I'm not big on orange cabinets, there are very few color schemes that go with that and the orange really dated your kitchen. White is timeless, not a trend. It matches all appliances, black, stainless, white, and a million different color schemes and flooring choices. Any stain will be "dated" within a few years, I've seen the trends go from dark, pickled, bleached, orange, and now dark again. You chose the best solution and it looks great.

The black appliances don't go with the new white cabinets, stainless steel would be better or white. Actually I like the before better the after looks "cheap".

I agree the after looks cheap.

I think it looks great! And your future plans will make it even better. Have to do things in stages sometimes. People can be so negative on public forums. If you don't like it, too bad. Not your home. But it is someone else's, so be considerate of homeowners feelings.

Great improvement w/o a lot of cost.........nice update!!!

I think it looks great. Crisp and bright. I recently redid my kitchen and chose white for my small space renovation because we didn't want it to look like a cave. We also reno'd our kitchen downstairs and chose espresso cabinets and guess what? The fingerprints drive me crazy - so happy that's not in my main kitchen!

Slm.....when you post on a public forum, you get lots of different opinions. If you're not willing to hear them all, then you probably shouldn't be posting things on here.

White kitchens are classic, not trendy. I'm always drawn to white kitchens, I've had 3 different white kitchens in completely different styles - they're so versatile.

The kitchen above is lovely, and definitely does not look cheap. Clearly the homeowner is doing what she can, when she can. It will not be to everyone's taste, but all those calling it cheap, and giving "helpful" advice on how she SHOULD have done it, are being thoughtless and unkind and should check themselves.

Hermosa, el cambio de color le da mas luz

Nice change.. they look great!

Love it - thank you I have the same cabinets but they are bleached in that lovely 90's fashion trend kind of way - very inspiring to see how great yours look by just painting!

I'm with you, Slm. Not everyone is going to like what is shown on this forum, but people can express themselves without being rude. A darker honey colored stained HW floor would look so great in this room. Irenale, would love to see photos when you are done.

looks gr8

Irenla, This is slightly off the topic of cabinet colors, but I see you don't have a range hood over your cooktop. I'm in the process of renovating my kitchen also (painting the cabinets a vanilla color with honed carrerra marble counters and back splash, slate appliances, medium brown floors and taupe walls) and I'm debating if I need a hood over my gas range. Are you ok with not having one? btw: your kitchen looks great! I'm putting in a small sage island too.

Karen, I have a ventilation system that slides up out of the island with a push of a button, I put it up when I cook. It's like a panel about two inch wide. When it's closed/inside you only see the top of it and it looks like a 2 inch line across the back of the range. I like it more because I wouldn't want to block the view of my dining room chandelier (I really like that view).

Karen, I just found it online, it's called downdraft ventilate igo for stovetop: http://www.thermador.com/downdraft-ventilation

Irenale....ignore the nay-sayers...your kitchen does NOT look "cheap" my any means...it's gorgeous!! I love what you have done with it so far....FYI.....I am "blessed" ( NOT! ) with the EXACT SAME cabinets as yours...LOL..."Golden Oak"....not my taste at all, but circumstances at present prevent me from doing anything to change them.....and I also have all black appliances, which I love!! You have added a black towel bar to your island, which "ties in" the black and looks great!! May I make a few suggestions?? These are iMoo ( in MY opinion only )......

1.) I would look into changing out your faucet set to one with an "oil rubbed bronze" finish....it's darker tone is very upscale-looking and would blend well with your countertop...

2.) Notice in the original real estate listing photo, they have two pictures on the wall to the left of the peninsula "island" area...they are framed in black...see how they "pop" and draw your eye to them because of the contrast with the wall? Whatever you decide to put up there, if it's in a black or dark wood frame, it will "tie in" better with your appliances and rest of kitchen...

3.) You have "lightened" up your kitchen by painting cabinets white, and "softened" it with the sage green of the island, all of which are stunning!! Now you need to "zing" it with a deeper, more vibrant color, to really accent it.....lots of colors work with sage, but most noticeably a purple, vibrant teal, or shades of pink....choose a color that makes YOU happy...it IS your home...LOL...not ours!...................once you've chosen "your" color, try and find an abstract painting or print with that color in it and go from there....it's your accessories that are the "eye candy" or "jewelry" to your kitchen....simple vase with your chosen color of flowers, for example, "dresses up" the counter and ties it all in together.....

