Most of the clients we work with are trying to bring their late 1990's- early 200o's Tuscan kitchen into the white/gray/cream updated kitchen of the moment. Many of them are also looking to update their backsplash, but keep the granite. One of my favorite color experts, Maria Kilim has coined the phrase, "Bossy Granite" and rightly so. She says there should really only be ONE busy pattern in a kitchen. If you've got granite with multiple colors and movement- That's your ONE pattern. And it's the BOSS. The Boss of your color palette for your kitchen.
If your are updating your backsplash, you've really only got one option when working with Bossy Granite- a solid color tile. My preference is white or cream subway tile. It's classic, timeless and it let's the granite be the boss without a fight.
Solid color tile is the ONLY option for most people trying to update their kitchens with bossy-busy granite.
While we are talking about backsplashes. If your granite was installed with the 5" granite backsplash on the wall-that's it. You don't need another backsplash. That is your backsplash. It looks wrong to install a back splash on top of that. I should know- I did it in our last house. As a matter of fact- I broke all my own rules before I had any rules. How do you think I learned them????
When NOT to install a tile backsplash. And HOW not to select tile for your granite
Dana's Rules for working with granite in a kitchen update
- If your granite has orange, yellow or brown- your cabinet color should have a touch of cream like SW Creamy or SW Navajo White.
- If your granite is black- you are good to go for a classic black and white kitchen. My favorite whites are SW Alabaster, SW Pure White, and Porter Delicate White. You could also use your white trim color.
- If your granite has a touch of gray- you can usually pull off "greige". My favorite is SW Accessible Beige.
- If you have Bossy Granite- use a solid color subway tile for your backsplash. You can use a solid color patterned tile like Arabesque, but those tend to get pricey.
- Your best flooring choice for Bossy Granite will always be a wood floor.
This arabesque tile works beautifully with these granite counters.
I love the arabesque tile in this kitchen designed by Karen Viscito.
Sometimes just a color change can make your whole kitchen feel updated without changing anything else.
BEFORE painting
AFTER painting. Same countertop-same tile
Tuscan kitchen BEFORE
AFTER- updated Tuscan kitchen with painted cabinets
Once you've updated your kitchen with freshly painted cabinets and a new solid color backsplash you can start saving your money for the NEXT BIG THING-- Quartz Countertops. Read what Kristie Barnett- The Decorologist has to say about Quartz Countertops.
Ready to update your kitchen?
We can help. For your free online estimate- click below.
I totally agree Dana. Busy countertops, backsplashes and tile floors are like siblings who bicker. I can hear one of them say “You’re not tge boss of me”. But they will keep trying to be. It’s so true that only one surface can be the boss and they all need to “play nice” together.
Exactly!!! You get it 🙂
This post s really informative! I inherited a busy granite countertop with plenty of orange from the previous owners of my house. The cabinets are already a warm white and the backsplash a fairly solid brown colour. The walls, however, are a cool grey/blue! It makes the cabinets look yellow and the room look terrible overall. My gut instinct is to paint the walls a creamy white (like SW Creamy) but do I have any other options in the greige/taupe/beige world? I’d love to replace the countertop but it’s not in the budget at the moment!
You might be able to work with a color like SW Accessible Beige. It is a great bridge between beige and gray. If you want to send me a photo I’d be happy to take a look. Thanks for your comment.
We can’t take the dark ugly granite countertops and back splash in a house we are looking into buying. We’ve always wanted carerra marble. Does it stain easily though? I see it in some of your design pictures. The cabinets are a cream off white color. Do you think it would look ok with carerra marble countertops. If so what kind of backsplash would you recommend? Wish I could attach a picture so you could see it.
Thank you!
Cream and white play nicely together as long as it doesn’t have brown glazing in the details. You could Carerra marble in a honed finish. Be careful with wine and citrus which can etch the marble. I’d do a creamy/white solid color ceramic tile. It will be beautiful. Thanks for reading. 🙂
Love the rules for managing Bossy Granite. I bought a house with a small dotted granite tile countertop with brown, beige, slate grey, pink and red tones, which goes nicely with the Bossy Floor in a nature slate tile. I’m going through the process of getting the cabinets, backsplash and walls all painted white because I can’t take the noise anymore. Neither the granite nor slate tile floors will come up without doing damage, so I have to live with them for a while.
