Just give you a feel for the rest of it. Thanks again for any thoughts.

First thank you for your response. We have under lighting I just didn’t turn them on . I hate the countertops and the back splash. They were here when we purchased the house and I never did anything I just wasn’t ready. Also I have always wanted a farmhouse sink. So if I just do minimum changes what are your thought there?

I think changing counters, backsplash and maybe sink cabinet to hold a farm house sink will make a big difference. Changing the island to a single height will elevate it even more. Here are two of my favorite cherry kitchens . Soapstone is lovely with cherry but a white quartz would work too.

I am not terribly fond of black with cherry, prefer a softer, lighter (like un-oiled soapstone, steel gray, cream or white) counter. Your counter wasn't bad although it would not have been my choice - however the wall paint takes it all down several notches!

I wouldn't worry about taking the cabinets up, considering the issues that AnnKH mentions - but I would keep the tops cleared, and instead of tiling up there, just paint.

Bring some of the blue from the adjoining room in - perhaps a warm pale blue backsplash that works with whatever counter you choose. I don't know if you have a good demarcation to start another wall color, if you do perhaps a warm white, with warm white tile, and paint the ceiling pale blue.

You do not gave the room on top to make adding cabinets be proportionate or attractive.

Since you painted out the cherry trim everywhere else I would say go ahead and do that in this room. A new lighter neutral wall paint throughout with a light backsplash will also help. The first photo that roarah posted is lovely and feels cohesive for your home (based on the photos you’ve shared). I feel the industrial vibe backsplash tile and solid dark quartz you posted will be too harsh and disjointed for your home. Good luck w the crazy :)

Actually I like the second photo that roarah posted as well but I don’t think your kitchen layout is suitable for a mixed light upper look. Doesn’t seem to work on any of the elevations I see.

I would work towards a design that begins to eliminate upper cabinets & takes advantage of pantries.

Storage behind backsplash material has been used in upscale kitchens for decades but is finally trickling down to mid range homes.

This was what I was going for originally but not sure how to get that to fit with the rest of the house is gonna be tough

The cabinets that you show in the picture above are very shaker. The cabinets that you currently have in your kitchen are beautiful, but not shaker. Honestly, I think painting the kitchen into a more updated color will really change the look of everything there. That would be an intermediate step that would let you see what you think about everything at that point.

With respect to counters and backsplash, I think you have to decide if you want counters of a solid surfacing material and then a tile backsplash or doing all one material. Although the kitchen above is lovely, I think it would be way too dark for your house.

Another thought with respect to the two height island comment above: if you want it to be all one height, then the cabinets that are where the stool seating is, would have to be cut down. A carpenter could do that for you, but then you would have to decide what kind of a surface you would put there, because you are going to lose those cherry panels that show. It might be neat to tie it into a tile backsplash (via same color, or same material, etc.)

What is your plan for your whole home? You can not design an industrial kitchen in isolation. I would highly recommend you take a step back and really look at your entire home and decide if it works for you. If it does and you want to update it, come up with a plan that addresses your home as a whole, arched windows,arched doorways, pale pastel colours these are all 80’s - 90’s details that you can’t ignore. You have a great house but if it doesn’t match who you are or how you want to live, then you are better served looking for a space that does OR updating what you have in a thoughtful way that respects the era of the home. Food for thought.

Some new paint could change the appearance of the room dramatically. Furniture can remain.

The shine on that ceiling is just horrible. FLAT MATTE PAINT for the ceilings.

I love your counters. Did you paint the kitchen after you moved in? The counters have lots of darker veining in them. If you painted the walls darker and changed out the hardware, I think you'd be on your way to the vibe in your inspirational pic. You would also need to take down all nic knacks and seriously prune down what you have on your counters.

Your kitchen you said is already dark, but you want to make it even darker with your choices? Why?

