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Kitchen Cabinets Paint Color

6 years ago

I want to paint my cabinets but am unsure what colors would work with my existing countertops. I do know that i do not want to stain them nor do I want to paint them a cream color. I would appreciate any ideas.

Kitchen · More Info


Comments (34)

  • 6 years ago

    Your cabinet color looks wonderful with your counters. I would not paint them! The thing I would change is your wall color which appears gray. I would paint the walls to match a light color in your counter.

  • 6 years ago

    You have beautiful components in your kitchen. They all harmonize beautifully. That said, I think there is too much of a good thing and not enough accent. I would do something to lighten up the stove alcove. I think it would have been better to have put something other than granite there — it’s just an overload. I don’t suggest removing it but perhaps experiment with light colored medallions or light colored tile arrangement. Something to give some light and contrast.

  • 6 years ago

    Those are beautiful cabinets and work with the stone. The thing that sticks out to me is the sleek modern pendant light. It clashes with the warmth of the stone and brick. something bronze, brass or black instead of chrome and more traditional would fit the space better. Creamy warm colors will work better than trendy cool greys. Lighter tile could brighten floor and backsplash. Adding task lighting in the brick arch and under cabinets could brighten things. Or just add a few bright color accents with decor because it is a beautiful kitchen.

  • 6 years ago

    We bought the house with the kitchen like that. The only thing I did was paint the walls which are actually a taupe color that picks up the light color of the granite. The stain on some of the cabinets have either rubbed off or are peeling off. That’s why I’d like to paint them. I feel like the previous owners put too much of the rust color between the cabinets, granite and floor.

  • PRO
    6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    IMO you can paint the cabinets and then not deal with all the other coordinating elements. Cream cabinets will make the floor look all wrong and the brick too.




  • 6 years ago

    Your floors counters and brick really need a wood cabinet like you have. You might be able to paint out the island in black but might get heavier and darker. Without redo of your hard surfaces just stick with what you have and repair as needed.

  • 6 years ago

    Instead of painting cabinets, why not paint or whitewash the bricks? And change the backsplash.


  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    have you gotten an estimate to paint them? it's not going to be cheap. and unless you have oodles of time, I don't suggest doing it yourself. it's a horrid process.

    the problem you have is what everyone has already said. the granite, brick and stain and tile floor all work together. if you paint the cabs, unless you go very dark, the brick will stand out. so then you'll end up whitewashing or paint it. then your granite isn't going to work with anything because of how dark and red it looks. And if you change that, the flooring is going to be out in no mans land. This is one of those projects that ends up snowballing.

    What is your budget? just to get those professionally painted will be in the 5K-8K range. (if you get some ridiculous 2K estimate from a house painter, you'll be sorry) Only a pro cabinet painter should touch those. they all need to be stripped , sanded, primed, sanded again, and then spray coated w/proper cabinet paint. I just had my kitchen redone and it was quite the involved process. I ended up getting new door/drawer fronts since it was only another 2K. looks way better.

    you say you don't want cream, so the only color I see in that granite is a taupe/gray.

    this is River Reflections.


    If it was mine, I wouldn't put lipstick on a pig. i'd wait until I could get new countertops and new paint color. and probably the floors.

  • 6 years ago

    Are you in love with that brick? I love brick, but think in this space it would look better without it.

  • 6 years ago

    Thank you everyone for your input. I want to get our house “sell ready”, therefore I don’t want to put a lot of money into a house I am not staying in. I was thinking painting would be easier than trying to find a stain that matches the existing color or the lengthy and very involved process of re-staining the cabinets.

  • 6 years ago

    I agree with Beth. If you are selling, I would not do a thing. The new owners will likely want to put their own spin on it and could just end up ripping out your cabinets all together. Can you show us close ups of the areas where the wood is worn and peeling? I had this happen to the cheap cabinets that came with our house. We lived with them for five years while deciding what to do with the kitchen and in the meanwhile I touched them up with a brown sharpie that surprisingly worked wonders.

  • 6 years ago

    if the cabs are real wood, you can get a stain touch up pen. (if you don't have wood stains on hand).

  • 6 years ago

    For selling, every surface should look like they could eat off it! Clean until it gleams. N.O. will likely rip the kitchen out anyway. Why waste time and $$$ to do something they still may not like? You might try some Olde English to clean and hide any boo-boos on the cabinets. Lighting would be where I would invest the $$. You might post additional pix here with all the lights on in the early evening for better advice on what to do about them.

  • 6 years ago

    The person that designed this kitchen seems to have channeled a fortress style! It looks like it belongs in a castle somewhere! Too much granite and brick! It would cost a fortune to remove some of the granite. Would you consider painting the brick? It's the one dark element that can easily be changed and it would completely change the vibe of the kitchen. I don't recommend painting it a solid color, but do a special technique like Limewash or German Smear. I think this would change the entire feel of the kitchen, and would make it more appealing to buyers too! .

  • 6 years ago

    The only thing I would do is paint the walls and change the light fixture to match the style of the kitchen (light seems out of place!).

