Kitchen before and after and new project advice/cabinets

Mona Ty
by Mona Ty
I updated my 1980's kitchen and now I would like to do something with the cabinets.....New cabinets are out of the question so should I paint them? Stain them? Im trying not go with a white color but I really have no clue what color to pick since all my appliances are black.....I changed the floor tiles, backsplash,countertops, stove, fridge, dishwasher, sink, installed new micro and double oven, removed wall panelling and painted.....Any suggestions are welcome and thanks for reading!! Im posting before and after pics so u have an idea of what im faced with lol
What should I do with the cabinets????
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AFTER
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  28 answers
  • Becky P Becky P on Jan 21, 2013
    your back splash looks great! If you don't want white, which I think would look great, then I would consider the cherry color. I have black appliances, and a black countertop, so I would go with white, even though the cherry is my favorite right now.
  • Z Z on Jan 21, 2013
    It's not so much of what you should do, but what will make you happy. They look in very good condition as they are so the most I'd do is darken the stain a bit if it were our home.
  • Designs by BSB Designs by BSB on Jan 21, 2013
    if you are looking for an updated look -- I would find a way to come to terms with white.. or better yet, cream (ex: Sherwin Williams Navajo White would be great) paint. It would freshen up the look 150% -- completing the great work you have done so far! FYI -- I would not glaze them. With oak, and the grooved center panels, it would enhance them in a fashion that would not be very attractive.
  • Sharon E. Hines Sharon E. Hines on Jan 21, 2013
    With the bead board look on the cabinet panels, I think painting the cabinets would look really good. White would look great. You could also consider a french country blue and only do the top or bottom cabinets, leaving the rest natural. Also, updated cabinet hardware may really change the look of the cabinets.
  • Mona Ty Mona Ty on Jan 22, 2013
    Thank you ladies.....the reason i don't like white or off white is because I re did (painted) my bathroom cabinets in white although it looks good, it stains so quickly...not looking forward to that in my kitchen ..idealy i would love to have frosted glass in the doors up top and maybe cherry or chocolate look but I have a hard time envisioning it.......
  • Z Z on Jan 22, 2013
    Not sure if this will help but I added "stain" to your cabinet doors using Windows Paint program.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jan 22, 2013
    Do some investigating into different "rubs" you can put on these...or those that you can paint on and then rub off. Talk to a cabinet expert about thinning down paint and adding a sort of glaze to cabinets. I think you would have to sand lightly for this kind of application. I have seen this on TV done in dark green as well as a moca and it looks great. It is not a complete cover and has a lot of personality...and a bit less stark. Cabinet people should have examples of what this would look like. And you just might find someone with experience to do this at a reasonable cost. You could do the prep work and they could come in and finish up. At least check out your options before proceeding.
  • Designs by BSB Designs by BSB on Jan 22, 2013
    you can upload your photo on Sherwin Williams and test the colors :) https://www.sherwin-williams.com/visualizer/
  • Z Z on Jan 22, 2013
    Can you test stains using Sherwin Williams too @Designs by BSB I didn't know they carried stains.
  • Designs by BSB Designs by BSB on Jan 22, 2013
    @Z now that is a great question, Im sorry I do not have the answer.. I would doubt it because stain can change dramatically with coats
  • The Blooming Hydrangea The Blooming Hydrangea on Jan 22, 2013
    I think painting them would really make them stand out. The paneled insets would look really great in cream like @Designs by BSB suggested.
  • The Blooming Hydrangea The Blooming Hydrangea on Jan 22, 2013
    My friend @Brandi has ablog and has some beautiful cabinets to give you an idea: http://bet1975.blogspot.com/2011/12/kitchen-cabinets-updated-with-moulding.html
  • Z Z on Jan 22, 2013
    @Designs by BSB I tried to open up the program to check but all I got was an error saying it wasn't available now. :^( I'll have to try later.
