Emily Henderson Explains How To Update Your Kitchen Without Replacing The Countertops

Finding ways to update one of the most-used rooms in a home without redoing every single detail can really give a budget a boost. Interior designer and HGTV star Emily Henderson came up with a plan to do just that in a seven-week kitchen makeover that focused on an impactful cabinet and countertop color combination that kept existing gray countertops that were still in good condition in place. Instead of replacing them, the cabinets were painted in a coordinating gray color for a cohesive look that works beautifully in her overall vision for the room.

To pull the look together, she also added a Crate & Barrel island with a white marble top and gray graining to coordinate with the existing countertops. This gives the updated space a more luxurious look without needing to replace every counter surface with expensive stone. The base of the ample island is a natural-colored wood that coordinates with the ceiling in the modern farmhouse kitchen. Many different countertop types can work with this type of remodel, even ones that may feel a tad dated.

Lighter colors on both cabinets and countertops offer a more balanced look, while darker colors are more dramatic, as shown in Emily Henderson's project share on Instagram. Things can get a bit trickier if your countertop color is starting to feel a bit dated, however. Light on light or dark on dark may not work, but there are other alternatives to consider.

Take granite countertops as an example. You may love the caramel brown colored granite you paid a pretty penny for a decade ago and want to keep it, but you're not seeing many design inspiration ideas to get your creative juices flowing. A good rule of thumb is to select a neutral paint color, like cream — a lighter-colored cabinet will brighten up the room. Another alternative for light brown granite, believe it or not, is the medium green often used in farmhouse kitchen remodels, especially when you switch out the hardware to a warm gold color. Black granite can also look great with bright white cabinets, or you can opt for black on black for a more dramatic look. With a little out-of-the-box thinking, you can develop a kitchen redo that lets you keep your countertops to save money while enjoying an updated look.