What Kind of Counter Goes With Cherry Cabinets?

Applying Basic Color Theory

• Narrow your choices and define a color scheme using the basic principles of color theory. Understanding which colors complement each other and which work in close support of each other will let you eliminate some distracting impulse choices. The rich reddish cast of your cherry cabinets suggests, for example, black, dark gray or dark green counters, pale walls and a medium-tone floor. A monotone color scheme would make your cabinets the strongest color element, with soft peach- or apricot-tinted walls, beige or sandy counters and a dark floor.

Looking at Light

• You will be looking at durable counter tops for a long time and on a daily basis. How they look in different kinds of light is important. For example, a sandy beige in daylight can become muddy in artificial light at night. Ask your retailer for samples of counter colors you like. Examine them in your kitchen in bright and dull daylight as well as artificial light. In general, dark surfaces soak up light and light colors reflect it. See how light affects possible counter colors in the room where you plan to use one of them.

Selecting Materials - Stone

• As of 2011, a very popular kitchen combination is cherry-wood or cherry-finish cabinets and granite counter tops. Other stone choices include slate and soapstone. Advantages include durability and resistance to heat. Disadvantages include a need for sealant at installation and future intervals to prevent staining. Weight is a consideration. While stone is strong, it has a tendency toward brittleness that can result in chipping or scratching. Granite is available in an ever-increasing variety of colors, from dark blacks, browns and greens through medium tones to pale beige, pinkish and gold shades. Slate is restricted to dark gray, soapstone to light gray. All have subtle patterning that adds interest and texture without detracting from the grain and glow of cherry finish.

Selecting Materials - Laminates

• This highly-populated field offers a wide range of solid colors, wood-looks and stone-looks. Recent innovations involving high-definition photography increase the visible resemblance of laminates to natural materials. Recent advances in coatings mean a thicker, long-lasting surface that is resistant to spills, stains and scratching. Heat resistance remains to be addressed. The span of solid colors in laminate runs into dozens of shades and contains shades missing from the stone spectrum, such as dark blues, pale greens or creamy whites. High definition patterns include wood and stone looks, along with artist-generated patterns. Wood and art patterns are probably less suitable to cherry cabinets because of the noticeable wood grain that distinguishes cherry. Stone-look patterns, however, imitate granite's variety at a fraction of the weight and the cost.

Making a Final Choice

• Budget and maintenance issues play a critical role in your final counter top choice. Scout online or print decorating websites that let you see many possibilities, then translate the look into materials you can afford. The best materials let your cabinets shine, balance the color spectrum of your room and make your kitchen time enjoyable.