I like the middle option

a better pic?

I wouldn't paint your cabinets either. There are some wood cabinets that just look ick, but yours are a beautiful color. Just updating your appliances to stainless will rejuvenate your kitchen. We have kitchen cabs re-painted white from previous owners and they are all starting to chip and look warn -- something not as noticeable in unpainted cabinets.

The wood floors are the same color as the cabinets. It's just too much.

I would stain the lowers with a darker color and paint only the uppers. For me another concern are : the cabinets around the fridge, the uppers in the dining area looks dated and I would remove the soffits and change backsplash too

I’m team paint but not white. It doesn’t seem right with your counters. How would you feel about going dark... like a charcoal? Or match the dark color from the counter. You just need to make sure the color you choose works with the honey floor color and warm tones of the counter.

The backsplash will be changed out as well as the appliances. I had planned on painting the island cabinets a dark color so I'm not opposed to two toned cabinets. I agree, i would like to change the cabinets above the fridge as they are super dated but I don't know what to do with them.

Yes, the cabs are dated in the dining area as well. Suggestions that don't involve replacing them entirely?

I’m with Sophie. Painting cabinets is an expensive undertaking, not one that you should take which with a kitchen that doesn’t have the ideal layout as it is. I would recommend saving your money until you can do a redo of the cabinets, countertops, and soffit.

If you do choose to paint anyway, the grays do not go with your countertops, which is warm toned. I would recommend perhaps a taupe.

I 100% agree with Kimberly Ellen. Choose a darker charcoal/brown, which will pull out the color in your countertops. Since your kitchen is open, it will handle the deeper color well. This color against the stainless appliances will be beautiful.

I’d remove that wall oven cabinet and replace it with an induction range there. Then get a new butcher block counter for the island that is in the same color daily as the cabinets. And then paint the island only a great color. You need something deep and rich to hold up to the rest of the colors.

And no gray walls. Ever.

These are the darkest colors on the paint chip that contains repose gray (the wall color). I was going to paint the island cabinets one of these.

well, in the dining area I would remove the uppers doors and use them open to store dining and serve ware. I would paint island and lowers a darker color , you can ask a custom color for it, in the SW store I use to go they make custom colors without extra charges. The uppers in the fridge just remove them

I wouldn't spend $7,000 to $9,000 painting those cabinets. The wood color is actually fine - if anything it's the door style that is problematic and you would still have the same door style - same configuration of cabinets - after sinking that money into it.

I don't follow trends so I don't care whether wood is coming in or going out :-) but I think the color of your wood is lovely and the style of the doors wouldn't be improved by painting - and would even be devalued. I would rather have a wood cabinet than a painted cabinet - however well done the paint, it's going to need more upkeep than a good wood cabinet.

Surely you have other ways to spend that money if you want to upgrade the house - or just bank it and put it towards a total kitchen renovation when the kitchen becomes older.

I'm in Kentucky so painting cabinets aren't that expensive. My quotes have been around 3500-4000. I'd rather spend that than do a 30k renovation at this time.

I understand why she want to paint it, I had the same stupid ugly oak cabinets and I painted them. I did the job, is a PITA but they look very beautiful now, and I will have them until my husband will have time to build custom ones with real beautiful wood

Sophie how did you do that?! those pics are awesome!

Thanks dyliane!!! :)

Just a note about removing soffits...you never know what you will find hidden in there, especially in a kitchen. We just finished a kitchen remodel where we removed soffits. It looks great now but it was a lot of work. Be prepared!

If you aren’t getting a 7-9K quote, you aren’t getting a cabinet finisher. You’re getting a house painter slapping on house paint. Which will not be good. You need s heck of a lot of sanding, sanding, and more sanding. And a catalyzed conversion varnish. Not house paint. Expensive.

This is what a cheap paint job ends up looking like.

Christina - I'd go with Sophie's recommendation and update the color on the island only. Your cabinets are beautiful and it would be a shame to cover them all up

following ...

More important than any color is to get that cooktop off of the island. It’s a safety hazard.

Sophie, excuse my ignorance, how is it a safety hazard?

Not enough emergency landing space to the side or rear. It’s an easy burn hazard. That’s why I said fitchbthe double oven and put in a range there.

