I wanted to add that the cabinets themselves have a laminate covering over them, but the doors themselves are solid wood. It would be great if we could just stain them a little darker, but that doesn't seem possible with the laminate part.

Thanks Sina, for your reply! The flooring now is actually a laminate hardwood floor. It's actually not real wood! My wife wanted to change the flooring b/c it's very old and worn out. Thanks for your thoughts on gray flooring.

As for the wall paint, the area is connected to a very large room, so if we changed that, we would then have to look at painting a much larger space than what's just in the kitchen.

I should also mention that painting cabinets are no easy feat. It requires extensive prepping and if done improperly will chip quickly. Most people get them professionally refinished as spraying on the paint is much more effective.

Many people realize it's cheaper to get new cabinets instead of paying to get them refinished.

Normally, I don't push the painting of cabinet because of what Sina said. However, the gray countertop is not great with the warm wood, so yes, go white and replace the floor with a warm LVP not gray. A darker stain will not be great with the gray countertop. Over time, you can switch appliances to stainless. Keep things on the warm side so your kitchen does not fight with the rest of the home. White is neutral and can work with other warm tones.

You need to stop now and make a plan before you make an expensive mistake. A cool kitchen in an otherwise warm home is not the best. Trying to turn a warm home gray is the root of many of the dilemmas here.

Thanks jhmarie. I understand it's tough call to make. I really understand your statement of "trying to turn a warm home, gray, being the root of many dilemmas"! That is exactly what we are trying to bridge.

My wife is really concerned about the white cabinets contrasting with our wall paint. Painting our walls is not an option apparently. Is there a shade of white that can work here? I tried to capture the warm tones in the living room area that leads to the kitchen.

You could get the best of both world with a two tone space.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/city-homes-transitional-kitchen-toronto-phvw-vp~1824637

Paint out the cabinet box/frames in white and stain the doors a dark brown. Also remove the center panel on each cabinet either side of the sink and add glass.

Thanks for all your responses!

everdebz - I don't quite understand what you're asking about grey/green. Flooring is currently laminate that matches the cabinets color tones.

Sativa - Interesting idea with the black and white cabinets! May I ask how much this may cost? Seems like it would be pretty expensive if we had to find someone to install windows on cabinets, as well as painting inside all those cabinets as well.

cheryldavis - They are in decent shape. The condo is old, built in '83, and these appear to be from that time. Leaving them alone unfortunately does not match the grey and black in our kitchen. My wife wanted to get away from the yellow/warm tones in there.

"river stone" or floor that seems to have warm and cool...

I have never done it on existing cabinets: only on new.

But with that said, i would assume it would make painting the frame/boxes easier, as they wouldn't have to tape off the inside to avoid over-spray. Paint is a higher maintenance finish, so maintaining stained doors would save money in the long run.

For adding glass doors, you should be able to take the doors off and bring them in to a glass shop. They can cut out the center panel and insert glass.

What if the flooring were distinctive, like one of this type?

Thanks again

everdebz - The grey is actually more of a bluish grey; not really any green tones. Although I do really like that "river stone" that has both warm and cool. I think that would tie everything in very nicely! You've chosen some very nice tile, but I think we will try to stick with "hardwood"-like flooring material as to make it less distinctive when we eventually sell the place.

There were white cabinets in kitchens with beige walls long before the current trend of white cabinets with gray walls. If you are sure you are painting, you will need to prime first and that will be white (very white) That could give you an indication of what the white and beige will look like together.

everdebz was pointing out that in your pics on her monitor and mine (and monitors are often not true to color) the countertop looks to have a green undertone. If so, that would be a possibility to pick up on - in flooring or backsplash - though our monitors could be wrong.

The countertop is not gray, but here is a warm white kitchen:

Another one:

There is an overuse of the gray / white - making it a trend, that will end. Some of the pros here have indicated it is ending in their area and the newer design pics I am seeing are warm. As a neutral, gray will always be a possibility, but resist using it in hard to replace surfaces like flooring. There are ways to introduce gray into a home without going overboard. By the time you change your home from warm to cool, you will have spent a lot of money - just as the trends start to change. It is better to look at doing expensive surfaces like flooring in a tone that is flexible style wise.

You know, now that I look at it again... Now I sort of see a little green in it as well! I'm so stumped by the color palate! If I had to describe it at all, it would be that it's a "cooler" grey... Oh! If it helps at all, it is IKEA's "Pebble/Stone Gray"

We would like to stick with LVP for flooring, perhaps something I can find at Lowes...

That is actually Caesarstones Pebble, Ikea just sells it.

I would try to stay away from the grays if possible. Your existing floor color would work great with white cabinets.

Hi!

You have a couple of options. One you can paint the base and wall cabinets White or paint the base cabinets black and the wall cabinets White. I really like the floor that everdebs posted the river stone, it has plenty of cool and warm undertones and will look nice with the countertop. You should be able to source a laminate comparable to that color combo.

Two recommendations that I'll make. The first is to remove the 4 in backsplash and install White subway tile or a glass blend (pic). The second suggestion, remove the last cabinet closest to the dining area it seems awkward and it obstructs The View; with that out of the way the kitchen will look much bigger and brighter.