I’m so glad you found it helpful. Best of luck with your project!
We have existing white appliances and a bossy granite with shades of warmth with speckles of black. We are going to paint our cabinets white. What color white would you recommend? We were looking at SB pure white and thinking of a white backsplash. Unfortunately we were told we should go with ceramic floors since our wood floors nearby are about four years old and the colors would be a little off if we try to finish it with matching wood.
Just based on the information above, I would do a warm white like SW Navajo white. A bright white will be too stark against the warm countertops and tile. Best of luck!
This post (and your post on updating a Tuscan kitchen) have been a godsend! We don’t have the money for a full kitchen redo and it’s very inspiring to see that we can work with the bossy “faux granite” awhile longer. We have laminate that looks very much like the granite in the first photo above. Do you have any idea what color white/cream paint was used in the first photo (or any suggestions you can point us to)?
Thanks so much! So glad you found it helpful! Those cabinets are painted Sherwin Williams Creamy. Good luck with your kitchen. 🙂
I am moving into a new home with pink granite ( some specks of Black) and light wood/tan cabinets with white tile. I would like to paint the cabinets for a quick fix until we can afford wood floors. What color would you recommend for cabinets, would white be too close to the tile color?
What color is your floor? If the white tile and the pink countertops are working together, I’d paint the cabinets white too. Otherwise, I’d replace either the tile or the countertop. Best of luck to you on this project!!
The tile floor is white. It is large squares. I am hoping to redo the kitchen in a few years and gut everything. I was wondering what a quick fix could be so it would look more modern without spending a lot of money in the mean time. Would grey cabinets work?
I think a white cabinet is your best option.:)
We have a very bossy granite in the home we recently bought. I’d love to remplace them, but keep the creamy white cabinets we have. Is it possible to remove granite without harming the cabinets?
Yes ma’am. The countertop company should easily be able to remove and replace your countertops. Good luck to you!
We have tan brown granite with dark wood floors and cabinets. Thinking about doing a 2.75”x8” White subway time that has sort of a hand painted looking finish. Can I get away with dark grout?
thanks for sharing these tips! our kitchen is brown and beige. so blah. we totally have the bossy beige/brown granite with matte solid cream backsplah tiles , warm stained wood cabinets and white tile floors. I want to pain the cabinets to lighten it up but i would that work with white floors and matte white backsplash? I was thinking of switching out backsplah with the shiny subway tiles. how do I get any color in this place. oh light cream wall color – which i’m also open to painting i just unsure know what color. oh and dark brown sink.
Thanks so much for your comment. It’s hard for me to give advice without seeing a photo. I’d be happy to do an e-design consult for you. Here’s a link with info on my design services. We can do a facetime or skype if you are interested let me know. https://bella-tucker.com/design-services/
I wouldn’t do a white subway tile with brown granite. Try a cream subway tile with a cream grout and you should be good to go!
Trying to bring some new life to our “blah” Tuscan kitchen.
Cabinets are cocoa glaze. Floors are brazilian cherry hardwood. Countertops are Uba Tuba granite. Kitchen is huge with large island and butler’s pantry area, so replacing granite is cost prohibitive.
We replaced the original ugly 4×4 beige backsplash about a year ago with gray/blue mosaic glass tiles which brought a little more color to the pallet .
https://www.lowes.com/pd/allen-roth-Shimmering-Lights-Linear-Mosaic-Glass-Wall-Tile-Common-12-in-x-12-in-Actual-11-75-in-x-11-75-in/3878787
I was trying to lighten things up and bring out the gray/blue flecks in Uba Tuba, but not sure I’m thrilled with how it turned out.
Trying to talk DH into painting cabinets and your kitchen update photos gave some inspiration!
