How do you feel about mismatched kitchens?

[Eman'smom]

I've been noticing on homeshows and such that there seem to be a lot of them that have an island with different cabinetry and a different countertop that the rest of the kitchen, what do you think about this look?

We have an older kitchen that needs to be gutted, but honestly this is years away so right now since it works we are leaving it. We however do need more storage/counterspace. There is no way we'd be able to match the existing stuff so doing something like this that compliments seems like a good solution. I'm just having a hard time figuring out if I'd like the look or it would make me crazy.

[Katie T]

Some kitchens it looks good in and some not so. I don't mind it so much when they have the stainless steel on the island but I would perfer the woods to match or IMO it looks like a after thought.

If I wanted to put a island in my existing kitchen but I knew someday in the next 5yrs I was going to redo it I would pick what I liked cabinet wise and then get a ss countertop for the island. Make sense?

Then when the whole kitchen was done all the cabinets and island would match you would just have different countertops, but you could probably sell the ss one if you wanted those to match as well.

[Ola_]

We did something along those lines when we redid our kitchen. Basically we opened up the kitchen and dining room so they are one big room, divided by a peninsula. The kitchen has light cabinets and dark counters, while the dining room side has dark cabinets and a light counter (we put some cabinets in the dining room for extra storage space).

I think it looks much better to do something very different, than to have it almost matching but not quite. You could also do a moveable island, going for that "unfitted" cabinetry look.

[lucyem]

It can be really nice if done right.

I personally like unfitted kitchens - using furniture and less built in cabinets which gives a more eclectic/cosy feel.

[Shellie]

I like it! When we redo our kitchen in a few years (it's not old but it's just base-level tract cabinets and ugly formica) I want to do that as far as cabinets and countertops go.

[EFmom]

It's not a look I like.

[marrymeflyfree]

We redid our kitchen last year, and all of the options are just so mind-boggling! Looking at all of the home shows plus the online stuff just made my head spin after a while. I personally don't care for the 'mismatched' look unless it is a very large kitchen, though I do remember seeing one that I loved. The homeowners were avid bakers, and had a thick (and gorgeous) marble slab for the island top. It was such a subtle contrast from their other counters...enough to be different, but still flow.

[Traci mom23boys]

I had a little antique desk that wasn't being used, so I added rollers to the feet and made it my island. It adds to the eclectic, funky look that I love.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8006895@N02/4486216632/

[Eman'smom]

Your kitchen is super cute I love the beadboard on the cabinets.

I'm still on the fence about what to do. I'm really not a fan of it, but there is no way it's all going to match......

[bluebunny]

You know what's funny? I didn't ever consider my kitchen "mismatched" but I guess it is. Our cabinets are cream colored and my DH built a center island and painted it black. We have the same countertops throughout, which I think makes it look less mismatched. I love it!

[sunshineafterrain]

I'm going to use a bureau converted to an island and it won't match.
I'm unsure of the countertop but most likely it will be wood so it won't match either

The nice part is that since it's not built in you could always remove it if it were making you crazy- check out 2nd hand furniture and cabinets then you won't have to spend much

I bet it turns out really nice!