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Paint Design Dilemma Kitchens

Brightening Kitchen with Dark Countertops

2 years ago

any suggestions on wall paint colors or ideas of how to modernize and brighten up our kitchen with these countertops? i am not in love with them but they were recently put in by the previous owners so not going to change them now. we painted our cabinets BM chantilly lace. thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

mxk3 z5b_MI

2 years ago

You think that's dark!?! I disagree with that assessment, but since you're looking for a change, change out the backsplash and change the color temp of the bulbs. The wall color is lovely with the cabs, I'd leave it alone.

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Comments (10)

mgfitch
Original Author
2 years ago

Here is the rest of the kitchen for context
lmmcnitt
2 years ago
Removing the backsplash would also help. The rug adds a nice blend of color and detracts from the dark floor.
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Get a lighter counter that has some reflective characteristics, repaint the walls with a lighter colored paint, and live with it for a while before doing the backsplash. We have medium dark cherry perimeter cabinets in our kitchen that faces SE, but there is a 10' deep front porch with an 11' roof including overhang that darkens the kitchen. It has a triple window over 7' wide and 4' high, and two 10" SunTunnels. The counters are a medium green granite. The center square island has creme painted cabinets and a medium light limestone/marble top. My walls look like they are about the same color as yours appear in your picture, and the floor is cream colored cork. The kitchen feels too dark to me. Our lower level galley kitchen has similar medium dark cherry cabinets with a light semi-shiny patterned laminate, and the paint is a lighter shade of the paint that is upstairs. The triple window 7' wide by 4' high is 24' across the room from it. This kitchen should feel darker than the one upstairs, but doesn't, no matter what time of day or night it is. Both kitchens are well lit. I am going to paint the upstairs kitchen a lighter better color that makes both the cabinets and counter top have a little more umph. If I could change to a lighter counter top in the upstairs kitchen, I would. There is no doubt in my mind that these 2 changes would make my upstairs kitchen feel lighter, based on how much lighter the lower level kitchen feels. Anne
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Do you have a close up of the backsplash? Is the kitchen open to the family room? Are there any colors you like or want to avoid? I would think a midtone neutral for the kitchen since the backsplash is busy, but I’m no expert. Most of my rooms are SW nomadic desert or kilim beige. Something similar may work. Or SW Accessible beige. I’ve seen that look good in low light and HD has the formulas in the computer.
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Emily
2 years ago
I agree. Removing the current backsplash and then replacing it with a creamy white tile to match the cabinets would lighten it up.
mgfitch thanked Emily
kandrewspa
2 years ago
It looks like you have good lighting, but if it doesn't seem that way to you, increasing or improving the lighting is another avenue to pursue.
mgfitch thanked kandrewspa
arcy_gw
2 years ago
What color light bulbs are you using? Your kitchen is very light, I don't see dark at all. The back splash and counter go a bit murky in photos..but some nice white bright bulbs could help that.
mgfitch thanked arcy_gw
daisychain Zn3b
2 years ago
lovely kitchen. As others have suggested, it's the dull backsplash that makes it seem dark. A light, shiny ceramic tile will bounce light and brighten everything up.
mgfitch thanked daisychain Zn3b
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
IMO change all the light bulbs to LED 4000K then see what the space is like. Take the wood blind off and redo the backsplash with something lighter like the white in the stone I would not spend a huge amount of money with anything else. Is that flooring all through the house ? I do not like rugs in kitchens and that one is too busy IMO.
mgfitch thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
cat_ky
2 years ago
I like the color that you have in there now, however, the room, needs a bit of color. Blues, turquoise etc accessories. I do like a rug in a kitchen, especially in front of the sink. I like the one you have, but, I do not like it in your kitchen, the pinky color clashes with everything else. Change out your light bulbs, to daylight type bulbs, 3500 or 4000 if you need brighter light. Your lighting looks a bit yellowy. Your countertops are fine. If changing the backsplash is in your budget, then, that would bed ok, but, if not, it will be fine.
mgfitch thanked cat_ky
JJ
2 years ago
My granite countertops (also an upgrade from previous owners) look very similar and it makes a big difference that they installed under cabinet lighting. They must have realized the darkness once it was installed in a larger scale with all black appliances.

I like your paint and think it compliments the cabinets.
mgfitch thanked JJ

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