Can we see a picture of the half wall from the kitchen view?

Not sure what your asking about. I would definitely keep the same wall paint color thru out though. You have what looks to be a gold tone backsplas, if you are keeping that don’t ignore it when choosing paint colors. What is your flooring?

New backsplash, paint and counters would spruce it up nicely if you don't want to change the cabinets or general layout. A nicer light fixture would help a lot as well.

Here is the view looking out to living room which is getting overhauled as well.
Right now the flooring is an oak colored floating floor . Would be open to changing it .

I know you're tired of the green granite, but it's totally on trend again! And an expensive thing to change. Not sure what your backsplash is, but playing up the green might be a better way to go. Still goes with the grey walls of the hall.

How about a dark green wall that relates to the counter? Or black, yes, black! With either dark colour, paint the ceiling too so the bulkhead doesn't stand out too much. Do get rid of any of the pink I see in one of the photos, which I think is going to go grey anyway.

Then consider doing gold knobs to really play up the new trend.

For the backsplash, you can try painting it the same white as the cabinets for a cleaner look.

If you do decide to go dark in the kitchen, you may need more lighting. A new ceiling light will help, as will some stick on battery operated undermount lighting if you don't want to do any electrical work.

Good luck and keep us all posted with the after shots!

I would consider taking the half wall out. The cab could be repurposed into a permanent or movable island, or depending on the space and whether that short full wall can be altered, a different island put in.

Honestly, new lighting might change your whole opinion; there are so many colors happening and I don't think they're intentional. Recessed LEDs and/or some under-cab lighting would freshen the place up immediately.

I don't understand the half wall with the single cabinet at all; it's awkward-looking inside the kitchen and there's not even the option for counter seating. It might help to take out as much wall as possible there and do an island instead, so you keep the storage but lose the strange anchoring.

Without a layout of the entire floor plan it's difficult to understand the kitchen configuration.

For some reason I am assuming that the entrance hall is on the other side of the wall and when you enter the kitchen is to the right. At any rate, I also live in a condo and chose to retain the walls rather than go completely open. I really didn't want to expose my entire kitchen all the time.

How does your space work for you - where did you eat your meals as I don't see if a small dining table in your pictures. Many people don't have life-style where they need a lot of table seating, but at least for me, I do want at least an area for myself to sit down with a bowl of soup or other stuff that doesn't lend itself to eating on the sofa watching television :-).

Personally I would't spend money to change your granite as I think you can spruce up by changing the lighting and getting rid of the crap on your refrigerator. A pet peeve of mine is why someone wants to redo an area and yet have a large space that the eye goes to that is cluttered with unattractive items - no offense. And that lighting fixture is easily swapped - it looks like the original builder grade light fixture - could even be "rental" quality if your condo was a conversion and not built as a condo as condo conversions often have the original fixtures depending on who they were marketed.

I would also change the hardware to something more attractive. And while I wouldn't change the granites, there is something about the green that is unappealing - at least as it is showing up in your photos which can of course be deceptive. I am not a fan of gray but have you considered a sage gray green?

I just realized how Pink the walls came out. The light in the dining room has edison bulbs and I think the messed with the lighting. The color in the living / dining area is nimbus ( light gray.) I just feel like Ithe kitchen doesn't flow anymore. I still love cabinets but want a better flow. Here is the backslash by the sink.

I think the first questions is how far do you want to go with this project? Just an up date or change it all??? It would be nice to get rid of the soffit and go higher with your cabinets. Maybe remove the half walls and make a little island out of it. On a smaller scale , I would paint first and see how you feel about that. The fact that the countertops are green and the walls are too - it might be too much! If at that point you decide to keep the counters, then change the backsplash out.

Some times the smallest change makes the biggest impact!

Good luck and go Giants!

You mentioned you’re going to paint open area BM Smoke Embers. Have you tested this colour? I find it a bit dark, an LRV of 51.75, and will probably look darker in your condo if you don’t get lots of natural light, also looks muddy, ie lots of brown in it.
You have some photos saved of white and light gray kitchens. Is this the look you’d like?

I am not a color person.
I know what colors I like but when I stick them on the walls . I decided to stay neutral- that’s why I have had nimbus in my living area for years . I wanted to spruce / update my house .
The first colors I chose where Chelsea gray as an accent and winds breath as others walls . Someone said I should also do kitchen Chelsea gray .

