I kind of like that aqua color you show in the first photo. We did a kitchen with dark walnut and teal cabinets and it looked awesome. I don't have photos of it, but here's a rendering:

I don't think the pink would be a lasting option.

the aqua family, more subtle, Do you have alot of bold art to work in?

geometric rug? Love the walnut cabinets. will the finish be matte or glossy?

What a terrific house! Love all the colors. I’m with @Sabrina Alfin Interiors - I’d go with the green / aqua. I’m looking at the color of bottom of round table in last pic. & Sabrina’s rendering also convinces me. I like the pink & agree it can be in the mix but it feels more like an accent color rather than a main color like the white & aqua. I think a pink island will scream ”Look at Me!!” where an aqua will be an ”oh, wow! look at that island”. My totally unrelated question - those beautiful dogs! Are they Parti Poodles? They also are a great decor fit in their home - total coincidence I’m sure! 😊

Thank you all! I am also thinking the pink is too much!

@Sabrina Alfin Interiors That looks gorgeous. The problem is the mint is very saturated in real life. I could do a mint paint on the island cabs with white top, but I would have to do painted instead of laminate. The cabinet guy is worried the painted surface will get kicked.

@KW PNW Z8 Thank you! What do you think of all white with a small upper cabinet in some colors like the photo below? I feel like white will let the outdoors and achtecture be the focus, not the kichen..

@kandrewspa Thanks! I think you are right!

What do you think of the all white option with one small set of colored (mint/yeloowyellow/ pink) small upper cabinets? Then maybe all white for the bar with light pink backsplash?

Maybe I’ll just do white for the bar with a light pink backsplash then. The back pantry could be white with pink cut out to tie in to the small cabinet.

@Lyn Nielson The walnut is actually over ten years old. It has a very bad refinish job. There won’t be any walnut in the kitchen, partly because it fades so badly. I have a lot of very bold art. I’m thinking all white now with a small colored upper cabinet in the back

@KW PNW Z8 I forgot - Thank you! The dogs are bergamascos! Italian sheep dogs. They herd sheep in the alps. I have rescue birds and I wanted a hypoallergenic herding dog so they wouldnt be hunted. :)

Mostly chiming in to say that your house is so fun! You are clearly already good at incorporating pops of color, so i think i would err on the side of staying neutral with the permanent fixtures. then you can incorporate color however you want (maybe fun stools at the island?).

kandrewspa’s backsplash idea is also good—i like the Northgate one especially. are you keeping the waterfall style on the island?

@lomo the walnut is terrible. You cannot tell from the photos but finish is very rough with dark marks everywhere. Three separate contractors have seen it and say it’s very bad. Looks like cigarette burns in cabinets from a 1970s motel. :( I was originally going to replace the ultra faded orangey cabinets with new walnut but things were difficult to get during covid. So I refinished them, which looks terrible. I’m not doing walnut again. My new walnut master bath cabs are faded to orange in less than two years.

Just for reference, the original house had pink on the exterior. But I agree, it is too much for the island.

If it were me, I would not do any white cabs in this kitchen -- white just looks wrong in this space.

I like the green of the chair of you have in the first pic. That would be a better option than aqua, mint or pink for a color. It blends in beautifully with the space overall, including the stone wall and is going to be easier to live with than your other choices. It's a nice bridge between updated, colorful and fun and....and looking like you tried way too hard and veered into time capsule territory.

My first thought was a paler aqua to work with the pool and what you already have sprinkled around (sorry that the walnut has to go because it is so pretty with aqua.) You do have enough color that white should be nice.

For me, the pinky-pink wouldn’t be a choice but I would consider something like this for the far cabinet—- I think I’d like it with your stone and as complement to the existing aqua

Oh, didn’t realize that is your bar cabinet. My color would be a no-go with a mint sink.

Just get a quality cabinet maker, and do a light neutral brown with blue undertones stain on the walnut. That will keep it from fading into orange.

So you did the refinish job and it turned out bad and you're going to abandon a great idea for something much worse? Huh. Interesting

All your initial instincts for the room concept were correct. Sometimes it's hard to get out of our own way.

For the island, I think that the pink is too strong. The minty aqua is just right. White would be okay as well. It's not like your home has no other color!

You have good design sense, @rockybird. Trust yourself. There's more than one way to do this and since one (walnut) doesn't prove durable in your environment, go with the next.

I think the green is pretty fabulous actually. Definitely will be controversial for resale if that's a factor though. Too bad about the walnut - it looks great from a distance!

I like this subtler shade of BM Rose Silk next to the walnut.

Yellow for the island?

If you want laminate, look at Formica Just Rose.

Or light blue-green,

Formica Liquid Glass

Or I wonder how Formica Blush would work with your rock

Don’t let GC sway from painting island, a durable paint that cleans up well will work. Consider SW Evergreen Fog would be pretty.

Thank you eveyone!!!!

