Kitchen

9 years ago

I live in hot and humid Houston, and my kitchen is on the west side of the house, with front window looking out south. Our driveway, and our neighbor's are on the west of the house. The kitchen gets hot!

Currently, I have medium oak cabinests (installed new 21 years ago), a brown floor (peel and stick vinyl tile), muted yellow paint on the walls, beige formica countertops and backsplash and soft white trim. House is traditional style. We are plannng to do some updating, but our funds are limited for now.

The heat in this room can really be a problem during our long summers.

My thoughts: I'd like to darken the cabinets to an espresso finish (we'd do this), get new flooring (professionally installed), white subway tile for backsplash (maybe diy), some sort of white-ish countertops (professionally done), and paint the walls a blue, either light or mid blue (diy).

I really love white cabinets, but I don't think we are up to doing that ourselves (and having it look good), so I think dark lightened up with the tile and countertops will work.

Thoughts? Flooring suggestions? Color suggestions for the blue paint? Countertop suggestions?

BTW, we have three active kids (two in college, but home in summer), a large dog, and two cats.

Featured Answer

Natalie

9 years ago

Hi---porcelain tile for the floor, backsplash white subway tile, quartz counters, soft gray walls, and BLUE cabs. :)

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Comments (8)

PRO
River Valley Cabinet Works
9 years ago
Does the heat in the kitchen have anything to do with your dilemma?
leahintexas
Original Author
9 years ago
Well, yes, I would like to have the kitchen feel cooler! So wondering about colors, etc. Open to other ideas for keeping it cool, too.
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PRO
River Valley Cabinet Works
9 years ago
Ooookay...I'm having a little trouble connecting how your cabinet colors have anything to do with the heat, unless you have a wall of windows with which to contend.
leahintexas
Original Author
9 years ago
Understandably!

I am thinking the blue paint on the walls will help the space feel cooler. Not the cabinet color.

I guess my dilemma is I want to cool the room down by using a blue on the walls, and I am wondering if the other things I have suggested will go with the blue. I want to update the cabinets, but we will have to do it ourselves. I don't trust us to do white, so I think espresso, but open to suggestions. I'm having a hard time visualizing dark cabinets, light countertop and backsplash, and blue walls.

I've also wondered if we could put more insulation in the west wall, which is where the oven, stovetop, and cabinets are. I don't know if it is possible to add anything now. Without a huge expense, that is.

Going to try to get a photo uploaded.
leahintexas
Original Author
9 years ago
I should say, I am thinking blue will work psychologically and make the room seem cooler, not literally make the room cooler!
PRO
River Valley Cabinet Works
9 years ago
Now it's making more sense! You are going for emotional cool, not physical cool per se.
leahintexas thanked River Valley Cabinet Works
leahintexas
Original Author
9 years ago
River Valley Cabinet Works -- Yes!
Natalie -- Interesting! I am going to seriously consider your suggestions! I was thinking a wood floor, but porcelain makes a lot of sense. Like the other suggestions, too! Thank you!

Here are photos. The long counter with oven, microwave and stovetop is on the west wall. Window faces south.