6 Kitchen Transformations Where Color Plays a Role
See how paint on cabinets and walls gives these kitchens a fresh look
If you’re tired of how your kitchen looks but aren’t ready to commit to a full renovation, paint just might be your new best friend. Painting the walls, cabinets or both can provide a relatively low-cost face-lift. And because paint is so easy to switch out, it’s less of a commitment than new countertops or backsplash. Read on to see how five homeowners and one renter used this simple tool to dramatically change the feel of their kitchens.
Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
AFTER: The couple worked with designer Stephanie Dickens to redo the space. Although the renovation included new floors, cabinets and appliances, it’s the bold wall paint that really makes the room memorable.
Painting tip: Choose a color you love for your kitchen. After all, why not?
Cabinets: Kensington door style in Designer White finish, Crystal Cabinets; cabinet knobs: Schaub & Company; appliance pulls: Top Knobs; floor tile: Purestone Grigo Matte, 12 by 24 inches, Mosaic Tile; accent wall paint: Dragon Fruit, Sherwin-Williams; ceiling paint: Ceiling Bright White, Sherwin-Williams; trim paint: High Reflective White, Sherwin-Williams
Read more about this remodel
AFTER: The couple worked with designer Stephanie Dickens to redo the space. Although the renovation included new floors, cabinets and appliances, it’s the bold wall paint that really makes the room memorable.
Painting tip: Choose a color you love for your kitchen. After all, why not?
Cabinets: Kensington door style in Designer White finish, Crystal Cabinets; cabinet knobs: Schaub & Company; appliance pulls: Top Knobs; floor tile: Purestone Grigo Matte, 12 by 24 inches, Mosaic Tile; accent wall paint: Dragon Fruit, Sherwin-Williams; ceiling paint: Ceiling Bright White, Sherwin-Williams; trim paint: High Reflective White, Sherwin-Williams
Read more about this remodel
2. More Personal in Portland
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two young children
Location: Portland, Oregon
Designer: Encircle Design and Build
Size: 220 square feet (20 square meters)
BEFORE: When the family purchased this 100-year-old home from a flipper, they got nice finishes that were designed to please the crowd. But they didn’t want a home that appealed to everyone.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two young children
Location: Portland, Oregon
Designer: Encircle Design and Build
Size: 220 square feet (20 square meters)
BEFORE: When the family purchased this 100-year-old home from a flipper, they got nice finishes that were designed to please the crowd. But they didn’t want a home that appealed to everyone.
AFTER: Instead, the owners, who are very involved in theater, chose to go with something more dramatic. They kept the cabinets in place — adding a few door inserts — but dramatically changed the room by painting the cabinets a bold avocado green.
Cabinet paint: The Goods 0794, Miller Paint
Read more about this remodel
Cabinet paint: The Goods 0794, Miller Paint
Read more about this remodel
3. Going Green in San Antonio
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Angela Aadahl and her dog, Mae
Location: Keystone Park neighborhood of San Antonio
Size: About 120 square feet (11 square meters)
BEFORE: This photo shows the original kitchen, along with the previous owner and Aadahl’s real estate agent, Bill Defrees.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Angela Aadahl and her dog, Mae
Location: Keystone Park neighborhood of San Antonio
Size: About 120 square feet (11 square meters)
BEFORE: This photo shows the original kitchen, along with the previous owner and Aadahl’s real estate agent, Bill Defrees.
AFTER: The kitchen was a complete DIY by Aadahl and some of her generous friends. She painted the existing lower cabinets green and pulled down the upper cabinets, replacing them with shelves.
Painting tip: Consider the charm of two-tone cabinets for a fresh look in an older kitchen.
Wall paint: Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams; cabinet paint, Privilege Green, Sherwin-Williams; hardware paint, Rust-Oleum; wine glasses: Annie Hanks Ceramics
Read more about this DIY remodel | Read more about the green kitchen trend | Read more about two-tone cabinets
Painting tip: Consider the charm of two-tone cabinets for a fresh look in an older kitchen.
Wall paint: Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams; cabinet paint, Privilege Green, Sherwin-Williams; hardware paint, Rust-Oleum; wine glasses: Annie Hanks Ceramics
Read more about this DIY remodel | Read more about the green kitchen trend | Read more about two-tone cabinets
4. Brighter in San Francisco
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Eva Muller, principal designer and co-founder of sfHeimat; Cory L. Bradley, oil painter; and their Hungarian Vizsla dog, King Cashus, usually just called Cashus
Location: Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 1,250 square feet (116 square meters); three bedrooms, 1½ baths
BEFORE: Muller saw the spacious kitchen as visually heavy, with its dark cabinets and wood floor.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Eva Muller, principal designer and co-founder of sfHeimat; Cory L. Bradley, oil painter; and their Hungarian Vizsla dog, King Cashus, usually just called Cashus
Location: Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 1,250 square feet (116 square meters); three bedrooms, 1½ baths
BEFORE: Muller saw the spacious kitchen as visually heavy, with its dark cabinets and wood floor.
