Opinions About Kitchen Counters and Cabinets
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So when we moved into this use to be hunting cabin, the cabinets were the same colored wood as the walls, everything was just so blah. So for a quick fix I painted them white. Regretting it now. In the picture you can see that I stripped the bottoms down to wood and stained them dark. LOVE! But a HUGE job that I don't want to tackle again if I can avoid it on the top cabinets that are still white and I hate. Have a theme of blue and yellow going on in the living room and kitchen which is all open. Was thinking yellow, like a golden darkish yellow for the uppers?
The counters are ugly white and stained, you can't really tell in the picture. We can't afford to replace them, and I love DIY, so was searching on what to do. Didn't know if the faux marble thing would look right with the backsplash. Came across chalk board paint, and I loved what I saw online. So my question is, what are some other opinions on yellow cabinets and black chalk board paint counters with my lower dark stained cabinets...? I just can't decide and I hate doing something I regret later, but I badly want to change these things in my kitchen. I'm on a very low budget.
I like the idea of blue/gray top cabinets and if you want a whimsical look add yellow or gold to the inner area of the doors. Hunting cabin, what about deer etc decals on each door say inside a mounted frame. Or picture frames with caulk boards inside for notes or scores, and you can get the caulk board paint in colors too!
The cheapest way to redo your countertops: Rust-Oleum Specialty Light Base Satin Countertop Resurfacing Kit (Actual Net Contents: 29-fl oz) $19.98 Quick and easy countertop solution that is tintable to 16 colors. Lowe's.
For the cabinets...I would paint the open cabinet back with your favorite yellow and the center doors. Then use the center doors as a canvas using your blues, browns and yellows with brushes showing brush lines...be almost a strip but blended. If not wanting the white framed look ... paint the entire cabinets .
I thought I wanted black counters also. before I made my desion I laid black fabric over the counters and observed it over 24 hours. it made the small kitchen look like a black hole. please do this befor you make your final choice.
Maybe take care of the counters first? That may change the way you look at the white cabinets. If not, it's an easy job to cover the counters to repaint the cabinets. Possibly with chalk paint (not chalkboard!) and wax over top?
It s starting to look dark in your kitchen...black counters? No, go with a faux granite in greens & golds with a touch of yellow [if you are going with yellow on your cabinets that is] We have true green granite counters in the cabins where I work, they are lovely & always get the compliments. The upper cabinets...do a partial sanding. leaving the deep grooves & slanted areas of the doors in the white; then put your stain/paint over the top in a dry brush style, see if you like it, if not add more stain/paint until you get the look you want. I did my Dad's gun cabinet that way...turned out very antique looking & contrast of light & dark & both Mom & Dad LOVE IT!
PS: If your counter tops are formica...lightly sand them first so that the paint will adhere to the surface; but don't sand too deep...you don't want to totally expose the undersurface, paint your faux granite surface, let it dry & seal with a water proof sealant.
I actually like the look you have now, but I understand wanting change. I go through the same thing. My suggestion would be to paint the bottom cabinets a warm yellow of your choice for the pop you're looking for. For the top I'd like to suggest DIY cement application. Keep the top cabinets white but hang a pretty yellow sheer curtain over the window. Add washable area rugs with shades of yellow. Keep the makeover simple and budget friendly. I'll bet you could do this for less than $100. utilizing thrift store items, mist tint paints, and a bag of Ardex. Best of luck.
Take the doors off your cabinets, and if you can't afford to replace them with frosted glass doors ( you can DIY frosted glass EASILY), think about making curtains for your upper cabinets. That way you'll always have the original doors when/if you decide to refinish them.
I don't have a picture of it & I live many miles from my parents...Dad's 90 years old now. But try this on an old cabinet door [even if you have to get one at a garage sale], first...it comes out very antique looking & contrasting of colors[light vs dark] is SO nice! I used to paint/stain cabinets for a furniture company...mainly custom orders...including a faux black marble box plant stand/book shelf. After the lady saw the first one, she ordered a second one! But faux marble can be done in ANY color...as can this antique look with contrast.
Hard to tell from just pictures, but i think the reason you don't like the white cabinets is that it is too high a contrast with the wood. An off white/cream/linen would work better. You might try an antiquing glaze over the white to tone it down.