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collettec I think I would paint the cabinets and island a solid color rather than antiquing it, which I think could make it look dated. Given that there are so many cabinets and so much wood, I would go light, perhaps white or off white. The window treatments could also use updating. I think painting the cabinets and walls, and I would paint the walls all one color, and changing out the hardware, flooring and counter would make a big difference in this kitchen.

Kelli Kaufer Designs What is your style? From the pictures, it looks like you are more tradtitional with the red walls and the oak furniture... Do you want white cabinets for a casual traditional look, gray for a modern traditional style, blue for a modern fun style? Which all of these can be antiqued. Another option is a white on top and a dark on the bottom! To add more interest and for a low cost, add glass panel door fronts on a few of the cabinets. Are the appliances staying the same or are you replacing them?

Engrav's Decorating Paint the cabinets, add new counter tops. They make high definition laminates and products that look like granite without the expense of granite. Painted cabinets and a wood looking floor is a good combination but a wood looking floor and wood cabinets will not help the heavy dark look you are trying to eliminate. When you are all done you might consider a medium color in place of the dark red and it should brighten up and hopefully make your dreams come true.

L.A. Lady I glanced at your ideabooks and if they're an indication of your ideal kitchen, I'd say skip the antiquing and go with white or a solid light color. Antiquing can be great but it also makes a kitchen look busy. When you add that to granite and wood floors, it might be overwhelming. If you like the "antique" style, display it in the cabinet hardware, plumbing fixtures and light fixtures. Those details can really set the tone for a kitchen style.

I'm not sure if it was just the photography but your kitchen looks pretty dark and white would help brighten it up. Once you have white cabinets you can pick almost any color counter top. If you had the opportunity to put in some new lighting, it could make all the difference. My in laws put in vinyl wood floors in their kitchen and it really works.

stephmorris123 Thanks for your suggestions! I like the ideas of brightening up the room.

stephmorris123 Our style is more traditional and yes we will get rid of the red walls.

Dytecture I agree with not antiquing the cabinets as you are simply replacing one dark color with another. Perhaps paint them cream or gray color.

stephmorris123 What about painting the cabinets an off white and glazing in the cracks and crevices? Maybe adding some trim to add some interest?

MarbleWarehouse.com Replace the countertop with granite slab and use light color on your cabinet.

stephmorris123 Should we take out the softest?

stephmorris123 Should we paint the cabinets off white, then glaze them.

freedomgirl I just updated my kitchen. No layout change either. I was on houzz continually, saving pictures of my favorite kitchens. A trend started to emerge......I like light colored cabinets....I like medium/dark wood floors and I love natural stone. I found a picture of a kitchen that really spoke to me and I tried to duplicate it. I had my cabinets lacquered a creamy white, I already had wood floors, and I added a black granite countertop. I bought a new stainless stove because my twenty yr. old cream colored one just looked wrong with all the newness : ). I am now agonizing over choosing a backsplash. This all took me four months so far and I am still not done. But, don't underestimate the cost of a kitchen facelift......things are expensive. So once you have a "vision" of the overall look you want, change the floors first. It will make you feel instantly better! My gut tells me those soffits are going to be fine, the lighting they provide is going to wash nicely over your newly updated cabinets. Have fun!

stephmorris123 Thanks, sound like we have similar taste. I am thinking the same overhaul. Just fixing the ceiling now and saving money!

stephmorris123 Started the project. Need a light over breakfast bar. Need to fill space and can't take out soffit. Can't find anything. Help!

pmanastasia You could use some chalk paint...Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Beautiful colors, and is supposedly really easy to use. No prepping of surfaces needed.

pmanastasia That is, use the Annie Sloan paint for the cabinets. Then, lighten up the walls.

OnePlan I'm with LA lady !! Great advice !!!

stephmorris123 What do you think? Cabinet sample and new countertop sample.

stephmorris123 Making progress. This is our new countertop and sample cabinet. Just primed the walls. Any ideas for the color on the walls?

collettec I would pull from one of the lighter colors in the countertop. Perhaps one of the warm gray tones or a greige for the paint color.

handymam It's amazing how much better everything looks with just covering the red up with primer. You are on the way to a bright and light kitchen! Good luck with the painting!

stephmorris123 Sorry dumb question...Greige? What is that?

lipierce It's a color between gray and beige. I learned it from houzz too.

collettec It's a combination of beige and gray, so it's useful in a lot of settings. Taupe is another color that means the same thing. Similar choices would be a warm shade of gray or a cool shade of beige, it makes it easier to match more colors with it, and given that your counter looks like it has both beige and gray I think it might work well. Really like the choices you've made for the counter and with the cabinets - think it will really look good and brighten and modernize this kitchen!

stephmorris123 Thanks.

sam0705 For a specific color recommendation - I just painted my home office moth grey from Pittsburgh paints (the next darker shade had griege as part of its name). It's a nice light color in a otherwise pretty dark room. I think it could work for you - whites stand out nicely against it.

stephmorris123 Countertops in. Starting on cabinets. Need to think about backsplash. Any ideas?

handymam Ohh!! they look great!

handymam Do you like the color of the wood any better now that the new countertops are in, btw?

collettec Love the new countertops - they're so pretty! Perhaps something like a solid color subway tile or solid color glass mosaic tiles.

handymam Definitely something solid so it doesn't fight with the granite. Someomne talked about cream subway tiles with a crackle finish that was subtle. Just go shopping and see what you like! For me, too much choice is a bad thing!

stephmorris123 The cabinets are being painted that is why all the doors are gone. We added extra trim for interest that is why they are different colors. I will post again when they are done.

collettec Just wanted to note that in terms of wall color and backsplash - I know I had noted that greige would work as a wall color with your countertop, but given that the counter and the cabinets and a wood laminate floor will all be neutral, a color might be something that you could choose to do for the backsplash. If you did want to do a color for the backsplash, you could use some variation in shade of the same color of the backsplash for the wall color. The paint color is usually the last thing chosen after everything else since it's much easier to match. Just wanted to note that in case you wanted to add color, but think it would look great in neutrals as well. Would just work to make sure any color worked with possible visible colors in adjoining rooms. Good luck - like your choices so far!

stephmorris123 Just finished up cabinets today. Next is backsplash. Maybe natural stone on the diamond shape with an accent piece every so often. What do you think so far?

imdb I am so impressed! It doesn't even look like the same room! And the floor isn't nearly the eyesore it was before. Beautiful!

stephmorris123 The floor is going soon! I can't wait. Hardwood floor

collettec Looks great! Like your idea for the backsplash with the stone in a diamond pattern. Given that there is some difference in shade between the warmer shade of the cabinets and the cooler off white color in the countertop, I would consider going with a natural stone close to the base color of the cabinets or countertop - fairly subdued so it doesn't compete with the granite. What a difference so far!