Asked on May 04, 2015
Ugly white laminate cabinets
by
SusieJen
+12
I just moved into an adorable loft that I love everything except for the white laminate cabinets. The floor is grey tile as is the back splash. I decorate in mostly primary colors...a lot of barn red..mustard yellow and greens. I'm curious what might be a good match, with my decor and the greys??
12 answers
-
My choice would be a bright, shiny red!
Valerie
on May 04, 2015
-
Either pull a colour out of a favourite, rug, sign, curtain etc. or paint a shade of grey that coordinates with the other greys you have--darker or lighter...or lighter tops and darker bottoms (grout colour). Here are some examples: http://theinspiredroom.net/2013/01/31/gray-white-kitchens-choosing-cabinet-colors/
B. Enne
on May 04, 2015
-
I have just come across this board with all sorts of information about painting kitchen cupboards. I am sure it will help: http://www.hometalk.com/b/525483/painting-kitchen-cabinets
Valerie
on May 05, 2015
-
I transformed cupboards that had been painted over so many times and they were so disgusting. I removed all the doors and drawers and sanded down the surfaces, so I had a nice workable place to start. I used 2 kits from a home reno store (marble-izing kits, which come in a lovely variety of colors, as does real marble. I chose serpentine green), they turned out magnificent. I was lucky enough to find a kitchen fan/light fixture with an almost near perfect match, which I installed in the eating area, tying the whole room together. When it came time to move (from Canada - Montreal, to Florida) I offered to repaint them white, the landlord flat out refused. Her daughter moved into the apartment, which was on the first floor of a semi-detached duplex, Mom and Dad living in the other first floor flat (and the lower garage and basement level). It was some of my best work. I also painted the living room a pale peach color, and ran a border strip a foot from the ceiling, of tiger lilies with a hunter green line top and bottom. SHOULD have taken photos. Unfortunately, we were too hung up on the fact that we were having financial difficulties and had to down-size to and apartment half the size, of the one we had been living in prior to this one. It was the first of many decorating projects I am very proud of. My current house, is living proof - of course, it is just one project from being finished, 18 years later!!
Rachelle Creation
on May 05, 2015
-
I'd used the mustard-y yellow pulled from your little rug.
CK
on May 05, 2015
-
decoupage the doors to your personal taste - glue well and when totally hard varnish with yacht varnish to prevent them coming off with steam! Alternatively put a sticky back plastic roll of colour / marble etc. (available from your DIY store) and stick that on the doors - personally I would take some much loved wallpaper as a background and then stick on photo's of places I have visited (Copies!! Not the actual one!) or postcards or pictures from magazines - then after several coats of glue (PVA) varnish... Just make sure that you don't carry the thickness too far around the doors or drawer fronts that would prevent them from closing. If you want to paint just don't go too dark - from your photographs it looks as if the reason for the white units is too give it some light in that area. Also change the handles - changing them makes a massive difference!
Jude
on May 06, 2015
-
I'm not certain whether you are renting and whether you are allowed to do things like painting the cupboards. If you are allowed to do painting and such, I would suggest not only painting, but adding some decorative molding to the cabinet doors to give the space some depth. I would frame each door with about a 2" wide decorative molding and, perhaps, add some sort of carved wood motif to the middle of each door. Then, choose a pale version of the green color you like to use in your décor and paint the cabinets, followed by a light antiquing with a brown wash---just enough to get into the crevices of the molding and wood motifs you have added to your doors. I would also remove the existing door handles and choose some small antique-looking light-toned metal knobs rather than handles so they do not stand out too much or be too distracting. The result would be a kitchen with the character and depth needed to compliment your wonderful décor. The grey of the floor and back splash would blend in well and disappear into the background of your total design. I certainly hope this gives you some different ideas about how to give your kitchen some personality and depth. I would love to know if you liked my ideas and would love to see the result when it is finished. My best advice is to use your imagination and think a little more outside the box and to look farther than a paint can when making decisions about changing the looks of things in your home. Good luck with everything!!!
GrannyB384
on May 10, 2015
-
I will gladly trade your white cupboards for my ugly aged birch cupboards!!! I would change the counter tops & or paint the walls. Paint is the cheapest way to add a 'pop' of color to your room. Let us know what you decide! Those laminate cupboards are VERY difficult to paint!!
Laurie Powell
on May 11, 2015
-
I painted my kitchen cabinets yellow... well, actually more "harvest gold" or mustard... several years ago and I love it.
Pat Kelley Wittorf
on May 14, 2015
-
Finally got one coat on..and dry brushed a brown glaze on top. I still need to put the hardware on and finish the top cupboards and pantry but I am pleased with the color :)
SusieJen
on May 19, 2015
-
Almost finished with the bottom cupboards
SusieJen
on May 19, 2015
-
I painted my wood cabinets black now I am looking at the white and it looks so clean and airy will that be a hard task ?? black to white.
Diane Taylor-Harmon
on Oct 31, 2015
Sign Up to Answer