Chrome or satin nickel hardware and fresh wall color--- Sherwin Williams' 7666 Fleur de Sel and 7021 Simple White worth checking out. :))

Hope info is helpful. Good luck!

Thanks Natalie for your response. I like your recommendations. Unfortunately, we already paid about $400 for that backsplash, so we aren't too keen on tearing it down already. In retrospect, it may have been a good idea to plan for a different backsplash. Will need to remember that in the future! As for the cabinet idea, our kitchen is already pretty small and cabinet space is kind of tight as is. Losing that big cabinet would be very difficult. I will look into chrome or satin nickel hardware to go with the white color!

I have another inquiry for those who have been following. We also need our bathroom cabinets painted as well. The counter top got refinished into a white with speckled gray acrylic surface as shown here:

Thanks!

If you are thinking brown, then don't paint because brown wood is prettier than brown paint. Either blue or green, especially with a gray undertone, can stradle the warm / cool tones:

Wild -- haven't seen whole bathroom -- but wondering if there's any color or pattern that could be repeated in a portion of the cabinets: by painting a complement.... show more?

I like what jh said - no brown unless it's a 'cool' color like Urban Bronze. ;-)

A question - you mentioned you have a backsplash in the kitchen. It is not showing up in the pics - is it a light slab of quartz or glass?

Thanks Natalie for your response. I like your recommendations. YOU'RE WELCOME, THANK-YOU.

Unfortunately, we already paid about $400 for that backsplash, so we aren't too keen on tearing it down already.

YOU PAID FOR THE 4" BACKSPLASH? USUALLY IT IS INCLUDED WITH THE PRICE OF THE COUNTER. In retrospect, it may have been a good idea to plan for a different backsplash. Will need to remember that in the future! IF YOU'RE NOT KEEN ON REMOVING IT YOU CAN TILE ABOVE IT. As for the cabinet idea, our kitchen is already pretty small and cabinet space is kind of tight as is. Losing that big cabinet would be very difficult. TOTALLY UNDERSTAND ABOUT LIMITED STORAGE. SHELVES OR A CABINET WITH NO ANGLE ARE OPTIONS, YOU WOULDN'T LOSE MUCH AND IT CERTAINLY WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT. JUST TRYING TO BE HELPFUL. IS THERE A REASON FOR THE OVERHANG ON THAT COUNTER END? I will look into chrome or satin nickel hardware to go with the white color! GREAT, KEEP US POSTED!

Here's yet another option for that angle...

Just so you don't get scared off: every fabricator i have ever worked with has charged extra for backsplash. If not than they would have worked it into the price and your only saving them money by not using it.

IMO, tiling above a 4" backsplash looks weird, like you just didn't know any better. I'd bite the bullet and remove it, because I think a full backsplash is a much more current look than a 4" one. It sucks, I know, but it will be worth it.

Thank you all for your responses. I'll try my best to reply:

jh - I really like your suggestions of grey or green as the color for the cabinets in the bathroom. We will have to look into this. I'll try to post a picture of the white/grey speckle finish so that you guys can get an idea of what it looks like

In regard to the backsplash, I appreciate all the recommendations for the special patterned backsplash. Unfortunately, we don't have a very high budget and are trying to get several things done in a certain time frame. I can see how the tile pattern backsplash would look good and help with the black/white combo, but we just can't swing another big change like that. We'll live with it for now.

Regarding the transition to the living room: The living room is a much warmer space with beige carpet, same almond-ish paint, with warm lights. Hopefully by going with white in the kitchen, and allowing some of that warm light to shine on some of the white cabinets, it will be a much more gradual transition.

Hopefully, we can find that LVP plank that has both the warm and cool tones in there to match the warm living space.

Everyone is posting beautiful pictures here. My wife's fear though, is that our kitchen/bathroom is not nearly as fancy looking as what you guys are posting. We won't have the fancy trim or molding around the cabinets. It'll appear much more basic. Hopefully we can dress it up a little by adding the hardware.

Thanks everyone!

Here is a basic cabinet dressed up a bit for a bathroom. The tutorial is here:

http://www.addicted2decorating.com/teal-furniture-style-vanity-made-from-stock-cabinets-finished.html

I just found this on Pinterest - I don't know if it is a good tutorial or not, but I do think it shows you can pretty up those cabinets.

I will admit my own master bath has an older oak vanity - which I like just fine even if it is only 36", but I have a cottage style going on:) I think yours would benefit from some pulls.

Do not do a mosaic backsplash - they are the most commonly ripped out shortly after installed backsplash. Some actually give me a headache. A painted wall is fine. I didn't see the 4" splash at first. It is much better to underplay the backsplash then overdo it.

Also - your sinks are fine. I have several similar Kohler sinks. I can't afford new sinks every 10 years and those are much more usable and practical then something trendy like a vessel sink.

Here are a few options we were thinking might help you with your dilemma. Why not try painting the cabinets white or grey. You could also go two toned and do the bottom grey and the top white. For the flooring you could also try interesting tiles if that is an option you like?

Cabinet colors: