Ideas to Update the Top 6 OLDER Granite CountertopsIs your kitchen being held hostage by fugly granite countertops from the 1990s or early 2000s? Are you wanting to update your walls or cabinets, but don’t know what paint colours will work – can you do white, can you do gray, can you do ANYTHING? And let’s not get STARTED on what to do with that ole backsplash… Show
Don’t worry, I’ve got your back and I’m here to help.  Most granite patterns from 20-30 years ago weren’t picked with LONGEVITY in mind, they were picked because they suited the current trends, trends that no longer apply unless you’re still sponge-painting your walls and stuffing plastic bags in your bra like me valances. The ones we’re hitting today include…
But not ALL older granite countertops are a challenge, and in fact, some are friggin’ GORGEOUS and highly coveted. Others are maybe not coveted but are still easy enough to work with – the most TIMELESS and VERSATILE granite being BLACK. However, even some of the BEST-INTENTIONED black granite countertops have flecks of pink, taupe, green and blue in them that severely limit their long-term potential. This makes UPDATING a heck of a lot more difficult, but not impossible if you have a lil Ginger in your back pocket (I pinch upon request). And by the way, if you think your granite countertop is calling all the shots, you might be surprised to hear that your BACKSPLASH actually calls first dibs on paint colours as it’s on the same vertical sight-line as the cabinets/walls – the preferences of your countertop come in second place. Let’s say that again in a different way… MOST of the time, your backsplash is more important than your countertop when it comes to coordinating cabinet colours. Why? Because the backsplash is on the same vertical sightline as the cabinets, the visual connection is more immediate. With the countertop being horizontal, there’s a BIT more room for forgiveness. Suuuuure, it’s all good in the hood if your countertop and backsplash coordinate, but if they DON’T (which is the case more often than not with homes from the 90s), you may want to think about refreshing it too. 5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home In this next example, the granite countertop is still going strong, but the backsplash is limiting the room’s potential… After, you can see how a fresh new backsplash along with a coordinated cabinet paint colour brought this kitchen back to LIFE! Remember, your outdated countertops can STILL look amazing if you surround them with the right paint colour, backsplash and decor – in fact, there are some granites I’ve grown to LOVE in my E-Designadventures! The key is to stop FIGHTING your granite and choose paint colours and products that actually SUIT it – this is how you create a space with style and intention. As the great Britney Spears once said, let’s hit that baby one more time… The key is to stop FIGHTING your granite and choose paint colours and products that actually SUIT it… I believe the above countertop is actually soapstone, but it proves my point – going WITH IT works! So, what are the BEST ideas to update a kitchen or bathroom with outdated granite countertops?
Today we’re going to focus on coordinating your granite countertop with paint colours and backsplash ideas, as they’re your best BANG-FOR-BUCK ideas (non-street corner style). But before we get started, I want to make a VERY IMPORTANT POINT about painted cabinets… If you want to paint your cabinets and can’t find a paint colour that both YOU and your countertop love, it might be best to leave them stained wood! This can ESPECIALLY be the case if you have a backsplash or tile flooring that isn’t SUPER well-coordinated with the countertop – PAINT CAN’T FIX EVERYTHING (but wine can certainly help) Are you ready to dive in? I know I am… 1. SANTA CECILIA GRANITE COUNTERTOP UPDATE IDEASSIMILAR GRANITE COUNTERTOPS: New Venetian Gold, Giallo Ornamental Oh Ceciiiiiilia, you’re breakin’ my heart…anyways. Santa Cecilia is a WARM granite with the following colours…
Santa Cecilia Home Depot The key with Santa Cecilia granite is that you SHOULDN’T introduce a colour on the cabinets that doesn’t ALREADY EXIST in the countertop. If you add a new colour, there won’t be a visual connection between your cabinets and countertops and it’ll be hot mess. Any NEW colour needs to be in the form of an accent, not a full-scale commitment. THE EXCEPTION. If you paint your main cabinets white, you could paint your island a darker neutral with a reasonably strong green undertone as rather than competing with the countertop, it will act like an ACCENT (but if you ask me, this approach can still look a bit dated). BTW – there are SEVERAL varieties of this granite countertop and there’s ALWAYS variation between slabs, so the examples might not show the EXACT Santa Cecilia that you have. The 5 Best Off-White Paint Colours Sherwin Williams 4 Warm Gray Paint Colours CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS WHITE IF I HAVE SANTA CECILIA GRANITE?Yes, but they have to be CONSIDERABLY warm and soft – not stark or clean. JR Photography It can also look nice if you have soft warm white main cabinets and paint the island a dark colour like a soft warm black that’s bordering on black-brown. The Best Warm White Paint Colours How to Choose the Best Paint Colour for Your Cabinets BTW, Online Colour Consulting is how I support my family. So, while I can’t give SPECIFIC colour instructions on this blog post, you’ll find helpful links to some of my 450+ articles sprinkled throughout. My goal is to get you headed in the right direction and if you need more specific advice – please check out my packages and I can give you some personal attention! IF I HAVE SANTA CECILIA GRANITE, CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS GRAY?Nope. The gray you think you’re seeing in Santa Cecilia is more of a greige or taupe, so it’s warmer with a subtle violet or violet-pink undertone. WHAT ARE THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR MY WALLS IF I HAVE SANTA CECILIA GRANITE?
