Help pick wall color for kitchen with oak cabinets and oak trim

6 years ago

Moved in 4 months ago, trying to update our home working with the oak trim not painting it. This house isnt't modern, so trying to update without a complete overhaul.

Here is the plan so far to get the full picture:

1- remove fluorescent lighting, changing out for drop pendents

2- using a gel stain to darken cabinets to match

trim color around window or just slightly darker

3- adding hardware after staining

4-leaving counters and back-splash as is for now (budget)

So the paint colors I have been looking at are greige: Edgecomb gray, Pale Oak, Balboa mist, Abalone. The previous owners had valances over each kitchen window. The kitchen gets tons of natural light with 3 windows and 2 skylights.

Ok so to the questions:

A- what paint color to work with the cabinets, trim and backsplash

B- curtains yes or no

Featured Answer

jhmarie

6 years ago

The new lighting could effect the wall color and the color of the wood - so definitely do that first. Do some research into the lasting effects of gel stain - I've heard both good things and bad things.

Here are just some unasked for thoughts- if I was working with this kitchen on a budget, I would possibly remove the upper trim piece and the small wood piece over the windows. I might remove the entire cabinet to the left of the farthest left window and replace with some shelves. I would remove the over the range microwave, which being short I could not even use, and replace with a stand alone vent. You could do a stainless vent for a more modern look. It is more expensive, but you could stain an unfinished wood hood with insert for a more farmhouse look. You have so much lower storage I actually would be tempted to remove all of the upper cabinetry - especially if there is a pantry cabinet - I was wondering where the fridge is - is there a pantry cabinet next to it?

As far a curtains - I do like the softness and color window treatments add, though tis is a person style choice.

This vent is a little larger than you would want:

Less uppers - pretty window treatment:

Rustic shelves:

If you like a bit of country / farmhouse, beadboard makes an inexpensive backsplash and works well with shelves - rather than tiling, which might possibly need to be redone if you got new counters down the road.

This is my basement kitchenette - done very economically with some of my original cabinets (refinished), shelving and beadboard - though in this case I used the beadboard wallpaper to save money - might replace with the real thing in time:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~65270573

My main kitchen is also oak and in my "my pics" idea book - if you want some possible ideas for counters/ backsplash / farm sink - but it is done in a vintage style.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

PRO
Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design
6 years ago
My advice would be do all the other changes first, and THEN think about paint color. You may feel completely differently once the cabinets are darker.
K Laurence
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Paint last. Might want to consider pulling a color from the backsplash assuming that is staying. I’d do Roman shades, pick them out after also, I’m not a fan of curtains in kitchens ( or really anywhere else for that matter...). Is that decorative railing remaining above the cabinets? I’d think about removing it, a cleaner look.
Related Discussions
Painting Oak Kitchen Cabinets -- Need Help With Color
Q
Comments (48)
lukkiirish -- funny, the winds breath IS one of my fave colors. (and to anyone who is looking for a magic white/grey paint, I swear, it really is just the most wondrous color!). I also have it on my bedroom ceiling with camouflage on the walls and a white crown molding. I did look at it as a potential color for the cabinets but decided against it when DD and DH said they think white/off white/cream cabinets are "boring" and "trendy". Winds Breath did seem too look good with my counters....i just asked dh to go paint a board and i am gonna check it out. the raffia cream i really like. i think i like it on the wall better than the cabinets, i don't think i like it next to stainless as much as maybe something else. eandhl2 i have considered some pale yellows. One color I looked at was sugar cookie (benjamin moore) but i never did pursue it. When i abandoned the white/cream idea, i abandoned pale yellow. i am not sure what my reasoning was. tinam61 i have talked to some people about the cabinets. They were painters first and designers second (or maybe third or fourth). They really didn't care if i painted them purple or ochre or white. They were interested in the painting, not in the aesthetic. Not sure I would have trusted their aesthetic anyway...even if they were so inclined to discuss it. My3dogs (Maine zone 5A) i do like the pic you posted. I think the grey in the pic is cooler than i want, but i would like to see berkshire beige on the cabinets. i am going to look and see if i can find a picture.
...See More
Paint color to go with gray kitchen cabinets & oak trim?
Q
Comments (1)
Grays work best with white and very dark trim and cabinets. It can be a challenge to get cool grays to work with warm wood tones - they don't bring out the best in each other. Look for warm grays or greens with gray undertones, taupe, and greiges. Warm wood tones look best with whites, cream, creamy beige, blues and greens. Some whites that lean gray might work. The below pic is Maritime White and reads light gray. This green gray may be too dark, but a lighter shade of the same idea might work: This is a lighter one: A white may be a way to go:
...See More
Wall paint color for oak cabinets and oak floor
Q
Comments (33)
I wouldn't add anything else in the hallway. You have the canvas and the rug. Since it's a narrow space, it doesn't need anything else. I'm a bit confused as to why the door in the kitchen is grey. Since it's so close to the other white door, do you plan on painting it white too? Do you also plan on painting the eating area the same color? I think it would look more cohesive if they were all the same.
...See More
I have light oak cabinets and similar trim color. What color blinds ?
Q
Comments (1)
:Plantation shutters are expensive and thus expensive to replace. Go with white shutters and then you can change any other color in your space and the shutters will be fine. Also, brown shutters will make your room darker, open or shut.
...See More
GOOGLE USER
Original Author
6 years ago
full kitchen photo, fridge and more cabinets to the right of original photo. This photo is 2-3 owners ago
jhmarie
6 years ago
What a nice large area! Take the colors you are considering and get some sample jars. Paint large pieces of foam board and place them at different areas at different times of the day to get a feel for the color and how it changes with the light. I would not do this till after the lighting has been changed because it really can affect the color of the paint.

If the lower cabinets don't have roll out drawers in them, consider adding that to make them more useful. You have been there 4 months. Take your time and consider how much storage you need and you might be able to do without some of those upper cabinets if you like that open look. As you think about any possible changes in the future - consider moving the fridge closer to the work triangle, getting a stand alone range vent and perhaps changing out the peninsula to an island - for the convenience of getting to the sink without the long walk around the peninsula. Keep in mind I am not standing in the kitchen, but going by pictures which can distort the true size and scope.
PRO
Lori A. Sawaya
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Agree with Farmhouse look (ish).

Colors of brown are still relevant in today's color palettes. Edit out some of the country elements like the spindle trim on the cabinets and add a few updates and I think you could totally pull off a typical Farmhouse palette which is basically wood tones of all different colors of oak-y browns, white, black and near neutrals some people like to call "greige".

And definitely get your lighting situated before looking at paint. Change the light and you change how the colors looks so you'd just be wasting your time/money.

Help pick wall color for kitchen with oak cabinets and oak trim

jhmarie

Comments (6)

Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design

K Laurence

Related Discussions

GOOGLE USER
Original Author

jhmarie

Lori A. Sawaya

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Help pick wall color for kitchen with oak cabinets and oak trim

jhmarie

Comments (6)

Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design

K Laurence

Related Discussions

GOOGLE USEROriginal Author

jhmarie

Lori A. Sawaya

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

GOOGLE USER
Original Author