mhcassell

Kitchen Facelift

3 years ago


Getting ready to repaint the cabinets a different white from more dove white and the walls. The island is wood and the countertops black around the parimeter and seafoam on the island. I’d like to brighten things up. I think the beige backspash and wallpaint is very 10 years ago. What would you suggest with the backsplash that is very warm beige. Too expenseive to replace. Afraid to paint it. I need color suggestions for a white for cabinets and a paint for the walls and any thoughts on the backsplash. thanks!

Comments (35)

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    the first thing you need to redo, like now, is your lighting. I can't tell what color anything is w/those dim lights. Please go get some 4000 bulbs, install them, and take some new pics.

    your lighting is on the left


    Why would you paint white cabs w/white dove paint? white dove leans on the dingy side. if you want to brighten things up, that isn't the right shade. (Again, you need new lighting)

    I don't see anything wrong w/those white cabinets. Painting them would be north of 6K. if youcan't afford to change your backsplash, you can't afford to paint those cabs either!

    Also, can't even see the island, or the flooring, or how it relates to the rest of the room.

    I don't mind your splash w/the black countertop. I like your window treatment too.

    can't really see the colors of the wall or anything else

    I'd start w/lights, wall color, counter stools, prob a new backsplash (removing the 2" black piece along w/the tile)


    Pls stand back and shoot more photos after you've replaced those horrible bulbs with 4000K. no higher




  • 3 years ago

    I thought at first that your picture was an After; I think it's really nice! Love the window treatment, and your cabinets and backsplash look classic (except for maybe the short piece of countertop material at the bottom of your backsplash but not sure if it's worth the cost to replace the entire backsplash). Is that zellige tile? The pieces that look most dated to me are the island top and the light fixture. Can you post a picture from further back so we can see the current wall color?

  • 3 years ago

    The real culprit is like pro said the lighting and then second is the two dark countertops. I think chosen a lighter countertop on the island it wouldn't look so dark.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    The real culprit is like pro said the lighting and then second is the two dark countertops. I think chosen a lighter countertop on the island it wouldn't look so dark. Better yet paint the island cabinet same color as your other cabinets i think that might also help cut the darkness.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I have to agree, those light bulbs make everything look dingy and yellow, and I am sure the room doesnt really look like that. Please change out your light bulbs to led 3500k or 4000k daylight type bulbs, and then repost your pictures, showing more of the kitchen. Without proper lighting, anything you change, will still look dark, and dingy

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Totally change all the bulbs to LED 4000K right awy the cabinets will look whiter. The beige IMO needs to go and backsplash is not horribly expensive and if you are a bit Diy able patching the drywall is not that hard and since tile in going over it it does not need to be perfect .You say the island is seafoam granite that right there tells me to fix the lighting first and then paint the island cabinets the same as the rest. IMO you either have a different colored island and the same counter everywhere or a different island counter and all the same cabinet color but not both.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Definitely need to change bulbs in the fixtures. At first glance I thought you cabinets were salmon colored.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Your cabinetry is beautiful. A site-finished paint job could cost as much as $10k professionally, and will be still be MUCH less durable than the factory finish that currently exists. I would change the lighting, paint the walls, change the backsplash, and change the counters (in order of cost) before I painted those cabinets. They sell stick-on vinyl backsplash on Amazon that is pretty realistic looking - you could even try that as a temporary (or permanent) option to brighten the space - or you could even paint your current backplash with tile paint.

  • 3 years ago

    Another vote to reconsider where your effort and money will be going. First, change the bulbs and reshoot the photos.

    Your backsplash should get the money you'd spend on the cabinets. Then a new top for the island (maybe - hard to see the colors right now).

  • 3 years ago

    Your kitchen's cabinets are classic in design and color. I would not paint them. So are your plain black counters. The island top is the only part that doesn't look classic to me. I would do a white honed marble top and for a backsplash, a subway tile in a pale blue or green.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Need some more pictures to tell what is going on. I agree with others - things look great right now ( maybe change the island top ) and freshen the wall paint and lighting.


