After living in our home for 18 months now, we’ve decided it’s finally time to tackle some of the bigger kitchen projects. Our kitchen has really nice cabinets, but is lacking in a few other areas. I’ve waffled on whether or not to paint the cabinets, and honestly I STILL don’t know what to do so I’m sticking with the natural wood. Here I highlighted a bunch of modern kitchens with unpainted wood cabinets. Here’s what the kitchen looked like when we moved in:
Here is what it looked like until last week:
As you can see, it’s come a LONG ways. The things we’re ready to tackle now are the counters, sink, backsplash, the lighting and hopefully some stools!
Counters
If you’ve been reading for long you might remember last year when we replaced our countertops with a faux marble sticker. After a year it’s starting to show some wear and we’ve decided it’s finally time for new counters. We’re hoping to go with LG Viatera in “Muse”, they won’t get installed until the end of July, but they will likely look strikingly similar to the faux marble sticker. **contains affiliate links** I’m really looking forward to doing an overhang at the peninsula so that we can have kids eat at the counters!
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- LG Viatera Muse
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- Instant Granite Faux Marble Countertop
Sink
Along with installing new counters, it was time for this sad sink to go. It’s cream colored and was discolored with staining.
Our Sunday afternoon was spent tearing it out, cutting our kitchen counters, and installing this Ikea Domsjo sink. Five days in I’m already totally in love with it and can’t believe we didn’t install it sooner.
Backsplash
Another short-term update last year was that I painted our dated backsplash. Here is how it looked before and after I painted it:
To install the new sink, and eventually the new counters the old back splash has to be torn out. It’s really ok because it was a short term fix. Now I’m struggling with what to do for a backsplash. I painted my floors to look like cement tile, and I’m considering buying these matching cement tiles to do on the backsplash. Here’s a few inspiration kitchens that have got me thinking cement tile might be a good idea:
Old World Garden Farms 
Better Homes and Gardens
Hi SugarplumWhat do you think, are the cement tile backsplashes too busy? Is it a trend that’s going to be overdone? Or is it timeless and beautiful?! Of course I could also go with a simple timeless white tile backsplash, but I just don’t love that idea.
Lighting
Now that we’re going to have seating at the peninsula, I’d love to convert the recessed lighting into 2-3 pendant lights. Here’s a few of the pendant lights I’m loving:
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Stools
OK, this isn’t exactly a kitchen update, but with the new counter overhang at the peninsula I’ll need stools! Recently I rounded up tons of great modern stools for my friend’s house. Because ours will be a fairly tight space I’m thinking we need to go with backless stools. Here’s a few I’m considering:
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They need to work well with our dining table seating because they are so close to each other. This is the seating we have going on at our table:
So what do you think?! Do you have any preferences on stools or lighting? Do you think I should go for the cement tile or stick to a nice neutral white tile? Do you think I should leave the cabinets unpainted or bite the bullet and paint them?! Thanks so much for reading! Hopefully it won’t be too long until I’ve got progress to share with you!
How is the paint holding up on your backsplash? If it’s still good, paint it! If you hate the pattern, paint over it!
If not, ripping it out isn’t horrible. It’s loud but it goes quick.
Also, I have barstool #2 in linen and I love them. The instructions sucked for putting them together, but after we did it our own way, it went easy. I love them so much that I wish I had ordered more. They’re so good looking!
Also, we have a similar sink to your old one and I hate it. It’s undermount or it would already be gone.
Actually the backsplash paint held up really well, but I had to tear it out to get the sink installed. They’ve also recommended tearing it out for the new counter install. Hoping it doesn’t totally destroy the drywall! Thanks for the input on the barstools! Linen would be my top choice, but kids will be the ones mainly eating on them, so I’m thinking leather would be safer. Those sinks are awful. Barkeepers friend could get it looking decent, but it would get stained again so quickly.
I’d stick to a white tile, but lay it in an interesting pattern like herringbone. I think the floors + the backsplash might be to much of a concrete pattern. BUT if it isn’t too expensive, and you don’t mind replacing it in a few years, go for the one that makes you feel happy in your gut. I love seeing your ideas and often when you choose what I wouldn’t have, I like the outcome.
Thanks for your input! The floors are in our foyer, so there is some separation, but I agree, it could be too much. I just can’t decide! It isn’t terribly expensive, I’ll have to compare what it costs compared to some different white tiles. Thanks!
Hi Jess, I love your new sink (all the swooning!!). In your original kitchen pic, the thing that bugged me was the dark backsplash with the dark cabinets. Painting the backsplash white added much-needed contrast. I think if you choose the patterned tile it will all look too dark again. Plus if you look at your inspiration pics, all the wooden cabinet kitchens you like have white backsplashes (so there’s contrast) and all the patterned tile kitchens you like have white cabinets (so there’s contrast). But after all that waffling, just do what you like and have a rocking time doing it! xx
Thanks! It’s nice to get other input. You’re right about the white kitchens having patterned backsplash and the wood having white. So maybe I need to finalize my cabinet decision first?! Thanks for the encouragement!
Totally digging lighting #2 and #2 for stools too! Love the idea of white back splash. You have great style, love the way you mix and match and make things your own!
Thank you so much! Both great choices! I so appreciate you taking the time to comment and let me know!
I love the cement tile! I would also worry about it being too dark though. I did notice, as I was flipping through again, there is a tile that is reversed of the one you have. (It has more white in it.) I think that one would look fine as long as you keep your wood floors.
I have that same sink only with one bowl. LOVE IT! I would have gone with the 2 bowl except for space. It does get stained but I just use Bar Keepers Friend about once a month.
I’m not sure one the stools, they are all so cute! Since it will be close to the table you might want to keep in mind the footprint of the stools.
I am leaning towards #2 or #4 for the lighting. Not sure about the space but I would maybe do #2 if there is only 2 lights and #4 with three. (If that makes sense.)
Good suggestions on the stool’s footprint. I didn’t think about doing the reversed cement tile, that’s a good idea. Good to know that you still love your sink. Also about the barkeeper’s friend. I’m not sure on the lights either… thinking probably three pendants.
Have you ever considered black penny tile for a backsplash? Very cool looking.
Here is a very beautiful kitchen with some of the elements you describe and the penny tile:
http://www.masonmillerarchitect.com/noe-valley-complete-remodel
I like light #1 or #5. I think the stools you are favoring are the best, and in leather for sure! If I got linen someone would dump coffee or spaghetti on it immediately, but that is me.
I wasn’t considering black tile, but after seeing this I should! it’s gorgeous and doesn’t darken the kitchen. Thanks for sharing it with me! I think at this point I’m sold on light #1. I agree, linen would NEVER last here. We have upholstered seats at the head and foot of the table and the kids aren’t allowed to sit in them.
I would NOT put in the cement tile backsplash. I think the tiles themselves are beautiful, but quickly become too much. And in all the examples, the cement tile backsplash was with white cabinets, not medium/dark like yours. Maybe try to come up with a way to add pretty pattern someplace else…someplace less difficult to remove later. For example, the window blind. I love woven blinds and have them in many places in my house but in the kitchen where I have wood cabinets and wood floors, I think more of the wood look in the woven blinds is too much. Maybe try to fabric blind that reminds you of the feel of the cement tile.