    Some may find this kitchen is a 're-do', but I have no doubt to some others this is their 'dream kitchen'. :)

  • 6 years ago

    I paint the brick white in the cabinets I change the countertops

  • 6 years ago

    I would definitely paint the brick I would paint it all very soft color thank you’ll be a lot happier

  • 6 years ago

    Take a cabinet door to a good paint place and have them match the stain

  • 6 years ago

    Stained finishes don’t usually peel off. Rubbing can cause fading. Peeling is a different issue. It would be expensive to have the cabinets stripped, prepped and refinished.
    If you are planning to sell, you shouldn’t waste money on one aspect of the kitchen. A buyer will most likely offer $30K below your asking price because of the kitchen. It’s dark and heavy-feeling. Current trends are light and bright.

  • 6 years ago

    I agree with previous post. You can buy furniture touch up markers to help with the scuff marks.

  • 6 years ago

    Your kitchen is pretty but a bit dark with little contrast. Paint your walls a light, warm off white or cream with neutral undertones and use same paint on your brick. You could do a German schmear technique on the brick alcove, if you don’t want solid paint there. Consider painting the island a lighter neutral -maybe a warm green gray or sage? Hang a lighter framed print above your stove. Change your pendant to a lantern style or something more traditional...but not tuscan.

  • 6 years ago

    if you are selling, don't spend money on it, I would change the light fixture. Ignore the calls for white, the white door trim in the picture stood out and does not fit the color scheme.

  • 6 years ago

    Didn’t realize you were selling as I haven’t read all of the comments. In that case, I agree with Lynne. Definitely change the light fixture and place art/decor on a sticky hook against the solid granite above your stove!

  • 6 years ago

    I agree with those that say if you are selling, just make sure everything is super clean and depersonalized. The next homeowner will probably rip it all out because the colors are dated. However, if you have extra $$$ you could get a designer and contractor in there to renovate in order to make more money back when it goes on the market.

  • 6 years ago

    i would paint the brick instead.

  • 6 years ago

    If you like DIY projects look at Heirloom Traditions Paint. Great colors & they mix easily for custom colors.

  • 6 years ago

    It’s soooo dark! I would paint the cabinets a sage green and the island a darker green. I’m not sure what is behind the brick arch, but it needs to be a lighter color and with some lighting. If I were going to move there, the first thing I would change is the floor... lay down on top of existing floor some of the new wood flooring that’s all the rage. We built our house 30 years ago with all tongue n groove pine floors ... EVERYWHERE. Now it’s so much easier and cheaper with the laminates you can do yourself and the difference is AMAZING and so easy-care. Start with changing the floor and go from there . The single, small fixture is SOOOO wrong, Consider a long multi-lite fixture or three , say , copper appropriately spaced over the island. Use it for eating space by adding some pretty stools and center with long low planter for green houseplant... change out with seasonal decor. But I would start by changing the VERY dark floor..Then see how you feel about the space ... go step by step thinking how a prospective buyer will view it. I would change the floor, get appropriate light fixture and lighten up the brick area ... that may be enough to sell it. No one can be unhappy with wood floor and good lighting. When you show the home, make certain ALL the lights are turned on.

  • 6 years ago

    new people,,,she's selling this house! no need fo her to do all of this rehab.

    i sure wish she would have mentioned that in the original post. maybe we'd stop getting a revival of this month old post.

  • 6 years ago

    white, green or cream!



  • 6 years ago

    STOP !! You are SELLING...do NOT spend oodles of $$$...no NEED....first, "taupe" is a "cool" color on the walls, and rest of kitchen is "warm" tones....PAINT the walls in something like SW "Mesa Tan"...lovely warm tone that will coordinate with countertops and cabinets....then, CHANGE the pendant light to something with a more "carriage light" look to complement the rest of the kitchen....THEN, buy the "strips" or "spots" of LED lights that "stick up" and operate with a remote controller...Sam's Club has them, and I think it's like 5 spots with remote for about $20....put those in stove alcove at the top....DONE ...almost...pick up some LEMONS ( and perhaps limes ) at grocery store and make pretty display of them in a glass bowl.....perhaps some flowers in a yellow tone ( yellow will brighten everything up visually )….NOW....STOP !! LOL...you are SELLING and with just these small changes, will have the kitchen looking great at minimal cost !! TIP....depending on WHICH cabinet door is the worst looking, consider REMOVING it and using shelves to display cookbooks or favorite pieces of pottery ( keep the door handy for new owners )…..good luck !!!


  • 6 years ago

    Your kitchen coordinates beautifully. Don't make any major changes if you plan on selling. Painting cabinets is expensive and painted cabinets will not look right with the other kitchen elements.

    Consider the prior comments and paint your walls a warmer color and replace the light fixture. Also declutter the countertops and replace the white accessories with something warmer and earthier.

  • 6 years ago

    WOW! ST O P shouting.... this is only each others opinions... not life or death....
    fun to hear ideas❣️. I don’t want to hear anymore... it just ceased to be fun!
    Take a chill Pill. I’m deleting any further comments! Is this what happens on here....?

  • 6 years ago

    Ellen...YOU may consider capital letters "shouting"...I'm a senior and use them when "stressing a point"...big difference...please understand you are reading something without any "vocal" to go along with it, as in the way people normally speak...so ease up...world already has enough people getting "offended" by every little thing...