  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Here's one idea for your kitchen. I would paint the island the same colour as the white cabinets. If you can change the countertop on the island to match in black it would also look nice. I would suggest a white subway tile backsplash, and you can also do different patterns with the plain subway tile, And yes, you definately have to improve you light bulbs you'll be surprised by the result!



  • 3 years ago

    Re: " very 10 years ago " Its ironic that 10 years ago this would have been considered a "timeless" kitchen LOL. Sorry OP, dont mean to pick on you, but this has become quite the disposable culture hasnt it. I replaced my tenants cabs and kitchen in 2007 and to write off the depreciation expense it was amortized to 27 years, meaning the ilfe expectancy of a new kitchen was supposed to be 27 yrs. Im now 16 yrs later having to replace/reconfigure the space.


    Re your colors, what is your floor color/ The browns/golds of the stone do repeat the colors of any wood tones you might have in the space, so I wouldnt be in too much of a hurry to yank that out. I would just rethink the black counters and there are epoxy based products that are supposed to work well over ceramic tile - one of them is rustoleum tub and tile which I have not used, would be interested in others experience.

  • 3 years ago

    Leave the cabinets alone and put your money into replacing the backsplash and island countertop with something that will make the white look new again.


  • 3 years ago

    I'm planning to install "dove white" (which I call ivory) cabinets just like this in my kitchen along with dark gray soapstone countertops. As others have said, this is a timeless kitchen style. However. That beige is doing you no favors, and I believe you would be happy if you just replaced that beige backsplash and that beige island countertop.

  • 3 years ago

    If you are looking for a color palette to go with white/beige, I would go with light blue for a sort of beachy theme. (I do agree that you need to change your lighting) but ultimately what you do is your decision. No one on these boards lives there-you do.

  • 3 years ago

    My 2 cents: First, adjust lights to give TRUE color rendition. Keep white cabinets (top & bottom) as is, also keep black perimeter countertop. Repaint walls; replace or recover or even just paint backsplash...it is "bringing down" the whole room. THEN, reassess the island. From what shows in photo, island counter and cabs seem to clash with perimeter rather than enhance. But remedy best judged once lighting is truer and perimeter updated.

  • 3 years ago

    I am about to change the light figure permanent led lights above the sink its too warm. Does anyone know brand of microwave range hood light daylight bulb when I am cooking can't tell if my food cooked since makea chicken and pork chops a weird hue..

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    LED 4000K is what I use all the time in kitchens and I run a catering biz from mine so keeping color true is a big deal.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    The black counters are nice - they almost remind me of an oiled soapstone - a very popular look. The back splash seems out of place as does the island top. I would sort those out then choose a piant color.

    Good luck!

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    How about white quartz on the island; remove window treatment; paint the walls B.M. Collingwood.


    Don't paint the cabinets.

  • 3 years ago

    Wow. You already have a beautiful kitchen. I think this desire is about something other than a new kitchen. Why do you want a change?

  • 3 years ago

    I think your island granite is the same as ours! It has an Italian name w sand in it? I wish I could find a remanent piece for the top of our oven--damn installer forgot to include it 17 years ago!

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    you have a beautiful kitchen now. one that many that follow these post would love to have. don't paint the cabinets! you can't paint a better finish than factory. if you like the blues in your curtain bring more of that in with wall color, backsplash and accessaries. changing your light fixture would help alot. get one with the same finish as the cabinet hardware.

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  • 3 years ago

    Keep cabinets - they are perfect, do not paint, painting is for folks who want to flip their houses or just want a quick fix and aren’t in it for the long term. What you have is great. Just think about updating the counters and definitely changing the lighting - maybe even add some under the cabinet lighting to help brighten things up a bit.

