Before and After: 3 Kitchens With Gorgeous Dark Green Cabinets
Cabinetry painted in rich shades of green adds life to these stylishly remodeled kitchens
Bryan Anthony
June 21, 2021
Dark green cabinets can bring earthiness and elegance to your kitchen. Less stark than black but not too bright, cabinets in shades of forest green and emerald provide the perfect balance for homeowners who want to add a little color to their kitchen, but not too much.
Check out the before-and-after photos of these three kitchen makeovers with gorgeous dark green cabinets. Then let us know if you’d go for the green in your own kitchen remodel.
Check out the before-and-after photos of these three kitchen makeovers with gorgeous dark green cabinets. Then let us know if you’d go for the green in your own kitchen remodel.
1. Brighter, Lighter and Green
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Bobby Clifton, Susan Frockt and their two golden retrievers
Location: The historic Cherokee Triangle neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky
Size: 136 square feet (13 square meters) with new bar
Designers: Mary Culbertson and Susan Haggblom of Centered Interiors
Builder: Redsmith Construction
Before: This historic home had lots of great architectural details, but the aging building also came with a closed-off kitchen that needed a serious update for the homeowners, who love to cook and entertain. The couple brought in designer Mary Culbertson and Susan Haggblom to brighten up their kitchen with a face-lift.
The existing kitchen felt cramped, closed off and dark. The black-and-white marble tile floor, laminate countertops and low-hanging gray upper cabinets had seen better days. The couple also disliked the white drop-in double-bowl sink, the lip of which they found difficult to keep clean.
Also notice how the existing microwave hung low over the range. “There was definitely not enough room for two cooks in this kitchen,” Culbertson says.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Bobby Clifton, Susan Frockt and their two golden retrievers
Location: The historic Cherokee Triangle neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky
Size: 136 square feet (13 square meters) with new bar
Designers: Mary Culbertson and Susan Haggblom of Centered Interiors
Builder: Redsmith Construction
Before: This historic home had lots of great architectural details, but the aging building also came with a closed-off kitchen that needed a serious update for the homeowners, who love to cook and entertain. The couple brought in designer Mary Culbertson and Susan Haggblom to brighten up their kitchen with a face-lift.
The existing kitchen felt cramped, closed off and dark. The black-and-white marble tile floor, laminate countertops and low-hanging gray upper cabinets had seen better days. The couple also disliked the white drop-in double-bowl sink, the lip of which they found difficult to keep clean.
Also notice how the existing microwave hung low over the range. “There was definitely not enough room for two cooks in this kitchen,” Culbertson says.
After: The new undermount single-bowl composite sink has clean lines and a large basin that fits pots and baking dishes. The designers moved the microwave from above the range to under the counter in the new bar. A new custom range hood wrapped in wood adds a sophisticated touch.
The color of the new cabinets (Foxhall Green by Sherwin-Williams) coordinates with touches of green found in the slabs of polished Calacatta Taupe quartzite used for the countertops and backsplash. “[The couple] wanted to keep the budget down, but every time we went to look at slabs their eyes kept going to the quartzite,” Culbertson says. “This was the thing we could design everything around. It’s just stunning.”
The color of the new cabinets (Foxhall Green by Sherwin-Williams) coordinates with touches of green found in the slabs of polished Calacatta Taupe quartzite used for the countertops and backsplash. “[The couple] wanted to keep the budget down, but every time we went to look at slabs their eyes kept going to the quartzite,” Culbertson says. “This was the thing we could design everything around. It’s just stunning.”
The designers removed a wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room, from which this photograph was taken. This design move helped bring sunlight into the kitchen from a window in the dining room.
“They have some nice greenery outside the kitchen you see all year around, so we wanted to bring that green into the kitchen,” Culbertson says.
The inviting bar, with a trio of leather stools, now sits between the two rooms, where guests can hang out while the couple prepare meals.
Shop for counter stools on Houzz
Read more about this kitchen remodel
“They have some nice greenery outside the kitchen you see all year around, so we wanted to bring that green into the kitchen,” Culbertson says.