4.) Since you don't want to block any light from coming into the kitchen, but probably DO want to put some color at the windows, I would suggest hanging a curtain rod at CEILING HEIGHT over the sink window, and then adding perhaps just valance, or swags and jabot, or simple scarf treatment....in perhaps a floral pattern ( or abstract ) with the color you have chosen to highlight in the pattern....again, this would "tie it all in" for you.....

5.) Nice thing about all these suggestions, is that they are low-cost, not permanent ( except sink faucet...LOL ) and can be changed out as your mood desires or as the seasons change...

Would love to see what you decide on for the final result...please share some pics with us when you're done!! Good luck!!

Looks great :)

You did an excellent job. So much better. Very serene and clean looking.

I agree that the cabinets painted white are a HUGE improvement !! Looks great.....HOWEVER...I also agree that at least from the picture,it looks quite bland for my tastes. There's just too much white...and the black appliances stick out like a sore thumb. Can you darken the floor? I also think that an updated darker faucet would look really nice like someone else suggested. The island color barely stands out to me...rather blah...I realize that budget and time often are huge factors so I want to tell you that the hardest part is done it seems!! I would like to see a darker earthy wall color if it were me also. But do what YOU love and you can't go wrong. I've been wanting to repaint my yellowish original built in cabinets forever and I'm hoping I can find the time and take the plunge like you did. Great job!!

I like it, much more contemporary and less country. Huge improvement. I had the orange cabinets as well and they are just awful to live with. Wasn't orange always the last colour anyone ever used in the crayon box? Rarely do you see designers using orange in decorating, So good for you for getting rid of it. I like the island colour but I would consider painting it dark ebony or dark grey to tie in with the appliances until you can replace them.

that white tile is awful no matter what is around it. changing that would have made a huge difference before and even more so now. Hope you can do that soon. A pop of color over the window would help too. A shelf or valance of some type. Looks like a nice space to work in.

jujumar....did I miss something in the original post??? Why would anyone "replace the appliances" ???? Change them to what??? Stainless? Way too much work to keep fingerprints off of and will be "yesterday's fad" sooner than you think............White? that would be too much white against the cabinets......a different color? which of course would go out of style quicker than the appliance warranty...LOL.......No, the black appliances are just fine....the room has a great "softened" look to it, which is classy....a "pop" of color in easily-changed-out accessories is going to help accent this gorgeous space just fine....

Irenale, to refinish your cabinets. Did you use spray gun or brush?

Also curious about spray gun or brush. Did you take them down or do them in place? How much time did it take? Nice job.

Wow!! Great transformation! If you want to take it to the next level, I would redo the floors to a medium or darker brown hardwood (if you don't like hardwood -- Lowes, Home Depot, etc. has some GORGEOUS tile that looks like hardwood - even the new handscraped hardwood look).. IMHO that would take your lovely kitchen "over the top" and make those lovely cabinets pop!

I have a very small kitchen with the same color cabinets. I got white appliances to brighten it up and I like the "clean" classic color. My walls are a light salmon in the kitchen but I used a pale grey in most of the rooms with maybe an accent color or wall. I'm thinking of tying the kitchen into that scheme with a grey cabinet color I found called Abstract Ash (by Nuvo.) Not sure though if the counters would be better in a white/grey marble style or a black granite - the same co. that does Nuvo cabinet paint has counter paint called Giani which I've used before. Very little counter space to do - a foot on each side of the range and along the other wall with the sink. I think white is a classic color that will stand the test of time. I like darker wood, but usually in larger kitchens and if the cabinets are the right style. Hardware is a small detail that really makes a big difference. I think this kitchen looks great, clean, modern and welcoming.

The handy man I hired had a spray gun, it helped. But after we were done with the kitchen I had a little leftover paint and I did my bathroom cabinet all on my own, with a brush. Turned out the same but I it was just a small cabinet. I wouldn't do a bigger space with a brush, spray definitely saves time, but not sure if the quality differs much (if your brush is good and so is the paint). We took only the doors down, painted it in the garage.

Here is a glimpse into my bathroom, was same orange oak before. I know it needs to be replaced completely, but since it took only a few hours to paint it I decided for now it's the best temporary solution. At lest I will not have to see that orange, I couldn't stand it for some reason.

I think the kitchen looks good tho quite different in before and after.
Why are light to medium cabinets so disliked? I like wood and I like it to look like wood . It's so warm and it hides fingerprints, etc, so well. White shows wear and dirt so much sooner even tho looks so fresh when new.

