Hoping to get an honest opinion on my kitchen

ldelmauro · 2025-03-12T21:32:39+00:00

There was an error rendering this rich post.

I recently had my cabinets re painted. I wanted to avoid “super trendy” option so I stuck with Pure White and added Tricorn Black on island and Hood. I have black mist granite on the counters. I splurged on unlaquered brass hardware. My issue is that I feel like the sink wall ( all white ) is lacking … I have tons of light so I’m not sure if I should paint the lowers on the sink wall black as well. I love how the black looks with brass hardware. Perhaps I need another window treatment or or something else that adds depth. Any ideas would be so appreciated. Max budget is 1500 😌

Find more posts tagged with

Kitchen

Paint & Wallpaper

Decorating

Comments

DanielaAraya

Beautiful space! I think the wall with the sink is feeling a little imbalanced because you don't have the visual weight of black finishes on the upper half of the wall. New window treatments, something moodier in a burgundy or even navy blue if you don't want to do something black, would look fab! I'm thinking Roman shades 😍

ldelmauro

thanks so much !! I sincerely appreciate the feedback:)

InspiredCFSUK

Your kitchen looks absolutely stunning! The black and white contrast is timeless, and the unlacquered brass hardware adds so much warmth and character. I totally get what you mean about the sink wall feeling a little flat compared to the island, though.

If you love how the black looks with brass, painting the lower cabinets on the sink wall in Tricorn Black could add some balance and make everything feel more cohesive. But if you’re hesitant to commit to more black, maybe consider adding texture instead, something like a richer window treatment (woven shades or even linen Roman blinds) or a darker runner to ground the space.

Another idea could be bringing in open shelving or a few statement wall sconces to add depth without painting. Your budget is solid for a small but impactful update, so it’s really about how bold you want to go.

DanielaAraya

You're so welcome! I'm excited to see what other suggestions everyone has

DebR

It's beautiful just as it is. The only thing I might do to add a little more interest to that wall is to use glass-front cabinet doors on the upper cupboards to match the very top glass-front ones, then fill those shelves with colorful, artsy dishes and glassware. That would add the depth and color you're missing and it would be easy to change out the look with new dishes or ceramic pieces. Adding lighting to those cupboards would really take it to the next level too. (I love the window treatments as they are now but if you don't change the cabinets, other curtains with even more texture or color would be another inexpensive option.)

jscott

Another vote for new, darker window treatments to balance things out.. Definitely something like Roman blinds, not curtains. I'm afraid if you painted the lower cabinets black, you would just detract from that gorgeous island. I can't tell from the photo, but is all your hardware brass (on the white cabinets, too)? I would definitely consider it, if not, just to add a little sparkle everywhere The contrast against the island black would still stand out and look fantastic.

digna7412

I love drama, and you have it perfectly here. In my old house in the hills of La Habra Heights, I had a smallish kitchen which couldn't be enlarged, so instead I went for drama, and to reduce the visual size of the small center island, I painted it black although the rest was all white. In this High Desert house, the kitchen is much larger since I was able to tear down 2 walls before moving in. I have white cabinets and black countertops. I love the drama.

Nanat

I think your kitchen is lovely. If you wish to repeat a darker tone in the room you might consider painting the wall around the sink. You could repeat the black in the island or use a mid-tone to create more drama. A mid-tone green fits with your plants and baskets but it could be anything that fits with the rest of the room, even a deeper taupe or tan mimicking the color in your blinds instead of light beige. I would not replace the cabinet color. I love the simplicity of the window treatment which is practical in a kitchen. You may also want to put something white on the island (white utensil holder, or a few white canisters) to let the island have a visual conversation with the rest of the kitchen, Seems you could do the whole thing for less than $100 plus any labor if you don't want to paint.

user5944467

I agree with the majority of comments. Your kitchen is absolutely beautiful sans the current window treatments, which just stick out and take away from the visual cohesiveness of your color scheme.

Something along the lines of a fabric; a pattern with the dark black in it. Maybe a valence that drapes along the sides and you can use neutral blinds (white) if you need to be able to close them. I would not paint the sink cabinets black.

ITSMEBETH2211

I think the kitchen looks great. I see nothing lacking on the sink side of the room. I like it ALL.

graphogirl4871

I don’t suggest painting any of the cabinets. Let the gorgeous island be the star of the show. It may be a bit austere so how about moving the yellow flowers to sit on it? A bigger bouquet if it seems dwarfed?

To balance the heaviness of the black island consider painting the woodwork, not the wall, around the wonderful windows with semi-gloss good quality black paint. It would raise the eye upward. (Maybe paint the moulding above them also—just that strip. Hard to say without seeing the entire kitchen.) Choose an accent color you like or that harmonizes with some item within view from the kitchen, if applicable, and repeat it twice in the kitchen. For example: A different patterned flower container (thrift one perhaps? Have an artist paint a design on it?) a decorative glass piece, even a special dish towel of black, white and that accent color to display on a hook or oven door. For fun, not to use.

I don’t see a space for art, but if there were, I would find a picture you love with that color in it and hang it, or display it on a standing easel. (I love art in a kitchen.)

Touches like that make a kitchen inviting but aren’t fussy.

Check in later and show us if anyone’s ideas work for you. Happy cooking!

Abbylane

What a lovely kitchen you really cannot go wrong with a classic combo. Your kitchen has a lot of Water element in Feng Shui adding Fire would help balance that energy. A few ideas would be leather counter stools with backs, brass accents to replace some of the black accents on counters, wood tone cutting boards to replace black ones…

RescueDogMom1987

I suggest painting that lovely wide window trim in the Tricorn Black. Doing so would balance the space. Once you've done that, I suggest changing the blinds to roman shades in a graphic (but not linear) pattern that compliments or offsets the grid of the backsplash. FWIW, I think painting the lower cabinets on the window wall black would be a serious mistake. They'd look too heavy and leave you with so much black in the room that it would feel unbalanced.

phyllks7683

Beautiful large kitchen, so jealous! I agree with other comments. Replace window coverings with something patterned that has black. Could be a white background with outlines of black flowers (flowers don’t have to be filled in, just an outline of flowers in black), or black shades with white flowers ? Add a third color to the shades instead of all black and white? And yes the island needs something with color on it. A vase in teal or yellow to complement a color in Roman shades. Or a napkin holder and S and P grinders in white placed in a round tray teal/yellow.A fruit bowl in white ? Filled with real or artificial lemons and limes ? Whatever you do it has to tie in with the rest of your decor in the adjacent areas and something you love…. Hope to see pictures of the changes/additions you make !

red167837

I love your kitchen. I have one that is similar. I kept adding black. It then made the room feel dark and I grew tired of all the black quickly.

I would sell the current stools and replace them with upholstered chairs with a print in a variety of colors to include black and white. I would ditch the black cutting boards in favor of natural wood. I would replace the black vase on the islandwith a bowl or a set of urns in one of the colors from the print on the chairs.

foracle8194

My suggestions would be to just make some slight changes to the accessories you have to just soften the contrasts. So for example I'd try replacing the black urn vase on the island (which I love but is not very helpful here) with a shallow wide round basket or bamboo bowl, or a colourful wide shallow ceramic bowl. Your accessories are all rather small for such a strong kitchen, and a bit matchy with the black and white theme whereas natural or brightly coloured accessories would add warmth. Personally I wouldn't change your blinds as I'm not a fan of big prints. A large bold colourful print could also help. Overall I don't think you need to do anything big, just replace some accessories with natural soft materials, some colour, bigger plants, and bigger accessories. Your plants are forlorn little specimens, spaced out too evenly along the windows and wall - maybe larger and less spiky ones would help. Look at kitchen images you like but just focus on how they've been accessorised to find ideas you like. Enjoy your kitchen 😊

LauraD

Your kitchen is the AFTER photo in any magazine! I don't think you need to change a thing. I think you do need to add some color and life - so an easy care high humidity plant or two would do the trick - a little softening, a little organic. Beautiful kitchen!!

CJCreggsGoldfish

Black, too, is a trend so I wouldn't emphasize it too much - just the island is fine.

The matchstick blinds are perfect, they add texture and an organic note to a space that is otherwise very polished.

Your issue is what tends to happen when you go all- or mostly-white in a kitchen, it can feel kind of blah or one-dimensional.

The space is very monochromatic, with even the faucet, light fixtures, and decorative elements white or black - none of that helps.

I would replace the faucet and light fixtures for others in brass, and I'd switch out everything that's not tied down for things in colors. Create a palette - the primary colors are white and black, of course, but what if you added some green? A nice moss or olive? Add a rug, decorative pieces, etc. in a darker, muted green… utensil crock, small appliances, etc.

The rug is a good opportunity to add a bit of pattern to a space that is fairly solid.

Similarly, the plant pots are an opportunity to add more texture - you can get some really nice cachepots in ceramic, carved stone, even concrete would be a great addition to such a polished space.

Replace the cutting boards for others in oiled, unpainted natural (brown) wood.

Lastly, add some art! Instead of the clock, how about a row of small, framed pieces? I think gold frames would tie into the brass so nicely. Lean some against the backsplash. What about the slice of wall visible to the right of the stove section? COVER that with art!

DanielaAraya

Here for the drama also!!! 😍