The inviting bar, with a trio of leather stools, now sits between the two rooms, where guests can hang out while the couple prepare meals.
Shop for counter stools on Houzz
Read more about this kitchen remodel
2. Fresh Forest Feel
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Michael Robin, Carlin Thomas and their young son
Location: Oakland, California
Size: 202 square feet (19 square meters)
Design-build firm: HDR Remodeling
Architect: Milton Tong
Before: Homeowners Michael Robin and Carlin Thomas purchased their 1920s Mediterranean Revival home knowing that it needed structural repairs and a makeover for modern living. The couple found HDR Remodeling on Houzz and worked with the design-build firm to remove the wall between the kitchen and dining room and incorporate the porch into the layout, gaining more square footage and creating a roomier layout.
In the “before” photo, the white door with glass panels led to a small porch that separated the kitchen from the backyard. A nook and pantry area with storage cabinets and a garden window in the back right corner sat by a door that opened to an awkward staircase to the lower level. The confusing kitchen lacked good flow and felt disconnected from the rest of the home.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Michael Robin, Carlin Thomas and their young son
Location: Oakland, California
Size: 202 square feet (19 square meters)
Design-build firm: HDR Remodeling
Architect: Milton Tong
Before: Homeowners Michael Robin and Carlin Thomas purchased their 1920s Mediterranean Revival home knowing that it needed structural repairs and a makeover for modern living. The couple found HDR Remodeling on Houzz and worked with the design-build firm to remove the wall between the kitchen and dining room and incorporate the porch into the layout, gaining more square footage and creating a roomier layout.
In the “before” photo, the white door with glass panels led to a small porch that separated the kitchen from the backyard. A nook and pantry area with storage cabinets and a garden window in the back right corner sat by a door that opened to an awkward staircase to the lower level. The confusing kitchen lacked good flow and felt disconnected from the rest of the home.
After: The remodeling team took the kitchen down to the studs, incorporated the porch and removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room, all of which helped add 32 square feet to the kitchen.
The open kitchen now has a fresh, light-filled forest feel with lots of wood and dark green Shaker-style cabinets (Studio Green by Farrow & Ball). “Studio Green was the very first choice we made for the kitchen,” Thomas says. “I’m in love with that color and love how it changes with the light.”
The expanded footprint allowed for a large custom island with a walnut base that offsets the green cabinets. The countertops are marble-look sintered stone. The distressed black chandelier is from Houzz.
The open kitchen now has a fresh, light-filled forest feel with lots of wood and dark green Shaker-style cabinets (Studio Green by Farrow & Ball). “Studio Green was the very first choice we made for the kitchen,” Thomas says. “I’m in love with that color and love how it changes with the light.”
The expanded footprint allowed for a large custom island with a walnut base that offsets the green cabinets. The countertops are marble-look sintered stone. The distressed black chandelier is from Houzz.
Incorporating the porch to expand the kitchen made room for a hardworking pantry wall with cabinets and floating wood shelves. The tall cabinets have doors that open and slide into the cabinets to save space. “This area became a nice coffee nook,” Thomas says.
The floating shelves made of monkeypod were handcrafted by Thomas’ brother Brian, an arborist and woodworker in Hawaii. A slim window above the shelves replaced a larger window that looked into a neighbor’s kitchen. “It was so awkward,” Thomas says.
New white oak floors were stained to match the wood floors in the rest of the home.
Read more about this kitchen remodel
The floating shelves made of monkeypod were handcrafted by Thomas’ brother Brian, an arborist and woodworker in Hawaii. A slim window above the shelves replaced a larger window that looked into a neighbor’s kitchen. “It was so awkward,” Thomas says.
New white oak floors were stained to match the wood floors in the rest of the home.
Read more about this kitchen remodel
Before Photo
3. Emerald Excellence
Kitchen of the Week
Who lives here: A couple and their two kids
Location: Seattle
Size: 282 square feet (26 square meters)
Designer: Jennifer Kowalski of Six Walls
Builder: Potter Construction
Before: This Seattle family of four loves to cook together and entertain, but their cramped U-shaped kitchen made doing so a challenge. So they brought in designer Jennifer Kowalski to reimagine the space.
