I don't have any photos, but I have used wallpaper in glass cabinets, just against the back. If you staple it at the corners/edges, you can easily replace it. I like to have it so it picks up the pattern maybe used in the room, or an adjacent room.

I am thinking of either painting or wallpapering the back of where I have a recessed area of stainless shelving. i think it's a great way to add a pop of color or pattern without making a big commitment.

What is the surface inside the cabinets now -- painted wood? Melamine? Other...? Wondering about prep needed for paint vs. fabric/wallpaper etc.

I'm drawn to the look of the interior of glass-front cabinets on colored walls matching/coordinating with the wall; it gives them less "weight". In your case, with the white beadboard below, it could make them stand out quite a bit (i.e., more "weight" than you might want), depending on the color chosen. Of course, you could always paint the beadboard, too.

Is it possible that the whiteness of the outdoors right now is contributing to your color craving? You might want to live with the current setup through greener and hotter times of year before taking any steps...

I love your kitchen; the photo above is one I saved to my inspiration file when I started kitchen dreaming. Will look for some images of colored-inside glassfronts and post.

Just re-read the OP and noticed I'd overlooked that you've already lived with the kitchen a year, so scratch my comments on waiting for summer.

Are you thinking about echoing the warm, dark colors of the brick/floor/rug? Or the cooler dark color of the next room (which I love)?

No pics, but this would be a very easy test run, with colored paper for the paint, or wallpaper. A little tape would not leave a mark. You might even find you leave it there for months -- it could be a semi-permanent solution, if the idea of painting really freaks you out.

I think a painted back would look great. It softens the light and can dramatically change the look. It also looks like you have pretty neutral things on the shelves. Part of the fun of color is playing colors off one another, adding some colorful objects to make a pleasing arrangement.

I also dislike the way all the little holes look. I had my carpenter only drill holes exactly where the shelves would go. Another nice thing about custom!

Don't be apologetic for wanting to tweak/play. It doesn't mean you did anything wrong! Tastes evolve. Styles evolve. Your kitchen can evolve too.

Adding a little color, and introducing the possibility of changing the color or pattern down the line to suit evolving tastes and styles frees you.

Enjoy the freedom!

Here's an example of white cabinets with dark interior, in this case matching the wall they're on.

[The above is a photo from a finished kitchen that was posted in the forum and/or FKB in 2008 or 2009 -- I didn't adequately label them by source/poster. Someone here may recognize it and if so I welcome ID; I'd rather link to the forum or FKB version.]

oooh, ellabee thanks for the pic... that color makes me want to paint my kitchen! which is not going to happen, we've painted it 4 times already - the first we did before the cabs were installed, then once we installed we hated the color (a very light yellow/cream), then we painted it a very safe tan, and it was horribly boring, then I tried glazing over that tan - hated that, then ended up with this current color. I've now lived with it for a year now and I'm happy with it. But, yes, I'd like to go with a warm dark to tie in the brick/floor/rug, maybe a dark gray/charcoal, or a very deep barn red/brown???

Oh, and I don't know what the surface is, but it's not wood (they're ikea). but i've had recent experience with a primer called bin and i have no doubt it would adhere -- and it's not like that surface in there would get any wear and tear. And I was thinking of doing something like ralph lauren's suede finish really super flat to give it more texture and depth.

Growlery, I do have VERY neutral things in there... bordering on too neutral! The cabs over my toaster area are nearly all clear glass, my hutch is not much different. I recently put my cookbooks in the hutch area and all of a sudden I loved how much more interesting that one shelf was! So that's kind of what giving me the pang to paint!!

And ultimately, paint is paint, right? I can paint back if I don't like, right?!

Yes, you can paint it back.

Says growlery, confessed serial painter.

And because it's the back of the flippin' cabinet, which has things in it, I say it's a DIY. You could even put your largest, most interesting vase in front of any possible goof.

Go to a good neighborhood paint store. They'll help you figure out what will adhere, and what will complement your floor. They have books and color wheels and other aids that can narrow the field for you. There's actually some weird science to it.

And I like the matte/suede idea. But then I think everything should either be high gloss or matte -- nothing in between!

