I would do cream for your cabinets and dark for your island. You can add a decorative newel to each end of your island to dress it up and make it feel more like furniture. Above your kitchen cabinets where you have the drop ceinling, I would make it look like a tall molding above your cabinets. Add crown molding on top and a smaller molding at the bottome of drop just above the cabinets. You can paint it white to match the trim and doors on your pantry or paint it the same color as your cabinets to make them feel taller. For cutouts, I would cut out over your desk to display things or the cabinet left of your window to show off dishes. I would paint your family room the same as your kitchen, same as the wall going down the hall. That color will lighten up your family room.

Hi jhundman -- I think your right to want to paint the cabinets. Oak is so over with by about 15 yrs. And it's only paint ! Benjamin Moore Paints has color cards you can buy and also test paint pots. So pick your colors and get the cards to tape around so you can see what they look like day and night. I noticed your appliances are not the same colors - are you getting new ? I think the top cabinets would look good in a warm white with some doors having textured glass. And the base cabinets in the color you put on your bookcases and the island the same warm white as the uppers. I like the color in your family room so paint your kitchen walls the same or a tone or two lighter so it all belongs together. The bar can also have the white uppers with the dark base but I would really do it all dark with maybe some mirror back splash and mirror the upper doors and put in a wine fridge. Matchup the window coverings. Update your light fixtures and add some under cabinet task lights if you don't have them . Some new cabinet handles for a little sparkle. I see your fireplace mantel looks a little to high. Add a little more color in the family room with maybe some pillows and accessories in rust and greens. Everything else looks great - love the credenza and the puppy.

Kristy 055 I really like the idea of the crown molding on the drop ceiling and painting the same color as my cabinets.

Leffy 47 thanks for your input, I like all your ideas especially the bar area. As far as the appliances I will be replacing the oven and fridge. And yes I love the puppy too.

My kitchen is very similar,oak and brownish floor,so I would paint mine too.I am not sure what type of paint are you suggesting? Would it be some special paint for wood? I saw in The Home Depot paints for kitchen cabinets,is that what you are talking about?

Thanks

Your kitchen reminds me so much of mine. I'm wanting to paint cabinets also. You are fortunate to have a colored counter top (mine is white) and I'm in a dilemma as to what color to paint them - I love white but think that may be too much white.my suggestion is white or cream on top with a dark island. Glass in your desk cabinets only.

Over here painting oak stains is a big no no...we pay more for natural wood stains...when we want to go white it is much cheaper, almost half the price...so it's kind of strange to me to want to cover natural wood stains with a solid color..

Another idea is to reverse the tones, where the dark colour is the perimeter and the creamy tones are on the island. That is if you want a dark and dramatic kitchen.

I love the earlier suggestion of colour from bepsf,…..tomato red or barnyard red could be great on the island. Pick a tone that works with your fireplace brick if that is an idea you might explore, just so it doesn't compete or look out of place from your adjoining family room.

Best of luck!

We had Oak color cabinets that blended in with the wood floor in our kitchen. Instead of painting them with put on a varnish. This way we could still see some of the wood grain. We used a walnut vanish so they are now a walnut color. Also we painted the Sofets a dark brown which looks great and makes the kitchen look taller and the sofets look a lot better. We were able to go to a local paint store and take in a kitchen drawer. The put a sample on the back of the drawer so we could see what the color would look like. Another option would be to use the Cabinet restore they sell at home depot. Good luck!

Thanks for the picture, your cabinets look great. I like the same color on the soffit.

nice job on your kitchen ryenut! how long did tha ttake you to do?

@ Ryenut... There was no problem staining over a stain? Did you have to sand the cabinets down to the original wood first? and I'm agreeing with Jewelgirl.. How long did it take you? I love your soffit being the same colour.... as the cabinetry..

i think Thunder would work in your living/family room.. even though it is a grey.. it looks like your backsplash in kitchen is a grey-y beige.. so it would travel well into both.. but, pending on your colours you choose for your cabinetry.. i too like the idea of an off white/ivory/cream on the cabinets with the island darker.. it balances it well....

i need to remember that not everyone had the same paint issues that i did and that paint is really nice thing :) my entire kitchen and all the windows in our house were a huge lead abatement project. lead in the plaster, lead in the varnish (still have that) and lead in all my clean dishes. needless to say, when i first got the dishwasher, it was running and running and running.
i really like ryenut's pictures of the darker cabinets. it looks great.

This will give you a before and after look of a recent kitchen renovation. Countertops, island, and hood are new. All other cabinets and ceiling detail were painted an espresso brown lacquer. Original kitchen was the lighter color and new owners wanted a more contemporary modern look.

Thanks for all the replies and great ideas. So after lots of suggestions and looking at tons of pictures, I'm really excited to start this project.

I've decided to paint the perimeter a creamy white Benjamin Moore color OC- 11. I'm going to add crown and trim to the soffit and paint the same color as the cabinets. Hopefully change my hinges to hidden hinges if they can be, and change out the hardware.

The island I want to dress up the sides to make it look more like a piece of furniture and stain it an espresso color.

The desk I'm going to change to a bar. On the bottom I'm going to put a wine refrigerator with two small cabinets on the sides. The top cabinets I'm going to replace the doors for longer glass doors and add some glass shelves and lighting. This will be the same color of the island.