Yes , I love the idea of the marble look for my kitchen . White / gray and white and grey tones . I also like strong veined granite , quartz kinda thing .
My favorite add on colors to gray is blue / green .
Some have said to the entire place Revere pewter as well.

Meaning since not good at color stay neutral and then bring in other colors through window treatments .. etc .

My flooring is going to be changed as well. Just trying to decide if go around my condo code with the 80/20 carpet rule . So many other units have put wood floors down.
Right now I picked Maslands Mesa Verde quiet moments carpet .

Thank you all for food for thought.

I don’t know how to private message some of you to chat more about your thoughts .

Claire you are not in anyway helpful as you have been told many times already. Tracey IMO the first thing you need to do is deal with the condo board, then you need to decide how much money you want to throw at a poorly design kitchen. As for the counters I have not seen this as trend so I would hate to let it drive every other choice, Lighting is the most important single item to use to change the feel of a space and Edison bulbs were awful light whaen that was all that was available they make everything skewed to the yelloe and provide very poor light anyway.IMO the black needs to go and so do those counters to lighten up the space replace that flourecsent fixture with proper LED lighting the cheapsest way to go would be a track light.You have so little counter space get rid of the raised bar and make that all one level. But really condo board then budget.

Hello Tracey

I would Keep the Cabinets cause White is a great color to work with changing the Hardware can really update your Look and isnt going to brake the bank. Brushed Nickel is a great finish for kitchens. We would love to assist you in choosing hardware. Going to a lighter Counter top and light paint on the walls will make the kitchen look larger. Feel Free to email or call us.

New York Hardware Team

Info@nyhardware.com

949-631-0631

Could you add a picture of the backsplash and the granite next to a swatch of the Smoke Embers paint color? First I would change the light blubs so we can see what color does in your condo. You can change the lightt fixtures later in the process.

We see how the light fixture (fluorescent?) reflects the green onto the cabinets if the photo is a true reproduction in this forum. If you are considering gray for the kitchen, use a lighter gray than the other room...it will differentiate the spaces and give a feeling of depth. A silver gray could work. Bring home color sample cards in any color you like to see how it looks adjacent to the gray. Grays have undertones which may clash with other colors.

I'd change the lighting and the hardware to start with. Easy to do, and they make a huge visual change for not a lot of money. You have limited options in that space and with the restrictions of living in a multi-unit building - everything is more complicated and expensive (been there, done that). I think you'll like the green countertops more if you change from fluorescent to a warmer LED lighting, and change the paint to something closer to the gray you'll be using in the other room.

It’s often recommended to pick paint colours last, so I agree with previous suggestions to do other updates first. I think if you update kitchen lighting, and I would recommend painting the soffit that’s above your cabinets in a white that matches the cabinets. If you do these two changes it will brighten the room considerably.
I found this image, it shows BM smoke embers, #4, and your current Nimbus is #2. I think you can do better, but as I’ve said above, you’re not there yet.
I’m in a condo too with one north facing kitchen window, and a south facing patio door. I painted BM Edgecomb Gray, and I don’t think I would want anything darker.

We wanted to put recess lighting but it seems to casts shadows because of that soffit. Maybe if I do lights underneath will also give light where shadow is. I will have to give it a try again. We have been trying to find a light that is around the same size we have now. 24 x 14 Not as easy as I would thought. Any one can find something.. Awesome .

Right now we are working on removing the awful popcorn ceiling and repainting the living and dining area. ( still torn) I will look into trying to save countertops and maybe do a backsplash and hardware and a lighter color.

Marlene , I wish I had a window in kitchen. It is very dark.

My deck is west facing and the windows in dining area are east.

All your suggestions are fantastic. Much thanks.

BTW- I have a milion paint samples. I just do not have the eye for color at all. I will be insisting some help. UGH

There is help out there for picking paint colors if you look for it. There are paint stores that offer in-home color consultations...costs $30 in my area. I pay a local designer at a tile store who has a great eye for in-home paint color advice; with her help, I am getting better at “color”...took my whole house remodel to get better at it.

Tracey, I don’t think you should need the same size light fixture in kitchen. You may have some touch-up to do, but you said you’re doing ceiling work anyway. Updating to LED fixtures/bulbs will make a big difference.
Sounds like you’re ready for a big change in the kitchen, so you do have time to think about paint colours. You might find this blog interesting, www.kylieminteriors.ca. I find her analysis of paint colours very informative, and enjoyable to read at the same time. She focuses on BM and SW brands.