That is the normal effect that happens when oak is stained for the first time. Once a finish is applied, stains no longer work. as the finish prevents then from soaking into the wood at all. Removing the finish would need to be done by a professional stripping company to get all the finish off. Gel stains can be applied over a finish, but gel stains are more of a modified paint than a stain. Your best(easiest and least expensive) option would be to refinish the cabinets.

I like the furniture you already have. I also think it looks nicer and better made than the stuff you were (are?) considering. Clearing the hutch and table off made a big difference. It looks very nice edited. I really like the boxwood on the table. Agree blue china/accents would look nice added with that green, but I wouldn't add anything else to the hutch. I'd replace something if you're going to go that direction. Or maybe even use a plate or platter in the blue and white as a wall hanging somewhere in the kitchen. I think if you're going to add the b&w it should be repeated quite a few times to look intential (probably at least three) and I'd consider adding blue elsewhere too. I like your chandelier but am having a hard time coming up with pendants for the island that coordinate. I really do think they need to coordinate/compliment and not compete. Right now they're both trying to be the star. I also think it will look the more cohesive to keep the finish of the pendants orb or black to relate to the chandy. Have you considered maybe removing some of the crystals from the chandelier? It might make it less fancy and easier to pair something with. The pendants you have now coordinate well with it but again my eyes don't know which one to look at and I think there's some style fighting going on with the lighting and table/hutch. You're only putting the marble on the island? What countertop material is the rest of the counters? Honestly I don't see marble working there. I think it's going to be too white compared to your cabinets and stand out being the only white thing. Are your cabinets a pale yellow? On my monitor, the island looks like a lighter cream but different than the perimeter cabinets. Are your counters dark brown? I think creams look better with browns and white look better with black. Though I'm not sure what marble you're interested in so maybe it's not stark. ? ETA - I'm sorry, I keep editing! - I just saw you're installing imperial danby honed on the island. I didn't read well and my head immediately thought carrara. I could be wrong but the imperial still looks pretty white to me. Did you see a sample in the kitchen yet? I like your floor color as is very much. I personally wouldn't go really dark for a bunch of reasons (dust being my number 1) and I can't see really light flooring in there. Do they need refinished? Maybe change the tone if you're unhappy with the color. I would select wall color last but I like what you have. If you're keeping the curtains I'd pull a color or similar tone from there. What size are your current island pendants? I've been looking for pendants and white shade ones might not look right. I would go with more cream or amber shades and I kind of like the idea of glass because they'll disappear more. I'd be tempted to install two cans above the island and really let the chandelier shine. Have you considered that? I hope you don't think I'm picking at your kitchen negatively. You have a very nice kitchen! I don't feel a confident in these that I picked but I'm throwing them out there. I think I like this first one best out of the three I'm posting. When looking I was trying to find ones that repeated a shape somewhere from the chandelier. Savoy House pendant light Annnnd I thought the next two were cream and just saw the shade color is listed as white. Golden Lighting Vaxcel Lighting

Hi everyone! I am working on updating our Family room (it’s open to the kitchen as well). We will be painting next month (having trouble deciding on a color). I am considering painting the tv stand, coffee table and end table, possibly white. I like a beachy feel and thought white would give that and maybe replacing the pillows on the couch in beachy colors. I would love to hear thoughts and suggestions. Maggie

alevrasr, if I'd known you're in Canada too, I'd have given a Canadian link, https://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca/store/product/quoizel-reg-grant-ceiling-mount-pendant-light/3269177 Wayfair Canada also carries it, under a different name, and it's also available with clear glass (which I've always avoided in my kitchen because of the dust), https://www.wayfair.ca/lighting/pdp/three-posts-macon-1-light-single-dome-pendant-c001434731.html?piid=628764520%2C628764519%2C628767072