And look much better than this😱

Funny thing is I’ve been pondering Ticonderoga and mentioned how good the plate looked with the kitchen cabs and floors. Then I went to get oil changed in my car. When I came back y’all had said what I was thinking because I really, really don’t want DD to feel like she has to tackle the cabinets at this time. And Ticonderoga accomplishes that. Lyn is spot on with the area behind the stove.

And here’s a thought. Paint the blackboard door a purple blackboard paint color from your favorite fabric for a fun element. And do Roman shades. Bring in art. Vibrant, young and beautiful. . . like our dear girl. 😘

That’s what I am thinking. We can bring color in and not get locked into a bright new color.

Well it’s safe🤷🏼‍♀️

Seajay 🥰 I was reading and sighed with relief 🥰…then Lyn said the dreaded word “safe” 🤦‍♀️😂 Good morning Houzz Fam 😎

Sharon 😂 maybe I should!! Short and sassy with some hint of color on the tips 😉

DD just remember that just because something is safe doesn't mean it is bad. And that feeling of relief should be listened to. JMHO

First step, to block out this color should I use Zinser (sp?)

Cubby 🥰 Yes, you are right! With all the Uber talented help here, it just seems a shame to not push boundaries a bit 🤷🏼‍♀️

No need to push boundaries on everything you do.

T a u p e sounds good to me

For inspiration.

I think doing the kitchen the same as the dining room or some similar version is a really SMART idea. Nothing safe about it. And as Flo points out you can bring in colour in other ways. Not to mention not having to worry about having a weird kitchen if you do sell.

I think the continuity between kitchen and dining room will open up the space. And I’m pretty sure you need to block that colour with a primer. I don’t know if you need to stain blocking primer or not but I’m guessing that would be a good idea since you have to prime anyway.

Hmmm, that’s a smack of blah coming down from a pink kitchen 😂🙄

Fun fabric for the shades, colorful accessories, and a bright chalkboard door wouldn’t be blah. Don’t you have fun dishes in a glass front kitchen cabinet, too? ( this from the girl with a whole house of pale oak, with dove white trim)

Ladma, I’m chuckling with you 😁! The black counter and backsplash will also help 😉

Off to tennis and to ponder 🧐 😉

DD - I have no problem with the walls taupe however, I do strongly recommend that you put your painted taupe plate up against the cabinets before you start as I suspect the taupe might make the existing colour of the cabinets look grubby (could be wrong). This means that you will then want to paint the cabinets! So if you have to paint the cabinets, what colour would you do them with the taupe? Or if you have to paint the cabinets would you prefer to do another wall colour. Do the try out & then ponder some more because if you keep painting the kitchen it will end up 100sq ft smaller!

When designing any space, not everything can be the star. So get that “blah” out of your thinking. Think “chic and cohesive with spikes of color! Of course, test potential wall colors with existing cabinets. But no more down words!

Ticonderoga Taupe is quite dark but it can read a tad gray/ mauve in some light. This may not be the best taupe with gold marble floors and cream cabinets! Ahh what a tangled web we weave when trying to go from room to room😏. The pitfalls of doing one room at a time decorating! What to keep, what to change? Hmmmm!

You need to find the right Taupe! Not the one in your dining room which has been cut in half anyway so isn’t even the same color! Impossible to tell the exact color of your cabinets but find one that looks good with them!

HIWE suggested a taupe awhile back…

Same problem. While it looks beautiful with the fabric it is a taupe that leans violet! Decisions about things such as paint and fabric should be made with consideration to the things that will remain in place! Deciding what will remain in place should be decided before anything else! If the floors and countertop stays then the decision should then be made about the cabinets! If they are staying then pick a fabric and paint that best suits these elements. If this fabric doesn’t then move on! There are millions of others! If you really want to tackle painting the cabinets then formulate your design plan around that! This isn’t a full remodel. You are working with what you have and it can look very nice but there are certain things you have to embrace and things that you can change within limits!

