Cabinet Color - Keep or Paint?!
Michelle
5 years ago
Hello all!
I have had this dilemma for a few years now. I personally do not like all of the brown going on with the floors and the cabinets and I love white kitchens, but the cabinets are in great condition and I’m afraid of having them painted and then them chipping.
What should I make sure of when having them painted to ensure they hold up?
Also, what color should I paint them? We have black countertops, brown hardwood floors and gray wall paint. I was thinking a gray or white color, but not sure what would look best. Should we leave the island black or paint it too? And should I paint the hood the same white or black or use it as another contrasting color and paint it black or leave it the current brown it is and the trim at the top would be the white or gray color?
One more thing! Leave the backsplash or do it a new white too? I was thinking maybe a new/updated white backsplash with some sort of black tile design over the oven.
Thank you so much for your feedback! I am so torn on what to do and appreciate all of your advice!
I have had this dilemma for a few years now. I personally do not like all of the brown going on with the floors and the cabinets and I love white kitchens, but the cabinets are in great condition and I’m afraid of having them painted and then them chipping.
What should I make sure of when having them painted to ensure they hold up?
Also, what color should I paint them? We have black countertops, brown hardwood floors and gray wall paint. I was thinking a gray or white color, but not sure what would look best. Should we leave the island black or paint it too? And should I paint the hood the same white or black or use it as another contrasting color and paint it black or leave it the current brown it is and the trim at the top would be the white or gray color?
One more thing! Leave the backsplash or do it a new white too? I was thinking maybe a new/updated white backsplash with some sort of black tile design over the oven.
Thank you so much for your feedback! I am so torn on what to do and appreciate all of your advice!
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Comments (24)
Lainey Stern
5 years agoRelated Discussions
How to choose paint when the floor color keeps changing?
Comments (1)Linda, I think people would jump to help you if you posted some pictures of your kitchen, so they could see what you're talking about with the floor. Are you able to do that?...See Morewhite painted cabinets--how to keep from chipping
Comments (7)And to be clear, the bonding issue is at the bottom, where you want primer to adhere to wood and paint to adhere to primer. If the primer is coming off so that you see exposed wood, the primer is not bonding to the wood. NOTHING you put ON TOP of the paint film will affect the bond at the bottom, of the primer to wood. So poly on top would have no effect. The area around the knobs can absorb a lot of oils; the skin on hands may contact the wood, and skin has its natural oils even when clean, plus any oil or grease from food prep. I would clean the area with lacquer thinner and lots of paper towels. Wipe down, then change to a fresh towel and wipe down again. Repeat. The solvent dissolves grease, but the towels have to pull it off the surface, so you need lots of fresh towels. I would then for good measure wash with Dawn in HOT water and rinse with hot water and vinegar. (Vinegar doesn't cut grease; it's to remove any detergent residue or minerals in hard water.) Then prime with a high-adhesion primer. I like shellac-based Zinsser BIN....See MorePaint kitchen cabinets or keep?
