You should know that there are different whites. Did you not see a sample? What do you want to do? Paint them?

Your cabinet guy should have provided you prior to painting your pretty cabinets with various white painted samples to select from. He probably had leftover white paint & used it on your cabinets. if he’s a reputable cabinet guy-contact him at once & tell him to repaint with a white you approve beforehand. Good luck

Very nice cabinets. I can't comment on the color because you aren't supplying an accurate toned picture. White balance can be adjusted in some cameras. . . .One option you can think about is the Kelvin rating for your led bulbs. 2700k is the warmest and will show your cabinets as a more yellow white. It's closest to traditional incandescent bulbs. 3000k is still warm but less. 3500k is more white. 4000k brighter white and 5000k has the least warmth. Check which bulb rating you have.

Dan, what a practical, easy-to-do suggestion! Maybe this will be all Tricia needs to do to fall in love with her cabinetry.

Stop fretting or over thinking, it is done. If he had shown you the different samples you might have picked the exact same one. Try the lightbulbs above, they really do change the look. Do not paint factory finish cabinets. Then look around and enjoy your brand new beautiful kitchen.

If you want to have even more tunability over the color of your lighting you can look into smart bulbs like Nanoleaf Essentials bulbs. All the shades of white and 16M total colors you can program for different times of the day, etc. About $15 apiece. 3000k 17watt 100watt equivalent A19 bulbs are about $4 at Costco.

You cant blame the cabinet guy, you said white and theyre white. They are also very nice cabinets

Your kitchen is beautiful!!!! Try the light bulb suggestion. I changed my large kitchen light to “daylight bulbs” and it made all the difference in my kitchen. Please post some more pictures of your kitchen!

Did he choose the white that he thought coordinated best with the countertop and backspash? Your kitchen looks really lovely. Love the inset cabinets, cabinet above your hood and hardware.

Since you told him that you wanted 'plain white' , my guess is that he chose the one that he thought had the least amount of undertone. Some whites lean gray or blue. You got plain white as you requested.

Did cabinet designer decide color for me!?

I think your question is actually, "Did I let the cab designer choose the colour for me?". And, the answer is "yes", you did let the designer choose your colour. As others have said, it's lucky the designer has a good eye.

I totally get where you are coming from, though. When I'm in this position and find myself getting pissed at someone (usually my husband), if I'm brave enough to look deep, I realize I'm pissed because they didn't read my mind.

You can’t pull the helpless victim card if you failed to do your own education and due diligence, and consequently delegated decisions that you couldnt be bothered to learn needed to be made.

I really don’t think that the OP is pulling the helpless victim card. She’s merely asking if she should be upset. And I agree that it worked out just fine. The kitchen looks great!

tell me more about your backsplash please....

Very lovely kitchen.

He should have showed you samples from the manufacturer. The customer is not to be expected to know all the nuances of each make of cabinet. That’s the “principle of the thing”. The reality is, cabinets look fine, and match up nicely to tops and backsplash. Changing lighting might work well generally if kitchen seems too cold. And next time specify every little detail in writing. In writing. In writing. So if the contractor does their own thing against your directions you can show them their “mistake” and not get charged.

A question… Your cabinets are beautiful. Why are you questioning the “decision” now? Is it because you feel that the backsplash doesn’t go with the cabinets? You say the cabinets look too cool, but in your photo they look warm. I think that you might be asking another question here…

Please post photos of the whole kitchen so we can oh and awe on how beautiful it is. Either before, after new light bulbs, or both. Yes, may be a bit different than expected, you will soon not even notice. You will feel much better:)

Tricia, I'm sorry that you are second-guessing this paint outcome but I must tell you that your cabinets are simply gorgeous. Please do post more pictures!

Beauti cabinets! I would be more upset with myself for not asking more questions about the cabinet line. Your designer did as you asked and he chose a nice color. But I do see your point he should have told you there was more than one white option.

It looks quite nice and since your back splash is blue I would think that a neutral or cool white would work well.

I did a full gut remodel with a designer and even when I was offered a choice, I generally wound up with the one she was recommending because she actually knew what worked together best.

For my wall color paint she offered me three options of various "shades" of cream and I had them swatched on my wall. I went with her recomendation but it would have been fine with any of them.

There is lots of stuff I agonized over and stuff that I overrode in terms of vetoing certain upholstery patterns but paint color wasn't one of them. I think most good professionals *see* color and how it works with the light in the room and the other choices including furniture and flooring etc. and really know what will work best especially when it comes to colors like white or cream which have an almost infinite number of choices.

Tricia-

You wrote- "Please help."

Help with what?

