I'd leave them as is. To have them painted professionally will be expensive and I don't think, for the money, it will make that big a difference. Consider replacing the fan lights and the chandelier.

Fabric on the double window will be a nice addition.

Over all, keep with the monochromatic look. Inspiration:

I have considered it. However it is a 2001 design, it has a dirty look, not plain beige as tou see it in the picture.

Maybe another similar shade?

How about the wall? Or Handles?

Green would be nice

Fineline Vienna March · More Info

the end area which is directly in the line of vision will need to be set up.....I'd eliminate the dark rose brown walls and get it set for use..you need a new dishwasher and fridge it appears. these actions will keep you busy......then figure out the surface changes in the kitchen. I personally think the cabinets could remain as is...I'd lean toward a new backsplash but the end seating area would be a priority.

an attractive/ light but not boring/ seating end of kitchen for comfortable use.

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What color would the end area be?

Unfortunately we have started some work on the cabinets.. The more I see it the more I regret touching it.

The initial plan was to take down the wall of the peninnsula and lower the island height.

We are leaving it as is.

The dark countertop is bothering me. However we can't change it now. We are painting and lighting change.

I need ideas..:(

"The more I see it the more I regret touching it."

Decorate in haste, rue at your leisure......

Why did you not ask? What color? We've no clue. You have other furnishings in the house? A style a color?

Find a nice soft white for the cabinets that looks good with the floor. Or a pretty sage green

I'd have a pity party for you, but I am quite honestly SO very tired of the rush to improve before even a move in, or a single week lived in a new to you home...that which should NOT be improved by anything other than a more substantial and more expensive change.

Life really isn't Amazon Prime.: )

Undo what you did to the best of your ability and live with it as is for at least 6 months. You very well may end up hating the entire layout and the kitchen not functional for you. Then the time and money you spent on painting the cabinets will be thrown out the window or stop you from doing what really needs to be done. The lesson here is to not start a project without a complete plan to the finish line unfortunately.

My two cents. Leave cabinets, countertops and backsplash alone. Get an area rug for dining area. Pick a color from the area rug for wall paint. Add accessories on your countertops. Update lighting fixtures.

I so agree stop before you really have issues . At least right now it sort of all goes together The cabinets are dated spending $$$$$$ to have them painted is not a wise choice.. Maybe paint all the walls everyhwere something less brown to start if you must do something. A new to you space needs time for you to figure out how it functions then you start saving for changes . I think any color will not change the fact this is a dated space so you know "lipstick on a pig" idea. The huge pot lights are not your frien and neither are the other bits of lighting do much needs to be done slow down and just use the space and see what NEEDS to be done

ignore the Tudor stylized pieces but a pale warm blue w the buttery cabinets that you have could be charming and bring the end zone to life ......do you plan on seating? As per question....can you pause the activities ? .....furnish your home.....use it.....then see what will be needed /desired for bigger appropriate changes. Frustrations mount when quick thoughts are put into action ...better to wait/ take notes/ gather inspirations. its your home....all you have to do right now is make it yours / take care of damaged or areas in disrepair....[not seeing that]

pale blue....your existing kitchen and dining can come to life.

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So helpful!

Yes planning on dining at the end area..

I have a rectangle table with 4 chairs.

My favorite colors are: light purple, yellow and cream..trying to figure out how and which room would these go to.

The living room of this kitchen looks like this

love the details. the home is traditional. if you will be purchasing some furnishings.....the furniture retailer in your area likely provides free design service. You might want to take advantage.

Since the real estate listing photos don't show the real condition and color of the wood cabinets very well:

Please turn on all the lights and take some new photos in broad daylight.

Include a piece of white paper for the camera to color balance.

How about cream tops and sage bottoms with golden handles?

White ceiling,

Nude shade walls?

Something like this?

the drawer fronts do not have the pesky double arch. thats a good position to be working WITH the existing space. Before you choose colors I might source new DOOR fronts for the hinged doors . you can see what vendors will provide in their colors OR ....MDF paint ready since you lean toward a big paint makeover. Make it worth your while. Also update your light bulbs / consider removal of the fans and bring paint cards into a space w updated lighting [LED] all this before selecting a color scheme. Gathering ideas is the start.....too soon to pick.

No two tone please

I would paint them a clean creamy color (not that dirty antique look you don't like). I think that will give you the fresh look you are needing right now. An new kitchen is a hell of a lot more expensive that painting. I would hire a professional painter for it though because it is a pain to paint cabinets and I am not that patient. I like the idea of some kitchen rugs/canisters/curtains that you can pull a color from for the eating area walls. I don't think the cabinet pulls look bad and the door style on the cabinets don't always have to be square shaker. Your door arches may not be the trend right now, but they are still pretty when painted fresh.

I know most people are currently choosing single level peninsulas and islands, but when I redo my kitchen I plan to add the raised bar with seating on my peninsula. It'll hide the visual clutter of things I need near my sink on the peninsula and give me more outlets.

Updating the light fixtures would be great too.

Why do I tend to love this

I don't know what colors you love, but blue green grays are very pretty with light taupe/beige floors.

