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Paint Design Dilemma Kitchens

Looking to update our new beige-on-beige kitchen

last year

Hey all!

Our current kitchen is really very... beige. We tend to lean towards cooler tones in general but are struggling with how to bring the kitchen to life without having to tear everything apart.

Is there a color we might paint the cabinets? Not looking to replace counters or backsplash at this stage. Also, how can we bridge the kitchen into the dining room without making the whole thing seem overly warm? Especially if we would like to use cooler colors elsewhere? We're not married to any of the current paint colors.

Featured Answer

jackowskib

last year

The cabinets look really nice. I would spend less by changing the backsplash so there’s more dimension and accent in the room. Then decide on wall color.

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Comments (13)

cat_ky
last year
I would tie the wall color into the dining room wall color, and for the rest, just use accessories, to take away the beige look. I would not paint the cabinets. They will look nice, once you have a rug down in front of the sink, and some nice accessories with color on the countertops.
Rebecca B thanked cat_ky
acm
last year
I would paint the cabinets a cream color chosen from tones in the stone. I think you're going to have to replace that backsplash, though!
Rebecca B thanked acm
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Rho Dodendron
last year
Put a large colorful rug on the floor and something even if only a valance with colour over the window. What about a dish drainer next to the sink in red or some other colour?
Rebecca B thanked Rho Dodendron
happyleg
last year
You could paint the cabinets a cream color or you can use navy or teal get a colorful rug
Rebecca B thanked happyleg
herbflavor
last year
last modified: last year
cabinets are fine . I dont think its worth painting. I believe in a different time period you will want to replace those and modernize with drawers and get everything in synch. not now. I think a smokey glass backsplash. and stainless moderni ish hardware would tilt enough to make a difference without much money spent. pick a gray patterned mat or runners for floor and youll be good. you mention cooler tones but be open to light woods which I see in kitchen and beyond.... working well with certain grays / some black / the floor is modern and special I wouldnt cover it but runners and mats in your tones will make things interesting. lots of options w runners as shown .
Sewickley Kitchen 2 · More Info

Sunrise Point · More Info

Bywood Street Residence · More Info

Homearama 2014 · More Info
Rebecca B thanked herbflavor
HU-602733492
last year
last modified: last year
It's a really lovely space but you've got very little variation between the counter, the cabinets and the backsplash, as well as a warmer color, which isn't helping your goals. I think that if you are willing to do a color rather than a neutral, then painting the bits of wall you can see in the kitchen in a blue (probably with green undertones) would help. You could also change out the hardware for something chunkier in a cool metal, as well as changing the outlet covers/wallplatess similarly.

Painting or staining cabinets is a lot of work so it depends on how much effort/money you want to throw at this. If you were going to change the cabinet color I think for your goals, painting them white, or painting the bottom ones dark blue (and either leaving the top ones, or painting them white) would be helpful. Stain is a bit easier than paint but most stain colors lean warm rather than cool. You could do an espresso stain, which would break up the beige and be somewhat cool-leaning. Given the level of natural light you might find that the kitchen then ends up being quite dark. Some people like this and others don't. If you do paint or stain the cabinets, I would change out the hardware.
Rebecca B thanked HU-602733492
happyleg
last year
The cabinets are fine unless you want to get different cabinet doors only for it and you don't like the style on it and I would really replace the backsplash make it something pretty like a green or a blue he'll give your kitchen a pop of color and I also like black and white tile are navy and white you know like a cobalt blue
acm
last year
Yes, that might be all you need -- go with a plain white or off-white backsplash, and change every outlet and switch plate in the space from black to either tan or white, depending on what color it's on. That will probably be enough to give some contrast and keep the kitchen from feeling all one color, and neutral enough to let you go whatever direction you want with furnishings. I mocked this up with a gray rug, to show that it's right at home, although I do like some color in kitchen accessories...

Then I think you could replace all the pulls with nickel or chrome (whatever matches your faucet -- probably nickel/stainless) and it will feel like a whole new place.

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aziline
last year
Your kitchen made me think of this recent thread.

Embracing the Gold Tile: A Bathroom Refresh (houzz.com)

They used a contrasting color and it looks amazing. I think you could go with a lighter color and still have great results.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
Sorry but those cabinets are a dated mess and IMO not woth spending money on to fix . the counters and the backspalsh are driving the bus so no matter what color you paint anything they will still drive the bus. Change all the light bulbs to LED 4000K tht will take away some of the warm tones for sure . Since this is anew to you space wait for at least 3-6 months before spending any large amount of money on this space I think you will find the function in this space is not great and that raised bar area is not attractive at all and also dated .
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
last modified: last year
I would paint cabinets in warm white/ivory color, replace busy backsplash with warm off-white/ivory/beige tile. Plus bamboo shades.

It is better if you pick up some light color from countertop. May be you will have opportunity to replace some upper doors with glass ones.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
I think warm white/off-white would be better choice

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