What colour should I paint my Kitchen??

Question

I am having a hard time picking a colour to paint my kitchen. Currently it is a Peanut Shell colour, which is nice but I am ready for a change. The cabinets are medium oak and I plan on painting the island a vintage green colour. The counter on the island is a black granite. My kitchen is generally dark with all the wood. Also, what about painting out the oak trim around the windows and doors?? If so, would I do the baseboard trim as well? Also what colour for doors & trim. Any other ideas to spruce of this kitchen are welcome. Help me please!!

Kimberly Barney · Answer

I would not paint out the trim around the doors and windows unless you are prepared to paint all trim throughout the house. The color on the kitchen walls currently blends into the cabinets and you don't have much wall space with all the wonderful storage you have with all the cabinets. I see where you have roman shades in the living area to keep in mind when picking a color for the walls in the kitchen as well as the fact that everything is open. I think I would go with a darker neutral that would work well in all the combined areas and add color through window treatments and chair pads in the kitchen area. I notice that your bar on the island is lower and that would be a good place to add some color with bench or a collection of short painted wood stools.

Nicki Parrish @ Sweet Parrish Place · Answer

Lovely kitchen. Sounds like a good idea to paint the island. Everything is too much of the same color, cabinets, island, table, chairs, and trim, and the wall blens right in with it all. Would be cool to add a fun or colorful backsplash and maybe a shade of light gray on the walls. I personally think the trim would look better white, and a bright pop of color for the doors. But I am a color girl.

Bridget Casey · Answer

How about a 'soft' yellow? I think it will make your kitchen cabinets Pop!!! Then incorporate a few yellow objects in the kitchen to tie it together...Bridget in Florida ;)

Mary Insana · Answer

First I wouldn't paint the oak trim but I would paint the doors. The white is very stark against the oak trim. If you are painting the island in a vintage green color what about painting the walls a shade of green that compliments that. I have the same color cabinets and the previous color I had was a wonderful sage green color.If I can see it properly the green I thinking of is almost like the urn you have on the island. It really compliments the cabinets and the oak trim. You could decorate with greens and dark creams/light tans like the shades in the roman shades and maybe throw in a splash of red somewhere. You can also use a floral as chair cushions. Mixing stripes and florals makes your eye look around and appreciate everything in the room and it doesn't clash if the colors are in the same family

Tanya Peterson Felsheim · Answer

I think painting the trim would be a great thing to brighten things up, and the doors. The walls need to be a color you look at and are happy! something that when you walk in the door makes you 'sigh' because you love it so much. Painting the island might be ok, but I would either go with a white or a black, or even stain a very dark stain color over the other color and keep it still in the wood category. Just ideas. But also agree that if you paint the trim to do so in the entire house. But in the long run very very worth it. would really update the entire house look, they don't do wood trim like this right now, and the house is too new for this to be a really really old wood trim.

Sherry Potter · Answer

I think you could just paint with granny apple green shade on the walls. It is very popular now. It would give punch of color. I would put a little in the valances in other areas to tie it together. I think you cabinets should stay the same because your table and chairs are oak. The only way I would do anything with them is if you are will and able to may changes with alot of other pieces of your room. Your could still do your island with paint. Maybe a darker shade of the same green or even black.

Shari · Answer

Wowsers, what wonderful storage you have, and your kitchen has great bones! I'm glad you mentioned you were thinking of painting your island green because I was going to suggest green with the oak. I would recommend you look at the Behr (Home Depot) paint colors called 'Turtle Dove,' 'Mountain Haze,' 'Restful,' and 'Promenade.' 
 'Mountain Haze' is a gorgeous muted sage green that looks beautiful with oak. My daughter used it in the kitchen of her former home that had oak cabinets. I loved it so much I used it in the living room of my former home. I also used 'Restful' (one shade darker than Mountain Haze) in the small family room of the same home. These shades of green seem to 'play' well with almost any other color you want to use with them. I'll attach some photos of my former (cottage style) living room (where I used white, pink and touches of black) and my teeny tiny, but cozy, family room where I used lots of black (and natural colored rattan furniture, which is somewhat similar in color to oak). Unfortunately, I have no photos of my daughter's oak cabinets with the Mountain Haze walls to share with you. 
 If it were me, I think I would paint the walls one of the lighter shades on the color chip like Mountain Haze' or 'Turtle Dove.' The island could be painted in one of the darker shades like 'Restful' or 'Promenade,' or even a soft white would be pretty and lighten things up. 
 Personally, I prefer white trim moldings but if you paint them, then the question becomes where do you stop? Black interior doors is a very popular look right now. However, if your rooms don't get a lot of natural light, you might find having black doors darkens the rooms more. Black doors and white trim moldings against the Mountain Haze walls would sure look striking though!

