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Kitchens Paint Design Dilemma

Island color for agreeable gray kitchen- at my wits end!

3 years ago

So I started looking at darker earthy greens because I wanted my golden oak cabinets to work with it. We have agreeable gray on the walls. The colors were WAY too dark for our space- we have a lot of windows but somehow not much light usually hits the actual kitchen and island. I tried a few blues- stardew and krypton. I felt like I was getting closer but it looks too blue?? So onto blue greens of sort ... I’m thinking Oyster Bay. Silvermist is a contender but again seems to pull too blue. I’m wanting a cozy/breezy earthy look. Nothing too modern. Is Oyster Bay a terrible idea and should we just eventually paint all the cabinets white and call it a day? Thank you 🙏

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Kate Horowitz
Original Author

3 years ago

We ended up pulling the trigger on painting our golden oak cabinets white. Went with Sherwin Williams Greek Villa and Unusual Gray for the island. Don’t regret it a bit!

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Comments (16)

Ephma
3 years ago
So I’m having a little trouble understanding- do you want green, or do you want blue-green? My island color is SW Pewter Green and I think it would look good with your cabinets and Agreeable Grey walls.
Kate Horowitz
Original Author
3 years ago
So we actually started with Pewter Green, Retreat and Acacia Haze. Pewter Green was way too dark for us against our black countertops (I think that’s been one of the biggest challenges) and as the sun sets during the day. Neither seemed right in our space so I ended up trying blues- but I’d really prefer something that pulls a little more green than blue. So I’ve gone up a shade lighter in most colors so there’s a better contrast to the countertops.
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May I ask what is so appealing about that old stove? I do appreciate everything MCM, or things from that time period, or whenever it's from, but it doesn't appear you are interested in doing a "period" renovation (where is Palimpsest to teach us?). I come here to learn and am not a kitchen expert, but I can't figure out why one would build a small kitchen around a giant old thing like that. In a small kitchen, why would you want that thing sticking out into the aisle? Does that cutting board come out for cleaning? Would you actually use that cutting board for chopping stuff? I prefer my cutting board next to a prep sink, with water for washing vegetables and colanders and prepping stuff there. Interestingly, in the image above showing the Tappan stove, there is another cutting board stowed near the oven cutting board. I just don't get it. And the cabinet below can't be accessed except by getting down on hands and knees. This forum has taught us all that lower drawers are so far superior...because of easy access to the interior...but you won't have that easy access to that cabinet... and I'm wondering why make all of these design concessions to build a modern farmhouse gray kitchen, SO indicative of its current time, and then have this quirky old stove sticking out in the middle of it. I just don't see it. It not only appears unfunctional, it doesn't match up with your visions. Kitchen remodels, especially the kind where you call people who advertise on Houzz, are likely very expensive. What is your budget? I'm not qualified to tell you what it will cost, and depends on your locality, but I see quotes of $50,000 thrown around in these forums a lot. I think you're not getting a lot of responses because it doesn't seem like you've done a lot of homework.
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Kate Horowitz
Original Author
3 years ago
I saw a post using “evergreen fog” and am wondering if that’s another I should look into ... obviously one half of my kitchen gets some natural light and the other doesn’t.
cat_ky
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Both Oyster Gray and Evergreen fog, are very green. On my monitor, I get a slight aqua tint from your wall paint which you said was agreeable gray. Its very hard to tell on a computer monitor, but, maybe get a sample of the oyster gray and evergreen fog, and see how they look. I prefer evergreen fog over oyster bay. If those dont work, then look for an aqua color, and give that a try. Your lighting looks a bit yellow toned, which can throw things off too. Maybe before you try anymore samples, you should replace all your light bulbs, with a daylight type led 4000K. Lighting makes a really huge difference in how paint looks.
Kate Horowitz
Original Author
3 years ago
Ooooh the light suggestion is a good one! We don’t like a lot of overhead lights and installed dimmers everywhere, but the yellow hue of our bulbs could definitely be a part of the problem for sure. That may be why some of the colors I initially thought I’d like haven’t been working out ...
cawaps
3 years ago
Lack of light tends to pull everything darker and grayer, so I find that I need to choose colors that are less grayed in spaces like that to compensate. What about something like SW Dried Thyme, Wetlands, Getaway Green, or Farm to Table. All lighter and less gray than Pewter Green.
Kate Horowitz
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you for the color suggestions- I’ll look into them!
Marylee H
3 years ago
Marylee H
3 years ago
Marylee H
3 years ago
Marylee H
3 years ago
Marylee H
3 years ago
Marylee H
3 years ago
Marylee H
3 years ago
Pretty! 🌈
mxk3 z5b_MI
3 years ago
Looks great!

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