Hi Brittney,

My husband and I renovated our kitchen cabinets in our first home and below are some before and after photos. We actually opted for the cooler white and ensured the sink, backsplash, white in the countertops, and cabinet colors meshed well.

It was a lot of sampling. From bringing sample homes to bringing them to several stores, etc. Trying out different paint colors on the cabinets. We actually didnt worry about the color of the walls and honestly, it didnt seem to matter for us. If looking towards a white shade for the cabinets it really helps to brighten up a room and is eye catching in an open floor plan! So long as the color you choose doesn’t clash with your trim/ ceiling color, you should be ok to play with different options. Look at Benjamin Moore’s Cloud white and towards the warmer spectrum if you want to keep a warm tone.

Another thing to note would be the cabinet hardware. Opt for a color and style that will tie into other elements of the kitchen and lighting / appliances.

These cabinets were beautiful solid wood and in great condition. There was no way we were replacing them. The job tooks weeks because we did it ourselves and the kitchen was in disarray for a month or so (we were doing all the other renovations too, tho). That was the only con for us but we got through it. Really helped the resale value of the home too!

You have a gorgeous kitchen already, so whatever upgrades you do are sure to look great! Just take your time and sample sample sample! :)

Best of luck to you!

What is your current wall color? I love it

I’m not sure…it was here when I moved in 3 years ago.

Oh the backsplash 🙃 isn’t it a lot

Partim, you make a good point to research great professionals. My only issue there is the customer service and quality of work has gone super downhill since COVID (or maybe that’s simply my experience of late). Also, we’ve been stiffed on contractors taking shortcuts in the past which is another reason we did it ourselves. We wanted to give it the care and attention it needed to make sure the sanding was done right, nail holes were filled, seams were sealed, no brush strokes or drips, and a gorgeous finish.

Hi Brittney. I think the problem may be the backsplash-- it is going to clash with everything else, I think. One way to see if this is so is to get a long sheet of white paper and cover it (or even many small sheets, though I would not use post-its :) ) . Once you've done that, I think you will be able to find a color that will work with your cabinets, which are lovely, and which I would personally not paint, unless they are in dreadful condition. Painting cabinets is either a labor of love, or an expensive undertaking. It seems like results are exceptionally mixed. There is a boat load of prep work. I have done it successfully, but it is long, arduous, painstaking work... particularly,as in your case where you are working from cabinets that have a factory finish.

Once you've got your new paint, you can find a lovely coordinating backsplash. You might even consider a light green as a wall color (I know you said you wanted taupes, but I gotta try here!). I hope this helps!

By the way, you do have a lovely home. I would keep your counters. I would add a beautiful area rug in the kitchen (if you like rugs in the kitchen, I do, some don't). What I see is actually too much backsplash and too little color. I really think for very little money you could completely change your kitchen. Seriously. And if I was any good with photoshop, I'd prove it.

Thank you for trying but I can’t do a light green it stresses me out thinking about it 😄 I’m going to try and cover the backsplash though see if that opens my vision let me find a pic that would explain why not the green

This is not my decor but the purpose is to show the flow of the house and whatever color I choose it will have to flow throughout.

I’m working on the floor right now I’m pulling up the carpet in the living room so it will all be hardwood and I’ll probably get a nice area rug. I pretty much have a blank canvas.

Greens Kitchen · More Info

Interesting backsplash with reddish cabinets.

Sorry a green would stress you out :) I did a color called pineapple creme (SW) throughout my home (that was 3 homes ago) and it looked so fresh and wonderful- but that was a bit more yellow side of green. However, I used a color called Plum Passion (which is green) which looks wonderful in morning sun. But, no matter. No stress!

In your situation, I would probably go with a nice white (nine million of them) throughout, and then add color in other ways (rug, backsplash, furnishings, etc). Hardwoods will look wonderful, but for me at least, the taupe is just not quite right with the color of your cabinets and counters and floors.

Having the cabinets painted should cost a whole lot more than replacing the backsplash, unless are doing it yourself.