Telling you how you should feel about

1. How the kitchen looks

2. The fact that you really didn't choose the cabinet color

3. The fact that you just realized that you really didn't choose the cabinet color

4. The fact that you have no redress here?

Changing the bulbs is a great idea, it really makes a huge difference in the cabinet color and change them from looking warm white to cool white.

Yes, it would have been preferable if the cabinet designer said, "Lady, there are a zillion 'white plain white'colors, YOU have to pick the one you want. "

But maybe the way in which you said "white, plain white" implied to the cabinet designer "white goldarnit, you figure it out, and leave me the heck alone, or I will hire someone else."

Only the Shadow knows.

We weren't there, and I doubt you have a videotape of the encounter.

Even if the two of you discussed it now, my guess would be "recollections may vary."

You thought one thing, (s)he thought another.

What you implied was not what he inferred.

As a professor once said,

"When you ASSUME, you make an ASS out of U and ME."

Clearly, there was no meetings of the minds here.

Fortunately, your kitchen is lovely, so maybe that is what to focus on now.

(As well as possible changing the bulbs.)

Moving forward, you can make it your business to educate yourself in every aspect of the alternatives and options for whatever product and service you are purchasing so that you are not disappointed later.

Yes, it exhausting.

But that is the way life is.

And not just nowadays.

We all know what PT Barnum said.

OP, I am not sure what you are asking, or are you here to get opinions on what your designer has chosen? This is the third issue about your kitchen that I have noticed you brought here to get opinions about (previous ones were the backsplash and the hood) - but your kitchen is about done and it is pretty damn nice. As many have noted before, it is not going to look magazine worthy without some styling.

For those that have asked for more pictures of OP's kitchen, they are here: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6211425/what-is-not-right-about-my-backsplash-in-my-new-kitchen

lerkat

Why you so angry? If you do not like or agree with what I am writing , please keeep scrolling instead of reading all my posts !

Thanks Have a great evening :)

Verbo

I am in NO WAY playing the Helpless victim and actually I am very schooled on design as I graduated from F.I.T but thanks for the concern I appreciate your candidness !!! If you do not like what you read on my or anyones comments you can do this amazing thing that most people know about ! Keep scrolling!!!

Have a nice evening!!

It was actually very helpful for me to see the different photos in your previous thread that lerkat linked. I don’t think they sounded angry, but I know it can be hard to judge tone sometimes.

I noticed that in these two photos I copied from the other thread, it seems to show the actual color of your cabinets and the backsplash much better then the one you added above.

In these photos the white cabinet color looks like a beautiful neutral white! Not too cool and not too warm. As Goldilocks would say just right! It looks really great with the carrera marble in the backsplash.

As you said, your camera made the cabinets look more warm or yellow. That made the backsplash look more blue. I think it would have been better if you had posted these photos for reference in this thread instead.

To answer your question, yes it would have been nice if you were shown the other white paint choices available and allowed to chose what you prefered. It is your house. Hello! However, a different white may not have worked as well with your backsplash.

The only thing I can think of that might be the reason your designer would not consult with you is if you had aready chosen the backsplash first. Then said, I want white cabinets, plain white. I guess that implies it should be whatever white would match best with the backsplash.

Fortunately, it looks great! I would let it go at this point. I would still be a little mad in the back of my mind that the designer didn’t at least run it by me first, but not enough to do anything about it now.

Enjoy your gorgeous kitchen Tricia!

You graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology and didn’t realize that there is more than one option of ”white” paint?

Sure, you can be upset… with yourself.

It’s like being upset after you been driving your new sedan around for a month that it’s not an SUV.

None of us knows exactly how the colors work together. If you look at the photos that rebunky posted, you can see that the cabinet color looks different in each photo. In the first photo the upper cabinets look yellow-ish but the lowers look whiter. In the second photo the upper cabinet on the left looks yellower than the one on the right. This illustrates just how unreliable colors can look in photos and on monitors. So it basically comes down to how the colors appear in real life in the OP's kitchen. And only she can determine that.

As to whether she should make an issue of it, well it depends on how she feels about the color combination. @tricia garofalo covello I would ask you how do you feel every time you walk into the kitchen? Does the cabinet color bother you immediately? Do you feel that the backsplash doesn't work with the cabinets? Or is it a problem only after looking intently at the whole composition and overthinking it? Sometimes when we complete a large and expensive renovation we tend to focus on the minutiae to the detriment of the whole.

However, if you decide it is indeed a problem, the least expensive alternative would be to change out the backsplash. Re-painting the cabinets on site will be very expensive and disruptive, and you may not even like them afterwards.

I wish you luck with the rest of the project!

