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niane_mcmillan

Paint the kitchen cabinets?

8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

The kitchen connects to a small den with a bayed area. Should I paint my cabinets. There is golden oak all over my house. If I paint these do I change them all?

My Current House · More Info

Comments (21)

  • 8 years ago

    Sure, you can paint the cabinets. Have it done by a pro unless you are willing to do meticulous prep and multiple coats. Don’t understand the rest of the question or significance of the den.

    Niane McMillan thanked Saypoint zone 6 CT
  • 8 years ago

    While I like white kitchens, I really did not want one, and I have not seen a "previously finished cabinet that was then painted" paint job last more than 5 years - though some have posted here that they have lasted longer. When I go to open houses, they look worn - perhaps just not done well - but I see it a lot.

    I have a vintage / cottage style:

    https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042

    Since you have lots of counter space, consider replacing the over the range microwave with a stainless hood - if you have some tile left from the backsplash.

    Although not the style of my cabinets, warm wood cabinets are popular again and kitchen designers are seeing a resurgence of people asking for stained cabinets.

    Niane McMillan thanked jhmarie
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Can they be re-stained in a more attractive finish? Like a warm medium toned wood instead of the orange--y natural color?

    Niane McMillan thanked Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
  • PRO
    8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Whether you do or do not? Remove all the cabinet top clutter and faux greenery, the magnets from the fridge which would be best in stainless. Consider if you love the flooring and transition to carpet in adjacent family room and consider if you love the layout.

    The paint question will have a fifty fifty split of answers and only you can decide. After all above :) is taken into consideration.

    Niane McMillan thanked JAN MOYER
  • 8 years ago


    The golden color suits the finishes--floor, backsplash--as well as the current wall color extending into your den. You could get a different feel and lighter look by replacing some of the cabinet doors at the far end with glass and display interesting dishes and pieces in the cabinets. Under cabinet lighting and new, more modern pendants would lighten the kitchen as well.

    Kitchen · More Info


    Or replace the far cabinets with open shelves to display what you have on top of your cabinets, which should come down anyway to give an airier look to the kitchen.


    B House by Skiles Architect, PA in Fayetteville, Arkansas. · More Info


    Replace your dark kitchen chairs with lighter ones or paint your existing ones in the same green as the backsplash.


    GDF Studio Helen Mid Century Dining Chair, Set of 2, Green Tea/Natural Oak · More Info


    Niane McMillan thanked housegal200
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    I would leave the cabinets alone. You have a lot of colors going on that can be changed instead. I would get a stainless refrigerator to match the microwave (assuming range is stainless). Change the paint color to match more of the tile colors. It might be my monitor, but the floor looks grayish, the backsplash looks greenish and the walls are beige. You don't really have bright white anywhere else in the kitchen so if you can swap out your light shades to something more off-white, that would also help.

    Niane McMillan thanked User
  • 8 years ago
    I would consider a built in refrigerator, new lighting, lighter paint finish, new cabinet hardware before I painted the cabinets.
    Niane McMillan thanked gtcircus
  • 8 years ago
    The other option is to get some Rub’n Buff and change the finish on the existing chandeliers.
    Niane McMillan thanked gtcircus
  • 8 years ago

    I've seen loads of blogs and youtube videos showing how to update golden oak cabinets including painting them. Here's one below.

    https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/tips-ideas-update-oak-wood-cabinets/

    Niane McMillan thanked nansaidh
  • 8 years ago

    The type of light bulbs can also make a difference. The curly Q fluorescents tend to have a yellow / orange cast to them. LEDs in the cooler temps may decrease the feeling of orangeness, though I have never found a natural wood tone to be a problem. I noticed that the dislike of natural oak happened during the high point of the use of those curly Q fluorescents - though marketing had a lot to do with it too. I changed my bulbs to cooler ones - took a few days to adjust to the change, so give it time, and I feel my cabinets look browner.

    Niane McMillan thanked jhmarie
  • 8 years ago

    I think the cabinets are pretty with the backsplash. Maybe a less yellow wall color?

    Niane McMillan thanked caligirl5
  • 8 years ago

    Don't paint the cabinet.

    Get rid of stuff on top of cabinets.

    Change the light fixture.

    Change the wall color.

    Niane McMillan thanked loobab
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    I've never painted golden oak cabinets but did paint stained wood ones. I used an oil-based enamel and the paint job lasted for years and years and still looked good when I tore them all out for a new kitchen. The problem with golden oak is the pronounced grain - it will still be visible when painted. And if one has it throughout the house, the rest should be painted as well and that's a HUGE job.

    I would never buy a house with golden oak cabinets or new stained woodwork as I detest it. And the cost to change it can be prohibitive. For me, such would be a deal-breaker to a purchase.

    Niane McMillan thanked Anglophilia
  • 8 years ago

    You have a really nice, big kitchen. There's several things I would do before painting the cabinets. I would get new light fixtures, new hardware and paint the walls a lighter creamy white first. Also declutter by taking the stuff down from the tops of the cabinets. You could also add another layer of crown molding to the top of the cabinets to make them look taller.

    I was just at an open house. The house was listed for about $600K. The real estate agent was playing up how the sellers painted the cabinets and how great they looked. I could tell immediately that they were oak cabinets that had been painted black for resale. Quite frankly, they looked awful, and unless you plan on paying around $5,000 to have them professionally done, I've never seen a DIY paint job look nice.

    Niane McMillan thanked chocolatebunny123
  • 8 years ago

    So many great ideas. I think I will have the cabinets refinished in a warmer tone (less orange) paint the walls less yellow and I guess I need to take stuff off my cabinets. I never realized it was a such a distraction. I will reconsider the chandelier. Thank you to everyone who replied!

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    There are a lot of things you can try before you go and paint or restain you cabinets. Perhaps try decluttering the kitchen, removing everything from the tops of the cabinets, getting all SS appliances, updating your lighting, getting new hardware for the cabinets, and you could try a few glass front cabinets.

    2009 Showcase Home on Park Alley · More Info

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    Niane McMillan thanked Heather Bates Design
  • 8 years ago

    For those suggesting decluttering the top of the cabinets is that just the greenery or everything? Also, do you have suggestions on updating light fixtures?

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    When we see photos of a kitchen in which " someone painted their cabinets" AND they painted the walls AND they got new countertops and backsplash, AND they got new hardware and faucet, AND they added new trim, that is not exactly a good example of " we painted the cabinets". It opens a can of worms.

    Your cabinets are beautiful .

    Niane McMillan thanked grapefruit1_ar
  • 8 years ago

    Take everything off the top.

    Drum and lantern lights are pretty popular. I'm generally a matchy person but since you already have pendants over your island, you don't have to match them exactly to the light over the table, but I would have them coordinate.

    I personally prefer drum lights because I don't like when you can see the bulbs in clear glass fixtures, which are more popular with lantern style lights. I just had 2 drum lights put in my kitchen from the Kitchler Lacey collection. They make pendants as well if you want everything matching. I put a semi flush one above my island and a hanging one over my kitchen table.

  • 8 years ago
    @grapefruit is right. Be prepared for a can of worms if you want to paint. While it would be beautiful it can become a slippery slope. What was going to be a $3500 project turned 16k because of new counters, sink, soffit, lighting etc etc.