Definitely not doing it myself…it would be a mess. Also the paint that was used is a builder grade flat paint so it’s hard to clean off. I have 2 boys 7 and 2 and another little guy on the way I need walls that I can wipe off we all know how they love putting hand prints everywhere.

Mimimony green was actually the first color that was suggested when I started researching. You’re also not the first to say the green! That’s just a great combo with those cabinets it just isn’t the look I’m going for. We’re going to figure this out it’s driving me crazy but I will figure this out I appreciate all of the comments thus far

Brittney, sounds like you have a lot on your plate and more stress might not be the best. Honestly, this home is pretty darn lovely as is. Maybe take some time to relax and enjoy. Not trying to tell you how to run your life, but as long as your home is warm, safe, and reasonably clean (handprints notwithstanding) you deserve a break today! As a good friend told me, "perfection is the enemy of good." Truer words were never spoken.

That’s an understatement mimimony! I won’t put too much pressure on myself. For some reason I’m super motivated to make a change. Maybe it’s the new year???

Sorry Brittney, but the countertop and the backsplash need to go. For what you would spend on getting those cabinets painted you could redo the counter/tile. (and if you paint the cabs, you're still stuck w/the main problem which is those other two elements)

you can buy a pre-fab countertop in quartz/granite/natural stone, and prob redo your counters for under 2K. Painting those cabs will be well in the 5K range (for a pro job. if you want a crap job you're looking at about 2K, but it won't last)

As for that backsplash, call in a friend or relative to demo that horrible tile and save hundreds. or do it yourself. yes, even pregnant you can do it. wear a mask and eye protection. it's really not a difficult job.) In any case, getting rid of that tile will make the most difference. And, if it's only that one wall we see in the photo, it's simple! just do it already.

how much do you have to spend? can you swing a few thousand? 3? 4? (if you were going to paint the cabinets, you were going to have spend a minimum of that amount, so why not spend on the other two items?)

At the very LEAST, remove the tile and the 4" piece up the back, and do a simple subway tile. white, gray, black, whatever color you want. bring in some newer hardward.

You can do that for about 1500, depending on what you buy and how much demo you do, and it would completely change the look

hard to photoshop any tile becuase your photo is at an angle. post on straight on if you like.

Or, just take off that horrid tile, fix the drywall, and paint a soft white color. Like this:

If you still want to paint at a later date after replacing those other two items, you can do that.

Similar kitchen to the one above, except they replaced everything and did a white countertop.

Similar tone wood cabinets with a lighter granite and a white subway tile.

lighter countertops and light tile splash (I wouldn't pick this tile, just showing you what a lighter color would look like)

They kepth the countertop on this after shot, but they did remove the 4" piece and did a white subway tile. That's certainly an option for you too.

You could also replace a few of the upper cab doors with glass (any kind of glass) along w/updating the other two elements. That will also give your cabs a fresher look.

And I'd prob do something w/the pantry door. Paint it, get a cool looking salvage type of door, etc.

if you do paint the cabs, keep the countertop, but replace the tile, then a wood salvage door would look good w/your floors and the white

Don't forget to change out your hardware

Are you still mulling things over? I'm sure you got plenty of ideas last time. If you like the tile, you would be back here looking for help.

Trust me, just change it out. you can always paint the cabs down the road. But take care of the tile now, and if you can swing it, the countertop

Didn’t think about that Anna

If you want to change the stain on your cabinets you need to strip them down to bare wood. A huge undertaking compared to painting.

Honestly I think a pro could find a colour for your walls and backs plash that would work beautifully with your cabinets and existing furniture. They see things in a way that you don't, plus they have the experience to know what these colours look like when a whole room is painted with them, not just a little square or even a good size test patch.

Consider looking for a well-reviewed person who does home staging for resale. They often specialize in repainting and re-arranging, rather than a full-on interior designer where they order custom furniture etc. An interior designer may not want a small job such as yours whereas a stager is more what you need.

