Need advice and help with kitchen cabinet paint colors and hardware

last year

Hi. I'm doing a little face lift on my kitchen and need advice. I'm a first-time homeowner and purchased the house a few years ago. I can't do a total remodel at this time - but when I do, I plan on opening up the wall to the dining room. For now, I am keeping and working with the gray speckled granite countertops. Not ideal (I love the clean look of white quartz or marble look) but both the countertops and cabinets are in very good shape, just dated.

Some things I have done -

I just added subway tile backsplash - Villa Artisan Frost Ceramic Tile with a polished or high gloss finish. Shown in the first two photos.

https://www.flooranddecor.com/porcelain-ceramic-decoratives/artisan-frost-ceramic-tile-100500982.html?gclid=CjwKCAjws--ZBhAXEiwAv-RNL9akGSWdY0h6AkzkiQ_knwdNUTybWzpleLB6cMaQiGqP1aCt8TclCRoCJB8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

New light fixture - Possini

https://www.lampsplus.com/products/possini-euro-planet-31-and-one-half-inch-wide-black-finish-modern-chandelier__k6114.html

New matt black faucet - Pfister Stellen

https://www.build.com/product/summary/1304526?uid=3100442&jmtest=gg-gbav2_3100442&inv2=1&&source=gg-gba-pla_3100442!c1705989067!a65446962206!dc!ng&gclid=CjwKCAjws--ZBhAXEiwAv-RNL7D9iWzYvcdceWQYfT4JFC3r9eC8X84r795VltGZtCUQavJ6ihuGTBoCFVsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have a lot of hickory wood cabinets. I am thinking dark charcoal bottoms and cream/light white tops. Currently I don't have any hardware on the cabinets. I could really use some advice or opinions on both the cabinet colors and hardware to update my kitchen. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!!! Thank you in advance

Featured Answer

ptreckel

last year

You have a lovely kitchen! Yes to taking the backsplash off the wall of the U area in your kitchen. You could leave it as the backsplash on your peninsula where it looks like it supports the upper counter. That is fine. I like your cabinets. They are a beautiful wood that goes very well with your floors and ceiling. As. Is. At most…I would simply have dark hardware installed. Then spend your time using it!

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Comments (28)

arcy_gw
last year
Oh my heavens!! What a rooky move to paint over those beautiful cabinets. Your home will instantly lose value! Any old cheap crap wood can be painted and is when painted cupboards are put in. That's why white kitchens were all the rage down south--hard wood was too expensive. You have one small corner of warmth and friendly in that home don't mess it up now!
PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
Wish you'd posted before you did the backsplash, as it is easy as pie to pop that 4 inch RISER off before you tile. WAH.

As to painting the cabinets..........ONE color please; If you want something as accent? Save it for the island.

It's a lot of work , especially DIY. It's a lot of money to get it done well, by a pro. I'd settle for a hardware add and wait it out. Keep stuffing the piggy bank. Settle for the lighting/hardware upgrade.

Bound and determined? Do the entire perimeter in a clean white ...Ben Moore Chantilly Lace and the island in black.

Hardware.....honestly, I like Top Knobs.com .Zillions to choose from. Stick to a pull in satin nickel /stainless. No, I probably wouldn't do black. Unless you leave them UN painted.

Bottom line? You don't love the kitchen. Save your money for the real deal.
André thanked JAN MOYER
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kl23
last year
Oh, golly, that beautiful ceiling! Lucky you!
André thanked kl23
André
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Thank you, Jan. That is very unfortunate about the 4" granite riser. My tile guy said it would be a huge pain to take it off, hence why I decided to leave it. Ughhh.
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Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
Jan beat me to it. Do you still have leftover subway tile? Or can you order more? If so, get the tile guy back and have him take off the 4" quartz and replace it with your subway tile. It's not a big deal. At all. That he said it was makes me think he's a bit lazy. Maybe find a different tile guy to do the job correctly?

As for cabinet colors, I'd paint the base cabinets and leave the hickory uppers. A gray-green would be nice and would work with your counters.
André thanked Sabrina Alfin Interiors
housegal200
last year
The wood cabinets harmonize very well with countertops, floors, ceiling. Since you have acres of them, why not replace some of the fronts with glass to match the glass cabinet you already have. instead of painting them? Or replace some with open shelves matching the wood.
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André
Original Author
last year
Yes, I can get more subway tile and will try to correct that mistake - he really made it sound like it would be $$$ and hard to take off! I'll start getting bids.

If I were to replace upper fronts with glass, do you think just one set, several, or the whole upper bank?
PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
Andre

I could probably have gotten that off in twenty minutes...............max. Lazy? You bet.
Alicia
last year
I wouldn’t paint the cabinets.
André thanked Alicia
PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
last modified: last year
If you are on a strict budget? Do a couple things WELL. That means really well or skip it.

Do the splash over, with someone who knows what they are doing .Get hardware, and unless willing to PAY for a great pro paint job? Add the hardware and call it a day. You will want the money going forward. Trust me, you WILL.

EVERY TIME YOU TAKE the low bid guy? You get the low result. WAH. Don't spend money on a "single" thing twice. Never works.
André
Original Author
last year
Okay. I could use suggestions on the hardware

1) if I leave the hickory wood cabinets and/or

2) if I get them professionally painted Ben Moore Chantilly Lace and the island in black or dark charcoal
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JAN MOYER
last year
Decide the PAINT issue first.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
last modified: last year
Cabinets have a nice grain/texture, so I would just STAIN them if you want change the color, not paint.