@porkchop_z5b_MI Thank you! That was actually my original idea! A green in slats to match the chair for the island cabs, white top. And white for everything else. I am thinking about going back that direction again. :)

@lharpie In person the mint looks super saturated What do you think of a darker green like the eames chair I have. It matches the plants outside.

@ffpalms I will get that color to try it out. I do love it. I only was looking at the other pink becase it was in laminate.

@bfenton Thanks! I thought about yellow, but i wonder if it’s too bright?

@palimpsest Those look great. Where can I get those colors? I have a lot of laminate samples but they don’t match those colors.

@bearbev Thanks! I’ll check that sample out.

@Fori thank you for understanding! That’s what I was thinking! I have so much color. Do I really need the color in the kitchen? Is it better to have it fade into the background and let the architecture, artwork and succulents and cacti stand out?

What do you think of a green to match this chair for the island, with slats? A white counter with waterfall. White floating cabs, white appliances. Then a small cabinet in a peachy pink where the walnut shelf is?

The only thing against the slats is I have slatted wood outside, but maybe that wont matter?

These are Formica. But go into Commercial rather than Residential.

They have been making all these websites very un-businesslike, and you have to navigate through a bunch of shopping-like inspiration pages to get the the content. I hate it.

You may have to further narrow results by clicking on Solid Colors

https://www.formica.com/en-us/products/lamtrade/colors?_gl=113toqxb_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5OOw3uXS_gIVEwtlCh2D3Aa_EAAYASAAEgIz0vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#sort=relevancy&f:Style=[Solid%20Colors]

I will pay you $50.00 to not use any gray or white.

If you love pink and green and expect to be in this house another 20 years, then there is no reason not to do it. But for most people pink and green would be a major turn off.

Definitely will be controversial for resale if that's a factor though.

No it won't for her house.

My old house was mostly green walls. It was the only house in our town to sell in 2010 in the throws of the recession.

My condo was mostly green/tans with a dark red bathroom. It sold for what was the second highest price of any condo in the building at the time. And we didn't have the view the other condo had.

If it's well done, the color will not deter someone.

I do like the aqua color too,

@KW PNW Z8 Thank you! What do you think of all white with a small upper cabinet in some colors like the photo below? I feel like white will let the outdoors and achtecture be the focus, not the kichen..

Houses of your vintage did not do white cabinets. They had color or wood. The white will be a negative for how the rest of your house is. I think the white would actually be too stark in your house,

White just looks stark and soulless.

AGREE!

What about picking up one of the colors in your great artwork? Or a darker green/turquoise color? My mother's first house had a dark turquoise that would work.

What do you think of a green to match this chair for the island, with slats? A white counter with waterfall

That would work but NO WATERFALL. That's a 2015 look and is so out of place for your house.

What worries me is you're being influenced by today's trends.

I will pay you $50.00 to not use any gray or white.

I'll pay you triple that!

@cpartist Thank you! I prefer a color but I am having trouble finding one. All of the laminate swatches appear too saturated and bright. I’ve purchased probably 25 paint samples at BM and I can’t find one. I’m at a loss. Here are some of my ispirations. I have got to figure this out tomorrow. Luckily I’m off work tomorrow so I can get more paint samples. :)

Okay I agree about the waterfall. I thought that might be outdated. Thanks!

More pink

I love pink kitchens!!! My thoughts....if you're getting new cabinets then don't be afraid of paint. Factory finished does not chip easily. If you're getting new white laminate cabinets, then I think your island should also be laminate, not painted. There are a number of manufacturers. Maybe some have subtler shades. For paint, we used Sherwin Williams Malted Milk in our bedrooms and love it. It's pink-ish. Farrow and Ball and Fine Paints of Europe have some very nice pinks too. If money is no object, Siematic also has a gorgeous pink cabinet door. (Maybe Rehau is in the same price range, idk).

@cheri127 thank you! i have a deposit with a cabinet co. but I will ask if siematic is an option. I will look into malted milk Very pretty! After looking at the photos I posted I wonder if I did the pink if the other cabinets need to be another color to dampen the pink?

Here are the laminate options I picked out. The darker ones are pretty dark greens, but not showing up well in the photos.

I have samples of all the fenix cab selection from rehau and the only one I like is the white. I like their product because apparently it is very durable.

I thought of yellow when looking at the outside of your posted pictures and with a white counter it could be a very crisp look. It doesnt have to be bright.

@blfenton i have these cabs in yellow. Maybe I’ll try a paint sample of it tomorro. Thank you!

I forgot i have a pink cabinet in another bathroom!

I don’t know anything about mcm style enough to help, but I love your home!

I remember seeing your kitchen and birds from your other posts.

I do love the walnut, but understand why it is not working for you.

It is too funny, because I happened to go down a rabbit hole looking at ”blush” kitchens just the other day. I saw many paired with dark greens and navy blue’s. I loved both of those combos.