AFTER: The couple had the cabinets painted a white that matched the exsiting wall paint, then coated the walls in a pretty blue-gray. This pulled-back view shows the island that was also added.
Painting tip: You don’t have to paint everything white to make a kitchen feel light. Here, darker walls work well with white cabinets.
Wall paint: Whale Gray, Benjamin Moore
Read more about this home
Painting tip: You don’t have to paint everything white to make a kitchen feel light. Here, darker walls work well with white cabinets.
Wall paint: Whale Gray, Benjamin Moore
Read more about this home
Photo by Joyce Lee
5. A Renter Ditches the Orange in L.A.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Peter Dolkas, an interior decorator and stylist
Location: Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles
Size: About 90 square feet (8.4 square meters)
BEFORE: Peter Dolkas’ 1940s apartment building in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles came with cabinets he found cheap-looking and at war with the gray countertops.
5. A Renter Ditches the Orange in L.A.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Peter Dolkas, an interior decorator and stylist
Location: Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles
Size: About 90 square feet (8.4 square meters)
BEFORE: Peter Dolkas’ 1940s apartment building in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles came with cabinets he found cheap-looking and at war with the gray countertops.
Photo by Joyce Lee
AFTER: So he painted the cabinets white. His landlord was OK with the change.
Painting tip: We highly recommend you get your landlord’s permission before painting — or at least check that it’s not prohibited in your lease.
Upper cabinet and wall paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore; lower cabinet paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore; cabinet pulls: Rejuvenation; blinds: Amazon; Pittock triple towel holder: Rejuvenation
Read more about this kitchen update
AFTER: So he painted the cabinets white. His landlord was OK with the change.
Painting tip: We highly recommend you get your landlord’s permission before painting — or at least check that it’s not prohibited in your lease.
Upper cabinet and wall paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore; lower cabinet paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore; cabinet pulls: Rejuvenation; blinds: Amazon; Pittock triple towel holder: Rejuvenation
Read more about this kitchen update
6. A Caterer’s Kitchen in Santa Rosa
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Lynn McCarthy of Cottonwood Catering & Events
Location: Santa Rosa, California
Size: 1,465 square feet (136 square meters); four bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 1941
BEFORE: Here’s the kitchen when McCarthy purchased the home in 2012 — not the ideal space for a caterer. She uses her home kitchen to test recipes and do some food photography.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Lynn McCarthy of Cottonwood Catering & Events
Location: Santa Rosa, California
Size: 1,465 square feet (136 square meters); four bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 1941
BEFORE: Here’s the kitchen when McCarthy purchased the home in 2012 — not the ideal space for a caterer. She uses her home kitchen to test recipes and do some food photography.
AFTER: McCarthy added a DIY wooden peninsula, which can just be seen at the right of this photo (see next photo for a closer view), to improve the workflow. Another major change was the updated stove and range. Notice that the cabinets are the same — the lowers have been touched up with a light paint color.
Painting tip: Subtle cabinet paint allows a rock-star oven to be the kitchen’s star.
Wall paint: Whetstone Gray, Martha Stewart Living; lower cabinet paint: Flagstone, Martha Stewart Living; upper cabinet paint: Bedford Gray, Martha Stewart Living; oven: BlueStar; countertops: Serene Sage, Corian
Read more about this remodel
More
Kitchen Cabinet Color: Should You Paint or Stain?
How People Upgrade Their Kitchens and How Much They Spend
Painting tip: Subtle cabinet paint allows a rock-star oven to be the kitchen’s star.
Wall paint: Whetstone Gray, Martha Stewart Living; lower cabinet paint: Flagstone, Martha Stewart Living; upper cabinet paint: Bedford Gray, Martha Stewart Living; oven: BlueStar; countertops: Serene Sage, Corian
Read more about this remodel
More
Kitchen Cabinet Color: Should You Paint or Stain?
How People Upgrade Their Kitchens and How Much They Spend
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple and their teacup poodle
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Size: About 260 square feet (24 square meters)
Designer: Stephanie Dickens of Case Design/Remodeling
BEFORE: The wife’s favorite color is pink, but the dusty rose walls in this kitchen were no longer doing the trick. So when the couple opted for a full remodel, they decided to incorporate her go-to color in a big way.