We’re finally embarking on a kitchen redo! I talked Ben into doing it all… but in stages. Stage One will address the ceiling and cabinets. Stage Two will demolish the fugly floors and replace them with natural oak. Stage Three involves jackhammering out the counters and backsplash and sacrificing them to the Milquetoast Beige Overlord. Then I’m thinking white quartz counters and simple carrara backsplash.
In the interest of moving Stage One of our kitchen renovation forward, we priced out midgrade Ikea cabinets and they came in at over 5K. I have to admit I was a little surprised since we did our last kitchen in the most expensive Ikea cabs for less. Luckily the current cabinets are more functional and of better quality than the last setup, so we’re going to work with what we have.
Where was I? Anyway, this whole time I have been planning something dramatic in terms of color for the kitchen… something not all white. Partly this is because my floors are revoltingly beige (for now), but also because I think painted white cabinets often scream HEY I PAINTED MY UGLY DATED OAK CABINETS.
Yes, I am an asshole. But I had to sacrifice this person for the greater good.
There are several things wrong here, but most glaringly the white is too white and the bright uniformity of color calls attention to the crappiness of the cabinetry.
I vow to avoid that mistake.
Low contrast two tone.
High contrast two tone. Both good, just different.
I’m resurrecting the two tone plan for our cabinets. I do love a white kitchen, but I think painting a darker hue on the lowers will break up the sea of cabinets, while painting the uppers light (but not blindingly so) will help to open the back wall and let it recede somewhat.
I mean, if you have fantastic cabinetry and glorious kitchen architecture that you want to highlight, then by all means paint it white.
Yes.
Yes.
Definitely yes.
No.
And my kitchen is only slightly better than the one above. Let’s review:
Yikes. And guess what? It looks worse in real life.
I was really hoping a two tone look would break up the oak acreage… but now that it’s time to choose a color I’m second guessing myself.
We plan to live here for a decade, probably. When it comes time to sell, will I wish I had just painted everything white? Will I be sad that I chose some shade of gray for the lowers, because gray is sooooooooo 2010?
All of the pro color blogs are drilling the WHITE WHITE WHITE kitchen mantra into my brain.
But I just don’t see all white kitchen cabinets looking good in here unless I rip everything else out and go mega snazzy on the backsplash to help distract from the cabinets, like this:
And that won’t look dated at all in 10 years.
So what do you think?
Are white cabinets the only way to go?
Will the two tone look date quickly?
What about gray?
Tired, poor, inquiring minds need to know.
[images via pinterest]
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i wonder if you considered getting rid of the upper cabinets altogether. that would allow you to attack the most offensive part of the kitchen first -all that beige tile that is dominating the scene. plus no uppers really opens the room up. looks like you have a lot of other under cabinet storage – i mean, how many muffin tins do you really need anyhow, and you could always install a few NICE looking open shelves for your coffee cups and plates. i also think you should avoid white, and you might consider that it may take a bolder dark color to mask all that detail on the door fronts that screams “oak”.
Repeat after me – It’s only paint. Also whatever you do you know you’ll be tired of it in 10 years. I like your idea of raising the cabinets and putting some open shelves below, assuming you can reroute your ductwork somehow. How long between “phases”?
I like the idea of the two-tone approach. Maybe you could pick a neutral that’s never “out,” like navy? Or is navy trendy too? If you do go with gray, just use a really deep shade of it. I think it will look dated if you choose a mid-level color, like dove, which is beautiful but definitely something I try to keep in my accents rather than my permanent fixtures.
I know you’re not asking for more than paint suggestions, but have you considered replacing any of the upper cabinet doors with glass fronts? I’m sure you have some pretty serving dishes that would look beautiful in there. I love glass cabinets for upgrading the look of a kitchen.
Yes! Lisa, you gave me new hope. Erin- I’ve found some cool stuff at the churchy thrift stores. St. Vincent’s on South Congress has some hidden treasures. Went in to get bed rails for $15…and they “threw in” the head and footboards. Jenny Lind. (!)!I think the main reason I’m contemplating fillers now is because I smiled so hard on the way home from that store.
I don’t think gray vs. white will really matter in 10 years. And 10 yrs is a long time. Your kitchen may look slightly dated then, but it is impossible to tell. Just think about what you like and what you are going to get tired of. IMO, white on those uppers with the arched tops makes me nervous. If you aren’t replacing the doors (a relatively cheap option, btw) I’d go gray.
I’d just do white. Let’s be real, it’s not going to look fab until you finish phase 3 plus style anyway. You have AMAZING taste and styling capabilities so trust in yourself that your new rugs, accessories, window treatments and countertop styling will be the focus of your redesign. No one is going to notice the cabinets and they’ll be a good clean black drop.
I think it’s awesome that you’re showing us your real kitchen. Mine is bad too so it’s nice to see not everyone gets a brand new voila it’s awesome kitchen right away either!
NO NO NO on the white!!! Please don’t do it. Its going to look like those awful pictures. I’d go dark on the uppers AND lowers. Pick a cool shade of dark gray. Looks awesome. Also maybe you should consider getting new doors on the uppers and then you might be able to go white. I’m just afraid if you go white with those arches its going to look bad. It will date you immediately rather than in 10 years. Just something to think about. So, you could either spend money on doors and less on backsplash, or more on backsplash and just paint the doors dark gray. are you replacing the counter tops as well?
obviously you are replacing the countertops.
I say go gray, or even black!
What if you did open shelving to the right of the windows and replaced the doors on the uppers on the left side with some modern textured glass of some sort? In my opinion those uppers are the worst offenders especially with the soffit. Really chops the top off the room. If were me and budget was super tight i would at least paint the uppers and the soffit the same color to add illusion of height
peace out and good luck
I know what color your cabinets should be: army green.
The images I like the most are of the kitchens with tops and bottom in a the same medium-dark hue. (like the gray/navys and all green OR a tone on tone variation).. my theory is- if you can’t give the illusion of expansion, enhance the coziness.. I think low contrast tonal at a darker end of the paint spectrum is going to be path forward, rather than stark contrast of white and dark. I think a low contrast tonal will actually WORK better than anything with the arched cabinets.. it wont be putting lipstick on the pig or anything. knowwhatimsayin?
As for resale- who cares- design for yourself.. you can’t predict who will buy, you can’t predict trends.. but you can also eschew the trends of the last few years and create your own version of “now”. If you like gray and have always like gray, then go gray(s)… if you like brass- go brass..
I can see dark federal blue/gray bottoms, medium gray uppers with glass inserts, push the soffits back and frame out the load bearing beam in drywall and paint white. too much trim will look out of place. just square and neat. go with rest of design plan- white carerra backspalsh, white worksurface (or even butcherblock again would still work).. your light will come from ceiling color.
I love the idea of removing soffits and hanging upper cabs higher with shelves below.. but if you can’t afford to push soffits back- maybe consider sealing up the tray and be happy with smooth lower ceilings and invest in micro cans and good lighting (in glass cabinetry) and interesting pendants over the bar area.. if you embrace the cozy then maybe that would be fabulous and cost effective?
you are on the right path. you always choose well. design for yourself and dont overwhelm yourself with options. i am just trying to put things in perspective and not try and make your apple into an orange.. you want updated and changed, and you can’t budget for perfection. aspire to what your kitchen can do instead of trying to make it something it is not.
good luck. as always, can’t wait to see what you and ben acheive.
Susan
Absolutely agree with changing some of the open cabinetry to glass doors, and some open shelve. The kitchen looks too heavy, and I think if you just paint the doors, it will be ok but still really solid. Even in the examples of the nice kitchens you posted have those similarities – most of them have some glass or open shelving above.
The stone benchtops you have are workable and the layout is pretty good. I’d go for a light shade of grey that can be picked up from a tone in your bench, and work with a similar two tone look for top and bottom rather than high contrast.
Gorgeous! i like the Low contrast two tone and white kitchen ones in the 3rd photo a lot..
I am ganking all of your fabulous commenters’ ideas for my kitchen as well. I’m in exactly the same boat, but am leaning WAY over to the 2 tone side now. http://www.styledthing.com/lighten-up-a-kitchens-departure-from-the-dark-side/
my buddy kristen from gypsy soul interiors redid her “cracker barrel” kitchen with mostly paint & some new tiles:
http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/12/room-tours-gypsy-soul-interiors-holiday.html
The final picture shows cement tiles. I have been planning on using those exact tiles in my white kitchen-to-be. This picture makes me even more certain. Cabinets are cabinets, make the backsplash art and no one will remember the cabinets.
If you ask me, by the way I’m employed in Kitchen Cabinet maker company, I will recommend that you should color your cabinets in white only if you think your kitchen room is small, and with the white color you will get more visual space and room in your kitchen. All the best!
Maybe I have not seen enough post to know what you plan in doing-but I think the ultimate all white versus uppers and lowers mixed depends on what you end up with on floor, backslash and counter. If you keep one I would keep the granite. Otherwise, going awesome interesting wood on the counters would allow you to do all white – The top “screaming I painted my ugly oak cabinets white”- oh and it does, has to do with the white they chose plus the lack of ANYTHING ELSE OF INTEREST, like counters, hardware etc.