Can you give me opinions on painting my kitchen walls/cabinets?

What is behind the paneling, or what condition is the wall behind it? I would suspect that it may be hiding the metal ducts that vent the fan to an outside wall. Check first before you tear the paneling off.

Thanks for the picture. I would agree with Flipturn, there is probably some kind of mechanical or electrical equipment behind the paneling. You would have to check that out.

From the overlap of the paneling on to the cupboard, it looks like it might be a patchwork cover.

I think leaving the panelling in place and painting it the same as the cupboards would look good. It will appear taller. Plus the dust won’t collect above the cupboards. :)

I agree - paint the paneling the same color as the cabinets. PS - your back splash is GORGEOUS! Good luck with your project. Hugs, Holly

To me it looks like a poor patch job. I would pull it off to find out what's behind there. If things are clear, think about putting up some top molding on the cabinets for a nice finished look and paint the wall the same as the other walls. You can add lighting, storage, etc. above the cabinets.

Take this photo and one of the cabinet doors to your home improvement storr paint and decorating departments and ask for their opinions. They'll have ideas you never thought of!

The paneling is probably hiding the range hood exhaust. There are ways to get around that without losing all of that other space up there which is now wasted. Personally, I'd pull off that paneling, and see what's on the wall itself. Box around that exhaust pipe and paint everything up there a different color than whatever you plan to paint the cabinets with. Run a molding along the top of the cabinets and use that space for decor or extra storage. It does get dusty, but that shouldn't be a deterrent. Mostly, its about having fun and being comfortable in your own home.

If there is nothing behind the paneling pull it off and the 2X4's, any wood and paint same color as the walls. Looks like it's not part of the original install.

Paint kitchen cabinets

https://www.hometalk.com/search/all?filter=paint%20kitchen%20cabinets

If you run into the same issues I did, most are correct that paneling is hiding issues. The void is probably is a chase used to run all the things you don't want to see.

1st the paneling is attached to the front of the cabinets. there should be another 2x4 on top of the cabinets so the sheetrock can be secured to the 2x4 on top and at the top of the cabinet then run a molding at the top of the cabinet and at the ceiling and paint the color of the walls.

Hello Cheyanne, do you know what is behind that upper panel? I would remove that nd paint it all to match the wall color

Hi Cheyenne, if you check and learn that the paneling is not "hiding" electrical or heating equipment, I suggest removing it and then painting that area in the same color as your kitchen walls. It will totally open up your kitchen area and make it look larger. You could then place a very few decorative items above the cabinets to create additional interest. Your back splash looks new and possibly in the white/grey/black color family. If that is the case any of those colors would work well to update and modernize the look of your cabinets by painting them and also painting the hardware. There are also so very nice stain color choices you could use if that suits your taste.

I agree that paneling looks like a poor patch job. I would remove it and replace it with a flush wall above the cabinets. Drywall would probably be the easiest and the cheapest material to use. You will need to add a board on top of the cabinets and move in the existing board at the ceiling.

Then I would add crown molding above the cabinets. This will make your cabinets look taller and more finished. The top of the crown molding will give you a shallow shelf where you can display decorative plates or signs. Or not.

I would not open up the space. Even if its not full of mechanicals its not tall enough to put anything up there so it would just be a dust catcher. Also it would make your cabinets look squaty. Adding crown above them will make them look taller and more finished.

I like your backsplash. If youre going for a blue and white color scheme some blue and white plates would look nice up there.

After checking there are not ducts or plumbing up there, I would pull off the cheap paneling and make it an extra lighted cabinet to display pottery, collectibles, glass etc. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/206813807868674036/

or alternatively I would drywall it and paint some fun motto up there or get wall decals https://www.pinterest.com/pin/371054456800889129/