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Can’t seem to pick a paint color to update my kitchen cabinets.

5 months ago
last modified: 5 months ago

Trying to update my 90s kitchen


but dont want to change my countertops nor the backsplash. Do I go a lighter tone or mesihm tone?

Comments (24)

  • 5 months ago

    That’s so interesting, because to my eye, what you need to do to update that space is leave the cabinets alone, change the counters and absolutely change the backsplash. And remove the valence. The thing that dates your cabinets is not the finish but some of the millwork. Still, it’s all been in place for so long you should probably leave all the corbels and curliqueues alone. For new counters I’d consider one of the less-yellow granites since you are fond of granite, and a backsplash of ceramic tile instead of stone tile plus medallion.

  • PRO
    5 months ago

    A soft warm white is all you need..maybe add black hardware..remove window valance.


    HU-273446971 thanked Home Interiors With Ease
  • 5 months ago

    Your floor is quite yellowy and Okey. A nice counter balance to that would be a medium grey cabinet with warm gold hardware. Your countertops will play nicely with that. The backsplash should also be changed out and you’ll see a huge difference. A Glass subway tile would be very nice on the backsplash. Make sure you get a glass that has a gray tone and not a green tone.

  • 5 months ago

    *oak-y

  • PRO
    5 months ago

    It really depends on how much you want to update your kitchen. If you want to go more modern with clean lines it will take more than just paint. The style of the cabinets, the countertops and backsplash all together date your kitchen to past design trends.

    HU-273446971 thanked Norwood Architects
  • 5 months ago

    A good paint job with proper prep will cost dam near the same as new tops. I would not paint those either.

    HU-273446971 thanked millworkman
  • PRO
    5 months ago
    last modified: 5 months ago

    I do not mind the counter the backsplash behind the range screams 90s and so does the rest of the backsplash , the fabric window covering also. If you remove those , get better lighting then see if painting is worth the $$$$$$$ . I see dated cabinets , I have no idea of the function but having dated cabinets painted IMO is huge waste of money . I think what you have works well with the counter which BTW is real stone and worth leeping since it works well with what you have . Change the backspalsh to something simple maybe glass tile in a color from the counter with matching grout , loose the fabric and change all the lighting to LED 4000K then see if that is all you need to do. Wait save and then see if a huge change is what is needed

    HU-273446971 thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • PRO
    5 months ago

    The cabinets are the best thing about the space. The yellow stone and lack of light are what need changing.

    HU-273446971 thanked Minardi
  • 5 months ago
    last modified: 5 months ago

    The cabinets are fine. It’s the granny ruffles, awful backsplash, and gold granite that are the problem. New white counters with a new non fussy backsplash, new wall paint, and adding more lighting, is all that kitchen needs.

    HU-273446971 thanked Travestine
  • 5 months ago

    Adding to the fussiness is all the stuff on the counter.

    HU-273446971 thanked jinwpg
  • PRO
    5 months ago
    last modified: 5 months ago


    Vs---NO CONTEST



    HU-273446971 thanked Minardi
  • 5 months ago
    last modified: 5 months ago

    Yup - get rid of the valance and the ruffle and go with something more modern for the counters and the backsplash. Do not paint the cabinets.

    HU-273446971 thanked 3katz4me
  • 5 months ago

    Sorry to pile on, but the cabinets look nice, it's the backsplash and counters that are the issue (along with the window treatment).

    As suggested above,

    • Remove the valance and window treatment over the sink. Do you need anything on the window?
    • Remove the corbels flanking the range
    • Change out the backsplash and counters
    • Base & upper cabinet doors & drawer fronts - they actually look nice.
    • Protrusions - If you don't like them, there's probably nothing you can do about the protrusions in front of the sink and rangetop, but they don't actually look that bad.
    • Knobs & Pulls - you might consider changing them to all pulls without curves. I'm not sure that would make much of a difference, but it might. I'd try to change one of each to see how they look (don't drill new holes unless you know for certain you want them on the doors).
    • Floors - this one might be tricky if the flooring is not just in the Kitchen.


    Changing the backsplash and counters may not cost any more than a professional cabinet paint job. (If you don't have very good DIY cabinet painting skills and the facilities to do the painting that's as dust-free as possible, don't do it. When we were looking at houses, so many had poor DIY paint jobs. I'd cringe when I saw them b/c they often looked worse than what I imagined the original finish/color to be - which I could sometimes see in places where people thought they didn't have to paint b/c it wasn't out in the open.)