Comments (17)well first off, all the people that say it will chip, wrong. If prepped incorrectly, and not painted correctly, then yes it will chip. I've been painting all sorts of oak cabinets, furniture, etc for a decade. I take a lot of care in my prep work. It doesn't chip. secondly, if they can reface the doors, maybe modify the cabs so that you get pull out drawers, it would look brand new. I just had my custom wood cabinets painted last year. they did a few modifications w/drawers for me. I love it and am so happy to have had it done. your herringbone floors are gorgeous. why don't you want wood in the kitchen? they could match the wood species and stain color and lace in new planks. If not, I'd do a large (like 24x24) tile that you like. a dark charcoal would look very nice. So, that hutch. I'd paint it. Unless you're really in love w/the oak. here's an oak cabinet painted in a Boxwood green. tell me this looks worse than leaving it as 30-40 year old oak? Your hutch isn't something antique from a craftsman 1910 home. there's a diff. I'd prob pick a nice black for yours, paint the inside of the cab another color (white if you like) and display some nice pottery. this cab was done with milk paint. Milk paint and raw wood work beautifully together. It's natural and it's been around for 200 years. I've use milk paint on a lot of antique oak pieces. the colors can be stunning. and yes, they have a black milk paint. it has a satin finish once finished. it won't peel or chip, unless it's a natural reaction w/the one. this one has a beautiful finish on it. and you can redo the upper doors and make them all glass. wall paper or paint the back panel, get new hardware. there are many other color options. here's another shot of another house where they worked w/the oak cabs. you could do a matte black hardware. As for your tile, I think a white subway would be too stark. Do you like the basalt tile on that first kitchen I showed you ? what a about Cloe tile? They have a nice black...See Morehelp to select a a paint cabinet colour. I'll keep the island black
Comments (9)Thank you for your suggestions. I do plan to update the hardware, pendant lighting and paint out the window frames; all great suggestions. The imperfections can't be seen in the pictures. (and there are plenty) The kitchen cabinets are scratched and worn and look very tired. They are 25 years old and have 'aged' with 3 sons who were constantly in and out. I had the rest of the open concept living/dining room painted, ( BM edgecombe grey 50% lighter) which makes the kitchen look all the more tired. Your suggestions are appreciated....See More
PROBeth H. :
5 years ago
cat_ky
5 years ago
Michelle
5 years agoThank you so much everyone. I should clarify- I was thinking griege or off white/ivory for cabinets. My baby was jumping on my back while I was typing my initial post and I rambled a bit. Haha
I also have thought maybe just the backsplash needs to be changed out! So I agree there too.
What a difference just changing out my chairs makes! Thank you so much for those photos!! We have one too many now and pushed all together so when the boys are up there they won’t fall through, but I will change them out soon. They have moved to their little table recently! :)
Thanks again all! I look forward to hearing more ideas. Here is a pic of what I was thinking with the off-white. I also like the backsplash in it:
groveraxle
5 years agoWhite is really hard to do. I can't get rid of the wood grain, but here is an approximation of your kitchen in white.
- PRO
Beth H. :
5 years agosome other before/afters.
if you plan on hiring a pro cabinet painter (no house painters!) expect to pay over 5K to have those done correctly. If someone tells you they'll paint them for half that, run. they'll be chipping and peeling within 3 months. Always get a warranty for touch ups for at least a year. And they should take them back to their shop to paint, not do them in place. (the drawers/doors obviously)
katgal
5 years agoBri Bosh
5 years ago
Hansen
5 years agolshack17
5 years agoMichelle
5 years agokazmom
5 years agoteamaltese
5 years agoartistsharonva
5 years agoMichelle
5 years agoMichelle
5 years agoHmmm I don’t know how to post my pictures bigger like others are in these comments.
Nicole R Dsp
5 years agoartemis_ma
5 years agowilson853
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoSounds like you want a change so here is what I would do without spending too much. Work with the uppers, the hood and the backsplash because that is your sightline. The base cabinets take the most abuse so I would leave all of the lowers including the island and keep the countertops. Paint the uppers or totally replace them, and if you do that, take them to the ceiling. Remove the rope detail in the crown (it is a dated look) and eliminate the see saw look on the range wall. Slide the taller cabinets next to each other and either pair the shorter wall cabinets together and place those next to the hood or eliminate them altogether and add open shelving. You could add some glass to brighten the space even more. That is easily done by popping out the raised panel. Check with a few local cabinet makers to see if you can get one to paint for you and build a new shroud for the hood. Ask if they use a post catalyzed conversion varnish. It is the most durable finish. They must be removed and painted off-site. New backsplash and hardware will finish the look.
Here's a two-tone with a similarly shaped hood and black countertops. Notice how the white stools tie the look together.
Here's a three-tone look which works in a large space like yours.
er612
5 years ago
cpartist
5 years ago
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