Before and after: this once dated dark pine kitchen has been transformed into a characterful, cozy space that embraces the lack of natural light

A Craftsman kitchen with dark green cabinets, light green walls, and a wooden island.

When you're trying to make a dark kitchen look brighter, introducing neutral hues and light tones feels like the obvious choice. But what if we told you embracing a moodier palette can be just as, if not more, effective?

The kitchen in this Craftsman-style house has been transformed from dark and uninviting to a moody, traditional kitchen, yet it feels brighter than ever before. And it's a careful approach to color and materials that makes it work so beautifully.