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Floor vs. cabinet refinish

Christopher Vachon

last month

Since we have moved into this home, we have changed the kitchen appliances from black to stainless steel. The main motivation to update the kitchen is to fix the tiered island. We would like to make it a single tier and expand it for seating for the whole family and for extra storage. This has created a domino effect in that it would then prompt us to update countertops. We are uncertain if adding Taj Mahal quartzite countertops would look best on the natural wood versus a cream painted cabinet. The difficulty here is that modifying the current island to accommodate a larger island countertop is that it would be very challenging to match the wood tone on support posts. Furthermore, the reddish hue of our current hardwood floors would not be very complementary it is currently not complementary to the native wood tones of the cabinets. It is not as pronounced in the pictures attached, but in person, it is a true late 90s reddish stain superimposed on a nut brown cabinet. Overall, we are on the fence about what wood tones to change.

Any thoughts on what surfaces you would finish, and how would be greatly welcome. We intend on changing cabinet hardware and light fixtures. We also are gravitating towards Taj Mahal quartzite countertops. We intend on using a cream/beige contour subway tile for a backsplash.

Would you modify the island by adding posts to accommodate a larger countertop or replace the island base entirely?
Would you refinish the wood floor to knock out the red hue?
Would you ever paint these cabinets a cream or keep them natural wood?

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Comments (3)

herbflavor
last month
last modified: last month
my neighbor had Rutt cabinets. Id try to work with the perimeter, as is. Is the layout and storage capacity to your liking/ if so..I'd strip the floors to get a more neutral light shade of wood......or darker than the cabinets but dont try to match the cabinets.....too bad the floors are so red as the interaction with the cabinets isnt so good. I'd hold off on any counter choice till floors are done. I think I might use resources and get a new island with drawers. the tone can be different than the perimeter...paint in other words. then look at counter choices. so this boils down to stripping and refinishing floor// new island // and new counters. You might think thats a lot but leaving the high end Rutt cabinets on the perimeter alone is a big savings ...but they have to meet your needs.

heres two traditional kitchens.......the 1st pic w browns between floor and cabinets is good coordination..... 2nd pic w red floor presents the same issue you have. its just not a great look compared to the first pic. if you are willing to change the floor I would.
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Christopher Vachon
Original Author
last month
Thanks for the advice. I think that is the likely route we will go. What color would you paint the island? We have wrought iron banister and black tile fireplace so was thinking of going a soft black.
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porkchop_mxk3 z5b_MI
last month
Those floors are bossy and a hard color to work with, if they're redder than the photos as you say, then even more so. I'd sand and refinish the floors in a color that works with the cabinets rather than against them. Herbflavor's pics demonstrate what a difference the floors make.

Re-do the floors before doing anything else, that change will change how everything else all comes together color-wise.
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