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ashlhod

I need kitchen help

11 years ago
Wall color, back splash and flooring ideas all welcomed. Cabinets can't be painted according to mh. I'm wanting a change after 4 years of gold. I'm wanting to go less traditional but having trouble working around the cabinets. All my inspiration kitchen pics have white cabinets. :( I wanted gray, but after painting a couple areas of it I don't think ill like it with the dark cabinets. I want to make the cabinets look less orange toned.
Thanks!

Comments (15)

  • 11 years ago
    I would paint the walls something in the white family and the ceiling molding white. Install clear glass tile backsplash and replace cabinet hardware with contemporary stainless steel pieces.
    ashlhod thanked Maureen Murphy
  • 11 years ago
    This article has some great ideas for dark wood cabinets: http://houzz.com/ideabooks/26167
    How about white countertops, a white, very light mocha or pale green paint color and a white or pale green textured backsplash?
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    Change the wall color for sure. Go light and it should lighten the room. Maybe remove the 4" backsplash and add tile?
    ashlhod thanked User
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Instead of replacing or painting these gorgeous cabinets, would replacing a few of the upper doors w/ matching clear glass ones be an option? (Or no doors at all?). Sometimes this trick opens up dark heavy looking kitchens nicely. Esp. if one or two are strategically mirror-backed. Subtle under counter lighting helps too. Your paint color is lovely but if you're unhappy, consider a lighter cooler shade seen in your countertops. This will help tone down the "warmth" of your cabinets & tie the entire kitchen together. (But I think doing this could look a little bland & much less interesting than your current color.). Also consider which direction sunlight enters the room. North & west facing rooms receive cooler light & usually look best painted warm colors. South & east facing rooms tend to receive warm glowing light much of the day. They usually look & feel cooler painted neutral &/or lighter colors.
    ashlhod thanked 2leftsocks
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    I had the same issue in a home that I remodeled in Colorado. The way to make something less "warm/orange" is to pair it with cooler tones. Your wall color is also on the warm side so a cool color - more grey would cool it down. I think I would also paint the crown the same as the wall color. One way to avoid painting cabinets is simply to remove some of the uppers and add open shelving. You can do this on one wall only. It will give the eye a rest.
    ashlhod thanked D John Design
  • 11 years ago
    Your cabinets are beautiful!!

    Maybe different lighting can help tone down the reddish orange. But here are my suggestions:

    Wall color - to tone down orange or red in the wood, look for paint colors with blue or green undertones. They will complement instead of enhancing. Try a light neutral like Benjamin Moore Manchester tan.
    Here's a pic similar to yours with dark crown moulding.

    http://houzz.com/photos/378357

    As for backsplash, try a travertine tile, neutral glass tile or creamy glass subway tile would be beautiful.
    http://houzz.com/photos/1904270
    http://houzz.com/photos/549246
    http://houzz.com/photos/40673
    ashlhod thanked Anne St J
  • 11 years ago
    I must take exception to the advice from D John and Anne. If you are wanting to tone down the red/orange, the last thing you want is to pair it with cool tones. Blue is the complement to orange; put it next to them and it will make that cabinet color pop.

    If you want to tone down the orange, stick with warm tones next to it.
  • 11 years ago
    With glass doors, a warm gray and a cool gray on the walls and splash:
    ashlhod thanked groveraxle
  • 11 years ago
    The idea that needs clarifying - do the cabinets themselves need cooling, or the entire room? Honey gold/orange tones are amplified by using it's complimentary opposite color- blue, just as groveraxle shows. Perfect example. But what is the overall effect of the cool blue-gray room itself? More cheerful, light & airy, I think? Subconsciously, this may be what is wanted. In other words, are the cabinets themselves the problem, or are they just being blamed for the overly warm atmosphere of the room? If so, I'd say a light cool neutral would be the fix. (But yes, a warm paint would blend better with the warm orangy wood tones & provide less contrast between the walls & cabinetry. But then the entire effect of the room is warm & cozy - nice, but a bit cave-like.)
  • 11 years ago
    a light sage green for the walls.
  • 11 years ago
    Hmm, I do like the warmer gray of Grover's pic. I still think a neutral like Manchester tan would be nice too. I wonder what it would look like with stainless appliances.
  • 11 years ago
    You could also paint a light color on the inside of the open cabinet.
    ashlhod thanked Anne St J
  • 11 years ago
    I want a warm feel to the room, but brighter. I am mainly wanting to tone down the traditional look. I so appreciate the advice, especially the pics with the grays on my walls (thank you, thank you!) I am leaning toward creamy walls. Navajo white, maybe? I have plans for a stainless fridge in the next year or two. The other appliances are stainless with black accents. I like the idea of a neutral backsplash. I wonder though, if I do lighter walls, backsplash, and floors, if it will look blah? I've also wondered if I should put paint or fun wallpaper in the back of those shelves and cabinets. No? Too contemporary..? For the cabinet pulls maybe the half dome shaped pulls? I also attached a back splash idea, and a pic of some floors I love but am not sure if they'll work. Let me know what y'all think!
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