Do Away With the Red?

13 years ago

Hubby and I have a dilemma and I thought to get some extremely honest feedback from Houzz would settle some questions.

Just bought this house in Nov last year. After several months living with several deep red accent walls in our kitchen, I have come to the conclusion the color is all wrong. Hubby and several friends think it's fine. But, the color is so dark that the cabinets (which aren't terribly attractive) stand out like they are floating there. A bit about the cabinets: painted light grey with a hint of purple in them (so in certain light looks like the slightest hint of lavender color). And the grey and pink stone floor...ugh, don't get me started...

The cabinets, floor, counters and kitchen have to stay for a long time. We have other projects that are calling to us to spend $ and time changing, but I would really like to get this red out of the kitchen.

Houzzers, do you agree? If yes, WHAT COLOR would you choose? Would a color change make this kitchen look that much different? I'm at a total loss as the entire kitchen has some shades of grey to it and then the granite has heavy pink veins with blue/grey tones.

Featured Answer

User

13 years ago

Yes, the red has to go! What about a blue/grey?

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Comments (48)

indianpatti
13 years ago
Goodbye red .. hello to light/medium gray!
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Dar Eckert
13 years ago
A latte color would look nice. I agree with getting rid of the red kind of makes the walls close in.
kathleensilver thanked Dar Eckert
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Mary Dancey Interiors
13 years ago
Look to your countertop and flooring for gray inspiration all the while making sure it looks great with the cabinetry. I would stay clear of the pink. :)
M Asif Siddiqui
13 years ago
Wow really beutifully designed & concept excellent
valentinsharon
13 years ago
Did not mean to add that pic!! Omg
User
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
LOL, you can go back and click on the little pencil in the upper right corner and edit your post.
kathleensilver
Original Author
13 years ago
So, more grey won't be too much? Bluenan, so grey, but a shade or two darker...
valentinsharon
13 years ago
Ah! Thanks! I was trying to add pic to profile. Can't find where to do it tho :/
yoboseiyo
13 years ago
definitely a grey tone for walls. avoid pinky-greys.
User
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
I don't know, when I look at all the objects sitting on the counter, I like the watermelon green, the green fruit in the bowl, the green out the window,so I would go for a shade of green :) Gray is a very tricky color to get right!
kathleensilver thanked User
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Sheri Wilson Fine Art
13 years ago
Valentineshare > couldn't resist liking the photo. Been there done that. :0 Hah!
Kathleen, what a beautiful open kitchen design. The first thing that came to my mind was the right cabinet to the beautiful view. Open that cabinet up taking the cabinet door off and display some everyday ware. Can't go wrong with the gray palette to accent the existing choices. If the flooring is really bringing you down then consider DIY grout to lighten up and lift the pattern into the room? Place a strip of cardboard with the chosen grout (sizing to 2 feet or more) and it will give you a vision as to what a difference the tile will bring into the room. Like/Hate? Grout colors can change the view with low cost affects. Start with the light gray choices and paint the walls then play with the grout and you might be able to live with the cabinets for awhile. Love your kitchen more.
vickienebling
13 years ago
I think a very light taupey color would be good here. Paint is generally not too expensive, especially if you do it yourself, so fairly easy to change if you don't love it! I always look at my stuff, whatever I will be keeping in the room all or most of the time and try to find a color that complements all of it.
User
13 years ago
I think grey with a slight cool undertone will compliment the floor and pull the blue/grey from the granite. I wouldn't go too dark, that's what's making your cabinets "float". I agree with Patti, light to medium tone. I might consider painting the island the same wall color to unify the space. Get some samples, paper first, and then paint, and put them on the island, you'll not get a true sample over the red. Make sure the grey doesn't look purple or baby blue, you're trying to take away from the pink.
kathleensilver thanked User
Catherine Giesige
13 years ago
That certainly is a unique kitchen but that red has to go! Light to medium gray in a tone that matches the granite should do it.
PRO
Sheri Wilson Fine Art
13 years ago
Hate the floor tile than consider an area rug? See Pottery Barn kitchen designs for ideas. There are plenty of gray tints with the blue hue to compliment the marble. See Modern Gray SW7632 for starters.
Dar Eckert
13 years ago
I think I would paint the white under the round bar counter the same color as the walls. The strong white really doesn't go well with the flooring. Creams, latte, brown seem better with flooring.
kathleensilver thanked Dar Eckert
vickienebling
13 years ago
I also think some up lights above cabinets would brighten up your kitchen space. I think you could easily & inexpensively use rope lighting, it should also be easy to hide. I can't tell if kitchen is naturally dark or if cloudy outside makes the kitchen appear dark in the pictures.
kathleensilver thanked vickienebling
User
13 years ago
I think you'll hate the floor a lot less when the red is gone and the colors are unified and compliment it. Right now there are just too many competing elements. My daughter has a very similar floor in her kitchen and powder room which was painted spring green when she bought the house. It was not a good look! I painted the powder room a cool grey and she has sepia prints in dark frames that tie in the floor and it looks really pretty.
kathleensilver
Original Author
13 years ago
Nice! I am feeling so much better about this. Vickie - GREAT suggestion after painting - we have friends that did the rope lighting around their cabinets & looks really warm at night. Totally didn't think about it.