What great discussion. So, the Ticonderoga on the plate is full strength. Didn’t realize that. I was just thinking about dining room color. Yes, absolutely Find the right taupe. And cabinets . . . people generally want light kitchens so consider that in your pondering.

Nite, DD.

Poised taupe

The cabinet color makes this a bit tough😏

I always think of black as the great equalizer! I don’t suppose this would be the most practical with a busy family but it is certainly elegant!

Oh I like! And walls in dining room wall color?

And the dining chairs have the black! I think this follows the feel of kitchen into dining very nicely!

Interesting Lyn that you mention black. I saved this pic of a kitchen on the weekend.

DD - your dining area has black cabinets so black cabinets in kitchen would flow. The plum walls would create flow between kitchen, DR and LR. See below. As for black cabinets showing the dirt - yep but if the cabinets were white or ivory the dirt is still there you just don't see it or choose to ignore it. Choice of domestic goddess or sloth :) These are Behr paints

Ugh! I love the black idea! I have caviar in the DR and I really love it! Allana, I hear your dare 😂 is there a third choice because I am neither …hehe

Lyn, I know you said that you don’t love two toned but….et al, would lighter on top and darker on bottom or vice versa work as well?

Here are a couple examples of dark top vs dark bottom. The first black kitchen has light in between the cabinets whereas I have dark, however, part of mine has the glass so it would lighten it up …

DD - you have always wanted the coffee cheetah (think that's what you called him/her) in the kitchen. Can you bring him/her out again so we can see what might work with that art & the caviar & the floor etc

PS and a Black Caviar sample plate if you have one and the sample plate of 50% taupe

Ok Allana! Tomorrow. And I finally had some man powers to lift the mirror…it is really heavy so they didn’t do a great job 🙄😉

Here is cheetah coffee head 😂

Here is the original DE -50% TTaupe from DR and the full strength sw made for me

The darker TT for me.

Pink and black is so 60s.

Maybe hold off any decision until you hear back from the bank.

Ughhh…😵‍💫 Bathrooms are great place to go wild. Kitchens not so much. Trying to think of ways to sooth your inner bohemian….that isn’t black cabinets, or two tone either. DD I think you need to take up painting. Canvases instead of rooms in your house. Hot tip…it’s less work…😝

Yes. Darker taupe.

😂😂It isn’t up to me to tell you what to do with your Kitchen DD! I can throw ideas out but ultimately you need to decide! As I stated upthread; get your priorities straight and figure out what you are willing to do and not do first! It really doesn’t matter in the end how many of us like white kitchens or black; who likes green or purple or taupe! What fabric we like! We don’t live here!!! What I do know is that you are chasing your tail and you need to sit down and reassess your options!

…

I have whiplash. No to horizontal mirror. Sell it. In kitchen I am pragmatic. Stay away from painting cabinets. So much work. I think the darker taupe or perhaps a taupe with a bit more purple would work. I know you are conflicted. When in doubt, wait. Get focused back on master bath and get that in a more finished state. That will help you get input and determine go forward in kitchen. The only thing you can do in kitchen right now is prime walls for future color. But, if you are thinking the darker taupe you might not need primer. Idk just depends on color you pick. So get bathroom finished first.

Nice inspirational shots. Lynn is right. I’m going to retreat to the sidelines here. You’ve gotten some good advice on making this process sane. I’ll be lurking to see the decisions.

Hmm, DD, I've been following along without commenting, enjoying how you have beautifully transformed your home and gathered your treasures, but keep thinking about how you started this dilemma three years ago: "I am making my family of six crazy with this living room - dining room and the changes that inevitably happen every four months :)" It seems you really have to ask yourself if the disruption of painting the cabinets is worth it, particularly with your bathroom to finish.

Only you know if painting the cabinets is worth it! Of course it isn’t necessary! Formulate a plan with “reasonable expectations “! Then come back and let us help you accomplish it! Design by consensus can be very confusing! You have been given a myriad of wonderful ideas! It’s now up to you to figure out what you can reasonably accomplish!

I’ll check in down the road DD! By for now✋🏻

I like the darker taupe

Try Tea Leaf sample in kitchen.