I had my kitchen cabinets professionally painted once and I would never do it again. My mom and another relative - had the same experience. Eventually, the paint began to chip and you would find tiny flecks of paint! I would suggest that anyone considering painting their kitchen cabinets do their research!! I was promised that the paint would never chip...FYI. Just saying let the buyer beware.

love the painted cabinets ! try putting some colorful printed rugs down on the floors !

I think it depends on the quality of paint and the painting process but it is really easy just to retouch things with the leftover paint. My paint doesn't show fingertips, I tested for it.

I love wood myself (just not that orange oak) but wood changes color too and looks old at some point. Besides, who needs the same kitchen for ever? I'm sure in 10 years, if not in 5, I will reface the whole kitchen or may be even change the cabinets, or paint them red and say: "what was I thinking painting them white? Red is so much prettier".

My sister recently painted her light oak cabinets white and she did them herself and they look beautiful. I believe she used a foam roller. She went to a Benjamin Moore store and they advised her with the proper primer and paint to use.

Irenale...I think your bathroom is gorgeous!! For those "nay-sayers" about black appliances in the "white" kitchen, this bathroom shows how very upscale and modern the color combo of black and white and cream truly is!! Hats off to Irenale, for a job well done!! I really like the candle holder on the wall....ties everything in perfectly! You could even "pop" it with a vase of bright pink peonies, or some other "bright" flower to add just a "smidge" of color....but it's great as it is!!

We painted the builder grade cabinets in our last house as a last gasp of life. We cook a lot and they really didn't wear well but looked great with some alterations in addition to the paint. I would only do it again as the last ditch effort for cabinets.

Looks awesome! Such a good change from the orange oak. I know just how much work is involved. I did ours three years ago with BM Aura - Cloud White. It wears so well. We haven't had any chipping or scratches so far. I love how much brighter the kitchen is! Great job!

I think I might see about making the appliances white, as well. Lovely results otherwise!!!

…and - there were supposed to be two more pictures attached, but they would only come through one at a time. Oh well, you get the idea!

EXELENTE FELICIDADES

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is great for cabinets. No sanding or prep.

I think the "after" is a big improvement, and I think the black appliances are just fine, too, especially if they're functioning fine for you. We are in the middle of painting our cabinets and island as a stop-gap until we can renovate the whole thing. It's not my ideal scenario but is definitely an improvement over what's been there (dark, grainy, builder grade cabinets). We're using Benjamin Moore Advance paint (Snowfall White on cabinets and Stem Green on island), which was recommended for use on cabinets. We're applying using a combo of high quality small rollers and brushes, and it's finishing beautifully - no streaking or brush marks!

Perhaps with the light cupboards and black appliance you could, perhaps paint the island and contrast the floor. Looking good. a very dark grey or black. It would also tie in the knobs

A large scale piece with perhaps a black frame will also add some weigh to the mantle and start to tie the rooms together

You have accomplished an amazing transformation. You said you tried to tie the wall color of the other room and that is why you chose the green color for the island. Live with it awhile but I ask you to consider changing it to BM Kendal Charcoal. This color will tie the black appliances and the darker grout in the floors. It will also compliment what you have going on in the other rooms.

I am in the process of doing the same thing. I can't live with the color of my Kraftmaid pink cabinets any longer. Love my cabinets, hate the color. So it's finally time to paint. Can't wait to be finished and enjoy the results. Yours is so great looking it make me more confident that I'm doing the right thing.

Like the cabinets so much better. Everything looks great, but I would really consider a darker wood floor. It is awfully bland. Also, you might consider using only valances on your windows. Something more organic (bamboo) would look good.

I think your painted cabinets look great, and since I have the same type of cabinets in my kitchen, only older and cheaper (laminate sides), I am trying to work up the courage to do the same!
If you are thinking about changing the color of your appliances, you can take them to your local auto body shop, where you can have them painted ANY color under the sun! You could use your appliances for that pop of color in your kitchen! And since most appliances have built-in obsolescence these days, you wouldn't have to keep that color for more than another 5-10 years! The auto paint is very tough and wears well!

I agree that the painted cabinets look fantastic, a huge improvement. Some of our commenters here are thinking like designers, who envision multiple levels of renovation all at once - they're gifted that way. But many of us begin with one step of change, live with it while we save money and study the light or the juxtaposition of a bathroom wall, etc, and make plans for our next foray into the effort. Or not, as you figure it all out. The stamp of success is entirely with your family's enjoyment of the space. Literally, nothing else matters at all.

Looks Great!

Great work!