I agree with several of the above statements: your kitchen (as you said) is already dark, so why add more dark elements? A more industrial-leaning kitchen will look totally out of place in your house…don’t go there. Painting some rooms in more cohesive colors would make a huge difference….start there. One room orange, one sea foam blue-green…..not ideal. And yes, remove all the “decorative” items from the upper cabs. Since you have “de-cherried” your home in some areas, would you consider painting the cabs? Then, if you had lighter cabs, you could do darker counters, such as soapstone or quartz. Once all that is done, choose your backsplash. Redoing a kitchen can be great, but don’t look at this as an isolated project….make sure things are cohesive throughout the house. Good luck!

I think your cabinets are very nice, and they don't need to go up to the ceiling. I also would not paint them. A soapstone or honed black granite counter top would look great with cherry cabinets, and possibly use it for the backsplash as well. I'd keep the stained cherry trim but paint the walls a different color. Add some lighting if it's dark. And you have a view of the water through the large window? Wow, love that!

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Storage behind backsplash? really?

Between the risk of lighting yourself on fire with the working gas cooktop, or the unreachable shelves that are 36" back and then up, or heavy sliding slab of granite / quartz / quartzite trying to kill you (because the installer didn't read all the instructions) this is a REALLY BAD IDEA.

You have a lovely traditional cherry kitchen. If you don’t paint the cabinets, you need to work with what you have. As others have said, there isn’t room to “add cabinets” above without it looking strange.

Your inspiration photo is industrial. Your house is not, so work to enhance what you have.

Dark counters and backsplashes - together - make any kitchen darker. The posted suggestions for dark-counter-lighter-backsplash make sense with your cabinets.

If you really want dark-with-dark, then get quotes to professionally paint your cabinets a light color.

If you absolutely want to have cabinets to the ceiling a refacing job gives you that option plus a new color.

Taking down the two tiered area makes sense. Think about how far out you want to extend the new one level piece of countertop.

Changing to a farmhouse sink requires either a new under sink cabinet or reconfiguring your current one. It cannot just “replace” the current one since it’s deeper.

Your floors are stunning!

Others have made all sorts of very good suggestions. I like the kitchen posted by roarah & the wall colours posted by BeverlyFLADeziner which would make the house more cohesive complemented with a warm white paint to link everything together. When cutting down your island to make it counter height, if you have problems matching the wood you can paint the island black.

I think new counters (soapstone or white quart), a level island, and a new sink and faucet would be ideal. Also, find a home for everything currently on your counters or above cabinets - put them inside cabinets and drawers or donate them. An uncluttered kitchen makes a big difference in function. You have false drawer fronts on your sink cabinet- can you add a farmhouse sink without replacing the cabinet?

Your inspiration pic seems to be very, very similar to one of my favoite interior shots of a rather grand mountain cabin. The dark walls BeverlyFLADeziner suggested looks like a good first step in making the rest of your home match your vision for the kitchen. I love this dark look, too, as it really showcases the outdoor view.

i love what beverly did w/the paint, and what ffpalms just posted.

Right now that yellow wall color is horrid. (sorry, I know it wasn't your choice)

you other two rooms are beautiful (minus the yellow paint) love the blue.

If you want to go dark and dramatic, go for it. Look at Silestone Eternal Charcoal in the suede finish. You don't want a polished black granite w/those cabs. it will look like 2002.

Silestone Charcoal ( I have this same type in my kitchen in the light gray)

You'd get something similar to this look. (but the silestone is a tad blacker)

Negresco quartzite in a honed finish. (resembles a soapstone)

the quartz that looks like the Pietra Gray Marble would also be very pretty w/your wood

And, if you did the other room in a warmer gray like Kendall Charcoal, it will all blend beautifully

switch out the knobs for gold handles, bring in some pendants, new counter chairs

you could do a leathered black granite w/copper sink.

the copper would be gorgeous w/the cherry

have you considered lowering the island to one level?

what about moving the stove out of the island?

Maybe painting the island cabinets?

(this is BM Graystone)

When making kitchen choices, think longer term in regards to how you will coordinate the living area, as they should connect so be sure you love the direction.