It's a great kitchen to start with. Good luck!

You can also use 1/8 wood skins. We used them at Peacock when we wanted to change the species of the interior of cabinets.

Another serial painter here...the inside of the glass doors on our C2 Fez (chili pepper red) hutch have been Fez, then yellow, now are purple and are soon to be either BM Medevil Times (sort of an acid green) or done up in some patterned kinda, sorta cloth contact paper I got somewhere that's a red, hot pink, yellow and acid green tapestry print. Great suggestion on stapling, beekeeperswife, I think I will try that, I was thinking of using Quake Hold (or whatever that stuff is called), but stapling is a better idea.

momof3kids pa, your kitchen is lovely, and I think adding color to the inside of the cabs is a great idea, you could even paint a bunch of different colors (depending on your tolerance for such wildness in your kitch).

Good luck-

sandyponder

momof3kids, How nice to see your kitchen again! :) It was always one of my favorites with that exposed brick wall.

I too wonder about changing what is IN your cabinets first to more colorful items? OR even stacks of white crockery. We only have one glass front and the first thing I put there was clear wine glasses. They disappeared! Took them out and put in crockery, a big soup toureen on top for one. A more colorful, cottagy look was better for mine. In fact, its also a new spot for Christmas ornaments. I put an ornament on each shelf up by the window (in varied spots) and stuck them to the shelf with double sided tape.

Try teapots and all sorts of stacks of bowls, even large mixing bowls. See how it looks.

Love the idea of the wood skins - you could change at will! Why not paint some posterboard and tape it back there and see what you think? I am very visual so I have to do things like that!

I have also seen glass front cabinets with mirror on the back. You can get the glass shop to make your mirror look old (will be more crackly and splotchy) so it is not so sleek looking. Adds a little color without being too colorful!

You can easily put fabric on the backs of the cabs with starch. The fabric sticks really well, but peels off easily when you're ready for a change. A wet sponge and you're back to just white. A lightweight fabric will stick with just spray starch. A heavier one will need to be dipped in liquid starch then gently squeezed out. A heavier fabric will need you to hang onto it or brace it until it starts to dry. A light weight one is pretty much good to go as soon as you put it on the surface you're sticking it to.

I covered one of DS1's walls with felt when he was little. It was a hills, mountains, etc. scene which was ever changing because we used it as a giant felt board.

You can find really fun fabrics in the red tag section at JoAnn's or other fabric stores for $1-$2/yd and starch costs next to nothing.

I am very interested to see what you end up doing- I am starting my IKEA kitchen remodel this month, and I have been planning to do something with the backs of my glass cabinets, but I hadn't decided what yet. I considered putting beadboard, or fabric with nailheads on the edges (I have a thing for nailheads). I am painting my cabinet doors a neutral color, so I am not really sure what to do with the side of the cabinets. If you find a paint that will stick to the melamine interiors I would be thrilled! Then I could paint the sides as well so it would blend in more.

Looking forward to see what you do!

question, laxsupermom-will starch damage or stick to varnished wood cabinet interiors?

cotehele - I don't think so, but I don't know for sure. I've only used it on walls, but those wiped up perfectly. I'd have to imagine that if it can leave a regular painted wall with no damage, that varnished wood would also be fine. It's the ultimate in temporary treatment, recommended to renters who can't paint as a way to add color to their environment. Stays up until you pull it down and then wipes clean with a sponge.

any idea if this would work for wallpaper or regular paper as well?

hmmm, the starch fabric does sound like a great idea, but I think, for me, it might be more difficult getting it straight and smooth etc.

and, although the wood skins also sound like a great idea, it would not work for me because my glass shelves would no longer fit inside.

I think I'll paint... so any thoughts on color? A dark barn red/brown... charcoal... a burnt umberish to blend in the butcherblock???? Looks like I'm off to gather some paint swatches!! (oh, and "serial painter"... did I mention I painted my kitchen 4 times!?! I've definately drank THAT kool aid!)

amberly, will keep you posted. I'm really looking forward to your kitchen! I love where you're going with it.