Most of us find something to get upset about after a kitchen remodel (and some start freaking out mid-project). I think you need to live with your new kitchen and then decide if there is an element that needs changing. We all agree you need to change your bulbs first. Then reshoot and post updated photos.
Give yourself time to adjust to your new room.
It will make you happier to just let go of the whole “white” issue.

Hillside House

not that I asked for your opinion bc im sure you are one of the worlds most sought after kitchen designer but of course I knew there are many variations of white paint color what I didnt know was I can pick my own color from any paint comp as I never re did a kitchen before!!

So no I am not upset with my self!!

Thanks for your design advice lol

You LITERALLY posted here asking our opinions. I’m sorry I answered your question in a way you didn’t like.

As an amateur decorating enthusiast, I've been noticing . . . backsplashes and shades of white can really take us down a rabbit hole if we are not careful! Especially if family or company also have an opinion.
I did my first and only kitchen and bath remodel about 10 years ago. The number of choices was paralyzing and I was on a very tight budget. I got the people at the home improvement store to help me.
There is a part of decision making where you have to dig deep and stick to your guns. Stick to your guns.

The additional pics of your backsplash were a great help to me. The marble counter and backsplash have a lot of gray in it. A warm white would have looked cream or ivory next to them and next to anything else white in there.

Your designer did right, in my opinion, speaking as the current owner of almond cabinets. I think you also did right in what you told the designer.  If that person did not care to show those other choices to you, it tells me that person knew they were going to look funny. 

Tell whoever it is that "Shoulda woulda coulda" does not live there!

Please show us some more pics of this beautiful and classic kitchen!

@tricia garofalo covello - On gardenweb there is a lot of victim blaming and/or bias. You have to get past that. I am afraid that details matter in this.

Under normal circumstances your cabinet designer is not allowed to act unilaterally, but is allowed to limit choices presented. If you say that you just want white cabinets, your cabinet designer can't choose the white you want. You hired a cabinet designer for their expertise and familiarity with the product.

However, a cabinet designer doesn't have to present every available white to you for approval. They can probably say things like, "this is my favorite color on those cabinets, is it OK?" I say probably because if the cabinet designer is aware of other choices, such as tile and counter, the color must be acceptable in light of that knowledge.

Also, an interior designer who is designing the entire space could ask for complete creative control.

Now, the problem with your post. What are your damages? None of the above matters unless there are damages, regardless of how someone should act, if you were not damaged then there is nothing you can do.

So IF, your cabinet designer made a unilateral decision and because that decision was inappropriate you have to spend more money, then you should attempt to negotiate some accommodation.

Can you post a photo showing more of the kitchen? It’s hard to know how “off” the white cabinets are without a further-away shot.

Your cabinets are beautiful

tricia-

Is it possible that you are a perfectionist (a la Martha Stewart) and you keep trying to change things that are really quite fine already in pursuit of perfection?

Or a tad insecure, and are seeking to find some flaw that if you change, will really make the place perfect, and that perfection will somehow rub off on you?

Both of the above are really soul-sucking exhausting.

Not to mention ridiculously expensive.

Here's a tip.

There's no perfect kitchen.

There's no perfect anything.

Only God is perfect.

Now that you know that you can relax, because you can never live up to that standard,

God doesn't have a kitchen.

You made some very nice and livable choices that lots of people would be very happy to live with.

Even thrilled.

Enjoy your kitchen , love it, use it.

Invite some people over for a messy cupcake decorating party or something like that.

Anyone the least bit critical of your kitchen gets crossed off the friend list.

For real.

And think about whether you want to get crossed of your own friend list or do you want to be a friend to yourself.

Sheeet, I sound like a greeting card!

why don't you just change the bulbs like mentioned (4000K) take pictures, come back with said pictures, and lets see how it looks.

You are posting one crooked phone photo of a tiny piece of your kitchen and asking everyone if you should be upset (I don't know, should you? How could you tell a designer to pick a white, and that designer not bring you a sample door to show you? I don't get it )

yes, it looks yellow. 100% has to do w/your lighting

yes, change your bulbs.

yes come back w/more pictures and show the entire space.

You picked a color. You said plain white, and you got plain white.

loobab, I think you are correct, Poster has another post regarding her hood.

Maybe this kitchen will never be satisfactory.

I think your kitchen looks great as well. I did also see the other posts. Things are new; you need a chance to get used to it all.

It's a bit to late to change the hood. The backsplash would look even better if you took all the things on the counters away - that's interfering with the statement of those tiles. I also agree with others - change then bulbs and it should all be great! The other pictures look fabulous.

I hope you can settle in and enjoy it.

