clouderk WOW, what a difference. Looked nice before and even nicer now. I love the dark colours, i never shy away from them. Hope you achieved the look you wanted and are happy!

Julia Williams, ASID If your paint is scrubable (meaning glossy or semi-glossy), you can get away with no backsplash. If not, I think adding some color with a glass tile backsplash (pulling in your brown & yellows, plus maybe a deep red or green) would also look lovely. Good job!

Stoneshop This looks beautiful! Very timeless and sophisticated. I love it!

Your space does look nice without a backsplash; however, personally, I always opt for a backsplash when possible. I think that it really finishes off a kitchen and ties everything together. If you have a more classic, traditional style, a marble subway tile backsplash would look great! You could lay it in a brick pattern, or in a herringbone pattern to add some interest. If you have a contemporary style, then a linear mosaic tile would be perfect.

[houzz=A.S.D. Interiors kitchen remodel]
[houzz=Georgetown Townhouse]

linda boyd I don't think a backsplash will look nearly as good and would not add it unless the paint is not washable. I prefer the way you are showing off the few elements you have selected. It's beautiful and more elegant without backsplash noise.

bearzfan It looks great! I am in the process of deciding whether to paint my cabinets black. Did you do it yourself? I was going to hire someone but my husband thinks he can do it (that makes me nervous!) Did you use paint or stain? Glossy or matte?

muffyj I painted my kitchen cabinets glossy black and love it. The cabinets were from 1987 and builders grade oak. My countertop is white Silestone (love it) and my back splash is white subway tile (love it), but I had to warm it up so my flooring is cork (medium brown) and my artwork is framed with brown frames. My walls are medium gray. Your cabinets look great, but if you ever needed to replace the appliances stainless steel will look beautiful with the black. One idea for your backsplash is to repeat the color from the floor up in that area with tile, I've seen it done before and it looks classy. Otherwise, your look now is fine.

naomic1 I LOVE IT....I never knew black cabinets and black appliances looked so good together.

photogra4er bearzfan, yes I did it all by myself with Rust-Oleum Cabinent Transformation Kit (semi glossy paint). I got from home depot. It was so easy (4 steps, no sanding or scrubbing) and so affordable. I only paid around $200 for 3 small kits. I still have some left over paint too. I was going to hire someone but they wanted between $10-15,000 dollars just to do it (NO WAY). The only tricky part about painting yourself is their will be a few imperfections (which I do have especially in between the crevices and grooves). But its not that big of a deal or bad looking.

photogra4er Thanks for the all the great compliments and ideas everyone.

Marie Slack-Tello It's beautiful! Ikea recently did a kitchen in black and I fell in love! And I would add a back splash but it's because I love back slashes. I would do this to my kitchen but our appliances are silver and beige, eww.

Katie Pringle Great affordable fix to modernize the outdated cabinets! Totally agree a backsplash would help, and a coat of paint on the walls- perhaps gray instead of yellow? If you're trying to keep modern maybe a white glass backsplash, or warm it up with a traditional marble as suggested above.

Home Preppers Wow! It looks great. You are daring too. Most would shy away from black. I would love to see some hardware and a back splash. I think it would add some interest. Stoneshop above, has some good ideas. I always like to add some texture to rooms too, which you could do in a back spash or even in some bar stools. Your bar stools are great, but you might try adding in some whicker or other element.

Veronica Minke Makes the room look kind of dark, maybe if you lighten up the island.

lionnessone Think white subway tile or white marble! Paint over your "EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY" brown doesn't belong.
[houzz=Marble - White Carrara][houzz=Heather Garrett][houzz=22nd Street Kitchen]

webbedfeet8 I like the black cabinets and white counters. I think the lettering should go. Paint the walls canvas tan maybe (Sherwood Williams) or something light. Backsplash for sure. Something light colored and not too busy.

trendesdesign Looks fabulous! The writing is a personal thing if you like it that it your choice!I would add a backsplash. Subway tiles always a classic

blaqdoll Love, love, love your kitchen. I was just contemplating using the Rustoleum kit in black for my own kitchen. I may only need two kits too since I don't have an island. Thanks for the inspiration.

bdcook Do you know if you can use the Rustoleum kit over formica cabinetry?

photogra4er @bdcook, rustoleum works on wood, laminate and melamine surfaces. I'm not really sure if it would work on formica surfaces (it should though) you might want to ask someone in the paint department just to be 100% sure.

krismomof4 I love the new look. I am getting ready to order cabinets & I had planned on going with a light chocolate color. But I love the black cabinets. I will be getting black appliances & can lighten the countertops, backsplash, walls & accessories. Plus my kitchen faces the south & gets full sun all day so it's very bright. My only concern with the black cabinets is them getting dusty easily & dirty. Have you noticed this?

photogra4er @kris That's a great question (will cabinents get dusty). I havent noticed dust so far. There is a protective top coat painted on cabinets that allows you to wipe them down if they get dirty or smudges.

avajane Spectacular result! Well done! I agree with the lionnessone back-splash suggestions - nothing too busy. And also with the wicker bar stools suggested by Home Preppers.

Granite Transformations I really like what you did with the changes in your kitchen remodel. Did you reface the cabinetry? The only other thing I'd recommend doing is installing a backsplash. I really think our Liberty tile would be a great fit, I like grey, but you might like one of the other colors more. You can view them here- http://www.granitetransformations.com/southjersey/products/mosaic-tiles/colors/liberty/

Good job and thanks for sharing!

