I had similar travertine floors and just had them ripped out. I HATED them - precisely because "you can never tell when they're dirty because they always look dirty." Even after spending $300 for professional cleaning, they looked filthy. So my vote is ditch them.

Please show a photo of the floors in the rooms where you have this travertine. Also show a sample of the kind of wood cabinet you have in mind to see if the wood harmonizes with the floors.

There's a reason a lot of cars these days are kind of metallic gray--they don't show the dirt. There's a lot to be said for that don't show the dirt thing if you know the floor is clean. Lots of people want a floor that has streaks of gray and a neutral, so that's probably why you're getting that reaction. It could work very well with certain woods, driftwood colored cabinets, tan cabinets. Choose the wood cabinets first before tossing everything out.

Here are some kitchens with that color floor:

Adobe Falls Kitchen Remodel · More Info

South Tampa, FL · More Info

Maple to Gray: A Kitchen Transformed · More Info

Bathroom:

Traditional Bathrooms · More Info

So one question is, what do you have in mind for replacement flooring if you do wood cabinets? Would you do more tile and if so what color? I bought a house that has something like 6x6 white tile floor in bathroom and I love the clean fresh look, but it shows every drip and scuff. Whereas I used to have a bathroom with what’s now likely “ dated” large creamy and tan tiles and it didn’t show anything ( I still cleaned it!).

Or are you interested in wood floors + wood cabinets? And have some idea of how to combine tones?

Or maybe you 100% know you want warmer golden or reddish or brown woods and the pinky gray won’t work.

It’s okay to hate it , if you do, and want it gone, but take time to think of what would be an improvement and upgrade of you renovate.

I can't bear to show you a picture of the kitchen. Our house was formerly occupied by a certifiably insane person. The kitchen cabinets are painted in varying, random shades of white and most don't have knobs, but some have very random ones. I'm purchasing all new appliances and cabinets.

I just realized the wood that I prefer is not "natural wood". What I meant is that I want actual wood cabinets, but the color I love the most is a chocolatey shade. I know that's not what most people on this forum prefer, but I think it's so pretty. I'm also okay with espresso. I love different shades of brown in kitchens. I think I lean somewhat "Tuscan", although a more minimalist version without all the intricate carvings that are so hard to clean.

This is close to what I think I'd like, cabinet-wise. Although I also really like dark, veiny granite.

Waypoint Cherry Chocolate Cabinets and Giallo Ornamental Granite Countertops · More Info

I'm guessing a granite like this would not work with the cabinets I like? I always seem to see this shade of wood paired with a lighter granite like the one above.

Thank you for responding.

@ffpalms:

Your wood samples are just great if that's the direction the OP wants to go in.

Came in to say that two homes ago I deliberately chose a rather not appealing tile at a big box store since it was on sale and I had exactly the right wall paint in mind. My contractor looked at me since everything else I'd chosen looked so good. He told me his sister had the same tile and it looked ugly. Well, mine didn't because I chose the most harmonizing paint for cabinets and wall paint. Everybody asks where I got the flooring! You're trying to judge the floor on cabinets/lighting/wall paint you have now, not what you might choose along the lines of what @ffpalms' is suggesting. Maybe it's just too grungy, but wait until you have your cabinet and paint choices lined up before making the change.

Are the new kitchen cabinets going to be in the exact same location as they are currently? If not, you're going to have to re-do the floor anyway. So pick the cabinets first and then let that decision drive your flooring and counters.

I like the floor. I wonder if you could try steam cleaning them. I have been using a steam cleaner to clean the grout on my ceramic tile floors and wow has it made a difference going from grimy black to gray/beige. No chemicals, just steam. I'm using a McCulloch steam cleaner like this.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DF0RB/

I would have the travertine professionally cleaned by a shop that provides that service. This is not the type of floor that gets cleaned by a company designed to simply scrub floors. They have special equipment for Travertine & your floor should be sealed after it's cleaned.

Hate the floor.

What is the flooring in the rest of your home? The areas all surrounding the kitchen.

You want what you want as far as cabinet finish. No the granite won't work with the floor.