A question about appliances…
I have a built in range, microwave, dishwasher and second oven/range combo in the island which are all black with stainless handles. Are white cabinets with black appliances okay? Appliances are all very high end and less than 10 years old, so don’t want to replace. Do you have any photos to help me visualize?
Lisa, thanks for your comment. I’d love to help you solve your kitchen issues. Your question is complex and will require some study of photos and video to give you a correct response. Please let me know if you’d like to set up an e-design consult. https://bella-tucker.com/design-services/
We would like to paint our kitchen cabinets and have st Cecelia granite on the counter tops. Which cabinet color would you recommend?
I would try Sherwin Williams “Creamy” or Benjamin Moore “Swiss Coffee”
Love the in put!! not sure if you can open this pics. I most likely need someone to come look at the whole thing. I have no idea how to update this without totally starting over. The living room is on the other side of the wall of cabinets by the sink. beyond busy!! but love the ranch that comes with it. any help would be appreciated.
I’d love to help. Email me through the contact page or give me a call to set something up. Thanks!
We are buying a home with Wood cabinets that I’m having painted either Alabaster, Creamy or Navajo White from SW. There is bossy granite (not my fave) and a plain small square creamy stone rustic backsplash. Floor is larger creamy tile.
Am I ok with these color choices for our cabinets? We are having a pro do the work.
Hi! I have Santa Cecilia granite (the yellower/tanner one from the mid 2000s) and am thinking of refacing to a white of sorts (v a full renovation). Everything else in the kitchen had been replaced. Is Santa Cecilia totally outdated or could I get away with this? And if so how white? I get concerned that cremes will look too dirty and outdated. Thank you!
If everything else has been replaced, I recommend also replacing the granite when budget allows. Updating to a quartz or quartzite without the busy pattern of granite. Painting your cabinets SW Creamy or BM Swiss Coffee will lighten things up while working with both the Saint Cecillia now and also working with a whiter stone in the future. Good luck!
If your house has the 5in granite backsplash you say not to put any backsplash above it. So just paint above it? Do you think it’s easy enough to remove the granite backsplash without damaging the countertop if I have my heart set on subway tile?
Excellent question!! Yes, it is pretty easy to remove the 5″ backsplash. It’s definitely a DIY project. Your tile installer can then fix any drywall issues and tile right down to the countertop. If you want to keep the 5″ backsplash I recommend painting the wall color above it. Hope this helps!
Help please. . Just bought a new home and I’m totally baffled by the kitchen. Saltillo tile floors, maple cabinets, black granite counters and backsplash. Any suggestions? Thanks so much.
I’d be happy to help. Please email me to set up a consult!! [email protected]
This is a really helpful article, though I didn’t see any examples of the really, REALLY orange granite counter tops we’ll be inheriting in the house we’re buying along with oat stained cabinets. Orange, orange, orange. Sigh. I really prefer cool colors like blues and grays, so I’m struggling to see how I can work with those super orange counter tops. They seriously make me cringe. Any suggestions?
I’ve enjoyed reading your suggestions to others. So, I will ask myself. When we purchased our home 10 years ago, we remodeled our kitchen with a lighter brown cabinet, ubatuba granite, and hardwood floors that are similar color to the cabinets. My walls began as green, but I painted them a very light yellow that is a hue of the darker yellow in my great room, which is open to the kitchen with a slight divide between. I hate something about my kitchen and have always thought of painting the cabinets white, but I am afraid to do it in case it turns out poorly. I’ve also wanted to change the counters, but that is too expensive. Some days I feel it looks ok, but other times I hate it. I just don’t know how to improve it. Something just doesn’t seem to go right together. Would white cabinets be better? I have white trim in the room, or should I paint the walls? Any suggestions?
Trying to update kitchen. Painted the cabinets SW alabaster. New wood floors. Have Santa Cecilia granite countertops. Removed granite backsplash and now installing AKDO almond glass subway tiles for backsplash. They appeared a neutral beige in color, however after installation they look a little more yellow/green, which I dislike. Would it be better to replace the backsplash, or replace the counters with a quartzite? Don’t really like the Santa Cecilia, but thought replacing the backsplash was easier and less expensive than new countertops. The ceiling is western red cedar. Thanks so much.
