Your husband has beefed up those cabinets most attractively, that looks great. Instead of mixing your wall color into white paint, I'd suggest that you find a creamy white already mixed that flatters your wall color. There's too much room for error with mixing your own, especially if you need more paint some time in the future, or for touch ups. There are several beautiful creamy whites out there, Dover White is one that comes to mind. Your wall color looks similar to SW Macadamia, what color is it?

I'm sure there are several people here who can suggest a good creamy white color that would work well with your walls. Good luck!

What is the wall color? Can you go all the way up on the same strip to the lightest color? Your DH did a great job building up the moulding! It will look awesome when it is all painted! Remember, what you see on that little chip will not look the same when painted. I say this because of a kitchen from the blog Isabella and Max Rooms. She had her cabs professionaly painted in SW Softer Tan 6141. The chip looks so much darker, yet looking at the pics, the cabs look like a beautiful soft creamy color. Her backsplash is a whiter subway tile. You would never guess that the cab paint is not a white!

Here is a link that might be useful: Isabella & Max

My cabs in my home are painted BM Linen White. They look very similar to the picture you love. I think they would also look fine with your paint color. My walls are BM Desert Tan.

Hi there!
I agree with nanny2a and her advice to not custom mix paint. This can pose many problems with matching. Also kmcg85 is right on about trusting swatch colors. The lighting is huge when it comes to any color and especially whites.

To get the look that it sounds like you are hoping for, I wonder if you would consider repainting the walls?

If so, here is a beautiful palette using whites:

Trim: Ben Moore, Baby's breath OC-62
Cabinets: Ben Moore, Ballet White OC-9
Walls: Ben Moore, Cedar Key OC-16

http://www.myperfectcolor.com/PhotoDetails.asp?ShowDESC=N&ProductCode=MPC_BM_OC-62

http://www.myperfectcolor.com/v/vspfiles/photos/MPC_BM_OC-16_Cedar-2.jpg

http://www.myperfectcolor.com/v/vspfiles/photos/MPC_BM_OC-9-2.jpg

again, lighting is paramount, so do a sample paint board to be sure and also, consider switching out lightbulbs if you feel you like the color but it's not looking right in your home. For example, try Reveal lights for a whiter light.

I would recommend adding another color in the kitchen through accessories, depending on your taste, a blue, a green, something fresh for a little interest.

In the post below, look at the 4th picture. The color in this kitchen has a yellow undertone and the color I suggested above has a more brown undertone, which I prefer, but you can see another example of blended whites.

Search the blog for a post called "getting white right" for some more help and inspiration on whites.

HAVE FUN!!

je

Here is a link that might be useful: Haute Home

My kitchen was just re-done, also starting with golden oak cabinets. We added skirt molding to the bottoms which I think made a big difference. We used Linen White on the cabinets and Coastal Fog on the walls. I really love the look. If you go to the kitchen board and search "Bestyears" you'll see it....

Is your subway tile pure white or an off-white, and is it staying? Have you held up possible cabinet and wall colors to it, if it's staying?

Your dream kitchen is gorgeous, but I see that everything in it is a creamy or light tan tone.

No advice to offer but wow, that addition to the cabinet top--genius!

nanny, I'm sure you're right. Aside from the hassle, I'd probably never be happy with a custom color. I'm just too indecisive and unsure about every little thing I try to do.
The color we have on the walls is BM Lenox Tan.

kmcg, I looked through my fan deck. And it appears most strips have a dark, to light color option. But, the one my color is on is all over the place, lol. Top is super dark, as is the bottom. The lightest on there is really beigy and doesn't even look like it belongs.
And that link you posted, BEAUTIFUL!!!!! How I wish I could achieve something even half that!

Dawn, I looked at both of those colors. The linen white is "ok" with my walls. But, I'm now realizing just how blech this whole idea is with my floors!! The lenox tan was ok in the living room, but when we carried it into the kitchen this fall. I ignored the fact it had more yellow in it, because the white baseboards broke it up. But, it looked best with the furniture in the room. But holding that linen white to the floor, it reads much more yellow. And shows all the taupe in my tile. Ugh!

vie, my first response was no, option of painting walls is out. Only because the tan works with in the living room. And afraid to go too "builder beige" with something else. Then I held up Cedar Key to floor, and the tile surround around the fireplace, and it looks like it was made for that tile! Seriously, it looks GREAT with it. Now my head is spinning away from my cabs, making me think I need to move on to my walls, LOL. My ONLY hesitation is my living room furniture is of an olive tone. Which works really well with the lenox tan. And maybe not so much with the cedar key. I'll be showing dh tonight. See what he says. Because I also love the ballet white. Although maybe not near as dark as I was thinking. I'm having to work with these stinkin' white appliances. And was hoping not to try to blend them.
And yes, both blues and greens will be brought in from the living room as accent colors :)

bestyears, I just went to your kitchen and it's gorgeous!! What a transformation.
I see you changed your floors, which darn it..makes such a huge difference. There are so many looks I want to achieve, but just can't pull off with what I'm working with :(

my3dogs, the subway is new..and white. And is staying :)
I haven't had a chance to really hold up anything other then paint chips for this new idea of "cream".

