I agree with that. I will either do all same (color and countertop) or different color on island but same countertop everywhere. Thanks

Agree with Patricia, it's a personal style choice. Currently, planning painted perimeter, stained island, but have yet to pick counter top, so that may change. I personally wouldn't do 2 different color/stained cab's and 2 different counter tops.... oh wait, I do intend to include a large chunk of butcher block inset in my island!

I don't think doing a different kitchen cabinet color on the island is "out". I still think it breaks up all of the cabinetry and creates more interest and makes it look more custom (not builder grade). I, too, though would use the same counter top and the same type of hardware.

It's not 'out' and can look really nice. I love darker stained islands in white kitchens, I also love navy islands in the right kitchen.

I would do only a different countertop or a different cabinet color, not both. Also, I would do this only in large kitchen, not in a smaller-medium kitchen.

If you have any doubts at all, go with the same cabinetry and same countertop. There are plenty of other ways to add interest.

I have to be contrary to most of the above! I think doing an island in something different with a different top (ie, marble if you're a baker) would be awesome. I love the look of the "furniture" style islands, it ups the kitchen another level. I would have liked to do that in my remodel of 2015 but it didn't work out. We did do a different granite and a different texture on the island (absolute black, leathered) whereas the perimeter is African Ivory polished.

We also have seen several kitchens (open floorplans) where the perimeter cabinets were white with a dark granite and the large island (with seating) was created from darker cabinets with a light top. Particularly with the island being a light color it really makes the space look open and bright

Our counter top will all be same but our island and pantry wall are all a dark grey colour called Iron Mountain and our other cabinets are all a white colour.

I agree that if you give your cabinets more of a "furniture" feel, then you can certainly change up both the color and the countertops.

Michelle, I have seen that look a lot as well. I am considering white cabinets on perimeter and black island and wine fridge area but will use same countertop everywhere.

I can't do a "furniture" island. I am keeping the existing island and adding to it to add a microwave and to make it larger.

tresmamma, what is the size of your kitchen?

Well, after seeing the example photo Michelle provided above, let me amend my comment to: though I personally wouldn't do 2 different color/stained cab's and 2 different counter tops... I've seen it done successfully!

Yes.....that is what I meant by it depends on the size of the room. To me, there is not enough space between the island and the cabinets and the island really dominates.

Yes.....I would suggest same color on cabinets. You could consider different color countertops. That would be a subtle change, .

In general, I would agree. If the island is painted a color different from the cabinets, the countertops should be consistent. Whoa....what did I do in our small vacation house minimalist kitchen? Uh-oh! Different paint, different countertop, and I love it! White quartz on the island would have been uber white, and I really like the warmth of the butcher block.

Just goes to show, there really are no rules.

All design choices are a matter of personal taste, to some degree. For future flexibility and staying power, I lean towards simplicity in kitchen and bath designs. This is especially true if you are unsure.

There are plenty of ways to add interest and character in other ways that are easily changeable.

As long as you like something and know that it will cost $, should you tire of it in a few years, go for it.

I did both different cabinet color and different counters on island and perimeter. I love it. Here's some pictures:

I love the look of an island painted a different color. I also like the simplicity of the same countertop, but as others pointed out, it's a personal choice. I agree with CDR Design that sometimes simple is best for high ticket items. Accessories can add lots of color and personality to your space with minimal expense.

If you decide to go with two different countertops, I would definitely make sure the counters complement each other and not too busy of a pattern if using granite or quartz. Good luck, and be sure to post pictures when you're done!

Thanks Center Stage Design. I never contemplated having two different countertops but only if I should have cabinets painted in different colors. I might just keep all the same. We'll see :)

Another consideration is resale. It comes down to numbers. A greater number of potential buyers will be drawn to a neutral kitchen, than one with a lot of personal preferences.

Here are 2 examples of kitchens that have a neutral permanent fixtures, but are very personalized, and could easily be changed up to a different style, color in the future.

Completely agree! As a home stager, I can speak from experience that over-personalized spaces are a problem when selling. A neutral palette definitely appeals to a larger audience. But, as noted above, it does not have to be boring!