No matter how bad it is? Show the existing kitchen. Guaranteed we have seen worse. Yes......we have

If you needed a doctor, I DOUBT you'd say "I'm too sick to be dealt with " : )

Start an Ideabook for "dark wood cabinets." They are beautiful, but you'll want to coordinate everything together. The black streaked granite will give you a very dark kitchen that you may not like.

I have a few dark wood cabinet photos in one of my Houzz Ideabooks, Kitchens Wood Cabinets, which shows combinations of harmonizing dark wood cabinets with backsplashes, countertops, and flooring.

All those decisions need to be made at the stime and take into account adjoining spaces that may or may not be open concept, windows, doorways, wood trim or not, lighting. Sometimes people fall in love with one element, but they don't work with the other elements. You need to have big wood samples of what you like so you can get everything in sync. I think a kitchen designer could be a big help if you kitchen really needs a full renovation.

This one actually has flooring that coordinates well with dark cabinets:

Sort of a mixed Tuscan feel with travertine floor:

housegal200:

That second one you posted is absolutely stunning and exactly what I'm going for. Below is the flooring we have in most of the house. It's laminate "hand-scraped acacia". I love the shade and pattern, but it's a very cheap laminate and is completely matte. Ideally, I would like to find a real wood version of it, or at least something very similar to it, and put it in the entire house, save for the bathrooms (I plan to move my washer and dryer out to the garage). I wonder if this would look nice with pic #2? I could go with a little less of a reddish hue on the cabinets if that would help. Or do you think the pattern of this floor is also on the busy side, and would compete with the beautiful veiny granite in 2?

You need to get actual large samples of flooring and cabinet wood you have in mind.

What's great about Photo #2 that you like is the following:

--Contrast between dark cabinets and light floor and light backsplash makes the kitchen dynamic--light and dark. Countertop has both in its color and defined pattern. This contrast brings out the richness of the cabinets. With a dark floor, everything is going to blend together and the contrast is lost.

--Elegant cabinets with highly patterned, rich countertop "talk" to each other. Countertop also harmonizes with the floor and backsplash.

--Lighting: Note that there are no uppers on one window to let in maximum light. What's your window situation? This kitchen has many inset lights plus the two pendants and windows on two sides with no cabinets cutting off light on the right window.

--Because you haven't shown your kitchen--okay we'll take your word that it's horrible--we have no idea if it's a stand-alone room, open to other spaces, eat-in. If it's open to other spaces, how will it work with your furnishings? What windows and doors are there?

Since you just got the house, this is the best time to hire an interior designer--best money you'll ever spend. Some online designer services offer visualizations that take into account all the "givens" you're dealing with--doorways, windows, size, etc.. Many sell packages. There are some terrific designers on Houzz.

Avoid making choices one at a time--falling in love with that black countertop--without considering that everything has to work together. Example: you get new dark wood floors right through the kitchen. Then you get those dark wood cabinets you like. And you order that dark countertop. You only have one small window and need to put a cabinet on each side because you have a couple doors where you can't put cabinets. Now you're looking at a wood cave. A professional design plan will help you avoid these traps.

IMO if you love them keep them if not do not let them drive the rest of the choices.

OP: FWIW, we have Espresso cabinets and "sedna' granite, and I Love It!! i did not want a lot of contrast. we do have a skylight in the kitchen, so it helps to lighten it up. we also have 2 glass front cabs, to ease the 'darkness'. we have great lighting. its been installed since 2013 and i still love my ktichen.

neither of us, DH or myself, wanted a white kitche.....

i would post a pic, but i am having such a problem with uploading pics from my macbook., the "photos" link is greyed out and i can't seem to find a fix....

sedna

One last thing if you're looking at examples that you love. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples. The example you showed us had light countertops, backsplash, light floor, but countertop and flooring you showed is all dark.

You would kick yourself if you put in new cabinets and kept that floor. As suggested - get samples of everything you're considering for your kitchen.

sprtphntc7a :

That sedna granite is absolutely stunning! I can see why you're so happy with it.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Really great advice. I appreciate your time.