I think I'm going to have to go back to the idea of black. As stark and shocking as it'll probably be with the appliances. I'm just running out of steam, ideas, friends who will listen..LOL.

and thanks trying. I'm happy with how it came out :)

I like the beef up cabinets. That will be a big improvement. When I saw this I thought of the lovely black cabinets I had seen on The lettered cottage blog. She did the same thing with her cabinets. It looks great.

Here is a link that might be useful: The lettered cottage kitchen

thanks kden. and TLC is where we got the idea of beefing up the cabs :) :)

momto4boys - I just love the inspiration picture you posted. I'm just wondering if anyone lives near a place that carries that stove (anyone know what brand it is?) and could hold paint samples up to it. It looks like the perfect creamy white. I wonder if the manufacturer of the stove could tell you what paint color matches?

Laurie

okay, it looks like it's an Aga. You can see if there's a dealer near you just in case you want to try and match the color.

Laurie

Here is a link that might be useful: Aga dealer locator

Great job on beefing up the cabinet moulding!

Not sure if it's creamy enough for you or not, but I am using Benjamin Moore Bavarian Cream to paint my DD's furniture. I would get some smaple pots of your various choices and be sure to see how they go with both your appliances and subway tiles. Another color would be an Antique White.

Are you planning to update your lighting? I find this can also have a significant effect on the color you choose so be sure to do smaple boards and view your selections in both natural and artificial lighting.

Have you looked at SW Muslin? I used it on the trim in my MBR. It is defiantley creamy and now that I think of it, the Aga stove pic reminds me of it!

That looks great! We had no crown moulding on our cabinets. We added a stacked piece and crown moulding and it made such a difference. Now that he's into the moulding, I would like to suggest that you think about adding a light rail. We went to a lumber store (not HD or Lowe's) and found a piece of trim that worked perfectly. It cost us a total of $30 for all the trim we needed. It was extremely easy to cut and install. It really gives the cabinet a finished look.

Here's a picture of the first piece just after it was put up. I was so excited I snapped a picture of it. It's not caulked or painted. But you can get an idea.
{{!gwi}}

thanks msrose! I'm not sure if that's really the shade I should be going with. Because of my floor. And the creams I've put up against it today, make my stove look really blue :( So, I may be tossing this idea out like I do every other one. UGH!

val, the lighting is going to be changed..eventually. We have one of those horrid flourescent boxes. Which I know will REALLY make a difference in color for anything we do. Another reason we thought we'd just go with black.

kmcg, my mother actually tried that one on her walls. I'm pretty sure she still has a sample. I'll have to ask for it.

bee..that's looks awesome! And yes, we do intend to do the very thing. Also, dh bought some little "feet" to add to the lower cabinets. Now if I could get this stinkin color worked out, lol.
Thanks!

I take it your stove is a bright white then? Is your long term plan to stick with white appliances or do you plan to phase them out as well and replace with something else? Don't overlook Craigslist as an option to resell working appliances if at all you are thinking of changing them. I was able to resell all my appliances prior to my kitchen remodel.

If you like creamy white cabinets, then I think you will always regret doing the black just because it seems "simplier". I think the creamy white will be a much better match to your granite and subway tile.

If, however, you like the white appliances then I would look for a less creamy color. Many like BM Dove White (or White Dove) which I also considered. BM Cloud White is another warm white you can consider.

val, actually my hope is to be out of here in a few yrs. It was one of those "3 yr plan" kind of homes :) Bought with the intention to sell this yr, in fact. But, the market is so bad..there's no way right now.
But, I want to enjoy being here if I'm "stuck". Because the few yrs could very well turn into 10 at this rate.
So, I have to worry some about resale. I was worried about it a lot when I started making changes. Now, my give a hoot factor isn't REAL high, lol. But, I'm trying to be as neutral as possible.
We've put in the backsplash, changed out the counter. And last thing to do is paint the cabs. Buying new appliances just isn't money I want to invest in this place. Not only that, I'm not the biggest fan of SS. Especially with the tile floor. With hardwood, yes. But, changing both just isn't an option.
I also love BM dove white. But, I've been trying to come up with something that wasn't "stark" (b&w) or "sterile" (all the white of light cabs, subway, floor, appliances)

Here's another one I saw that I'm diggin' right now.

bigger pic of my kitchen,. taken before dh beefed up moulding.

and before we started making changes.

I may be getting you mixed up with someone else, but weren't you considering the white on top and grayish green on bottom at one time? I still think that would be pretty. The 2nd picture you posted on your last post reminded me of it. I also love the grayish green on top and bottom.

Laurie

Perhaps Laurie's suggestion may be the solution. Doing a grayish green on the lowers will not fight with the white appliances since you said you plan to keep them. Similar to what what done in The Lettered Cottage Blog you posted about.

I know you have been struggling with this...I certainly did when I had mine painted. I kept the door samples up for a long time. The beefed up trim looks great!

I personally love the look of mixed cabinets & think by doing your lowers a different color it will work better with your floor & appliances. I mentioned on another thread that if you were to do cream/white it might not look the best with your floor. A gray/green or even a sagey green would look great, me thinks. Maybe work with a color that resembles your grout lines & plays nicely with your sofa in the adjacent room (isn't it a sagey green?)

Smiles:)

BM Balboa Mist

First let me say thank you AGAIN for all the help everyone has given me. I'm literally sitting here in tears, because I'm exhausted over this decision. I would have had my kitchen done 2 yrs ago, if this stinkin' color decision wasn't so hard for me!
My mother hardly calls any more. My friends make excuses to get off the phone with me, all because everyone is SICK of hearing about my cabinets!! I can't sleep at night. I just run through options in my head. During the day I think light. Whites, taupes, etc. At night, the lighting has all changed, and I hate those decisions and go back to black :( :( My sweet hubby is trying to be patient, but I know he just wants it over as well!

I do love the idea of the green/gray. Re sale always stuck out in my head to be a problem. But, then I really started thinking the other day. EVERYTHING that's held me back in this space, and living room has been the stinkin' furniture. I can't replace it right now. But, I've realized the last thing I should do is paint my cabs to MATCH the suckers. If by chance, I can ditch them in a year or so. I dream of painting the entire space a beautiful blue/gray. Something like Wedgewood Gray, which we just did in the kid's bath. And I LOVE it!!! How I wish I could carry that through the rest of the house. But, those darn couches, LOL.
Anyways, I think I've decided on white dove for the top cabs. Dh is REALLY pushing for white uppers.
And I tried a sampel board of baby fawn for the lowers (kmcg..it's very similiar to balboa mist. the swatch right next to it, but a little less gray)
The baby fawn is a color I pulled out of my tile floor, so the white against it wouldn't make the floor look dirty. And so it's not just a whole lot of white.
I also had SW mix BM cedar key for me. I thought I'd repaint the whole space, kitchen and living room (yea, dh not so thrilled theree, lol) So all the tones were the same. As we have lenox tan right now in both spaces. And the taupe colors do NOT work next to that.
But, on my wall..it looks as white as the trim! I'm seeing very little color to it at all. So, going to have to re think that option.

Soo..as it stands at 10:33, central time..It's creamy white tops, some kind of taupe on the bottom.
And then tonight, my stove will look blue, I'll cry..and go back to black :)
I'll be divorced, with no real friends, internet friends, and honey oak cabs forever :( lol
Oh, and I seriously need to do something quick..cause this is what's happening to my children!!

((Hugs))

Sounds like you have made a decision. I say go for it.

I love the inspiration photos you posted. They are awesome.

Without throwing you back into tears, is there a reason you didn't want to do all the cabinets gray? I think whichever way you go, you will be so happy to be done with it.

Can you go to the store, get a sample can of each color? then paint a poster board with each color and tape them up, and move them around on the cabinets. Squint your eyes when looking and it will give you a feel on how it will look.

You are almost there. Hang in there.

I don't think you'll be sorry with the white!The baby Fawn looks to be somewhere between Cedar Key and Balboa? I like it. It is a little warmer than the others. I feel for you.
Sometimes it is sooo hard to pull the trigger. I like your choices in both colors. I think you will be pleased. So, paint sample boards and show us please. That is your homework for the weekend!

BM White Dove

BM Baby Fawn

As DH and I gear up for our own kitchen mini-remodel I will be anxiously following yours!!!! Looking good!

I actually put the color up on 3 different canvases (less floppy then poster board)
That's how I decided I like it in the day night, not so much at night.
The cedar key is sooo light. I questioned that it wasn't mixed right. But, when I dab some on the color swatch it blends right in. It's just BARELY a shade darker then the baby fawn. If I thought it was the true color, I'd use that on the lower cabs to get just that much more color.

