Need a kitchen makeover: knotty pine walls, pine cabinets

Vickie Ratliff
by Vickie Ratliff
I also have a red brick wall that has a fireplace on 1 end & a wall oven on the other. All appliances are black. Huge island holding the sink and serves as a 4 stool bar. Countertops can be any color you choose.
  7 answers
  • Ramblin rose Ramblin rose on Sep 13, 2015
    would have to see it.. but I love knotty pine! I had a custom kitchen made with it! Maybe refinish them to make them fresh again..and some color..play off the red brick
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Sep 13, 2015
    If you post pictures we can get better ideas to help you decide.
  • Terrie Terrie on Sep 13, 2015
    I would paint the red brick white to freshen and open up the space more; or could white wash it but afraid if the knots on the pine are pretty visable, that could look busy. Maybe a good cleaning and a possible restaining the cabinets, Zinsor makes something that allows you to either paint or stain cabinets without stripping. Depending on the floor, if its dark and appliances dark, and depending on the cabinets, if all dark, I'd go with light countertops to contrast, if light cabinets and floor, dark would look striking and granite still seems the go to, unless you tried concrete for an industrial look, can also be stained and is pretty. This description seems perfect for a "farm house" kitchen look, so search that for additional ideas, light fixtures, hardware, etc. dark hardware on light cabinets is a nice farmouse touch. For a hint of modern, use some tin/loft type light fixtures. Hope this helps!
  • Nancy Nesbitt Nancy Nesbitt on Sep 13, 2015
    Depends on your style and the look you want. Sounds almost "colonial". To stay with that, I agree with ramblin rose: refinish the pine walls and cabinets to brighten them up. I would use a plain dark countertop such as a quartz or concrete. Brighten the area with pops of an accent color such as a red that goes with the brick. If you are wanting a brighter, up-to-date look, I would paint the walls a light gray, the cabinets a medium gray, and choose a white or marbled white for the countertops. You could paint the brick white or light gray. Or, you could paint the walls gray, the cabinets white, and use a gray or a gray/white marbled look for the countertop. By painting the brick white or gray, your choice of accent colors broadens, as your background colors are now gray, white, and black (appliances).
  • Nancy Nesbitt Nancy Nesbitt on Sep 13, 2015
    Depends on your style and the look you want. Sounds almost "colonial". To stay with that, I agree with ramblin rose: refinish the pine walls and cabinets to brighten them up. I would use a plain dark countertop such as a quartz or concrete. Brighten the area with pops of an accent color such as a red that goes with the brick. If you are wanting a brighter, up-to-date look, I would paint the walls a light gray, the cabinets a medium gray, and choose a white or marbled white for the countertops. You could paint the brick white or light gray. Or, you could paint the walls gray, the cabinets white, and use a gray or a gray/white marbled look for the countertop. By painting the brick white or gray, your choice of accent colors broadens, as your background colors are now gray, white, and black (appliances).
  • Terra Gazelle Terra Gazelle on Sep 13, 2015
    I can only talk about my taste..and knotty pine is not it. It gets old fast. What do you like..what colors do you like..? Light or dark? what size room is it? Do you like vintage or modern? I am into modern Farmhouse..some of the cottage and comfortable warmth with the modern clean lines with the colors of the past. That is my taste. What do you like? Go on Pinterest and see some collections that others have there..check out kitchens and see what you like. I love painted cabinets and have no problem in painting. Have fun in being creative. Good luck.
  • KKAbsherwrites KKAbsherwrites on Sep 13, 2015
    If you paint the pine, you can do so without sanding, but make sure you use Zinsser Cover Stain for the primer. It is an oil-based bonding primer and will keep the tannins and knots from bleeding through to your paint. You can paint with latex on top. What style do you like? I am thinking go French. Whitewash the brick - do not paint it entirely. Pinterest has tutorials but basically you are watering down white or off-white paint. You could even paint bottom cabinets black or gray for a French winery look. If the kitchen is dark, do white or off-white and glaze them. Marble etches with water, so while pretty not all that durable, but there are quartz, granite, coriander and even HD laminates that suit each budget or you can paint them using Cover Stain as the primer for that also.