How can I do a makeover with Knotty pine cabinets and walls?

Walls are all knotty pine and so are the cabinets. These are the only cabinets I have.
  22 answers
  • Dysko7710 Dysko7710 on Jun 22, 2017

    If you are looking to do it yourself, I would paint. Make the walls a different color from the cabinets. You can use chalk paint on the cabinets for less prep on those. If you use latex paint, you need to sand and apply a good primer. Then seal the cabinets with a water based poly to protect it. You could also change up the hardware, but from looking at the picture, I like the hardware you have now.

  • Cin21825342 Cin21825342 on Jun 22, 2017

    I think you'll need to paint either the walls or the cabinets to get a fresh, new look.

  • Ellis Ellis on Jun 22, 2017

    My brother painted his knotty pine kichen and it looked great. Ask at a good paint dealer (or look it up via google) the best paint to use and how to prep. It being a kitchen, the prep wllprobably take almost as long as the painting. After seeing my brother's kitchen, I painted cheap 60s wood paneling using primer and then latex paint, and it came out looking fine.

  • SandyG SandyG on Jun 22, 2017

    The cabinets would look amazing painted and leave the knotty pine walls. A distressed look on cabinets, new hardware would instantly update your kitchen.


  • Cori Widen Cori Widen on Jun 22, 2017

    You could chalk paint them!

  • Julie M. Julie M. on Jun 22, 2017

    I would be inclined to save the pine on the cabinets if they are in good operational shape. I would sand them and put a matte polyurethane finish on with new hardware. If you have room, I would add a peninsula to the run on the right or an island in a contrasting painted cabinet that marries with the new wall color. I think the countertop color does not pair well with the pine. Maybe new countertops?

    BTW you can buy bulk priced hardware on Amazon for a fraction of the price of big box stores. Good luck with your project!

  • 2dogal 2dogal on Jun 22, 2017

    Ah, that beautiful wood! I'd strip it, sand it, put a satin finish on it. And update the hardware and counter top. You can make the cabinets a focal point. There's so much painted wood today, you have something unique.

    If you are able to remove the wood from the walls, and put up wallboard, I'd do that. I'd try not to mar the wood while removing it and save it for another project.

    You can repaint, but the knots and the textured walls will show through.

  • Susan Axsom Curtis Susan Axsom Curtis on Jun 22, 2017

    I love the knotty pine walls and cabinets I would change the counter tops and maybe the hardware.

  • Dina Dina on Jun 22, 2017

    Paint paint paint!

  • Dee Dee on Jun 22, 2017

    We have a lot of knotty pine in our house----the original owners must have loved it--but my husband painted the wall that the fireplace is on --and it turned out awesome. We chose a light color to match our walls--he first used a primer before he painted 2 coats. He's done the same thing with the dutch door we have--the result was beautiful !!!

  • DP DP on Jun 22, 2017

    I would leave the natural wood on the cabinets, they are beautiful, just refinish them to make them a bit lighter, maybe paint the walls to brighten it up. OR you could use unicorn spit stain on the walls or cabinets and it would give you a nice beautiful color while still allowing the wood grain to show which is so beautiful.

  • Martha Martha on Jun 22, 2017

    Way back when, my mom had knotty pine paneling. She stained it white, letting the grain show through. It was fresh and pretty and took away all that yellow/orange color. You could do it on either the walls or the cabinets or both. A light gray stain would be pretty, too.

  • Sandy Sandy on Jun 22, 2017

    dont paint the wood, just clean and condition it. What you need is a new counter top. Home Depot has laminate countertops relatively cheap. I would choose black. Paint your range hood black also or change it to stainless steel. After the new countertop is in, see how the hardware looks. You might not need to change it. Also you need a different window treatment. I think a Roman shade would look nice.

    • Erin Erin on Nov 24, 2017

      Black countertops are awesome! Especially if you want every crumb, water spot and smear to stand out!

  • Castrang17 Castrang17 on Jun 23, 2017

    Remove and give to me!!!

  • Alex Babcock Alex Babcock on Jun 23, 2017

    Tired of the knot pine look eh? I would paint the drawers and doors but leave the frames wood look. Some tile on the wood would be a nice change. There's several things you could do with the counter tops and a different blind for the window would have you all perked up in no time. Be a nice fix for pretty cheap.

  • Alex Babcock Alex Babcock on Jun 23, 2017

    Oh and handles and knobs you might be able to get away with just painting them for a new look


  • Adam Eng Adam Eng on Jun 23, 2017

    i would paint the cabinets and maybe even tile the walls..

  • Julie M. Julie M. on Jun 24, 2017

    Personally, I would keep the pine on the cabs if they are in good shape. Sand the fronts and put a matte polyurethane on them. Replace the countertops and paint the walls around the cabinets like they did here. And if you want new cab. hardware, you can find bulk pricing on Amazon for a fraction of the $$$ at hardware stores.

  • Julie M. Julie M. on Jun 24, 2017

    Maybe a small moveable island in a contrasting color and you will have some extra storage.