I'm doing this color combo in my office:

Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron (I think, I'll check for you after I move) on my formerly ugly, now-gorgeous louver closet doors)

Trim: A mix of half China White and Half Linen white--basically, a creamy white

Walls: BM Shelbourne Buff

Looks really fantastic. Get some samples of these colors and see if the wrought iron works for you. It's not black, it's a very very dark grayish color. Luckily, it's the color of scuff marks. It might not work with your black appliances but get a sample pot and give it a whirl.

Your solution is a great idea. As long as you don't go gloss black/modern it should be fine. Just use the marks you already have on the cabinets that you want to hide as your guide. Compare the colors or even paint a door and see how it holds up. Something just short of black would work well. You're not going to eliminate all wear, just disguise it and it will look a lot better than what you have now.

Thanks Steff and Marcolo! Steff, you basically said exactly what I have been thinking and saying...so it is good to have someone encourage me!

I have very dark cabinets and they show a lot of dust and day-to-day schmutz. I know less about the scuffing, but if I were closer to eye-level (as you guys are) to my filthy cabinets, it would drive me crazy(er).

I think a mid-tone might be better. I have always made jokes about decorating in the color of dirt, but there is something to be said for that! I have a dirt colored car, have had dirt colored counters. My floor is the color of dirt. :-)

So, my favorite paint color which is the color of dirt is Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back. I'll give you a link below. If you like the look, you can leave the uppers the same color they are now.

Here is a link that might be useful: One of my favorite kitchens

And Rococogrl's kitchen has a very similar feeling. She used Dauphin, IIRC, which lives in the same neighborhood as Mouse's Back.

Let me try to find a link for that...

Here is a link that might be useful: Another favorite kitchen of mine.

I also suspect you'd probably be pleased with a value from the medium range, but toward the dark end. Regarding feeling closed in, how about staying much lighter on the uppers? Maybe an off white flavored with the color of the bottoms? When done well (like anything else) that can be a fantastic look.

Thanks for your suggestions amysrq! I guess I should have included a pic of our current color...I have already had most of the lower cabinet doors removed, but the most hideous of them is still on...right at the kitchen sink...you will see that the scuffs are a deep gray to black in color...which is why I was kinda trying to match my 'dirt' LOL!!! I am thinking of maybe distressing them, so maybe that will make them look like they are supposed to that way. Anyway, we might leave the uppers the way they are, if it does not look too mismatched. I have bought some 18x18 granite tile that is kind of black white and gray that I think will look nice with a lot of color options...so I am thinking of doing the tiles first,then figuring out our paint.
I sure appreciate the input...I don't really have anyone to bounce these ideas off of anymore, so all your help is invaluable to me!! I am going to try to post a picture of my current kitchen...please ignore the hideous mess!

Clearly I need to go to the FAQ's to see if I can figure out how to upload a pic or two of my kitchen...I am not the most computer savvy person LOL!!!

Here are a couple pics of my current kitchen...the uppers are lighter, less yellow white than the lowers. Obviously we have done a number to the lowers LOL!!

{{!gwi}}

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