Jeanette S · Answer

I love this kitchen. I would use a light moss green...one that has no yellow overtones but blue ones. Or a beautiful yellow. Keep in mind that the bar wish stools will get a lot of scuffs so you may not want to paint it. It would be pretty painted, but perhaps not so practical. But I just have to comment....I ADORE THOSE TALL PANTRY CABINETS YOU HAVE! In fact, I was discussing kitchens with my sister and I said I would have a small working counter top near the stove, one near the sink and then a large island with the rest of my large (imaginary) kitchen taken up in the pantry style cabinets I see you have. For me, this is the most stunning part of your kitchen! You are very lucky!

Designs by BSB · Answer

Stay clear of greens that have yellow in them if you are looking for an updated look with oak cabinets. Yellow.. brings out yellow in the oak. Your kitchen looks like one that was discussed last year but I cannot find the post! ugh. Id suggest you search Hometalk here: http://www.hometalk.com/search?filter=color+paint+kitchen+oak+cabinets You will see a lot of the exact same discussions! :-)One commonality you will see is Designers suggesting the use of grays, especially with oak cabinets. It is the new neutral of our time and it pairs beautifully with cabinets like yours. Take a look at Fawn Beige by Sherwin Williams or Rockport Gray by Benjamin Moore. A saturated color will make your cabinets pop. I would NOT paint the trim! a) stained trim is a premium b) it does not show wear and tear like painted trim does -- that requires more coats through the years! The doors? You could have fun with ..but I'd stem off your island color. Not sure what your thoughts are with vintage green. Personally Id add splashes of color with decor -- would brighten up the space (new artwork, window treatments, etc). The doors .. Id go a darker/saturated color on the same strip as the walls.

Mary Insana · Answer

I agree, stay away from greens that have yellow undertones. I wouldn't do a light green. Since you don't have a lot of wall space a medium to a dark green would really give a punch of color.And I still say, don't paint the trim.

Betty-Anne J · Answer

Ok, so what about green walls and natural linen (Ben. Moore) island? Or just green walls and leave the island??

Susan · Answer

I like the ideas of green, and perhaps painting the island green or ivory. However, this room has a lot of hard surfaces. I would suggest softening it with cushions on the bar chairs, window treatments, and maybe even taking the glass out of those cabinets and putting in fabric or leaving them open. Here's a link where the gal took the doors off and made the cabinet look like an old piece of furniture---I think it makes for a more interesting room and very easy to do: http://www.thekimsixfix.com/2012/07/tutorial-turning-cabinets-into-custom.html. I don't think the problem is the oak cabinets, but there are just so many of them (wish I had that problem!). Also, change out the hardware on the cabinets, or spray paint those you have to update a bit.

Mary Insana · Answer

Maybe paint the island the same green of the walls then just buy a sample size of the linen color, dilute with a little water, and paint it on then before it drys use a rag to lightly wipe some off. It will give it a nice finish. Practice on something first to make sure you like it.. Or you could just lighten up the green shade by adding some of the lines shade to make a custom color for your lsland. Just don't forget to add some other colors and/or prints to the room. I can wait to see the finished kitchen :)

Designs by BSB · Answer

greens.. careful. Green and oak can quickly bring you back in time/trends.
I would not suggest same color with walls and cabinets - they are two different elements .. and in this case, as most - diversity/range will bring life to the room.

Jamie Kennemer · Answer

I have a friend who has an island...she painted it black...changed the whole room. It is beautiful! You can stand back and see what the rest might look like as a color. Can't wait to see the results!

Tanya Peterson Felsheim · Answer

I agee with Jamie....The island should be a stand out...white, or black or stained a very dark color

Susan Weiss · Answer

The room appears large enough to go with medium shades of your favorite paint color. If your wood is in good shape, it's a shame to paint over it.

Debby · Answer

Have you considered teal blue/green with cream trim? One of the best tips I've learned is to pick up a paint strip with seven shades in the same color family. For walls, use one of the middle (medium) colors. For accents, go with colors on either end of the strip (lights or darks). This trick pulls together a room every time.

Dianne Skidgell Huntsman · Answer

Yellow to brighten things up.

