Help with kitchen wall color selection

16 years ago

After two months of planning and going back and forth with my kitchen designer, we decided on cabinet color/style and countertop - the major things. The demo day is set to be on Oct 18, but I still have to pick the backsplash and wall color. I know there will be a few weeks before backsplash installed or wall painted, but the contract states that I need to have these materials on site when the project starts otherwise a fee will be charged. I feel rushed, so here I am, looking for help/advise. The cabinet color is shown below (a photo downloaded from cabinet maker's site, and it is exact the same color/style I am getting for my kitchen):

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The countertop we decided on is Corian's witch hazel: I like the marble-like look, but don't want real marble because of the high maintainance. Our kids strongly against granite or other nature stone countertops because they get cold during winter (we have long winter).

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A kitchen with witch hazel countertop from DuPond's site:

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We haven't decided on backsplash yet, but I am leaning toward American Olean's Legacy glass 2x4 subway tile. Here is the color (willow) I am thinking about:

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I have picked a sample, and the real tile is more bright with ligher color than the one shown on screen. I don't know what wall color goes well with it. I want some color warm and also light up the kitchen a bit. Please give me suggestions.

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Comments (7)

dianalo
16 years ago
I'd go with a green tone paint because your tile is otherwise the only green in the kitchen. The paint would tie it in. You can do a pale tone to let the tiles take the front stage.
txpepper
16 years ago
You might check out the Finished Kitchen Blog: http://finishedkitchensslideshow.blogspot.com/

There is a kitchen about twelve slides in that has a green colored backspash: AmySRQ

If you have time, you might run through the slides. I'm doing it now for the first time. There are some great looking kitchens.

Pepper

Here is a link that might be useful: The Finished Kitchen Blog slideshow
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txpepper
16 years ago
Another avenue....if you have a Sherwin Williams or BenMoore store in your area, and you have a piece of the backsplash tile in hand, you might take it to the store and have them do a color match to the tile and then go several shades up the strip for your paint.

Or...

Have the store's designer make some color suggestions going in a different direction if you are feeling adventurous.

Your KD didn't give you some input???

Pepper
kathec
16 years ago
Which direction does your kitchen face? How much natural vs artificial light? Will the light mainly be flourescent or incandescent, LED, halogen? Does your kitchen feel cool or warm?

All of these will affect how you perceive the color in your space. Also, besides the hard surfaces, what is your inspiration? What are you taking cues from? A picture, a fabric, art?

Consider adjacent spaces. Does the kitchen stand alone, or is it open to another room (besides a breakfast nook)? Does it share a wall?

Maybe take pictures of your existing space. If you have a cabinet sample, counter sample, floor and backsplash tile sample in that space it would help too.

If you're still not sure I would say pick something neutral such as an off white, like BM Powder Sand. Something like this can be livable for a while. This way you don't hold up construction while you struggle to decide on a color. This is of course assuming that you don't have crazy high ceilings and painting is DIY-able.

Doonies kitchen has light, vanilla-ish walls and cherry cabs. I'll post the link as a single picture doesn't do it justice.

Here is a link that might be useful: Doonies kitchen
boxerpups
16 years ago
I am thinking greens too....

How about one of these?

Cooking Apple by Farrow and Ball

Jalapeno Pepper Benjamin Moore

Golden Delicious Benjamin Moore

Cedar Grove Benjamin Moore

Grass Cloth by Behr

Celedon Green Ground by Farrow and Ball

Okay, Okay so green is not your thing.. I was drawn to
green because of your backsplash tile. What about this?

Golden Straw BM

I love Red
and Morrocan Red by BM is gorgeous in any room
smilieme
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you all for providing me ideas.

Okay, now I think I should work the other way around: pick up a wall color first, then decide what color of backsplash would highlight the kitchen. My current kitchen has white cabinet, and dark-greenish-grey wall color. The new cabinet will be maple in cherry finish, and that's why I would like to pick up a lighter color so I won't feel so dark when new cabinets are in. I like modern and contemporary design, and also want the color be warm (yellowish, creamy, etc). I have oak wood floor which is light yellowish, and the curtains at the breakfast area are also yellowish oak wood curtains. I realized that for some reason the tile color shown above is different from the real color, and has more green in it on the screen.

txpepper, thank for the Finished Kitchen link. It's very helpful. kathec, I like the Doonies kitchen, and will try the vanilla-ish color. boxerpups, thanks for all those wonderful colors. I like them all (and that's why so hard for me to decide), especially the red. I have it in my family room! I probably want to try the BM golden straw in hte kitchen.
doonie
16 years ago
smilieme, The color in my kitchen is BM Windham Cream with Linen White Trim. The ceiling in the main portion is BM Vanilla Ice Cream.

Straw is a great color! Vellum is also a good similar color. I nearly selected Straw for the kitchen, but decided to stay more neutral with the Windham Cream, which reads very very soft yellow. It also allowed me to go with the BM Peanut Shell in my adjacent dining room and keep my great room red. (It gets complicated with color and open floor plans!)

Good luck to you! I'm excited to see another cherry kitchen!