Unless you like the arched door look, maybe consider installing new doors and drawer faces on the existing cabinets. The existing cabinets are mostly drawer stack which is good. If they are in sound condition with nice slides, I could see keeping them. Slab or shaker would look nice. Yes there’s a lot of doors and faces, but there are online places that make them to order.

Also, replacing the backsplash would not be a big job for a tile guy.

Freelance, you love it because you love highly saturated colors with a lot of contrast.

Congrats on the house! i think it is easy to get overwhelmed when a house needs a lot of work - the kitchen is the most expensive and technical reno (well baths are that too) I’d try to take it slowly room by room and make sure you’re not moving too quickly, we all tend to make mistakes when we rush (ask me how I know 😅)

fwiw you mentioned you liked lavender, our dining room is BM violet pearl and I think it’s a fabulous color

Yes to the sage green that has been suggested. That should provided a good foil for the flooring and backsplash.

I like the colors that Jennifer posted. Get large samples of each and look at in the space to make sure the neutral tones work. Also make sure they jive with your own furnishings you plan to use.

Here's an idea of what it would look like in the green you're considering. However I would do all cabinets in the same colour, not two tone with white tops.

I like the idea of painting them sage, but, please, not two toned. Whichever color you pick, please paint the tops and the bottoms the same color.

Here what I chose all, for a balanced and potentially modern and clean look. I may eventually change the backslash.  

Now I have to decide on the handles. Should I go for gold or black?

I would choose black handles, or even chrome, not gold.

How are you doing the painting? What paint are you using?

@john I will paint it myself Sherman colors

I agree with black hardware, I showed gold in above visual but prefer black.

Look into self-levelling paint for cabinets. Remove drawer faces (or whole drawer) and doors, remove pulls and other hardware, wash well w/ degreaser or TSP, lightly sand, patch as needed, find a non-dusty place to paint, remove dust w/ blower or tack cloth, primer coat, remove dust, paint coat, remove dust, second paint coat. Then do it again on the other side. Personally I would spray them. Reinstall.

Sherwin has a how-to guide

The Complete Guide to Sherwin Williams Cabinet Paint: the 5 Best Paints and Primers - DIY Painting Tips

Did you look at those colors with your tile floor? Your paint selections are very ‘baby blue’ vs ‘sage’. Your tile floor is what is driving the bus. If you want more feedback you should prop those paints vertically against bright white paper next to the floor - in good lighting. Snap a photo and post here.

This is what I am choosing for lighting

If that is what you are doing over your breakfast table take note of the fact that those only direct light down and not overall or up. You don’t have any recessed lights in that area so that side of the room will be very dark

The colors clash with your flooring and backsplash.

Think of it like you were picking an outfit. If your pants were the color of your tile backsplash/floor would you wear a blue white shirt with a baby blue tie?

That is what you have selected.

They will be changed too

I DO wish when folks buy a home with some ugly.....they'd ask themselves their tolerances/ time for living with that "ugly"

Every dime spent on the attempt to rush some lipstick onto the face of a piggy, is almost always the money you wish you had for the change you'd love.

Are there exceptions to this? Yes.

Is this one of them ? Probably not.

I don't understand the hatred toward arched cabinets. I happen to really dislike shaker cabinets with the impossible to keep clean tight right angle corners.

I know that many people feel like you have to gut and replace kitchens that are more than 10 years old, but well made cabinets, granite countertops, tile floors and backsplashes can last 50 years +. There is no crime in keeping things you can live with that have a long useful life ahead of them. If anything the crime is filling our landfills for the sake of keeping pace with current trends.

I don't use much black in my home (almost none), so I would want to change the countertop in this house, but I could live with it for a few years and who knows, I may grow to like it after living with it.

Since the OP already started painting the cabinets they will need to be finished or she could attempt to strip and refinish just the area she painted.

What I see as the biggest challenge is the lack of planning and lack of understanding of creating a harmonious color palette that works with the whole home.

I so often see things go sideways because people pick colors and finishes like they are picking a new shirt. Little or no thought going into how everything will work together as you walk from room to room though the home. You need to pick a style and a color palette before you start picking all the bits and pieces. Before picking a color palette you need to know what you can realistically afford to change and how much you should invest in the home. Build your palette starting with the colors that must stay. Pick a neutral that works with the colors that must stay and find colors that you love in shades that work with the neutral. After picking your neutral pick your white (unless white is your neutral) and pick a white that works with the neutral and the colors that must stay.

If it were me, and the cabinets were in good shape, I wouldn't paint them, especially if you want to renovate the whole kitchen later. Maybe try to find new handles, or paint the walls since that is much easier and cheaper. However, if you aren't going to renovate anytime soon, I say pick a color that you love. The tile and countertop appear to be neutral, so I think that you should follow your heart and pick something you love. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

NO use in spending the 15K to paint them and all the carpentry to redo a few minor things. Save that and spend it later on a REAL full redo that starts with that *flooring* that is going to cost you $20 a square to remove and do something else.

This is what I decided to do with this kitchen :)

Shoji White cabinets.

looking for rugs to add a color, toaster and maybe a vase of flowers.

We just koved a few days ago and we absolutely love it.

Thank you all for your comments.