Need help with kitchen renovation

11 years ago

We are renovating our kitchen and mud room. So far have replaced the laminate countertops with bianco Romano granite, new sink and faucet, added grey subway tile backsplash and installed led kitchen lighting, two cylinder pendants, some recessed lights and some round glass flush mount lights. Still to go flooring, painting and new cabinet hardware. We are keeping our oak cabinets! Looking at the Armstrong 16 x 16 alterna Mesa stone tile and Ben Moore Wedgwood gray paint for walls. Should I change the cabinet hardware to oil rubbed bronze or satin finish nickel hardware. Or should I leave what is currently there? Thank you in advance for your suggestions!

Featured Answer

jhmarie

11 years ago

It may be 2015, but the majority of people cannot afford to change out expensive home surfaces that are in good shape due to the design world's trends. The college fund and 401K come first - if there is even the money for that. Professional paint jobs are expensive and I've seen many badly painted cabinets lately - making it necessary to replace. Painted oak cabinets look like painted oak cabinets, not like a new kitchen. Some may prefer painted, others do not. Thank goodness not all our kitchens look alike!

Wood is natural and lovely. "Dated" is used to make people feel badly about their perfectly fine, house appropriate surfaces so they go out and buy new - it's marketing. I am all for being a rebel, bucking trends and designing for what you like and finding a way to make what you have work - better for the environment and better for the pocket book.

I would buy an inexpensive sample of each of the two pulls you are considering and see which you like best.

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Comments (11)

pattinurse
Original Author
11 years ago
Also will be removing the wavy piece over the sink
intown123
11 years ago
I have seen People comment that orb can tone down the orange of the cabinets but I think I would go with a satin nickel to tie in your faucet. Make sure your gray paint works well with the cabinets. If it's too cool it may look off. I like grey but I notice that as it's become very popular people are using it in spaces where it doesn't quite work. I am not familiar with the particular color you mentioned but Just something to keep in mind.
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Maraly Wagner
11 years ago
How about getting rid of that wood over the cabinets and using some crown molding? And yes, the wavy piece should go. It dates your kitchen.
Chantal M
11 years ago
Benjamin Moore makes a decent cabinet paint called waterborne.
Perhaps take a look at sample called Gray Owl and prime and paint cabinets(satin).

That natural oak is dating the kitchen.

Remember people, we are in 2015 here!
grapefruit1_ar
11 years ago
I agree with Intown! Gray can ruin your look very quickly. I would remove that white blind.
pattinurse
Original Author
11 years ago
This is Wedgwood grey
Sherry Hougard
11 years ago
I agree with jhmarie. If changing cabinets is not in the plan, changing the knobs to match your faucets, etc. is a great "update". I would be very careful with using "modern" color paints with the oak cabinets. Removing the older knobs and the wood accent over sink, as well as reframing some of the artwork in the dining area with a uniform material...maybe doing seat cushions for the dining chairs and barstools that match will give a pulled together look. Your countertops are gorgeous!
PRO
Camano Custom Cabinets
11 years ago
This is a good article on cabinet knobs that might be helpful. [https://www.houzz.com/magazine/get-a-grip-on-kitchen-cabinets-with-the-right-knobs-and-pulls-stsetivw-vs~27372883[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/get-a-grip-on-kitchen-cabinets-with-the-right-knobs-and-pulls-stsetivw-vs~27372883) . Looking through Houzz at natural oak cabinets might help you determine what knobs look good with the natural oak. Your eye will be drawn to the white or nickel knob vs. the oil rubbed bronze will fade more into the background. Picking up a few different knobs and trying them on the cabinets is something a lot of our customers do and really helps.
Chantal M
11 years ago
Love the wedge wood grey pattinurse!

You can find very affordable and stylish nobs from Ikea. (Nobs or pulls)

Re: affordability, if she spent $3.5k plus on that granite, a gallon of good quality self-levelling cabinet paint will run her $70 bucks plus brushes and rollers and painters tape. I have painted cabinets with the BM waterborne and it's excellent. Of course, that was after I washed the cabinets with tsp, then I used bin primer in a spray can, followed by the waterborne paint.

What's Great about oak is when it's painted, the grain and texture remains, and it's quite beautiful.

Have a great day ladies! Xo
potchiemagoodleberry
11 years ago
i too have wedgewood gray kitchen walls and oak cabinets. :) since you have silver toned lighting fixtures and faucet, i'd definitely go with brushed nickel cabinetry pulls. and consider using vintage looking bin bull style handles, rather than knobs to give them a whole new look. would you consider the additional project of painting all your trim white? it's really an instant update, is a room brightener and it will break up all the wood.