Kitchen Help- going from dark to light without changing cabinets
Laura Zoldesy
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
13 years ago when we built this house I loved this kitchen. It's definitely time for an update, and the only two things that are off the table are changing the cabinets and the floors (we just redid the floors with a rubio stain in a light finish which is what threw the whole kitchen off for me)
I am contemplating this: new, lighter countertops in a white tone, new backsplash behind the stove, painting the whole thing in a much lighter color and changing the lighting fixtures.
I would love more thoughts, opinions and ideas.
Thanks in advance!
Edited to add another picture with the can lights turned on. It's daylight here - but snowing, and we live in Cleveland, so it will be grey for the next 4 months...
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Help me decide on light or dark kitchen cabinets
Comments (15)You might be surprised to find that hardwood in a kitchen is not as horrible to keep up with as you think. PO in this house had hardwood in the kitchen, family room and mudroom and carpet everywhere else. I couldn't believe it, the 3 rooms that would be my last choice for hardwood are the only rooms that have it. My hardwood has worn surprisingly well in the kitchen- and I am really a total slob. I do wipe up water if I notice that I've dripped (most of the time, dh is much more vigilant than I am), but I'm sure that the 2 kids don't. And we have a dog too. I put a large washable rug in front of the sink and dishwasher and that really helped for those dripping wet hands reaching for the towel. It does help that we have a medium golden brown type stain and not highly polished, so it doesn't show dirt and dog hair and doesn't have to be glossy to look good. I have been pleasantly surprised by how the hardwood is holding up to our abuse. And happy not to be cleaning stains out of grout....See MoreHow do you decorate with dark colors without going overboard?
Comments (1)You use actual dark colors. Darker blues, greens, purples, garnet/burgundy reds. As many windows, and as large, as you can afford. And while unlike many others I don't normally suggest professional assistance right off the bat, I think in this case it might be helpful in order to save you from yourselves. PS Read up on black stainless in other forums, where others have mentioned that it's very prone to chipping....See MoreNeed Help! What’s Best white cabinet color to go with dark wood floors
Comments (1)The first thing I would do is get a counter depth fridge in that small space and since the space is tiny I think the same as the walls could be a good idea. I certainly would not have done black appliances and with the new cabinet color they will even be more of an issue so think a lot about this change....See MoreHow to lighten/update kitchen without changing cabinets or counters!
Comments (13)First thing…you need more recessed lighting, with brighter LED bulbs. Also, those pendants are strictly down lights, with a narrow stream of light.. Find pendants that provide both uplighting, and downlighting…with a broader beam…something either open on top, or glass. Secondly, I have no problem with the black counters. After all, I have soapstone in my wood kitchen. However, the black backsplash is a major problem. If you would change that out for a light colored tile, you’d see a huge difference in the feel of the kitchen. Perhaps repaint the dark grey bar area in a similar shade of the new backsplash. Here’s my kitchen…wood cabs, soapstone, celadon green backspash, and lots of lighting…including two halophane glass semi-flush pendants. You’ll have to enlarge the first pic, to see the semi-flush fixture. Do you have undecabinet lights? If not, think about getting them…they make a huge difference in a kitchen’s brightness. You can see in the pics above, mine are on....See More
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