I think its always a bad idea to go along with the latest trends when they are expensive ones. This trend of a different color for the island will date your home in the future. Think back about Harvest Gold and Avocado appliances, kitchen and bathroom wall to wall carpeting, hats for your toilet seat, wood-look paneling, shage carpeting, rakes for that carpet and more. The barn doors and shiplap, as well as the mismatched colored cabinets will also make you cringe in the future. Just my opinion, but I've been a victim in the past myself. Now I think long and hard before I cave, and I think about how much it would cost to change that out in a few years.

And one more thing...open shelving in the kitchen. You can't imagine how much dust collects on your dishes no matter how hard you try to keep dust down. It's an absolute nightmare. Don't do that to yourself. I, again, am a victim of my poor planning and thought they'd be great. I ended up tuning glassware and dishes upside down to keep the dust off. I finally got rid of them and feel free!

Not only did I do a different color on the island but my island (and hutch) cabinets are a different wood and finish than my perimeter cabs. DH and I *love* how it turned out!

We don't plan to move for years to come so we remodeled to please ourselves however, we've received many unsolicited compliments on our kitchen plus our GC, cab maker and counter fabricator have asked to use photos of our kitchen to show others how mixing it up can be done. I rarely follow trends but I didn't expect others to want to copy what I did. That's flattering but it wasn't a factor in our decision.

Here's my kitchen (we'll replace our fairly new white fridge with a SS unit when this one dies):

And here's how we arrived at this combo.

We knew we wanted to do white quartersawn oak cabinets because a) we have many family heirloom pieces in white and red oak, many of which are quartersawn and b) it is, hands down, our favorite wood. But we worried that doing all the cabinets in a stained wood finish with red oak floors would have been wood overload. When we saw the the blue-gray, opaque stained cherry sample on our cab designer's desk, we knew we'd found a solution.

We fell in love with Steel Gray (aka Silver Pearl) granite and Bianco Romano, both in a honed finish, but we hesitated to do the entire kitchen in one or the other. The Steel Gray would have been too much dark counter top and the BR would have been too much pattern for us. So we decided to use both stones with encouragement from our CMKBD. We are very happy we did.

I think we made it work by keeping all other details simple and repeating shades of the island's color throughout the kitchen.

As others have stated, it's a matter of personal taste. I also think it's a matter of comfort level. We don't do matchy-matchy anywhere in our home. We have antique, just plain old, and new pieces of furniture. Our art work includes oils, water colors, photographs, posters and a few pieces of our kids' art from when they were little. We even - gasp - mix metals! But we have friends who would never be comfortable mixing it up like we do. And that's fine, too.

Are you asking because you want to know if it's okay for you to do it? Do you like the look? Do you plan to stay put for awhile? If so, go for it. If you're worried about making a wrong decision, consult a pro to make sure you choose the right element to make it all work together.

Absolutely 100% not going out of style; if anything the trend is heading towards bold, bright islands. I've seen red, blue, and even green lately. We are planning a remodel in the next 6 months and I plan to have a gray island with white cabinets. We will also have white uppers and gray lowers. I feel like it really makes it feel different from every other kitchen out there. But in the end, do what you want :)

Definetely add pantry style cabinet, that is my only one regret.

Kitchen redo. Help with decisions. Stain oak cabinets brown/gray or lacquer white. If lacquer should the island be a different color? I am the type of person who does not go trendy for items that are hard to change. Kitchen faces north and floor are 1 /4" oak that are unstained and water based urethane. Plan to change double oven to single oven and convection/microwave counter top with trim kit so it will look like 1 unit. Microwave shelf to go and be replaced with cabinet door that opens up. Would like to keep vent hood as nothing wrong with it and would replace with same model. Granite is Giallo Veneziano and back splash has glass subway tiles that are a beige. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have not committed to anything yet.

debbyremis, start your own thread, asking for help, instead of tagging on to someone else's thread. Older threads don't get as much activity as new threads, plus starting your own thread means that all responses will be targeted specifically to your situation.

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