Hi - I think we’re missing some information. Did you have the countertop and backsplash picked out when you specified white and did the cabinet maker know? I think you’re lucky that it’s not a warm white. Warm white doesn’t go with Carrara, which is very cool.

What amazes me about a problem that really doesn't seem to be a problem, is that there are forty-two responses, most of which say that there really is no problem.

​Y'all, I just read some of the posts from the other threads in detail, plus she has a lot more pics. Mystery solved.

Some Houzzers *really* had negative comments about her backsplash, in both of the other threads. I saw the phrase "visual convulsions." They said tear it out or paint it (paint carrera marble?!) and it is a large kitchen.They questioned cabinets and countertop too. They went down the very rabbit hole described in my post.

To Tricia: Stick to your guns. 

You made solid neutral design choices here using quality materials. But you did not want it to look like everyone else's. This backsplash makes a splash! Matter of fact, use under cabinet lighting to show it off!

I prefer wood cabinets and a more casual look but if I bought a place with this kitchen, I would not change a thing! Just because *I* wouldn't have picked it doesn't mean the design is not good. *It definitely is!*

You don't need to do much to style it, it is already styled. Paint any walls a cool or neutral white. Change bulbs like the pros suggested. Lean toward more white, gold, glass/crystal, and a vase of red roses. Have a Valentine's Day cocktail party and dress up! Be proud of your Couture Kitchen!

Check out this discussion on Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6229174/follw-up-advice-on-backsplash-n-now-want-to-change-to-custom-hood-also

Clarification to my Houzzers . . .
I reread my comments and wanted to add that my intent was not to throw any shade on the negative feedback I mentioned. My intent was to make people aware that this feedback was out there, and this is why Ms. Tricia kept posting threads. No one was out of order, they were just stating their personal opinion which is what we do on Houzz.
My take away personally is for me to be more mindful when I give feedback, that I take care to not upset someone or make them second guess something they like, especially since I'm not a pro.  I don't have time to reread my posts right now, but I apologize if I have done this.
I love decorating and I love the conversations we have on Houzz, especially during this pandemic and some other difficult times. Ms. Tricia, I hope you will not be a stranger on Houzz. I have been privileged to have met so many bright and creative people here.

Tricia, I'm not sure where you get that my post was angry - I don't think anyone else saw that either. I tried to help you in one of your other threads seeking advice, and also tried to help the people who had questions here with your new issues. I will take your most recent request to heart however, and just skip over your posts in the future.

Yes, I'd be upset if I said "white," and they (being the "expert" cabinet designer, who should know if the manufacturer offers more than one white color) did not respond "which one?"

Also learned the hard way to respond "what are my choices," when builder asked "is xxx OK?"

Some "pros" (probably in every field) are more professional than others.

My parents are in the planning phase of a kitchen remodel. I went with them to meet with the cabinet maker for the custom cabinetry. My mom said she wanted white, and he said sure. I said, wait a minute… which white? What are the options? Can we see samples? At that point he said “White is white, unless you live in [nearby really expensive resort town.] No one else cares.”

So, am I surprised that a cabinet maker is happy to just do “white” cabinets? No. I’m sure there are lots or people out there who don’t think they care until the get the cabinets in and realize they don’t like how they look with their countertop/trim/floor tile/whatever. And then it’s too late.

As others have said, your kitchen is lovely.

You could have picked a white yourself and it would have been the wrong white.

Move on.

Life is always about balancing what we envision with the reality of what actually is. Sometimes projects may not turn out exactly like the picture in our heads, but that does not mean that the end result isn’t beautiful. Your kitchen is lovely.

I have to agree with bry911, I haven't read many comments just a few here and there so I will add my 2 cents :-).

Someone mentioned the OP "delegated the choice"... Delegation of choice would be if she told the designer I leave it up to you to select "which white would work best". That would be "deligation of choice".

Some said "you should know there are many shades of whites" yes there is but who is a PRO, in this case, it's the Pro's job to get exactly what the customer wants... Take painting as an example... 100's shades of whites, this is why any designer or a painter after selection is made, will get a sample or a few of the selected colors/s and show the customer exactly what it will look like on her wall in home's lighting environment, etc.

The same goes here.

She specifically asked " for plain all-white cabinets" therefore if there are more shades of white available, the designer should provide her with a sample of whites to choose from...

The way I look at it, that wasn't "deligation of choice" ...Just saying.

I designed and installed 100's kitchens and every single job before I ordered anything, I made sure that it was the color or stain the customer wanted. If samples weren't available in the showroom, I never relied on catalog selections, I always provided an RT sample by ordering the door so the customer can see exactly what she will get.

Put all that aside, the kitchen looks beautiful.

Good luck

Hi Tricia! How are you liking the kitchen? Any updates?