I just remembered that you are replacing your carpet with wood. Definitely get a pro to help you choose the wall paint, back splash and new floor colours all together. You're spending too much money to make a mistake on this.

For sure can’t afford to mess up on this one. Definitely taking my time

that granite backsplash is also on the cabinets 😮will that be damaged when removed?

Probably if they put glue on the back. I removed it from my own cabinet when I redid my bathroom and move the vanity. i had no choice but to remove it. Since they glued it directly to the cabinet, it did leave a residue upon removal.

What you can do is have that portion sanded (carefully) and restained to match.

It might look like this.

Read here to see how they did theirs

https://www.younghouselove.com/take-it-away/

Or, you could just wrap the new backsplash tile around the panel and hide any damage.

basically like this,

My friend did her tile on the side wall. not the same as your panel, but you get the idea.

all depends how much damage is to that panel, and if you can sand and stain it.

you could leave it and tile on top of it, but it really doesn't look good

The easiest idea is to remove the busy backsplash tile and just paint the wall. You can leave the 4” piece of granite, or remove it. But doing a huge undertaking like painting the whole kitchen sounds overwhelming. I had no more decisions in me after remodeling a neglected house so I skipped doing the backsplash for over a year. I just painted it. Then when I had more mental energy, I bought the tiles and had them installed. Just getting the busy part off the back wall will visually change the room.

Having painted our kitchen cupboards myself (my husband was away for 6 weeks and I also tackled repainting entire first floor), I hope some of my experiences/advice help.

Cupboards as is: You mentioned you like the wood, so I’d just redo counter (if possible), definitely backsplash, lighting and hardware and you’ll transform kitchen (imagine choices below with your cabinets). Painting will be expensive and these changes will be a lot less. Go with classic/simple choices for ease of coordination and for longevity, so if you decide to paint (even just uppers) they allow for more options.

Painting Cupboards: With young children and a third on the way, be sure you can live with a huge disruption. A lot of research and time will be required up front as well and still suggest new backsplash.

I finally decided on color inspiration below only slightly lighter and painted uppers and lowers. I was shocked (and cried) after spending close to 24 hours on them. I ended up quickly painting the lowers black and was thrilled. Only relating, as it’s not an easy decision/process/investment.

Upkeep: I love our painted cabinets and wish I had done 10 years ago; there are occasional touch up‘s required around handles on the most used cupboards, but it takes seconds. Professional painting outcome may be different and perhaps others can advise.

Painting walls: My advice is go with a warm white. You won’t be tied down by having to coordinate/won’t tire of as quickly. I chose a white simillar to below to work with kitchen and it was neutral enough to work well in all the other areas, without having to make any color updates. Hope this helps and good luck.

"these reddish brown cabinets that I love."

"They are in good shape so Id rather not get rid of them just because I want to change the color."

So, which is it? Do you love the cabinets or do you want to change the color?

I can't tell from the photo what color the counters are, but they look good in the photo.

The cabinets look really good. Get rid of the backsplash. It was a mistake that does not deserve another day in your house.

From the feedback I received here and family I’m NOT going to touch the cabinets. What I think will be best for now if for me to

• change the countertops
  -change backsplash
  -update hardware

As for the wall color I will find something in the family that’s already there. Something that isn’t “flat” and can be wiped down.

Concerns now is what happens when I remove that 4 in piece that is attached to the cabinets. Beth in here has some wonderful ideas!

@catbuilder yes it was definitely a mistake. The last owners added it and I don’t see where there were going with this idea 😊. Everything else is pretty much original. I was never really sold on painting the cabinets but I wanted to see what folks had to say about doing so. Another mistake i think I was making is tryin to choose a wall color now. That’s what was overwhelming me. I need to make these other changes and choose the wall color last.

@Maureen and Beth thank you both for providing pictures I have so much inspiration now. 3rd little guy won’t be here until May I got a little time. I don’t think these changes will take too much time. I just have to pick out what I like…I’m already looking!