Gina, it’s so hard to give you advice without seeing photos of how it has come together. Would you want to set up a consult? You can email me at [email protected] Thanks!!
Lynne, I’d be happy to facetime with you and give you some suggestions if you’d like to set up a consult you can email me at [email protected] Thanks!
There are so many surfaces to consider when planning a kitchen that works beautifully together. If you’d like to set up a consult I’d be happy to give you some direction. 🙂
This is super helpful! Doing a kitchen update and this is the single most helpful piece I’ve found helping to show and guide me on our transformation of our particular kitchen. Thanks for sharing.
We have a brown/black combo for our Bossy countertops – I see that points us towards SW Creamy or SW Navajo White. Our painter said he suggests Vanilla Shake by Dunn Edwards. Any experience with that?
I’m so glad you found this helpful!! I am not familiar with that color. Undertones in off white paint colors are pretty tricky, so I can’t endorse, but I know the paint colors mentioned in my post work. Best of luck on your transformation!!
Great site and very helpful. I’m trying to update a townhouse kitchen with orange, rust, brown/black busy granite, light maple cabinets, and creamy tile floor. I’m going to replace the granite and floors but really don’t want to paint the cabinets. I need color suggestions to look updated. I’m considering a granite with some gray, black, and yellow and creamy white but not sure about wood floor color to choose.
You can’t go wrong with a mid tone brown floor stain. Also, I’d consider a solid color granite like leathered absolute black. Good luck!
I am looking to paint my oak cabinets as an inexpensive update. The floors in my kitchen are large white (12×12) marble tiles. The granite is cream/brown/ with a hint of gold (actual name is Takoda Dawn) I know white or cream cabinets is a safe bet, but I’m concerned the kitchen may look too white because of the floors. I’d love to do a greige color, but have no idea where to start(light, dark, ect.) Any suggestions are appreciated!
I’d paint the cabinets something like SW Creamy. I think repeating the floor color will be a nice bright option in this kitchen. Thanks for your comment!
Thank you so much for this road map for updating a kitchen with bossy granite (mine is primarily brown tones). You refer to off white or cream solid backsplash tile in your recommendations. I keep finding “biscuit” tiles. Is this what you meant? I seem to be finding either stark white or biscuit.
Thank you for such a great site.
Yes, biscuit is another name for off white tile. So glad you found the post helpful!!
Hi Dana, a very helpful and cost saving article. Planning to redo the kitchen in our new house. I have a very busy brown granite with grey n cream tones on the island (which was perhaps built later). Countertop in the Perimeter of the kitchen currently is black which looks old. M planning to change the black granite which is on perimeter and keep the countertop on the island. Can you suggest me how to pick a plain looking granite which is not black. I don’t want to get the same look after renovations. Someone at Home Depot suggested me to go for quartz on perimeter because you can get creamish plain Cambria type look in quartz, which will highlight the busy pattern of island. Also is it tough to get exact match of old countertop in granite?
I agree, I would pick a color from the granite and do the side countertops in almost a solid color so it doesn’t fight with the granite. Good luck
I’ve enjoyed reading your posts. I have an open room concept and needing to redo my hardwood floors due to water leak. I would love to redo my kitchen but will need to keep it as is for now, but a new fresh coat of paint on all my walls will brighten up the look I think. If I have Nova Brown granite in my kitchen along with a very large island and merillat spring valley kona cabinets, do you think painting all my walls with SW Alabaster or BM Cloud White would be too white for my dark kitchen? My floors are currently dark like the kona cabinets and I’m deciding if the floors should remain dark or should I try to go lighter. I’m just worried with the nova brown “bossy” granite. Looking forward to hearing from you
Thanks so much for your comment. This is a complicated answer and one that I would need to see in person. If you’d like to schedule a consult, please email me for scheduling at [email protected] Thanks!