Before and After: 3 Refreshing Green Kitchens
Rich green cabinets banish the banal in these redesigned cooking spaces
Green’s annual moment of glory is upon us, with plenty o’ folks donning emerald and shamrock hues to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But green can enliven the heart of the home all year round, especially when all the cabinets march to the same color tune. Here we share how designers revived three kitchens with cabinets in shades of green from subtle to vivacious.
After: Aordkian removed the upper cabinets to brighten the space with plenty of natural light — all the better to see the charming new cabinets, marble-look Viatera Lumina quartz counters and mixed metals in the hardware and fixtures. The cabinets are in celadon green.
Getting rid of the peninsula made room for an island with seating on two sides, keeping the work triangle open. Open shelving, a clear glass globe pendant and lots of white finishes create an airy look despite the low ceiling. Aordkian also added nifty storage features, including a lazy Susan in a corner cabinet and a pullout bin for trash and recycling next to the dishwasher.
Cabinets: Kitchen Magic; cabinet hardware: Amerock
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Getting rid of the peninsula made room for an island with seating on two sides, keeping the work triangle open. Open shelving, a clear glass globe pendant and lots of white finishes create an airy look despite the low ceiling. Aordkian also added nifty storage features, including a lazy Susan in a corner cabinet and a pullout bin for trash and recycling next to the dishwasher.
Cabinets: Kitchen Magic; cabinet hardware: Amerock
Read more about this makeover
“After” photos by Lauren Konrad
2. Naturally Neutral
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A doctor, a stay-at-home dad, their two elementary-school-age daughters, two dogs and a cat
Location: Winterset, Iowa
Size: 315 square feet (29 square meters)
Designers: Alicia Held-Morris and Jillian Lare of Morris Lare
Before: Stuck in the 1990s and with a tight U-shaped layout and a protruding fridge, this Iowa kitchen wasn’t ideal. The homeowners wanted more room and better flow, with an island where they, their two kids and their large extended family could gather. They also wanted the space to highlight their love of natural materials.
2. Naturally Neutral
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A doctor, a stay-at-home dad, their two elementary-school-age daughters, two dogs and a cat
Location: Winterset, Iowa
Size: 315 square feet (29 square meters)
Designers: Alicia Held-Morris and Jillian Lare of Morris Lare
Before: Stuck in the 1990s and with a tight U-shaped layout and a protruding fridge, this Iowa kitchen wasn’t ideal. The homeowners wanted more room and better flow, with an island where they, their two kids and their large extended family could gather. They also wanted the space to highlight their love of natural materials.
After: Designers Alicia Held-Morris and Jillian Lare of Morris Lare took down the fridge-backing wall, which divided the kitchen from a hall and laundry room, and relocated the laundry to a former workshop behind the range wall. They also removed two nonstructural columns, one of which can be seen in the foreground of the previous photo. The result: 25 extra square feet and a more open feel.
A new square island with storage and space-saving recesses for stools creates an entertaining hub, while double ovens and pantry storage support cooking for a crowd. But the cabinets have the aesthetic starring role, painted in Mountain Pass by Sherwin-Williams — a deep green with a touch of blue. The color creates an eye-catching backdrop while still acting as a neutral, beautifully setting off the white oak island and flooring.
Flooring: Palladio hardwood in Barley, PanTim Wood Products
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A new square island with storage and space-saving recesses for stools creates an entertaining hub, while double ovens and pantry storage support cooking for a crowd. But the cabinets have the aesthetic starring role, painted in Mountain Pass by Sherwin-Williams — a deep green with a touch of blue. The color creates an eye-catching backdrop while still acting as a neutral, beautifully setting off the white oak island and flooring.
Flooring: Palladio hardwood in Barley, PanTim Wood Products
Shop for kitchen islands and carts
In this pulled-back shot, you can better see the improved flow and entertaining setup. The new solid oak dining table is extendable.
The new fridge and the cabinetry wall line up with glass double doors leading to a home office, creating an even look — no more unsightly protrusions anywhere.
Dining table: Slice, Oroa
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The new fridge and the cabinetry wall line up with glass double doors leading to a home office, creating an even look — no more unsightly protrusions anywhere.
Dining table: Slice, Oroa
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“After” photos by Jeri Koegel Photography
3. Deeply Attractive
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: San Clemente, California
Size: 190 square feet (18 square meters)
Designer: Joseph Rodrigues Interiors
Before: These California homeowners didn’t like the tight feel, plethora of honey-colored wood cabinets and cluttered-looking tile in their G-shaped kitchen. They did, however, want to keep the charm of the home’s style: Spanish Colonial with Mediterranean flair. Designer Joseph Rodrigues was up to the challenge.
3. Deeply Attractive
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: San Clemente, California
Size: 190 square feet (18 square meters)
Designer: Joseph Rodrigues Interiors
Before: These California homeowners didn’t like the tight feel, plethora of honey-colored wood cabinets and cluttered-looking tile in their G-shaped kitchen. They did, however, want to keep the charm of the home’s style: Spanish Colonial with Mediterranean flair. Designer Joseph Rodrigues was up to the challenge.
After: The appliances, tile, island and peninsula all got the boot, as did the tray ceiling. Rodrigues then raised the ceiling by about a foot and switched the layout to a U shape. This not only added about 10 square feet, but also created much better flow.
We can’t go any further without discussing those gorgeous green cabinets, however. Painted in a deep pine color, Benjamin Moore’s Tarrytown Green, they help update the kitchen to transitional style without losing the Mediterranean flavor. They also hide many of the appliances and have plenty of storage, eliminating the cluttered look.
Arabesque backsplash tile and a band of handmade tile on the range hood add to the charm, while glass pendant lights contribute to the open look.
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We can’t go any further without discussing those gorgeous green cabinets, however. Painted in a deep pine color, Benjamin Moore’s Tarrytown Green, they help update the kitchen to transitional style without losing the Mediterranean flavor. They also hide many of the appliances and have plenty of storage, eliminating the cluttered look.
Arabesque backsplash tile and a band of handmade tile on the range hood add to the charm, while glass pendant lights contribute to the open look.
Find a kitchen remodeler near you
Before: The island had a large induction cooktop but hardly any counter surface. And having the fridge, double wall ovens and microwave bunched up near it created bottlenecks.
After: Relocating the wall ovens made room for this soothingly streamlined appliance garage and wine fridge. They enhance the clean look and put the focus on the lovely cabinet color.
Read more about this makeover
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Read more about this makeover
More on Houzz
How to Design a Kitchen With Green Cabinets
10 Gorgeous Green Paints for Kitchen Islands and Cabinets
Browse kitchen photos for more inspiration
Find a kitchen designer
Shop for kitchen products
1. Serene Celadon
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their young daughter
Location: Reading, Massachusetts
Size: 195 square feet (18 square meters); 13 by 15 feet
Designer: Heather Aordkian of Kitchen Magic
Before: With light-blocking upper cabinets, a space-crowding peninsula and a generic look that leaned heavily on brown, this Massachusetts kitchen didn’t suit the homeowners and their young daughter aesthetically or functionally. Designer Heather Aordkian of Kitchen Magic came on board to give the space a more open feel, better storage and a livelier style with personal touches.
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