JR Photography The Best Paint Colours for Island and Vanities Benjamin Moore’s 8 Best Gray Paint Colours WHAT’S THE BEST TYPE OF BACKSPLASH TO UPDATE SANTA CECILIA GRANITE?THIS is where a lot of people hop on the wrong bus – STOP, YOU’RE GOING THE WRONG WAY! That’s right, if you’re thinking of doing a WHITE subway tile backsplash or heaven-forbid, MARBLE (yes, I’ve seen it all), you need to put on the brakes and shift into a new gear. In the above example, my client was looking for a paint colour for her cabinets. I had to break it to her that paint wasn’t going to fix things, and could in fact, further the disconnect between her backsplash and countertop – she needed a new backsplash. And of course, I can’t FIND the after photos to show you, but maybe my client is reading this and will resend them (wink wink nudge nudge…). So, instead of white subway tile, take a look at…
4 Subway Tile Ideas for Your Bathroom or Backsplash 2. NEW VENETIAN GOLD GRANITE COUNTERTOP UPDATE IDEASSIMILAR GRANITE COUNTERTOPS: Santa Cecilia, Giallo Ornamental New Venetian Gold granite is VERY SIMILAR to Santa Cecilia, with only a few subtle changes…
New Venetian Gold Home Depot Just like with ‘ole Cecilia, you SHOULDN’T introduce anything new on the cabinets that doesn’t ALREADY EXIST in the countertop. If you add a new colour, there won’t be a visual connection between your cabinets and countertops and it’ll look fugly – trust ye old Ginger on that one. Any NEW colour needs to be in the form of an accent, not a full-scale commitment. While this isn’t the case with countertops that have a more SIMPLE colour palette, once you get three+ colours in a countertop, adding a NEW colour to the palette can be a big mistake. THE EXCEPTION? NO EXCEPTION FOR YOU! Seriously, New Venetian Gold just wants you to pick up what it’s throwin’ down. In the above, example, the walls are too drab and flat for the type of warmth in New Venetian Gold (and don’t even get me started on the backsplash #hotmessofundertones). BTW – there can be A LOT of variation between slabs, so the examples might not show the EXACT Venetian Gold that you have. CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS WHITE IF I HAVE NEW VENETIAN GOLD?Yes, you can paint your cabinets white, but you need a warm soft white, not a stark clean one. Should I Paint My Cabinets or Leave them Stained? A QUESTIONNAIRE The 3 Whites I Would NEVER Paint My Trim or Cabinets IF I HAVE NEW VENETIAN GOLD GRANITE, CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS GRAY?HECK NO! Don’t let those wee little flecks trick you as they aren’t gray – they fall more in the taupe range (which is warmer with more of a violet-pink undertone). One of my favourite applications with New Venetian Gold is to paint the main cabinets a soft warm white and the island a darker warm greige-taupe paint colour. You can also consider a dark brown or burgundy, but this blog post is about UPDATING your room, not back-dating it – wink wink. CLICK HERE OR ON THE ABOVE IMAGE FOR AVAILABLE PACKAGES!WHAT ARE THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR MY WALLS IF I HAVE NEW VENETIAN GOLD GRANITE?If you’re looking to freshen up your walls, you can check out some versions of…
WHAT’S THE BEST TYPE OF BACKSPLASH TO UPDATE NEW VENETIAN GOLD GRANITE?Just like with Cecilia, you’ll want to make a good colour connection when it comes to your backsplash…
3. PEACOCK GREEN GRANITE (BLACK) COUNTERTOP UPDATE IDEASSIMILAR GRANITE COUNTERTOPS: Green or Verde Uba Tuba Peacock Green Granite has a DOMINANT black base along with the following colours…
Peacock Green Granite Home Depot Peacock Green Granite is a tricky one, as a lot of people see it as black, however, it has some VERY interesting and finicky undertones! Again, the key is to not introduce any NEW colour to your palette and instead, pick up one what you already see. THE EXCEPTION. There’s NO exception with this bad boy – you’ve got to go with it or you WILL be going against it! BTW – there can be QUITE a bit of variation between slabs, so the examples might not show the EXACT Peacock Green that you have. CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS WHITE IF I HAVE PEACOCK GREEN GRANITE?Yes, as long as you’re okay with a HIGH contrast look. As far as the ‘actual white’ goes, I wouldn’t do an overly warm one, nor a super COLD one. Instead, I would look at some of the WHITER shades of white. BUT (a great big one…), there are more things at play in a kitchen, such as backsplash tiles and flooring. In this next example, while the countertop here isn’t Peacock Green, it has similar colours in it (gray-green). And while we could easily do white cabinets, we have to