OP, I think it depends on the house. If you have a generic tract house built between 1980s-today, then you can pretty much go with whatever style or colors you prefer, as the houses themselves are typically a mash-up of styles. My house is a 1925 bungalow with tons of white trim and white built-ins. A natural wood kitchen would have looked completely out of place. Painted white cabinets go with the rest of the house. My original bathroom even had 1925 white subway tile!

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example of an ugly white kitchen.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6251-Linway-Ter-Mclean-VA-22101/72492235_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare

Good find, PP! After all the pretty wood in the foyer, the stark white kitchen was a jolt. Did you see the toilet paper holster wall-hanging-thingy in the bathroom?!

Here is an example of an ugly white kitchen.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6251-Linway-Ter-Mclean-VA-22101/72492235_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare

I like white kitchens only if there's a cool bohemian or Spanish style backsplash. White on white on white looks too bland IMO. There needs to be a pop of color.

I love my white cabinets. They are a wonderful foil for my warm mustard walls and white moldings. I have wonderful warm cherry wood floor. My kitchen looks marvelous. I have a mix of stainless steel and white appliances and hardware.

It all depends on how the rest of your house is decorated. I don't think of a kitchen on its own, I think of it in relation to the rest of the house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with wood cabinets where you can actually see the wood? Like nature intended.

No you are not alone. There are many people with bad taste who love those orange oak cabinets.

Um, orange shellac is for knotty pine, not oak. And the original orange shellac is better than painting them - then they're just dated, generic cabinets instead of retro. Reminds me of my grandma's kitchen. Personally, I'd replace them ASAP, but the nostalgia keeps me from throwing shade at people who keep the originals.

Anonymous wrote:We have light very light almost pink cabinets and terracotta tile. Very Tuscan look. The backsplash is terracotta tile too to match the floor and we are selling. Out of the 4 realtors we interviewed, 2 said to paint white, one said to leave it and one said redo backsplash in teal Orr light blue. What would you do???

I wouldn't waste time and money trying to improve the backsplash. You have a dated kitchen, no big deal. You won't make your money back if you update all or part of it. Just leave it and price accordingly.