Shari · Answer

The more I think about it, I like the idea of using a creamy color like BM Natural Linen on the island! It would look clean, fresh and lighten things up. Can you raise the bar area of the island up to just below the countertop, (or remove it all together if you don't use it)? 
 I can't tell from the photos if you have any rugs, but once you decide on your colors, a nice big rug under the dining table, and maybe a coordinating runner in front of your sink area would be nice to soften and break up the big expanse of floor.

Jonnie Hammon · Answer

I'd say it depends on how much light it has, natural and otherwise, and how may people use and what time of day. I'd go with a soft buttery yellow against that wood, which is going to bring a soft golden glow.

Jeanette S · Answer

Betty-Ann J, I just remembered...get some of the small sample jars of paint and try them out in different areas to be painted before you pick a color.  I am crazy about Ralph Lauren's Cottonwood and intended to use it.  But wisely, I paid about $3 for a sample jar.  Loved it in the kitchen with more windowns and a lot of white counters and backsplash, but when I used it in the adjoining den, it turned too dark!  Was I glad I did not buy gallons of that, paint the small amount of kitchen wall and then learn it would not work in the den.  Paint is not cheap! I walked in a friend's house and gasped, asking, 'is this RL's Cottonwood?'  They were surprised I recognized the color.  It is that pretty and in a room with plenty of light, it is stunning!

Betty-Anne J · Answer

Thank you to everyone for your comments... It is much appreciated.  Still not decided so keep them coming

Jeanette S · Answer

Before you decide to make a drastic change in your island, see if you can buy either poster board in black, a inexpensive fabric, find an old raincoat in a closet or even get some dark colored poster board and spray it black. Tape it to the bar and stand back and look at it for a few days. That is a lot easier than trying to undo something you do not like. Even a few yards cheap black fabric at a store would cost about $20...and you could use it to drape something at Halloweeen! Or make a costume! Or use it as a drop cloth for projects.

Libbie B · Answer

I have cabinets in my kitchen slightly lighter and it is painted red.  It looks great (has a fair amount of light).  But I am tired of it.  The comments in your post are making me think yellow!

Tanya Peterson Felsheim · Answer

When I decided what to do with my kitchen I went thrrough every decor magzine I had (now come on I know you must have as many as I do) and looked and looked. None of them were exactly like mine but When I found one that had a single thing I liked I could look past the rest to the one item....I built a folder of my ideas before remodelling. Most people couldn't see this all put together to look good esp as each page was sooo different...but I could SEE it! 
 Was kind of funny when I was showing my contractor...ok I want this look off of this...and this look off of this...and I hate all of this but LOVE this tiny little thing here! I suggest you start taking them and imagining just the bars in some of teh pictures as your bar...even hold them up in place and see how they contrast things etc and if you are like me you will be over the top happy that you chose what YOU wanted not really what everyone else suggests (take them into consideration) but you just know you want it to look like THIS. 
 Make sure it is ok with the countertops and flooring. The countertops are dark might not want to do dark on the island...the flooring is light so a color is actually a good call for here. but make it stand out. 
 A White would be ok but really wouldn't add value. But you mentioned a green (not on the yellow side as others have said) I think would be lovely if you love it! But do a different color could be similar family or very different on the walls.

Tanya Peterson Felsheim · Answer

ADDED sorry...Oh wait I should have said 'duh' go on pinterest and search for kitchen islands! look for what you like as I said keeping in mind the darkness of the counter and the lightness of your floor!

Susan · Answer

Jeanette, I love your suggestion of putting up painted poster board etc! I'm going to do that when deciding my cabinet color! All the folks on Hometalk give me such inspiration!

Allen Vaught · Answer

I think different people have different color choices. I have a shaker cabinets with dark brown countertop. Beside if you really want to make kitchen beautiful then add lighting into your kitchen. It can be a LED lights or halogen lights. Use somewhat dimmer lights so that the light spread throughout the whole kitchen and will enhance the beauty of kitchen.

Darcy · Answer

First of all I love your kitchen, wish I had that kind of storage in mine. Although there is a lot of wood and a lot of the same neutral color everywhere I agree you need some COLOR!!!  I would not paint the trim for the many reasons listed above nor woud I paint the island due to the shoe marks that will be all over it in no time. You don't have that much wall space so I would paint that and give it a pop of color. Don't be shy and use the lightest color on the color chip, go for the middle shade. I would put an area rug under the table and add chair pads to the bar stools and dining chairs.  I would also change up the window treatments, or if you love them and don't want to part with them, choose colors out there. Throw a table cloth on the table or use a runner to add color...... Good luck and post pictures of your process.....I also have a folder filled with ideas and a couple of boards on pinterest loaded with things I want to do in my home!!!

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