I'm quite aware of the sanding involved. The cabinet doors are actually taken to their shop to be properly done. thank you for your pictures

I love the repose grey. I also love white cabinets. I would pick the 2nd or 3rd white color. We had Oak cabinets in our old house and I didn't like them at all. Some people really like wood and oak and that's great, but if that's not what you are into then please paint and do something you would like! Make your kitchen reflect you! I picked white uppers and dark lowers and am so happy with them!

Other options may be to remove some uppers and have open shelving or to change out some doors but keep the cabinets if you are unsure about your door fronts.

I think the price of the paint is reflective of where you live. Good luck! It's always exciting to freshen up a space!

thank you Colette! :)

Christina,

I like your kitchen! You are in a tough spot. I think white cabinets are beautiful and your ideas are lovely. You want white cabinets with a gray island and walls but the masses are telling you to rethink the space. How long do you plan to stay in this home? I have painted kitchen cabinets before and it NEVER looks as good as baked on finishes. I think if you would be willing to touch them up often you might be able to do it. But I urge you to research and prepare yourself for potential disappointment. Maybe not at first but a year into it, you might regret that the cabinets were painted because of the annoying chips, dents, scratches, wear and tear.

Do this with eyes wide open! Research all you can and find a good professional painter who understands the kind of primer and paints to use. Have you seen his work? How often does he paint kitchen cabinets? Does offer any sort of warranty?

Here are some links that can help you research your options and decide what best route to take.

Best of luck and keep us all posted on your kitchen

~boxer

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/help-need-advice-on-primer-and-paint-for-cabinets-dsvw-vd~2457953?n=24

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/can-i-use-this-as-primer-for-painting-kitchen-cabinets-dsvw-vd~4352366?n=5

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/help-disappointed-with-painted-cabinets-dsvw-vd~2444202?n=6

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/help-white-painted-cabinets-ruined-by-painter-dsvw-vd~2696226?n=36

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/painted-cabinets-turned-out-not-so-greatany-thoughts-dsvw-vd~4855989?n=31

Thank you Boxer for the kind words and the links! We just moved into the house last summer, and are planning to stay till our children are grown. We have a 6 month old and a two-year-old so we will be here at least 20 years. I'm not a big fan of the layout of the kitchen but didn't want to do a major renovation until we've been here for maybe five to eight years. Panting the cabinets was just to get us by until then. the cabinets are in pretty good shape considering.

I think the wonderful thing about paint is it does an amazing transformation. And with those children running anout with little fingers opening cabinet doors... I have an idea. Why not stain the lowers a dark color. Maybe a darker and paint the uppers white. (HOuzzers will be groaning at my suggestions) But that way the little people using the cabinets won't dirty them up as much with fingerprints etc.. And make this space a place you will enjoy with your family. Here are some before and afters to help you research and learn for your space. Whatever you do enjoy your home.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/painted-my-oak-kitchen-cabinets-white-dsvw-vd~1022375?n=73

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/low-budget-ugly-kitchen-makeover-dsvw-vd~428387?n=64

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/diy-kitchen-renovation-goodbye-honey-oak-cabinets-dsvw-vd~946682?n=25

Maybe just gel stain to a darker color and update your counters

Boxerpaint I think that's a great idea! I was planning on just having the island in the darker color but was concerned about having some white cabinets close to the floor because of my kiddos. Having more of the darker color in the kitchen I think will help tie the granite in with the cabinets. Thank you for the links!!!

That was supposed to be boxerpal not boxerpaint! I clearly have paint on my mind!

I love the look of dark on the bottom and light on the top!

White/light paint on the lowers will be a challenge to keep clean with little ones.

Ive seen numerous pros on here post over the last 6 months or so that natural wood cabinets are making a comeback. It might be worth doing some research in to it to make sure you’re not getting in at the tail end of the painted cabinet trend. Good luck with your project!

I agree with the "paint the island only" crowd. I am not a huge fan of the color of the wood you have, but it looks much better with your countertops than any of the whites would. I think changing the island color will provide enough contrast with your wood floors, and updating the backsplash and hardware will give you much more bang for your buck than painting the cabinets would. Your layout is not great and if you're going to be in the house 20+ years, saving for a full remodel that will get you a more functional kitchen would be my goal!