    Floors will probably be more expensive.


    One note: I've been "hearing" rumors that the Tuscan look from the 90s is coming back into style, so those details may be the up & coming thing! (I'd still get rid of them, though, but that's my personal opinion.)

    HU-273446971 thanked Buehl
  • PRO
    5 months ago

    The things you don't want to change are the actual issues with the kitchen. It would be cheaper to change them than to have the cabinets professionally painted. Plus, if you spent the 10-15K for a pro to finish those, you would still have the gold and travertine problem children dragging it down.

    HU-273446971 thanked McDonald Enterprises
  • PRO
    5 months ago

    Kitchen similar to yours...



    HU-273446971 thanked lisedv
  • 5 months ago

    Personally would not paint. that looks like real wood, looks like old money and is very much in style. Getting rid of the frills(the curtain), get rid of the clutter and update the small appliances to perhaps the light tan color of the 'beautiful' line at walmart. Id suggest getting a warm greige for the paint in the room to be updated to, and if you were going to splurge id get rid of the hobey oak flooring. if you can do that get some rugs/runners to distract from that. theres a grey patterned rug at ruggble thats one of their best sellers that would look great. painting the cabinets will make it look chintzy, cheap, and will be very dated since thats what everyobe and their brother did tyis past decade. real materials like what you have with helfty detailing is expensive and looks high-end. painting will deffinately bring down the overall feel to the kitchen and then it will likely clash with the backsplash and the projects will just keep coming to replace a kitchen that probably cost 25 grand, and thats back in the 90s - it would be so much more now!!

    HU-273446971 thanked Black_Rain_11
  • 5 months ago
    last modified: 5 months ago

    I like the countertop, but not the cabinets, so I too would paint the cabinets. I have never liked dark stained cabinets myself (and certainly not dark reddish stains), not since the mid-70s when my parents installed them lol.


    I agree with a light, warm white paint color like those named previously, like BM Navajo White or Pale Oak. I think a cooler tone like FB Shadow White would work with the counters, but a warmer color with more yellow looks better with the warmth of the existing floor.


    I would pick a lighter rather than medium paint color, because it's harder to harmonize the counter/backsplash and flooring colors with a deeper paint color.

    HU-273446971 thanked andersons21
  • 5 months ago

    Why don't you want to change your countertops and backsplash? Is it that you really love them or is there some other reason? I'd be it could cost the same or less to change the countertop and splash than to get a really good professional paint job of your cabinets.


    Your countertops look quite yellow in the far away pic but not in the close up. If you end up painting, change your light bulbs to a less yellowing color prior to hanging paint swatches on the cabinets.


    Are you familiar with samplize? You can order large paint swatches. Try getting the Pale Oak that @lisedv suggested and see what you think. Does new paint really look good with that dated counter and dated splash?

    HU-273446971 thanked Kendrah
  • 5 months ago

    @lisedv - I think the OP's backsplash is darker and busier than the Kitchen you show. In particular, the BS over the range is very different.


    We haven't heard from the OP yet. Is this another "drive by" post?

    HU-273446971 thanked Buehl
  • PRO
    5 months ago
    last modified: 5 months ago

    @Buehl

    Just inserted a picture of the backsplash over the range which, according to the OP's picture coordinates with the close-up picture of her granite counter.

    But we're making suggestions based on photos here . Anything suggested has to be looked at in person by the OP, and paint has to be tested before doing anything.



    HU-273446971 thanked lisedv
  • 5 months ago

    How about a more surgical approach to this reno? You change a couple things before committing to a large scale project. First, clear the kitchen countertops and remove all decor (sink valance). Paint the kitchen a nice warm off white or creme color. Add a large light colored rug with or without a pattern to break up the visual dominance of the floor. Then consider changing the backsplash to an off white or creme subway tile that coordinates with the countertop. Change light fixtures and cabinet knobs and pulls. I like the bones of this kitchen and the stately vibe it has. Sometimes redecorating is the answer.

    HU-273446971 thanked craftlr
  • 5 months ago

    We’ve all been pretty generous with our ideas.

    As @HU-273446971 hasn’t seen fit to thank anyone, reply to anyone, comment, let alone chose a username, I recommend we let this thread die. Don’t break your brains for someone who isn’t polite enough to say thank you.

    HU-273446971 thanked eam44
  • 5 months ago

    Im sorry, im currently dealing with some family issues and wasnt able to respond. i appreciate all the comments and will

    consider them while

    planning what to do