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Paint Design Dilemma Kitchens

Need help deciding on grays for kitchen cabinet re-painting

3 years ago

We are updating our kitchen (recently opened the wall between the kitchen and the DR) ---including new counters (white quartz with light grey veining), backsplash and plan to re-paint our (maple) cabinets. We have many cabinets and a small island. We'd like to paint the cabinets gray ---but are having a tough time since our kitchen is East-facing and so it doesn't get much light. A bit of morning light and shadows in the afternoon.

We've ordered tons of those sampilize stickers to compare colors ---but still a tough choice! We've been advised to stay with warmer grays (e/g/ SW Repose gray, mindful gray, etc.) but they tend to look beige (which we don't want) or drab. When we pick colors we like (e.g. SW light french gray, BW Nightingale, BM Smoke Embers, BW Cement Gray, etc) they "read" either blue/green or red/purple/pink.

We are thinking of either: (1) painting all cabinets light gray and the island a dark gray (e/g. Kendall Charcoal) or (2) uppers light gray and bottoms dark gray.

Any help would be super appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

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Comments (11)

Jennifer Havin
3 years ago
https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-farmhouse-country-meadows-farmhouse-kitchen-philadelphia-phvw-vp~101604511

https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-the-meadows-model-2014-spring-parade-transitional-kitchen-minneapolis-phvw-vp~14572414

both are great colors
Robert Gentile thanked Jennifer Havin
K R
3 years ago
Is the floor staying? Flooring dictates a lot.
Robert Gentile thanked K R
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lukkiirish -- funny, the winds breath IS one of my fave colors. (and to anyone who is looking for a magic white/grey paint, I swear, it really is just the most wondrous color!). I also have it on my bedroom ceiling with camouflage on the walls and a white crown molding. I did look at it as a potential color for the cabinets but decided against it when DD and DH said they think white/off white/cream cabinets are "boring" and "trendy". Winds Breath did seem too look good with my counters....i just asked dh to go paint a board and i am gonna check it out. the raffia cream i really like. i think i like it on the wall better than the cabinets, i don't think i like it next to stainless as much as maybe something else. eandhl2 i have considered some pale yellows. One color I looked at was sugar cookie (benjamin moore) but i never did pursue it. When i abandoned the white/cream idea, i abandoned pale yellow. i am not sure what my reasoning was. tinam61 i have talked to some people about the cabinets. They were painters first and designers second (or maybe third or fourth). They really didn't care if i painted them purple or ochre or white. They were interested in the painting, not in the aesthetic. Not sure I would have trusted their aesthetic anyway...even if they were so inclined to discuss it. My3dogs (Maine zone 5A) i do like the pic you posted. I think the grey in the pic is cooler than i want, but i would like to see berkshire beige on the cabinets. i am going to look and see if i can find a picture.
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Eld.....thank you! Actually, I think i saw “white paint” on the craftsmen style door and got confused. DH says we should keep the white cabs even if I redo in a few years. Looking on the website, they do seem to perform better than white paint. I guess laminate has come a long way. The brown cabs would just be too much brown...brown floors, brown cabs, brownish granite....yuck. I never thought to ask but im sure I cant pick my slab. This is a production builder. I shouldn't have any seams as there’s not much counter space. The color in your picture looks much less gold than the sample i saw. The backsplash choices werent great so i just went with white subway....DH can redo if want a change. Good idea to look at pics on Houzz of white cabs with the Giallo Verona granite...duh!
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A J
3 years ago
Only my opinion, but I totally agree that gray is on the outs, and I'm all for it. I've never loved it. Look at a greige, at least, like bm revere pewter. Since your floors are warm, stay neutral or warm. What about a traditional creamy white like bm white dove? Or a pretty green? Green is easy to live with!
Robert Gentile thanked A J
Elaine Doremus Resumes Written
3 years ago
I prefer all cool colors or all warm colors in a room, but that's me. If you have a combination of the two, that's when it gets tricky. Just to give you an idea: here are some warm colors: off-white, sand, beige, tan, brown, olive green, orange, golden yellow, gold, peach. Here are some cool colors: bright white, taupe, black, gray, purple, royal blue, cool red, pine green, forest green, Kelly green. As others have said here, all colors in the room need to be considered - floor, ceiling, walls, the works. What are the other colors in the home? The entire room needs to have a sense of unity. Items do not exist on their own, but need to get along with everything else in the room. Some paint stores and websites have full room testers so you can see what the room looks like with the various colors. Call paint stores or look on their websites for help - they are there for you. Your floor is currently a warm color. Your plans for your cabs and counters will be cool.
Robert Gentile thanked Elaine Doremus Resumes Written
Maureen
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Sounds like you were looking at greys with brown and blue undertones. The link below may help in regards to greys with no undertone. https://www.jimenezphoto.com/true-gray-paint-color-with-no-undertones/amp-2/

On another note, have you considered two toned cabinetry. We painted our lowers a soft black and the uppers a grey blue (black counters). We had similar cabinets as yours and I love it, as it feels more unique and interesting. If interested, suggest dark grey on bottom and white on top.

If keeping your floor, here is a color that could compliment a bit better.
Robert Gentile thanked Maureen
darbuka
3 years ago
You say nothing about the floors...and those floors will not play nicely with any shade of grey.
Robert Gentile thanked darbuka
Robert Gentile
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks for the comments, everyone! I should have specified the the floors are also being replaced ---so less worry coordinating to existing elements in this kitchen, since its all being updated/replaced. We are painting the cabinets (perhaps island a different color), installing white quartz counters, installing a new backsplash (TBD on the color), changing the floors, etc. So we need to find a color that essentially goes with white quartz (specifically, LG Viatera Muse -which has light grey veining). We would consider painting lower cabinets a darker color and uppers lighter, if we found the right combo. We like warmer colors (especially since lighting is not great in this space), however we're not huge fans of tan/beige/cream. Any redo's on grays (either light warmer grays or medium grays) that can work in a lower/east facing room? Thanks again!
Suzanne Sarin
3 years ago
Not sure gray will work in your space. Your countertop is pretty neutral. No need to try and match it. Like the idea of darker lowers and light uppers, or dark island with lighter painted surrounding. Light/medium gray colors are overplayed and trending out for sure. Unless you are planning to sell in the next 6 months...What about BM Olive Green or Cheating Heart for your island, and the surrounding cabs in a white cut with a % of the island color?
Maureen
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
You might find Pinterest helpful, as it’s a great resource for paint colors, articles and inspiration pictures. I found kitchen below and with its warm colors and combination, thought it might help.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
3 years ago
If you are looking for updating, don’t do gray.
eld6161
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I disagree. I like gray, always have. I would do white for the parameters and gray for the island, though.

For those who keep saying gray is going out, they never seem to give an idea of what to do instead.

Gray is still going strong in upscale builds in the NY area. So, if you do it today, you will be in good company ten years from now.

I would choose a popular gray. No need to reinvent the wheel.

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