Subway Tile Outlet Very nice changes already! Have you thought about a stainless steel backsplash like in the attached image? You can find the product here: http://www.subwaytileoutlet.com/products/Stainless-Steel-Mosaic-Tile-1x2.html

Wallmark Homes Nice very sleek and modern looking. I agree stainless steel will add an industrial look that would match perfectly.

Patricia Federico I would like to see a backsplash and some hardware on the cabinets to finish it off.

fsvienna The black looks great. I would do a creamy, shiny white backsplash.

Bonnie i guess black is the new "in" color ... I would add a backsplash to give the kitchen a little sparkle and lightness. Also, change the paint color.

Reico Kitchen & Bath Upgrade looks great, but I really love the paint and artwork above the cabinets! It grabs my attention every time I see this post!

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design Love your black and 'no' to the back splash - you certainly have numerous ideas from houzzers - post any updates and enjoy that new feel to your kitchen!

photogra4er @reico kitchen yes I like the words on the wall and I am going to keep all the colors because my home is open and the color scheme throughout is chocolate brown, citrus yellow and antique white.

Bonnie I like the words too!

minimumjoe The words on the wall are a terrific touch, given the color change happening around them. But for a backsplash, my choice would be a long swipe of bling. I like the suggestion above for stainless, especially if you're modern in style. But if you're more transitional, give a thought to mirror! Crushed mirror, not panels which would show grease. It would sparkle and keep the whole end of the house lively.

Good luck. I like what you've done a lot.

Michelle Scott Love it!

legwork Love the smart and inexpensive fix to a very dated ( in a
Bad way) kitchen. I would do a black tile back splash. Or even better a painted chalkboard.

kjdick White subway tiles have my vote. Clean and classic. No matter what your style they will go right along with it. Clean and pretty contrast to the black.

nlf31763 I would add a reflective glass backslash and change the globe on the pendants. Bring in some lighter color, these get lost among the cabinets. Great job though.

monroetarver I love it! But i would add a back splash, would make it feel even more elegant

chickinvic I love it! I personally don't think you need a backsplash, and I really like your wall colors. Very nice look you've achieved. By the way, I nearly choked when you said that someone wanted $10-$15K just to repaint your cabinets. Is this normal? No wonder you did it yourself.

photogra4er @chickinvic oops, I made a typo ......It was actually $5-10k someone quoted me (for my 28 cabinent doors, 18 drawers and the island). I spoke with some friends and they said to repaint them that was way too much.

chickinvic I agree - even $5-10K sounds like a lot of money for someone to paint those cabinets. I'm in the wrong line of work obviously:)

ABK Today I think a 3" x 6" white simple subway tile would look great. I would add some additional color with art and some additional kitchen accessories (vase, stoneware, etc).

hparks74 Nice!!! Thinking of buying a set of high end used cabinets for new remodel and painting them black. I'm also considering the new whirlpool black ice appliances. I think you just made my decision. Thanks!!!

yolie1110 I also chose black appliances and chocolate maple cabinets,I submitted my pic of my kitchen...yes black is a good choice,I put a 3 inch backsplash in my kitchen ,it looks nice but yours looks good as is.

Christopher James Interiors It looks great and much improved from the previous color. I do think a backsplash would add a lot to the design

diyher I have to admit, when I first read you saying you were going to paint your cabinets black to match the appliances, I thought, yikes... that will really make the room dark. Now that I see it along with all your other decor, it looks fabulous :) I keep thinking I've seen the "Eat Drink and Be Merry" before in a photography group? :)

odessalight Hi, I like that you painted your cabinets! They look great and what a bold move on your part. I painted cabinets white in a townhouse we had and they turned out great and loved how it lightened up the space. Did you sand and paint or just paint them? What kind of paint did you use? Just a though I liked your older pendant lights...thought if you kept those they would have added contrast.
Great job!

fugigirl This is fabulous my kitchen cabinets look the same! and i have black appliances as well ,I was toying around with the idea of painting and getting alot of negative feedback from the family but they just had to see it! I like the way you took off some of the cabinet doors it gives the kitchen a whole new vibe and i like the thought of a tile backsplash bu if you are like me i get bored easily and a coat of paint is easier than redoing tile but it would be nice ,thanks for sharing

Sandie Segura Wesolowski Beautiful kitchen! I was just looking earlier at rust oleum cabinet transformations because like you I am not too crazy about my kitchen. Now you really have me considering trying it out but think I will try it out in my bathroom first this was if I mess up I can afford a vanity than replacing kitchen cabinets. Congrats on your kitchen and thanks for sharing!

photogra4er @Sandie.....I felt the same way. First, I started out doing the island in my kitchen just to see how it would look. Once I finished and saw how good it looked I decided to buy more kits and do the rest of the kitchen.

DIAspoton beautiful job.a baclsplash with bling gets my vote. glass, mirroe or SS. a plain ceramic may seem dull and lifeless.

have you considered painting a light color on the backs of the glass front cabinets? or installing antique mirror on those 3 cabinet backs would make your glassware and dishes sparkle without being too harsh like a brighter mirror finish would.

fuzinav You definately need a blackspash of some sort. Without one, water will eventually erode the plaster under your paint. Speaking from experience....it is practical to have a backsplash!

behki21 great job!! now im wanting to paint all my cabinets!! lol my husband is going to kill me :)

3144123456 Add glass tiles to add some shine!! Change light globes to lighter color to pop against the black cabinets!

debra752 Great job ! Yes glass backsplash in neutral colors . Why does that window stick out ...hmm maybe paint it black too ? Go neutral on all the walls n then add back your words in black !