Four of my doors are at the cabinet makers getting the middles cut out for the glass. I was suppose to call the painter to get everything today. But, I've been putting it off :( I won't get the cabs back until Monday, so guess it's NEXT wk for the painter. If I keep putting this off...surely the market will be better, and I can sell..right? :)

I have been watching your struggle, but haven't chimed in because I have no experience in choosing paint for cabinets ( would love to though!). As I read your past post I could stay away no longer!!! Why do we do this to ourselves?!!! I too have been torturing myself over a project.
You have done a wonderful job with the new change in your cabinets,paint choice,counter tops and the subway tile. Trust your gut instincts, and get what you want. Try to forget about resale ( I know- easy for me to say!)and be happy. It is not like you want to paint the cabs neon yellow! Life is short, and who knows about this crazy real estate market. You have made wonderful choices so far. I am sure the cabinets will be beautiful.
Also remember- Your cyber friends NEVER get sick of hearing about your cabinets :)

As a previous honey-oak cabinet owner and hater, I say take the risk and go for it!

When I moved in my house 2 years ago, i HATED the cabinets, abhored them and tried to paint around the honey color, I painted the walls 3 colors in 6 months. All of it seemed to still scream late 70's honey oak to me. So at least yours isn't as "honey" as mine were.

And your DH is on board! So that's the brightside. My boyfriend is one of those that thought no wood should be painted. After collecting white kitchen pics I adored for about 3 months and showing him them EVERY night, he finally gave in.

I sanded the entire kitchen myself. We also replaced all our cabinet doors, because I hated the double cathedral look of them, and had a local cabinet maker make us shaker style.

We did all the painting ourselves. My boyfriend is great at spraying, and his grandpa was a professional painter for years, so he painted the frames. Had the doors outside painting them and one of our friends backed over 7 of our cabinet doors while they were drying!!! lol

So we had to wait 3 more weeks for more cabinet doors. Then after they were painted the paint didn't match. So we have successfully painted our cabinets 2 times. We went with an acrylic base the 2nd go round and I LOVE it!

We have a satin on our cabinets, white subway tile backsplash. If you're interested I can post some before and after pics for you!

It will be well worth it to paint in the end. We also changed how ours looked. We had a soffit at the top and cut out areas above our doors and put in glass, it's unique now! And cut down an in-wall oven cabinet to make upper/lower, and added crown to all of it. So at least you already have your granite and flooring! We had 70's lineoleum in a yellow/red brick pattern, and honey oak!

My wall color is BM louisberg green, with mohave cream granite. We did replace all our appliances one by one over the last year with stainless though, and I like it much better than the white on white. But I love the clean look of a white kitchen!

Good luck!

Thank you sooo much for your kind words. Really does mean a lot to me! And you're right, I pretty much have tossed out the whole resale factor. Well, most of it :)
Like you said, I'm not doing anything TOO crazy.....yet, lol.

dana, I would love to see what you've done!!!! And I am lucky my hubby is on board. Last wk, I told him to let's forget it. Not paint. He pushed, saying I'd never be happy. And stated he's hated the cabinets since the day we moved in. Soo..paint it is :)
And that's CRAZY about your doors getting run over. Oh goodness!!!

Oh, I feel for you. It's all just so stressful, your almost there. I really like the idea of white uppers and darker green grey on the bottom.
Here is another post from Pure Style Home Blog(one of my favorites). She got rid of her uppers, but I think the white would have worked too. And she has a white stove. I think she painted her fridge and dishwasher....it's always an idea. Look thru her blog for ideas.

Take a look
Before

And After

Good luck, it will be so beautiful once your done!

Here is a link that might be useful: Pure Style Home Blog

How's it going? Any progress? I've been thinking of you!

positano, I missed your first post. I'm sorry! I love the kitchen at Pure Style Home. I remember when she had her appliance "mishap" :) In fact, I reminded my mother of that when she tried to convince me to paint mine the other day. No WAY!! lol
I do love the green lowers. But, I just don't want to lock myself in any more. Counters were green when we moved in. So, bought a couch and love seat to compliment. Now, the counters are new..and the stinkin' couch is holding me back, LOL.
Don't want to paint cabs, then get rid of the COUCH...and decide to paint the whole space bright orange :) :)

We haven't done much more. Friday we had temps of 71, Sat/Sun close to 18 inches of snow!! So, that kept us away from Lowes and Home Depot :)I did pick up the four cabinets from the cabinet maker. We had the middles cut out, and ready for glass! We've had them out for over a wk, and have LOVED the open shelving. We both wish we'd just settled for leaving the doors off. But, I'm sure we'll love it and it'll appear more "finished" once the glass is in, and they're back up. :)

Meeting the painter tomorrow! Getting his paint, and ours. And we'll start priming and painting this weekend. I THINK. I hope, lol.
I could very well chicken out before I pull into the paint store. :)

Thanks for asking!!!!

Glad to hear your ok! I can understand about the green. I have Costa Esmeralda granite and I do love it, but wish I had gone with my gut and had the matte black granite instead. Then I could have added the green in accessories.Shudda, wudda coulda. but I'm not complaining. It's still beautiful.

I bet you will love the glass cabinets,they will add a little sparkle to the room. And good luck with the painting. Don't forget to post some updates now and then.