And warm white wall above.
André thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
housegal200
last year
Here are some glass front configurations. You could do cabinets on each side of stove and one in middle of the back wall. To get an idea if this is workable, remove those particular doors and see how it looks. You would have to put your nicest dishes and glassware in glass cabinets as you see in these two photos. The wood stain looks great as is. A darker stain will make everything look . . . darker.
André thanked housegal200
herbflavor
last year
last modified: last year
i wouldnt change much. add hardware and get the metal tone coordinated with stools. the extra srip of 4" counter material just makes the tile fade away and look like wall .... and the 4 in strip along w long run of counter is more of that stone which is needed w all the wood .Stone and wood play off each other. I dont think more backsplash inserted would be any advantage. prop up some cutting boards..get a utensil holder or two..coffee pot..etc and you're fine. move on to hardware. here's a strip of counter and then tile above that....just not that big of a deal.....then note sometimes propping things up on counter is a great look and keeps things handy too in the 2nd pic.
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kl23
last year
Only because you asked, and I am no expert, I vote for leaving the wood as is. I love it. There… I'm opinionated.

Also, I favor living with a thing for awhile before thinking of changing it. Get to know how the light changes in the day, through all the year. Pay attention to the colors of items that stumble into your space and how they relate to the other items in the room and how they affect your mood. Try not to rush into making big expensive changes. Have you got the space furnished yet?
André thanked kl23
André
Original Author
last year
I like opinions! After seeing the visual from Celery girl with the cabinets painted or stained - I agree. Now I think I might leave the wood alone and add hardware and glass front a few uppers.

Most of my furnishings came with me but I've added a few things, mostly plants.
kl23
last year
Golly, it's lovely! Sorry..handsome! I love the ceiling even more. Some of your furniture really helps bring out the patterns in the wood. I'm glad you are leaving your cabinets as wood. It goes so nice with the ceiling. I don't think you HAVE to do anything with the doors. I guess if you really like the idea of a little more glass, you will want to decide to store only nice things behind it and not soup cans.can you show a picture with the new kitchen light? I looked at the link and liked it.
André thanked kl23
D Bee
last year
I'm normally not a fan of wood but don't paint the cabinets if you have them - these gorgeous hickory cabinets. Paint IKea cabinets, not these. Just my 2 cents.
housegal200
last year
Very nice harmonizing of furnishings and finishes. Think about using varied lighting, especially some uplighting to make the most of that great ceiling. Maybe add a twin planter to go with the one you have on the far wall. You have great windows for plants.
André thanked housegal200
PRO
lisedv
last year
Looking at your kitchen and surrounding area with white walls, natural wood ceiling and floors, white backsplash, I would go all the way with all dark grey kitchen cabinets if you want it to pop!
André thanked lisedv
cat_ky
last year
I would never paint those cabinets. They are gorgeous. IU would add hardware to them. You have a very nice kitchen. I do agree that 4 inch backsplash needs to go.
André thanked cat_ky
PRO
Beth H. :
last year
last modified: last year
instead of painting them, take a few of the panels out of the uppers and do some seeded glass. (I see you have one, do a few more) And please add some hardware

https://www.amazon.com/KOOFIZO-Flat-Square-Foot-Cabinet/dp/B08SJYKSM8/ref=sr_1_10

it will break up that entire run of wood on the uppers.

if you do the glass yourself, it's not expensive.

and yes, next time, no 4" granite backsplash piece w/the tile.
André thanked Beth H. :
Ashley
last year
I love your wood cabinets! I’m not a professional, but I’d stay away from gray anything. Your home looks very nice!!
André thanked Ashley
André
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Beth, thank you for all the visuals - and everyone else who has answered! It helps me tremendously.

Regarding the hardware, would you go with the brushed nickel or black? I'll look for some matching small round knobs to go with them. Yes, I am really kicking myself (and the tile guy who misled me) about not getting the 4" granite off, but I will correct that.

Sorry for this silly question ... How does one go about putting seeded glass in the front panels of cabinets? Lol, I really don't know where to start with that. I don't think I'm handy enough, nor do I have a circular saw, etc.
PRO
Beth H. :
last year
last modified: last year
You could do it w/a jigsaw. (borrow or rent one if you don't have one)

These are some DIY links that will walk you through it. Grab a friend w/a bit more know-how if you don't think you can manage. (or, you can always pay a pro to do it. ) DIY all you have to do is go to a glass shop and give them the measurements of the cut piece you'll need. try seeded glass. then you silicone the glass on the back and hold in place w/glass clips.

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/convert-wood-cabinet-doors-to-glass/

a few more how-to's

https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/how-to-add-glass-to-cabinet-doors/

https://providenthomedesign.com/2014/03/03/diy-glass-cabinet-door/

This one is very detailed:

https://simplyrooms.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/project-converting-cabinet-doors-to-glass/

you may need some more tools for this since you are keeping the real wood. you'll have to finish off the edges after cutting. not difficult, just another step.

for a few hundrend, you could prob get a cabinet guy to do it all for you.
André thanked Beth H. :
kl23
last year
I am leaning towards black or dark bronze hardware for your cabinets, given your other decor. But what do you think?
André thanked kl23