However, I do think the pinks and mints you are showing are a little too much or saturated as you say for an open concept kitchen.

I love your pink and mustard yellow vanity though!

Since you have yellow and pink represented in other spaces of the home already, I vote for a very subtle mint green color in the kitchen.

With your floor being white, I do feel like you should bring in some wood somewhere though.

I sent you a private message.

You can paint and not worry about it “getting kicked.” Most marks and smudges will wipe off. And you will have saved a bit of leftover paint for touch ups, since it’s like any painted high traffic spot that gets lots of touches. Don’t let a contractor dictate your design choices.🙂

Re: painted cabinets From Remodelista:

The architects designed the kitchen with green spray-painted MDF: “It’s less expensive than laminate and doesn’t have that plasticky finish,” they say. The countertop is made by bespoke concrete specialists Warrington & Rose. Photograph by Nicholas Worley, courtesy of Simon Astridge Architecture Workshop.

Tile?

Unhide your refrigerator for the color, lol?

Do the pink. There's a pink background in the dalmation pic on the wall. I love it (and I think you do too...) But...... I think one of the reasons I love it is because it's so beautiful with the walnut. I am a little concerned about too much white - so if you do the pink - go big. Love the entire island AND another cab for the floating area to tie it together.

Isn't your patio tile a pink and something mix?

Enjoy! And I also love the laminate idea - I did my new interior doors in all laminate in all different colors. There's FUN STUFF in laminate. ;-)

I have concerns that a cabinet maker who cannot successfully do walnut cannot successfully do anything else either. Walnut just isn't that hard to do well. If there is a lot of UV exposure for it, a light stain will help with it not fading over time. A good cabinet maker knows this. And a good cabinet maker would not have messed up your existing either.

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, just because you are dealing with an incompetent cabinet guy. Fix the root of the problem. Find a better cabinet maker.

I feel like you should not do walnut or cherry in particular if you don't like the colors changing over a relatively short period of time.

Hope your deadline is not forcing a decision. Unless you are absolutely positive, can you postpone? It’s such a long term commitment that you’ll have to live with.

It seems your focus is the island color, but if it were me I’d take into consideration how the entire ”look” connects to the living area.

Maybe add some wood for warmth, colored backsplash and tiles on the island for texture and interest.

Could break up the expanse of white.

Are you set on white cabinets.

All this to say, consider all of your options if not committed.

Thanks everyone!! Today I am going to go get samples of a darker shade of green (to match outdoor aloe/agave), a couple shades of less saturated pink, light mint, lighter yellow. Maybe I will only do the back appliance cabs in white, but do the floating cabs in one color and the island in another.

@rebunky thank you for that inspiration! Yes walnut is out. Plus, to be honest, I think it looks a little dark. I will look into a mint color. I do have another vanity in mint, but it’s too saturated a color for such a big space.

@just_janni Yes I think I am starting to see that - maybe two colors - one for the floating cabs, one for the island. And then maybe white for the appliances with white miele. Great memory! I have a sorbet colored courtyard with pink planters.

@User Unfortunately the original cabinets I had put in by another custom cabinet maker. They immediately faded. This cabinet maker does cabinets for 5+million dollar homes. If his cabinets hadnt faded, I wouldnt be in this mess. The new master bathroom cabs were put in by the current cabinet co. and they have all faded in two years. I went into a 5 million dollar mcm home with newer cabs and those also were turning orange. I don’t trust anyone to do walnut anymore, tbh. :(

@Maureen thank you! Those photos are great . I gave myself this deadline. I probably can take a few more days. I think you are right - not so much white. I’m down to mint, a less saturated pink with maybe darker green/olive or blue floating cabs, dark green island with a color for the floating cabs (pink?) and mint. I think mint and pink would be too pastely?

When we moved into our west coast post and beam house 34 years ago the kitchen had walnut slab doors. Im the one who ruined them by using the wrong cleaner on them and wound up strippng them. I painted them cream the first time and several years later painted them white. After painting them white I never looked back. I loved them. If two-tone kitchens had been a thing then, I may have painted the lowers something different.

Once you narrow down colors, be sure to test in the kitchen, along with your tile choices. Would be great to see your finished kitchen. Good luck!

Is this a better representation of the colors?

Maybe a nod to the retro styling by using orange, or a boomerrang laminate counter.

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Boomerrang countertop example

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Wilsonart-5-ft-x-12-ft-Laminate-Sheet-in-Red-Glacier-Boomerang-with-Virtual-Design-Gloss-Finish-Y0526K137260144/306588404?g_store=&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D29B-029_026_STK_CNTRTOPS-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-FY23&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D29B-029_026_STK_CNTRTOPS-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-FY23-71700000109815989--&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=CjwKCAjwxr2iBhBJEiwAdXECwzYuSSDP2OWvvGDh-fOp7IpCQPIHdI5ZS1katk4rwvFkjOija54muBoCC8YQAvD_BwE

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