the fridge surround to the ceiling and the light wall color over there.

Before

After

What a difference.

OP, great kitchen. Like everyone else said, it just needs the final finishing touches: shelves and cabinets above the refrigerator.

The OTR micro is ok. When it comes time to replace your range, get a slide in. It will help with the overall appearance.

What is your countertop?

definitely add stained wood cabinet above the refrigerator....it will balance everything!

the wood tone with the black is a contemporary theme.

Please add the wood floating shelves to the left of the window

WOW! Your husband did a great job

I think your kitchen is BEAUTIFUL! And what he did for your bathroom 🙌 😍 !! Lucky you!

Update 09/09/2022 : I am starting to love my kitchen. The upper cabinets still aren't anything I like, but I can live with them. The fact that my husband made everything himself, makes me feel special. The kitchen shelves are finally up and it adds so much balance and makes the space 100% better! I can't wait to play around with different looks styling them. I also painted the range wall a lighter grey to match the window wall.

We are still discussing adding a cabinet above the fridge, but hubby says it's gonna wait for a year or two. He has spent the last year remodeling our whole house by himself while working 60+ hours a week and definitely needs some time. I will post new updated pictures with the shelves in the comments. Thank you all for the suggestions.

I know most ppl would hide the mixer, but I use mine on this counter every single day, so that's where it stays.

Help! I hate my new kitchen cabinets · More Info

I read the post bracing for something a tad rough, but it looks amazing! I'd be happy with those tones. Well done. I envy the diy skills.

The stool legs, shelves, and shade colors really pull it all together with the wood cabinets.

It’s absolutely beautiful! The wall color is really nice but I was also a fan of the darker gray too. Your husband is very talented. His break is well deserved and I’m happy that you’re loving it. Enjoy!

Very nice! And the mixer looks great there. A beautiful kitchen someone actually cooks in, what a concept!

It looks so good! The white walls look a lot better than the dark grey and I think the warm wood uppers actually make the kitchen look complete. You have a great mix of tones and textures that look way more finished than just plain black cabinets. It all works so great together :). Congrats on your kitchen and kudos to your husband for his hard work and talent!

Looks terrific. So glad you're enjoying it (and I second that the mixer looks great there)!

Your kitchen looks great! Love the shelving and the items you have displayed there. And so cool that your hubby did it all himself. Not many people can say that. Love the bathroom too. Enjoy!

That looks so much better!

It just brings that section to life! He did a fab job.

what did you use for the countertops/splash?

The shelves really finished off that wall perfectly. I love the way you styled them and how you staggered them. The mixer almost blends in like a chameleon with the counter and backsplash. Besides, many professionally staged kitchen photos purposely display the matching kitchenaid mixer out on the counter! Amazing job and enjoy cooking in your gorgeous kitchen!

The upper cabinets had the potential to overwhelm with their warm (yellow) undertones. But I think they complement the kitchen really well! I'm glad you gave the kitchen another try because it's gorgeous!

Beth H. : thank you. He made the countertop himself out of 2 3/4" plywood and we bought formica 180fx laminate for the counters (and done the ideal edge) and used the same 180fx for the backsplash. I know alot of ppl don't like laminate, but I actually do and I do alot of food preserving and canning and the backsplash washes off so easily. With hubby doing all the work and making everything himself the total price of our whole house remodel came to $20,000. And that included, 6 new windows, 2 full baths, a kitchen, and flooring.... (during covid with prices more than double on alot of things. So we saved quite a bit! Overall, I love the way it turned out! And I'm extremely proud of my hubby!

Wow, it really does look wonderful, and the cost? $20,000 for all that? Your hubs is a magician!

Enjoy!

I love your kitchen! Beth H’s idea of painting the inside of the window black sash is a beautiful idea, but leave the window trim white, more crisp and sophisticated this way as her first window photo. Open shelving in the same wood as your beautiful upper cabinets is also a great idea. Your black pendants are a bold and gorgeous choice!

Oops, I didn’t wait till the end of this thread to post my comment. I love your staggered shelving so much!

Wow it looks so terrific - updated and fresh but different than all of the cookie-cutter kitchens out there - your husband is a keeper! :) Love the hits of black and the warm wood -