Well, I uploaded the kitchen pictures. They're so sad. At the very least this kitchen needs some paint! I don't know what's up with the doors--we're blaming that on the 1970s.

If anyone feels like photoshopping some paint on them, that would be lovely!! My mom is rather partial to light green. She has a custom color that matches some old paint they found in their current house, so I don't know the color. But it's very pale, and the shade is somewhere between mint and sage. Sort of like the green in this awesome kitchen redo but a little more mellow.

Of course, she's also a big fan of a certain sports team whose colors are red and white--basically the colors on a Coca-Cola can. I had thought that since the back door opening into the kitchen is a

If anyone would like to try out these color schemes or anything else you think would look nice, I'd really appreciate it. My mom's kinda depressed about how bad the kitchen looks. I keep telling her that the cabinet doors are so ugly it's making everything look worse, but she just has trouble visualizing a change--she has to SEE it. Please help us!

Thanks!!!!!

Julie

Hi Julie,
Nice to see you back around!
I'm popping in and out of the forums while taking short breaks from work - have two contracts to get done asap. I'll try to work on them when taking breaks, it will be a nice diversion ;)

Tell your mom not to be depressed! It looks like it's got great potential! ;D

OK, some quick ones here. I did the cabs one color, walls another, then flipped it around. (And in some I see I forgot to tweak that darn potholder. ;-) I slapped some 'complimentary' paint on valance, no extra time for PSing window treatments today. Wanted to try a different floor, too, but not sure if it's in the budget?

At any rate, just some paint certainly opens up that space and changes the look. I hope this helps your mom's vision. I've saved it, any color tweaks you'd like to see are just a couple clicks away ;) I suspect I've not quite hit on that green you're shooting for, if not, let me know. And there's more at your album here.

Original:

Red Cabs White Walls:

And flipped, white cabs, red walls:

White Cabs Kittery Point walls

Hollingsworth Cabs white walls

One combo that appealed to me:
White cabs, pear green walls (apologies, virtual makes it lean toward neon rather than muted.)

Here is a link that might be useful: parhelia's mom kitchen album

I've your mom is going to paint, you might also fill in the holes and put on new hardware. Since the doors are slab front, some of those nice long handles from ikea (very affordable) would be great.

Two other changes I would make if it's in the budget: new laminate counters (LOVE the Wilsonart soapstone looking laminates -- if you do a half bullnose or beleved edge, there are no edge seams) and a new lino on the floor -- maybe a marmoleum or marmorette in a check pattern set on a diagonal. Looks like the backsplash could use some new tile, too. Some inexpensive HD subways or 4X4s in white would really spruce things up quite nicely.

Awesome!!! Thanks for doing that!

I've sent the pics to her but I don't know when today she'll get to look at them. I'll let you know if she's found any specific colors she'd like to try. I like the two light greens you tried. I see where you were going with the pear and I think it would really wake up the room. Not sure my mom will get that, though.

They are planning to do something with the floor, but have no idea what yet. I'll talk to her tonight about that. I had told her everyone says big tiles make the room look bigger--this kitchen is tiny. I've also heard that a darker floor makes the room look bigger, though I think my mom would go for lighter. Anyone have any experience with that contrast??

Thanks!

Julie

Moonshadow--I sent the pics to my mom and she LOVES them! She's much more excited about it now that she's seen what it could look like. Thanks so much for your help! Would you help us try out various countertops etc. once she finds some options she likes? I think it'd really help her to see it all.

Sarchlos, I didn't see your post earlier. We will most likely do most of the things you've mentioned. The folks have already looked at flooring a bit but I have no idea if she's considered backsplashes or countertops yet. Wait, I take that back--I do remember her threatening to rip out that countertop on the spot the other day, so I know she's planning to do *something.* ;-)

Thanks again, guys!!!

Julie

Check ebay and Habitat for Humanity's ReStore for light fixtures. Might find something period appropriate that's in nice shape. We found a great teak and chrome dining room fixture at ReStore for $15. The lightbulbs cost more than the fixture. A little chrome polish and wood polish and it was gorgeous.

Hey Moonshadow,

I just had an idea! My mom LOVES the red-and-white kitchens. Could you try one more configuration for me?

First, could we do all white uppers (cabs and doors) with all red lowers? Then leave the wall around the window white with the white valance. Then, if it's not too much trouble, do you think you could try swapping out that old fixture above the sink for something like this?href>

Thank you!!!!!!!!!

julie

Me again.......

Moonshadow, I was wondering, if it's not too much trouble to add to the scheme above with the white uppers and red lowers, could you try pasting in a valance like this one from JCPenney?

And if the shape of that one works okay, could you also try it with this darker red one? They should be the same shape, just different patterns.

Thanks again SO very much! My mom really, really appreciates the photoshopping. She just couldn't imagine those cabinets looking anything but horrible--she really has trouble "seeing" what something will look like until it's actually done so she plays it very, very safe. I'm trying to knock her out of a bit of a rut. ;-)

Thanks!!!!!

Julie

I found some inspiration pics on red and white kitchens from BHG. I hope it helps. I like the one with white painted cabinets and red on the inside!
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Also, BHG has a slide show called, "Updating Boring Builder's Cabinets".

Here is a link that might be useful: BHG

just love those interiors painted red!!!!

KMC, that first picture you posted is a bullseye! My mom has been talking about splitting up the doors exactly as shown here, with little doors for the very top. She isn't sure she likes the really tall doors. Plus, I like the idea of white uppers with red lowers. Then, that very pale green on the walls is a color she plans to use throughout the house. I keep telling her it WILL work with red, but like I said, she has to SEE it. Ha! You gave me photographic proof! Thank you!

Oh, and I like the red interiors, too! I have white cabs and have thought about painting the insides turquoise, but I've never gotten around to it. We might have to do that at mom's.

Thanks!!!

Julie

What a nightmare! This is so ridiculous I'm embarrassed to post it, but I'm gonna do it anyway cause it took so long ;) Clone tool in PSP froze up and won't work. That's a first, and why I have nooo idea. You can see where it did part of the floor and then went kaput. So that's why the floor and back splash look crappy. (I had some nice tile for backsplash and a countertop, but since I can't clone it in I just had to flood fill those areas with color instead, darn it.) Can't remove the white valance, either, so I had to put the new one right over top of the original.

Maybe someone with software that's not pitching fits can tweak it, I'm ready to pull my air out with PSP today.

Mom's really going to have to use her imagination with this one!

I'm glad that worked for you. The little doors at the top could be glass, lit from within to showcase pretty pottery, or whatever.

i can't believe you put in the checkerboard floor, that is exactly what i pictured. it looks very '40's and charming. with that valance, maybe the walls can still be that green your mom likes...sort of a light, crisp apple green ('40's-ish). this is sooo cute!

Thought you might be interested in this kitchen:

Here is a link that might be useful: red and white kitchen

Thank you so much for all the help and suggestions! I'm forwarding them on to my mom. We both really appreciate all the help!

Wow! That last one is right out of the BHG mag I posted! The green is right on! The great thing about RMS is, like GW, posters are willing to share info.