The former cream-toned kitchen didn’t make good use of the available square footage. There was a lot more space to the right and in front of this work area. “The workspace only took up about half the square footage available in the kitchen,” Kowalski says. “It made it difficult for more than one person to work efficiently in the space. But more importantly, it left the cooks cut off from the rest of the family and their guests.”
A wall to the right of the photo separated the kitchen from the dining room.
Kitchen of the Week
Who lives here: A couple and their two kids
Location: Seattle
Size: 282 square feet (26 square meters)
Designer: Jennifer Kowalski of Six Walls
Builder: Potter Construction
Before: This Seattle family of four loves to cook together and entertain, but their cramped U-shaped kitchen made doing so a challenge. So they brought in designer Jennifer Kowalski to reimagine the space.
The former cream-toned kitchen didn’t make good use of the available square footage. There was a lot more space to the right and in front of this work area. “The workspace only took up about half the square footage available in the kitchen,” Kowalski says. “It made it difficult for more than one person to work efficiently in the space. But more importantly, it left the cooks cut off from the rest of the family and their guests.”
A wall to the right of the photo separated the kitchen from the dining room.
After: Kowalski devised a new layout with a large central island that doesn’t restrict the flow of traffic. The walnut island, which measures about 9 by 4 feet, houses a microwave drawer, trash and recycling bins, cutlery inserts, utensil organizers and deep drawers for nesting bowls and platters.
The design team proposed a deep emerald green for the cabinets (Essex Green by Benjamin Moore) that pairs well with the warm wood island. The transitional look is an updated take on Craftsman style. Nods to the historic look include the handcrafted island, the cabinet hardware, the apron-front sink, the oak floors and the tumbled backsplash tile with a handmade look.
Updated touches include the sleek quartz countertops, the contemporary light fixtures, the elongated subway tiles and the stainless steel vent hood.
The wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room was removed, creating an open feel and drawing in more natural light.
The design team proposed a deep emerald green for the cabinets (Essex Green by Benjamin Moore) that pairs well with the warm wood island. The transitional look is an updated take on Craftsman style. Nods to the historic look include the handcrafted island, the cabinet hardware, the apron-front sink, the oak floors and the tumbled backsplash tile with a handmade look.
Updated touches include the sleek quartz countertops, the contemporary light fixtures, the elongated subway tiles and the stainless steel vent hood.
The wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room was removed, creating an open feel and drawing in more natural light.
All the food is stored on the far wall in pantry cabinets. Matching panel fronts camouflage the fridge, located on the right side of this storage wall. A big part of the project was designing cabinetry that would maximize storage and keep things organized. On the right side of the photo, a countertop cabinet nods to Craftsman kitchen style.
Read more about this kitchen remodel
More on Houzz
Before and After: 4 Dreamy White-and-Wood Kitchens
Find a kitchen designer
Shop for kitchen appliances
Read more about this kitchen remodel
More on Houzz
Before and After: 4 Dreamy White-and-Wood Kitchens
Find a kitchen designer
Shop for kitchen appliances
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I notice that green cabinets always seem to be paired with white walls and countertops along with natural wood in these Houzz articles. I wonder how else you could use green with other colors. Would dark green cabinets and pale green walls be too much green in a kitchen? Or maybe dark green cabinets (I was thinking the emerald shades) with yellow? My kitchen is buttery yellow.
I’ve always had green somewhere in all of our homes and now that we’re in our open floor plan condo and petit kitchen to boot, I can’t wait into we can do green cabinetry in there.
Everyone is we know is a but nervous about to but they felt the same way when we did black, gray and red kitchens also years ago. Once those things became trendy then everyone was in board.
So we should do what we love and not worry about the trends.
Does anyone know which brand makes the Eucalyptus Green paint? I found Eucalyptus Wreath by Behr, but it looks very light.