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Home Decorating Remodeling Design Dilemma

updating built ins! Need help

6 years ago

My office is technically the family room and has this awesome wall of built in cabinets but they need some updates to fit in with the style of the rest of my house. I'm thinking of getting new fronts for the doors/drawers to resemble the shaker style of cabinets in the kitchen and getting them painted a deep blue or gray. I have this massive space above the built ins that I'm not sure what to do with. Don't want to put a TV up there...not sure if shiplap would look cool? Or maybe add upper cabinets. My desk will be going in the opposite corner of the room and the cabinetry faces a wall of windows. Looking for advice on how to fill the space! Thank you so much for any input you may have!

Here is the wall of built ins

It's got such a pretty marble countertop I don't think the wood/hardware matches at all!

here is the cabinetry in the rest of the house

here is the style/color I'm looking to update it to

or these colors

Featured Answer

User

6 years ago

They add a badly needed warmth to the rest of the cold sterile environment. You need to repeat the wood elsewhere to add some life into the space.

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Comments (18)

Erin
6 years ago
I actually love them as they are, and I am someone who prefers a white and grey scheme. I would add a few wood accessories in the kitchen (a couple of large cutting boards, maybe a large decorative centrepiece bowl) in the same cool greyish wood to tie it together.
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"I could consider facing the slider. Perhaps I could build the desk so that it is T shaped along the wall with the window and I could sit at the desk facing the slider?" I think this is your best solution. That way, you have the view of the outside, but the monitors aren't floating in the middle of the room. To me, I think your best investment is a larger desk. Built-ins are great, but technology change each day and we are using less and less paper with more stored in our computers. You have that closet already, where items (including your printer) could be stored. Also, consider how long you will be in this house. Will a future owner want to use that space for a bedroom, for example? Best to keep things flexible. On the other hand, if you really want built-ins and have the funds, then go for it. But, the way you wanted the desk arranged in the beginning, the monitors will be floating out in the room. No horrible, but something to consider.
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@User Wow, that does make a huge difference! They had most of the house in glossy paint when we bought it. Thanks, I love the couch too, it DEMANDS to be considered when decorating anything else in the space lol. We wanted to all be able to lay on it to watch movies. I like all of those colors in matte. I also think I am more open to color now too. I kinda avoided it with my eyes and in pics because I felt like it looked so wrong in the room that I couldn't even picture it in colors until you guys suggested them and I went home and took these pics. Now that I can picture it I'm a lot more excited about the project that has caused me lots of apprehension. I think it might not be too much of a project to paint most of it but remove the paint on the shelves and wine rack to stain a natural color and add some funky monkey wallpaper like this Thanks for all of your help! I remember on one of my few other posts you were very helpful too!
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einportlandor
6 years ago
How about swapping out the cabinetry hardware?
HKO HKO
6 years ago
I like them as-is. Accessorize the top, including with some plants, and hang some art and it will look fine.
Condo Home
6 years ago
I am not against painting wood in general but I really like your cabinets as is. I would change out the hardware and add some art and accessories.
jmm1837
6 years ago
I wouldn't touch the cabinetry. You need a wall of art there.
Susan Davis
6 years ago
The room is beautiful as it is, and adds a nice counterpoint to the room.......maybe large art gallery wall?

And I think a striking blue would be pretty on the walls not the cabinets.

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Donald
6 years ago
I’d swap out the hardware first, match the kitchen cab hardware and then tackle the wall above. If you still don’t like it then paint away...because sometimes a smaller change makes you like it without having to do a big change ( and you would have done the smaller changes anyway)
arcy_gw
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
This room and your thoughts remind me of the article on renovation. There is NOTHING wrong with this room. You have been duped into the "updated" HGTV infomercial world. SWAP out the door fronts WHY!?!?!? What about this space says "dated" to you and even if so none of it says worn, dilapidated, falling apart? Move your furniture in. Make it yours by what you add to it. It's difficult to tell in pictures but it appears you have beautiful hardwood in the room you don't care for and a lower grade product where it is painted.
melle_sacto is hot and dry in CA Zone 9/
6 years ago
I think the cabinets are quite interesting and have a very pretty stain. New hardware will help them seem like more of a fit, and painting your walls mid-range or dark blue will make the lovely marble your star.

If you paint them they lose a lot of character, and changing the doors /drawers seems like a senseless waste of money given how cool and unique they are.
Bluebell66
6 years ago
I really like it “as is,” too. I would definitely move your furniture in and set up the space, even decorate and live with it for a while before doing anything. I also think it goes well with the rest of your house - at least what we can see in the couple of photos. All the cabinetry doesn’t have to match or even be similar, and I agree the wood adds some warmth.
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Barnes Custom Builders
6 years ago
I love the wood and the marble, please do not paint these! Work with the empty canvas above these and change the hardware if you must.
amykath
6 years ago
I would not paint the cabs. They look great! Just changing hardware will help make them look more like what you are going for. Looking at the rest of your lovely home, I think they tie in beautifully!
Allison0704
6 years ago
Another vote to NOT paint the cabinets. The hardware doesn't bother me either. I would start by finding a LARGE piece of art and a few large accessories, and take it from there.
k9arlene
6 years ago
I’d stain the cabinets a darker color or change out the counter top. The marble top really doesn’t work with the knotty pine cabinetry and the rustic floor. A darker stain would hide some of the knots and make it look less rustic.
Irene Morresey
6 years ago
Some inspiration, nice as is, though I do like the blue grey colour
Twosit4me
6 years ago
What about a whitewash or greywash that would be similar to the ceiling in the kitchen? The rest of the enviornment looks lovely to me--not cold at all.
Irene Morresey
6 years ago
I wonder how a seagrass wallpaper would look above your builtins, so many to choose from. Phillip Jefferies has a big collection

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