My vote would be yes! Right now I don't find the juxtaposition of the cabinet color and the floor color very pleasing and I think your white cabinets would magically bring some diverse components together. White tiles as a backsplash would be nice although I'm not a devotee of subway tile. It is your kitchen, however, and if you like it that's what matters.

Another vote for "yes" for painting them white OR black (to work in the appliances)

I've included a link to The Letter Cottage" blog -- where Layla painted her kitchen cabinets black -- and added other elements too. Might be some more ideas there! :)

Jan

Here is a link that might be useful: The Lettered Cottage blog -- and painted black kitchen cabinets

It's such a shame those are Cherry, but it would look great and give you a more cottage look, like the cabinet style itself.

Can I ask, do you find the two long drawers under your counter (with the mixer) to be awkward or annoying to use when you're working in front of that counter, or just as convenient as doors?

Heck yeah! Do it!

I just finished painting mine about two weeks ago (it took a while...working just a few hours each night after work). I'm so glad I did it.

Here's an identical unit (I'm in a condo) so you can see what it looked like when I moved in (builder grade, mass produced):

I'm painting the walls this weekend, so these "after" pictures are not final, but here's where the cabinets are right now (my bin pulls are due in two weeks):

jeanninepc99: BRILLANT transformation!!

Really great results from all of your hard work! Very well done indeed! :)

Jan

If those are real cherry, put on a coat or two of shellac and let it dry very well before painting. This will allow someone in the future to strip it back to the real wood without cursing your name unto the ninth generation. :-)

I wouldn't go with the white subway tile though. Combined with white cabinets and farm sink and soapstone counters and stainless appliances, it will be knotty pine and orange formica all over again in just a few years. You seem to like blue from what I can see from your other things - how about interesting handmade or handmade-looking tiles incorporating those blues? Perhaps Delft or Delft-like transferware patterns, to go with those country-style furnishings I see... vintage Delft tiles are often available quite inexpensively on eBay, which you could use as accents in a background of similarly sized plain square white tiles. It will also pick up hints of blue in the soapstone.

I vote yes, I LOVE white cabinets with soapstone, gorgeous.

jeanninepc99 that is a GORGEOUS job.

There's so little splash area, that I'd just go with a 4" (how about the soap) and use paint/color for the rest.

I vote yes - white will do much more justice to the beautiful soapstone counters.

Another vote to paint.

Have you thought about painting the lowers but leaving the uppers in cherry? I think it would give a slightly less fitted look that seems to work with your style, would allow you to have "both/and" rather than "either/or" and have that beautiful, crisp white to really set off your soapstone while at the same time allowing you to keep some of that warmth of the cherry. Maybe some nice chunky crown on top to finish it off.

VOD

(voice of dissent) :-)

I think the black DW will look out of place with the white cabs. What about lowers black (or another darker color) and uppers white (or another lighter color)?

For the amoutn of money/effort involved, I'd change out the floor and concentrate on a backsplash. You could do the white subway if you leave the cabs wood. Otherwise, it will be too much white, IMO. (JMO)

It's a very nice kitchen, one that many would be delighted with, just as it is.

psst amy, she says she is changing all appliances to stainless ;)

Are the cabinets real cherry?

After seeing the first photo, my thoughts were not to paint. However, after seeing the second photo, my vote is YES...do it!

As for the back-splash, have you considered painting bead-board to match the newly painted cabinets?

Yes, I believe I would paint them. Usually, I am against it, but I think it would look great with everything else you have going on in the room. Please let us see a photo when you are finished. Good luck to you!

I have to agree with amysrq, I think changing the floor would be a great idea. I'm certainly not opposed to painting cabinets since we just painted our oak cabinet a cream color, but I feel like once you paint the cabinets, there will be more focus on the flooring. If you love it, then great! I certainly don't mean to insult you, I guess after living with my oak kitchen for all these years, I'm kind of tired of that color. Your cherry cabinets look great with the soapstone, but white/cream would as well.

I thought "absolutely not" when I read the thread title, but after seeing your pictures I am thinking white paint would look really nice. I think the grooves in the front of the doors would lend themselves to a farm house or cottage look.

What about painting the uppers white and leaving the lowers cherry? The soapstone with that beautiful veining will pop as will the white farmhouse sink. It will take the focus off the floor for now. When and if you want you could change out the floor. There is a thread over on kitchens about painted uppers and wood lowers. I also like the idea of painting the wall with the black cabinet all one color.

I do plan to change the floor - not sure to what yet - any suggestions. The room gets ALOT of traffic - people and animals. I wondered how marmoleum would look, maybe checked in two colors.

Here are my latest backsplash choices - I'm leaning toward the blue (Macintyre tile) or the light green. Both look great with the soapstone. And if I paint the cabinets, they'll both look good with white. I alwsys lean toward blue -

{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}} these are samples of the decorative tiles you can put with the Macintyre tiles.

I thought "absolutely not" when I read the thread title, but after seeing your pictures I am thinking white paint would look really nice. I think the grooves in the front of the doors would lend themselves to a farm house or cottage look.

Ditto what she said...

I ditto johnmari's comments. Please shellac them first if you do any painting.

I would paint the cabinets an antique white; and I would go with the light green or white tiles. I love your hutch!

Jeannine, super job...may I ask the color of the paint?

I think they would look great painted white!!
Your soap stone looks fab!

Smiles:)

Moron alert....thanks Lisa.

Okay....SS appliances? Sure, paint them. What the heck!

prill
I followed this on the kit forum
Just want to add -
LOVE the longest tile in the pic above perfect! The 4x4 blue fights the counter - a green/blue is a much better choice & the glass accents will be lovely

good luck

I would not paint those cabinets, especially if they are solid cherry.

I would refinish them. Either stripped them and leave them naked (w/ only a waxed finish), or I would stained them darker chocolate brown.

If you want a cottage farmhouse look, then maybe light stain with darker stain glazing to highlight distress and mimic age. I just think white is too stark & would make your floor looks dingy.

Just an opinion. :-D

Jeannine, super job...may I ask the color of the paint?

It's SW Creamy in ProClassic enamel. It was a pain in the neck to deal with, but the finish is so hard that it was worth it. :)

Maybe you could do a light or medium steel blue (or something similar in a green) below and the white above, kind of like MomTo4Boys inspiration kitchen. It would look awesome with your soapstone and highlight your beautiful farm sink too.

I wouldn't paint...I'd leave the cabs, change the floor, backsplash and THEN reconsider. But still no paint...but as bellaflora suggested *refinishing*.