take the backsplash and floor into consideration, both of which won’t be happy if we go white! In my client’s Online Colour Consultation, I suggested several options, of which they chose a SOFT warm off-white to humour the needs of the backsplash and tile floor, while still updating and brightening the space… When you’re working with existing finishes that aren’t being replaced, it can be a challenge to update your kitchen. Remember, if you can’t find a paint colour that your existing finishes and you agree on, you may want to stick with wood until you can budget for a larger remodel. Before, from a different angle… And after, MUCH lighter and brighter – without being white… Should I Paint My Cabinets or Leave them Stained? A QUESTIONNAIRE IF I HAVE PEACOCK GREEN GRANITE, CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS GRAY?Well, you can paint your cabinets gray-ish, but that gray will need some VERY SERIOUS green (green-blue) undertones in it. If you don’t embrace these hues, your cabinets could look violet (as every gray has undertones) and will CLASH with your countertop. The Best Blue-Green Paint Colours WHAT ARE THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR MY WALLS IF I HAVE PEACOCK GREEN GRANITE?Refreshing your walls can be a great way to update the look of Peacock Green granite. Check out some of these…
WHAT’S THE BEST TYPE OF BACKSPLASH TO UPDATE PEACOCK GREEN GRANITE?If you want to update your backsplash, it will depend on what colour your cabinets are (and for the sake of brevity and sanity I can’t cover them ALL), but generally speaking…
There are other, similar granite countertops with green in them – like this next one. In this case, we’re looking at a WARM green, not a cool green, and would adjust our colours/undertones accordingly… BTW, I have some FANTASTIC blog post re: updating the green-inspired surfaces in your home, check them out here… How to Update Forest Green Countertops, Carpet or Tile The Best Accent Tiles to Update Forest Green Countertops How to Update Forest Green in Your Home 4. SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE UPDATE IDEASOh, that Sapphire Blue is ALWAYS a bugger with its particular blend of colours…
Sapphire Blue Granite Home Depot Seriously, I actually had to take a deep chug of wine straight from the bottle breath before I dove into this one. Why? Well, because what I have to WRITE, isn’t always what my readers want to READ. CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS WHITE IF I HAVE SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE?That’s a hard no. BUT WHY NOT? Because Sapphire Blue doesn’t have any white in it, it’s a tough sell to introduce it on such a large scale as cabinets. You CAN, but I’ve found that with the particular colours in Sapphire Blue, white cabinets can make it look more dated. If you REEEEAALLLY want white cabinets, DON’T choose a warm white and be cautious with your wall colour choice. BTW – there can be QUITE a bit of variation between slabs, so the examples might not show the EXACT Sapphire Blue that you have. IF I HAVE SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE, CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS GRAY?This is where we can breathe a little easier and go back to our sippy cups as YES, you can paint your cabinets gray, but it can’t be ANY old gray or some of the more POPULAR gray paint colours like Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray or Gray Owl. You will want to sample the following carefully…
Should I Paint My Cabinets or Leave them Stained? A QUESTIONNAIRE WHAT ARE THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR MY WALLS IF I HAVE SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE?If you’re looking to freshen up your walls, you can check out some versions of…
5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home Sherwin Williams Best Gray and Greige Paint Colours WHAT’S THE BEST TYPE OF BACKSPLASH TO UPDATE SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE?Again, it can really depend on what colour your cabinets are, but generally speaking, check out…
5. UBA TUBA GRANITE COUNTERTOP UPDATE IDEASALSO KNOWN AS…
SIMILAR GRANITE COUNTERTOPS: Butterfly Green, Peacock Green, Amazon Green Uba Tuba is tricky as there are SO many versions and colour blends. While some focus hard on a cool green with gold, black and silver flecks, others drop all of the green, grabbing only black, gold, taupe and white! So, I’m going with the two UBA’s I see the most… Uba Tuba Granite Home Depot CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS WHITE IF I HAVE UBA TUBA GRANITE?YES! Most versions of Uba Tuba do just fine with white cabinets.
