remodel kitchen advice.

2 years ago

I’m looking at making the kitchen look newer and cleaner. Unfortunately the backsplash tile is the same as the floor tile we are considering selling within the next year. We have just changed all the carpet throughout the house to wood flooring however, even though we still have only a year to live here I really want to, take down the cabinets and paint them properly. I have done a lot of research on how to do this so it looks professional. I am just hoping maybe someone could give me some additional advice or colour advice I was considering doing a white cabinet. I don’t know if there’s a specific shade I should do. Would it be better if I changed the Handles the countertop does have to stay black however is there anything I could do to the backsplash even though it’s the same tile as the flooring? I’m also hoping that if the kitchen looks nicer, it might also help in the selling process. A lot of people around me have told me just to leave the kitchen as is since it will be getting put for sale however for me to live here for another year I just can’t take the darkness of it.

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Jenn-z9b-AZ

2 years ago

Do not paint the cabinets. Dark woods are just coming back into popularity.

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Comments (7)

PRO
Minardi
2 years ago
What would be the most you would want to spend here? Because this whole thing is pretty dark, and you need either new lighter counters, or under cabinet lights, or both. Not just a new backsplash.
herbflavor
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
call an electrician and get a ceiling can lighting plan. the track light is not horrible but it looks like a leftover issue that never got the proper update. the kitchen is not that dark..... regardless... lighting is about one of the most important things . lighter granite with a white background and some browns will work with the floor and cabinets...if I felt the need Id go that route, but still think new buyers appreciate picking out counter for themselves. Dont paint the cabinets.
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Ann
2 years ago
Don't paint the cabinets! Invest in some lighting and a new backsplash.
3katz4me
2 years ago
Agree with other recommendations - don't paint the cabinets, get some better lighting and if you can't switch to lighter countertops then remove the tile backsplash and just paint it a lighter shade that goes with the floor.
apple_pie_order
2 years ago
If you want to make it brighter with lighting (the fastest and most effective way), choose a new fixture that has three 75-watt-equivalent LED bulbs, shaped like regular incandescent bulbs, not the highly directional LED bulbs in the old fixture. You get a lot more light from the 75-watt equivalent bulbs (available at big box stores) instead of the 60-watt-equivalent bulbs. It will make a huge difference compared to the old track fixture.

You can add undercabinet lighting, too.
Jan HT
2 years ago
I get the "dark" thing; same reason I painted ours but as someone who's painted MORE than her share of white cabinets over many yrs, I wouldn't do since you only have a yr to go. And they're nice looking cabs...maybe a buyer would prefer those to white. Lighting makes a huge diff and I'd suggest getting "warm" led bulbs and under cab lights which at least lends a nice ambience/coziness to a room vs DAYLIGHT which reminds me of a hospital room. Looks like that's what you have so maybe change those out.

No matter how perfectly you prep, prime, sand, etc, etc...even the highest quality paints don't hold up like ones professionally painted in a shop. This is especially true if you have kids, dogs or your big handed DH has something against using knobs and pulls...like mine does! I even sanded some of the drawers back to scratch and redid with oil paint a few yrs ago. Lasted a while longer but they're now again worn around the hardware.

Not sure painting the backsplash it would make much of a diff since yours is a very small area. You also have a lot of stuff hiding it.

It's more tedious and time consuming than you might think. I had just had surgery when I did ours and was on crutches for 6 wks so it was a perfect time to sit...and sit...and sit prepping/painting day after day!