  • 3 years ago

    Agree with the pros who are encouraging you to upgrade your lighting. We can't see if you have an over the sink light, or any can lights in the ceiling anywhere. If not, you could have an electrician come and add some. Fix your lighting first so that when you bring home your island counter and backsplash samples, you'll be able to judge them accurately and choose.


    Then pick a new island counter and backsplash. Post your backsplash and island counter samples here and the pros will weigh in again.


    All in all you'll probably spend a lot less than painting the cabinets would have cost you, and it will make a huge difference. Painting the cabinets a different white won't make much difference at all - and you'd still be left with the same problems of the lighting, island counter and backsplash. You'd be wasting money. Good luck!

  • 3 years ago

    It looks like the original poster has not been back?

    I just read through and thought that changing the lighting and the island countertop would be the way to go.


    hope @mhcassell comes back to comment.

  • 3 years ago



    Hello I’m back with some revised pictures and new questions. We removed the island and bar granite and replaced with a white quartz that has a design with a bit of black and dove to compliment the perimeter black counters and dove cabinets.

    We also replaced the bulbs in the island lights with daylight bulbs. Problem now is with those lights that shine predominately on the lower cabinets they look very white and the uppers look cream. its not a good look. Also looks like an operating room. very cool and not warm at all.


    We do not have it in the budget to replace either of the backsplashes. We are thinking of painting the kitchen backsplash the same color as the cabinets Using a higher gloss paint. I’d like to find three new counter stools with backs and two new pendant lights for over the island. I’d also like to change the hardware on the cabinets to black. Lastly we plan to repaint the walls BM Pale Oak. If you look to either side of the sink you can see the current darker color.


    My questions are

    Does the bar backsplash look okay witg the new counters and is the seaglass look dated. If so what suggestions do you have? I can’t have just painted drywall because it gets too messy at the bar with splashes.

    Thoughts on painting the kitchen backsplash same colir as cabinets but in a gloss. Can’t keep the current color it is way too beige and dark.

    Ideas on a style of pendant lights (black to match hardware and counters or white which could be too many whites in the kitchen)

    Lightbulb problem with the upper and lower cabinets reading two different colors.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Personally I think your backsplash ( both of them ) look fine. Those lights over the island are hanging very low. I would raise them higher. The warmth of natural light is completely blocked off by the curtain.

    Can you take a picture with all the lights on? You will always have different looking cabinet colors when only one light source is turned on.

    Hope this helps a little!

  • 3 years ago

    Thank you Debbi. heres a picture with the over heads, under cab and in cab lights on. Lights are low because they’d otherwise be shining in you eyes when you‘re seated if they were higher.


  • 3 years ago

    I am suspecting that playing with the lighting will balance your space. yes, the island lighting is very white whilst the remainder are very yellow. You might need to find something in between. The down lights are also very warm. How about bringing the down lights up to the bright, or a brighter, white? Doing this could even out the cabinet colour perception.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Oh, that new island countertop looks so good with the cabinets and black counters! I agree with others who have said that you probably need to play with light bulbs until you find something that works. As for the backsplash, I don't think a plain white would look nice, since you need some color or at least some texture there. Plain white would make it look like a hospital, as you said. If you're set on painting, why not try a stencil? Or just follow the existing tile pattern with differing shades of paint. I think the bar backsplash looks great and you could even echo those colors in the kitchen backsplash.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I think it looks nice. nothing wrong w/this other than these pendants are way too low (which Debbi said)






    I think the pendants are a tad small if you're just doing two of them.

    I may have gone w/something like this



    I wouldn't paint the backsplash tile. save up and replace it next year if you really want something diff.

    Make sure the bulbs are 3500-4000K. nothing brighter. ditto the bulbs in the pendant.

    make sure the under cab lights also fall in the same range.

  • 3 years ago

    Wow you work fast ! And it looks great. I agree that other than raising the pendants ( and maybe changing them) it all looks wonderful.

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