  • The Blooming Hydrangea The Blooming Hydrangea on Jan 22, 2013
    Somehow I didn't see the comment earlier about them getting dirty. I painted my lower cabinets gray, maybe you could do black or is that too dark?
  • Z Z on Jan 23, 2013
    @Designs by BSBthe link worked, but for some reason it wouldn't completely load. It did this time and it's only for painting.
  • Mona Ty Mona Ty on Jan 24, 2013
    Thank you ladies.....i will check into all suggestions......
  • Z Z on Jan 24, 2013
    What would you really like it to look like @Mona? What style?
  • Mona Ty Mona Ty on Jan 26, 2013
    I like the wood look, not painted cabinets....i liked the pic u did with the stain that came out really good......I think Im going to test out different wood stain colors ....im also thinking of taking out the middle section in the doors and replacing with frosted glass...and change out the hardware...i just want a more modern look......
  • Z Z on Jan 26, 2013
    That's what I thought you were wanting Mona. I'd suggest checking thrift stores or CL to find a piece of oak furniture, living room tables maybe, that are similar in color to your kitchen cabinets so you can test different stains on them. The frosted glass panels in the upper cabinets is a great idea too. It's beautiful now, but for the modern look you're wanting the dark stain and frosted glass will look awesome. I'm looking forward to seeing it.
  • Mona Ty Mona Ty on Jan 27, 2013
    yes thank you, the cabinets look good in pics but upon closer inspection they have a lot of scratches and wear and tear.....they are original to the house...1980's...just cant afford new ones right now so I want to make them look new lol.....and I really do not like white color kitchens......looks nice in someone else's house just not mine....wouldn't fit with the rest of the flow of the house.....I had thought about Java gel color stain (looks like chocolate)but even that is a bit too dark.. and I think I prefer stain over paint.......im just gonna hop on into lowes or home depot and look at their kitchens and pick a color i like.......and try it out....
  • Mona Ty Mona Ty on Jan 27, 2013
    This is the Java gel paint I was talking about.....I think imma redo my bath room with this...right now its white and I dont like it....
  • Z Z on Jan 27, 2013
    The Java is beautiful, but I agree, it could be too dark in your kitchen. Have you thought to use Old English furniture polish to cover the scratches? You'd be surprised the difference it makes and it takes so little work. You'd want the one made for medium wood. http://www.oldenglishpolish.com/sf2_scratch.shtml
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jan 28, 2013
    If you are concerned only about making them look better rather than a drastic change, Becky is right about Old English dark oil...it comes in a dark brown bottle. I have used it for years on my dark antiques and it keeps them looking great. In fact, I need to get several bottles and go after my kitchen cabinets after a good wash down with Murphy's Soap. Anyone volunteering to come help me? Anyone?
  • Z Z on Jan 28, 2013
    Ha ha @Jeanette. If you pay my air fair and put my up I'll come help. I have a friend, @Rhonda, in Warner Robins I'd like to visit too. Is that close by?
  • Mona Ty Mona Ty on Jan 28, 2013
    I will look into that , thanks ladies
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jan 29, 2013
    Hi Becky, Warner Robins is about 2-3 hours south of Atlanta just south of Macon, GA. And after reading these posts, I think I am going to get some help from my guys to wash them down one day soon and then the next week we will oil them down! Works for me. I cook good meals about 4-5 days a week...I have at least one sandwich night...and then a "mom does not cook night" so my kitchen is one that is heavily used...it is not there just for looks to impress people. So it stays a bit cluttered, dog tracks on the floor and perhaps a few crumbs on the counter with the bread not put back in place. So? Isn't that what the place is for? HAAA!!!
  • Z Z on Jan 29, 2013
    Well send me a ticket then @Jeanette. I'll holler at my friend to come and get me once we're done with your cabinets. I've been wanting to visit her boutique @The Robin's Nest (and the sign made from the logo I designed for her) since she opened over a year ago.