Designing A Kitchen Around Wood Cabinets

We've been in our new house for almost 3 months now. Sometimes I think the house looks like we moved in yesterday! We bought the house for the yard. I was actually hoping for a house that needed a total renovation, but we were lucky enough to find an amazing yard and a pretty great house. Nothing in the house needs repaired and all of the changes I have planned are just cosmetic. The house has many high end finishes, just not in my style- travertine, solid cherry cabinets, tan granite...

The most expensive project will be the kitchen. It's your typical Texas kitchen- granite, tan, and big. It's a great size, has a huge pantry, and has amazing cherry cabinets. The cabinets are so nice in fact, that my husband won't let me paint them... When did he turn into an old man?? Unfortunately for me, I don't really fancy natural cabinets. I'd been dreaming of gray or blue since putting our house on the market, but he has made it pretty clear that we aren't painting them. 

What's a girl to do? I've been searching high and low for inspiration on how to utilize them without painting them. Let me tell you, finding inspiration for non-painted cabinets is hard, y'all. Of all places I found inspiration from was my watch. I love the soft texture of the leather band and color paired with the cold, hard, dark of the face.

I'm thinking we will most likely change out the cabinet doors, have to utilize some open shelving- which I love, but I'm not sure I can keep organized manage, most likely white subway tile for a backsplash, and I'm really loving the look of a soapstone countertop. I'm also leaning towards a darker floor, but still searching for inspiration. 

I've rounded up a few kitchens with wood stained cabinets to let me know all hope isn't lost for a kitchen I love!

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I can't get enough of this one. I think it's the right amount of rustic (not western) and elegant. Add in industrial barn light and I've got all heart eyes for this space! I can't get enough of the open shelves. My main concerns are how sippy cups would look up there! I think a lot of natural light will be key in making wood stained cabinets work.

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More open shelving... I'd like to be able to see the rest of the kitchen. I'm loving the backsplash with the countertops.

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This kitchen isn't all stained cabinets and typically I wouldn't be a fan of mixing the two, but I think the white cabinets on the top help to balance the dark lower ones. Although if I could talk Matt into painting the top, you better believe I'd be shooting for painting them all! The before and after of this kitchen is great!

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I don't like the openness under the kitchen sink, but I like the look of the cabinets.

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Wood cabinets, but it still looks bright and airy.

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A fixer upper favorite. I am loving the concrete countertops. The cabinetry below is from the same house.

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I had to throw this picture in there. If by some crazy chance I do get to paint them, this is exactly what I'm going for! Would love to see more ideas of kitchens without painted cabinets, do you have any??