Painting the island makes total sense. Get ride of the steel grey coping at the floor too - paint the same color as the island. Great ideas! Thank you!
Kari Lillard
13 years ago
I just painted my kitchen palladian blue by Benj Moore. BEST decision ever. I LOVE IT. I also did an Owl Grey in the halls (wonderful color that doesn't sway too much on one side of tan and the other too grey). I'm very happy with both colors- they would both work for this room.
kathleensilver thanked Kari Lillard
Amy Stanley
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
I was going to suggest grey as well. Beautiful kitchen and I think the gray will draw the eye to the grey in the counters and less to the pinky color.
Judy M
13 years ago
I vote new paint color for sure and I would add some hardware to the cabinets.
lefty47
13 years ago
HI -- Benjamin Moore paints "Classic Grey " for the walls
PRO
Chroma Design
13 years ago
Your existing red will need to be covered with a white primer and should be left to dry over night before putting on your top coats. Even the paint and primer in one type paints will not properly block out the red since you will be using a light color.
Once you have the white primer on you will be able to make sense of the space better and your new color choice more clearly. You got some nice suggestions for grays from other posters. As an alternative, I suggest an off white that has a barely there, clear blue undertone. I think you need a touch of brightness that a light gray can't provide and a barely there blue will off set your pink tones. I'm suggesting BM OC-58 white ice.
kathleensilver thanked Chroma Design
RosemaryR
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Add some cabinet hardware too. I'm with the grays also.
Robin Eckwerth
13 years ago
Love your beautiful kitchen, I am getting rid of red to and going to go with white or grey. You have lots of space and it will be brighter.
karenpete
13 years ago
We literally just went through your exact same colour issue. With the guidance of a professional interior designer we painted the walls "whiskers" which is a Pittsburgh Paints colour. Its warm enough to look amazing with the grey/pink slate floors, dark grey granite countertop and white cabinets (recently painted "paper mache" colour from Benjamin Moore. We couldn't be happier with the results.
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Sheri Wilson Fine Art
13 years ago
Just the name "whiskers" sounds fun. Kathleen, sounds like karenpete solved your color palette. Must ck. back to see what you decided. Don't envy whoever is having to prime before the paint application. And do the math on those cabinet hardware. It adds up in price $. I never realized how many I had 28 to be exact.
kathleensilver thanked Sheri Wilson Fine Art
Catherine Giesige
13 years ago
I have recently painted over a burgundy red and I used two coats of Dulux Raw Cotton and did not need to prime. It covered perfectly. Good luck.
PRO
Essentia Interior Design
13 years ago
Sorry I am going suggest boring old white walls and grey trim around the door to match the island bench, it is difficult as you have the warm brown colours on the island bench and the cold grey and pink in your splash back tiles. so go for the colours you like the most or stay neutral and let other areas shine!
valentinsharon
13 years ago
I'm sure your overwhelmed with all the opinions, but I would definitely stay away from grey walls. You have too much of it going on with the appliances, counter tops and floors. You're cabinets look an off white so I'd do something in the blue family on the vey light side almost white. It'll make them pop! Along with your appliances and counter. Hope this helps ;)
User
13 years ago
With all of the pattern in the granite, the goal would be to unify the other elements, so having the walls blend with the appliances would not be a bad thing.
valentinsharon
13 years ago
Oh and yes add some fun hardware to your cabinets! Maybe even in stainless steel to match your appliances..
valentinsharon
13 years ago
No it wouldn't be a bad thing at all... A little too matchy matchy for me, but that's just me :) I'm sure whatever u end up doing will look great!
kathleensilver
Original Author
13 years ago
Yes, the cabinets are actually not white - they are grey too! LOL - ugn. it's nearly like a light lavender-grey. I'm thinking slightly deeper grey tone, but just as bright as whats on the cabinet. Our kitchen has a ton of light so, a little darker wouldn't mess it up...just slight though. This is a tough one.
Kari Lillard
13 years ago
Eagle rock by benj Moore is also a nice color to consider. Although some people think greys are too bland - they often end up making the room very open and fresh.
apple_pie_order
13 years ago
The granite is quite striking. Given your first priorities include other things in the house, I'd go ahead and paint over the red in the same off white color paint as the cabinets. From your description, it sounds like it was already color matched to the granite's tones. It will give you a good base to change later if you like. Gray is trendy and would look good with the granite and floors, but it is not going to be a light bright cheery choice. Adding a line of undercabinet LED lighting can be inexpensive and add a touch of wow.