Benjamin Moore’s 8 Best White Paint Colours Sherwin Williams 4 Best White Paint Colours IF I HAVE UBA TUBA GRANITE, CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS GRAY?Some of the Uba Tuba’s love gray cabinets as long as you hone in on the right undertones…
BTW – there can be QUITE a bit of variation between slabs, so the examples might not show the EXACT Uba Tuba that you have. WHAT ARE THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR MY WALLS IF I HAVE UBA TUBA GRANITE?If you’re looking to freshen up your walls, it depends on which Uba Tuba you have…
The 12 Best Whole Home Gray & Greige Paint Colours WHAT’S THE BEST TYPE OF BACKSPLASH TO UPDATE UBA TUBA GRANITE?When it comes to the best backsplash to update Uba Tuba, it can really depend on what colour your cabinets are. Let’s start with the green-based Uba Tuba shown above…
If you have the black-based Uba Tuba, you might look at…
6. BALTIC BROWN GRANITE UPDATE IDEASAhhhh, Baltic Brown, you’ve been kickin’ it for a long time my friend and I know ALL of your dirty secrets, including colours like…
But, NO TWO GRANITE SLABS WERE CREATED ALIKE, and this is definitely the case with Baltic Brown as you can get slabs that are bit darker and richer like this… Or lighter and brighter like this… Which makes it REALLY HARD for me to specify which direction you should go in. So, I’m going with what I see in the AVERAGE consult with Baltic Brown. CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS WHITE IF I HAVE BALTIC BROWN GRANITE?For the love of everything beautiful – no. Because Baltic Brown doesn’t have legit white in it, white cabinets would look stark and out of place in a kitchen with these countertops. However, you CAN paint your cabinets a soft warm off-white, as long as it doesn’t lean into yellow/cream. Baltic Brown favours an orange undertone and one that leans slightly into red (pink) rather than yellow. Some of the more modern off-white beige paint colours can be interesting partners to Baltic Brown. BTW, HUGE thanks to my E-Design clients who send their after photos in, I couldn’t do this without you! 6 Questions To Ask BEFORE You Paint Your Cabinets WHITE IF I HAVE BALTIC BROWN GRANITE, CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS GRAY?You can paint your cabinets gray, but they can’t be a TRADITIONAL or standard gray paint colour – they need a MASSIVE shot of green in them and absolutely NO VIOLET OR BLUE! And along with a heavy dose of green hue, you’ll also want some depth – no off-white or light depths for THIS countertop. WHAT ARE THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR MY WALLS IF I HAVE BALTIC BROWN GRANITE?If you’re looking to freshen up your walls, you can check out some versions of…
WHAT ARE THE BEST BACKSPLASH IDEAS TO UPDATE BALTIC BROWN GRANITE?I actually like working with Baltic Brown, as it’s pretty clear on its preferences…
READ MORE Quartz vs Granite Countertops – Which One is BEST For YOUR Home? 5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home The 6 Best Paint Colours For Kitchen Islands & Bathroom Vanities 5 Ideas to Update Your Fireplace The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They Rock NEED HELP? Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING PACKAGES! Chat soon, ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2021 WITH MORE GOODIES FOR YOU! What Splashback goes with black granite?A marble backsplash with black granite countertops can make such a perfect pair. White and gray marble is one of the best types of backsplash for black countertops. Classic stone tile can make a perfect backsplash for dark countertops.
Should backsplash be lighter or darker than cabinets?The design should be used to balance out the light and dark shades of the other elements, so if you have light cabinets and countertops, you may want to choose a dark backsplash to bring more depth to the kitchen. If you have very dark cabinets or countertops, a light backsplash will help the kitchen feel fresh.
What kind of backsplash looks good with oak cabinets?Because oak wood has a warm undertone to it, cool colors and neutrals with cool undertones contrast well with it. Therefore, if you want to accentuate your oak cabinets, opt for backsplash tiles and materials that are gray, white, blue, purple or green. This results in an overall dramatic effect for the space.
What compliments black granite?Dark gray can be a bold choice in smaller spaces, like this modern New York apartment, where glossy gray cabinets and stainless steel appliances complement a black granite countertop.
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Backsplash ideas for black granite countertops and oak cabinets
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