I've had a trim carpenter out to measure so now waiting for a price! Any other suggestions????

i'm so glad you are excited about your project. i don't know if this would be helpful or not? but i had small little cables installed in some of my cabinets so that when they are opened the hardware and door do not hit anything that could be marred.

have you completed the work ? would love to see the end result.

more pictures

desk changed to a bar.

Oh my goodness, so smart! Great choices, from the above cab trim to the island, and this bar -- wonderful use of what you had and what you could do with it. Terrific attention to detail as well; glad to hear of your finish plans -- fridge, chair legs, painting trim, recovering dining chair seats. A+!

You did an amazing job!! WOW!!! =) I love to see makeovers where people use what they have and rework it into a fresh and new look....!

Absolutely LOVE it - you did a fantastic job!!! The area above the cabinets is just so regal looking! Please post more pics when complete - just so beautiful--!!

LUV IT , LUV IT , LUV IT , Great Job !!!!

Wow thank you for all the nice comments!!! I'm really happy how its turning out can't wait to get the walls and trim painted. Wish I could replace my light fixtures maybe next year. For the walls I'm liking BM HC-69 its a chocolate brown and accessorize with peacock blue. If anyone has any suggestions please comment!

Ooh sounds yummy, I love dark brown. I did notice your light fixtures though...=) I think you need some slim pendant lights above your island, and something more updated over your table! I guess you could try painting the metal flat black or hammered brown if the light fixtures aren't expensive.

Your kitchen is looking great! A glaze would really make those doors pop. The contrasting color with the island was also a great idea and it really adds something to the space, it also provides a great touch to compliment the bar! Recessed (canned) lighting always looks nice in a kitchen, they take up little to no space and really brightens up a room. Under cabinet LED lights add a nice effect to the space as well (also make for great night lights!). Looks great!

What a transformation! You did an amazing job.

so what time is dinner? :) should we all bring something to pass? :)

wow. Amazing job! I'm super motivated to attack my kitchen walls for sure now! love the desk converted to a bar....

You did an incredible job. I have the same 90's kitchen and will be doing the same type of remodel. You are an inspiration!

Thanks everyone, Ive been wanting to do this for years but was really nervous about painting the cabinets and hating it. Now I wish I would have done this years ago. So today I decided to call a painter I have used before and they are coming next week to finish the walls and ceiling and trim for me. I would have done it but I was allergic to some product that I worked with and ended up with hives for 3 weeks finally feeling better. So next week you all can come for dinner.

Love what you did with the place!!
I suggest one step further to totally get you out of the 90's
Since your are gonna stain the bar legs darker consider recovering them in a fun interesting pattern. Aso I suggest replacing your kitchen chairs to a similar tyle like the bar stools, wood with fabric, room and board have some reasonable that would be great.

Lovely,…….great taste and great style for a long time to come. BRAVO :-)

Did you know you can paint your refrigerator? I have mine painted in a custom tinted chalkboard paint to match the colour of my cabinets so it blends in perfectly. That way, I didn't have to get a new refrigerator and it looks total custom. The bonus is, now that it's a chalkboard, I can easily write on it, things like grocery lists or notes to family members, etc. This idea may save you some money replacing appliances - unless of course, you're wanting to replace the refrigerator for other reasons.

No I didn't know you could paint a refrigerator! I'll look into that my husband doesn't want to replace something thats working. Thanks for the suggestion.

My sister painted her fridge with chalkboard paint. She and her toddler love it and it looks much more sophisticated than you would think!

very nicely done!

gave me some ideas i like it.

WOW... I can't believe that is the same kitchen! It looks AMAZING! I never would have guessed that some paint could update a room like that!

Can you give us more about details about type of paint you used? It is B. Moore but what kind? Did you strip old finish? Any coating after painting? I am scared to do that as well and I have to convince the my husband so I need as much details as possible. Thanks

Thank you for all the nice remarks. It is a lot of work but well worth it, here are the steps that I did. My paint store was very helpful all the prep work took longer then the painting but well worth it!

1st clean all the cabinets with tsp. let dry.

2nd lightly sand down with a med grit sand block.

3rd vacuumed then rinsed with a rag.

4th I caulked the back panel of the cabinet just looks nicer when the cabinet door is open.

5th primed with Stix's primer tinted the color of cabinet paint. I lightly sanded with a super fine sand block.

6th 2 coats of Advance paint lightly sanding between coats. This paint was great to work with levels out nicely with no brush strokes. Apply thin coats because it will drip! The color I used was Hush Benjamin moore color.

Island and Bar

1st, 2nd and 3rd steps the same as the cream cabinets I did not do step 4

5th 2 coats of gel stain I used Stain and Seal by Faux Effects color van dyke brown

6th I used Faux Effects Varnish Plus in satin finish.


I painted the cabinets with a brush and cabinet foam rollers that I found at loews, I can't see one brush stroke they are great.

updated pictures

more pictures

bar

Can you tell me how you transformed your soffits? It looks totally different! I would love to do this to my 90's kitchen!

prairiecta - I had a trim carpenter add crown molding to the soffits, I also had him add trim to the island.

@Jhundman
Thank you so much for detailed description. I showed your project to my husband, he was amazed and he would like us to do our kitchen thanks to your
post. Now it is my turn to get excited and get headache from pictures and colours :-)

What a transformation! It looks about a thousand times better now. Congratulations on having such a lovely kitchen. Your hard work really paid off.

BRAVO!!!!!!! Beautiful and so kind of you to share your process... Lovely...