In the longer term, I think it would be good to take a scrape piece of granite and a floor tile around in your car for a few months in case you see some fabulous color scheme you really like that you can test out immediately. Add a paintstick that you've dipped into the current paint, throw it all in a box or ziploc bag, and you are good to go.
kathleensilver thanked apple_pie_order
Emily Hurley
13 years ago
You know what I would do? I'd prime over the red just to get rid of it and live with it a while, then I'd start to look at colors and maybe try pulling a color out of the stone that would de-emphasis the pink.
charliebeth
13 years ago
Maybe under cabinet lighting also to lighten it up under there a bit?
PRO
Sheri Wilson Fine Art
13 years ago
Kathleen, I can't stand the anticipation. Hah. Have you made a decesion yet. What wonderful ideas you have.
snaffle
13 years ago
I feel your pain! We had a red kitchen too. Wrong red and done poorly to boot. Finally got around to painting it in November and I still can't believe the difference it made. When red, I thought I'd need to reno the whole room. New paint made me see that was not the case! Now, the things I wanted to stand out do and my cabinets no longer look hideous lol!

If go the beige/cream route, check out Mythic's sand in my shoes. They don't sell mythic in my country so I tracked down a sample and had it made. It's also a color in a living room pic here. How I found it and got inspired! :)
Nancy Walton
13 years ago
I think the faint lavendar you see in the gray is actually light cast from the red paint. If you did the Owl grey I'm sure you would like it.
kathleensilver thanked Nancy Walton
megherardi
13 years ago
Please get rid of the red-it's dark and depressing, and your cabinets and kitchen are quite nice. A pale grey would be nice, with not a lot of contrast between the cabinets and the wall. It will make a huge difference.
Natalie
13 years ago
Hi---nice space...
MINK by Sherwin Williams or Sparrow by Ben Moore. Changing the red to either color will do wonders.
Good Luck!
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Oakland Master Bedroom · More Info
]
charliebeth
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Hi. A month ago I was asked to paint over a red for someone who wanted to go with a very light sand color. The red color was similar to yours...very dark and very flat, and it almost seemed to suck the light out of the room and into it, making it darker in the room than it actually was. It took two full coats of primer and two good coats of paint, but BOY, was it worth it. The room looks bigger and brighter and cleaner, which are all good things for a kitchen! I think your existing cabinets and granite will look great with a simple wall color paint change...and it is the most inexpensive thing you can do in a room, but it gives you one of the biggest levels of satisfaction for your money. Go for it! Good luck and post pictures of the AFTER kitchen.
DIAspoton
13 years ago
agree BM Owl Grey would be a good choice for walls. go 2 shades lighter on the island. under cabinet lighting will also help. getting all non-essentials off the counter will calm it down.
have you considered replacing any cabinet doors with glass? maybe the 2 over the desk.
thementers
13 years ago
I do like your cabinets, can't really see color, but the cabinets are good. Perhaps when repainting your wall, the cabinets could be painted an antique white with chrome knobs

Do Away With the Red?

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