What color should I paint my kitchen?

[Cindy B]

I know what I like, but not sure what to do.

I do have a darker cabinets, its close to Early American color. These are custom made cabinets, so it would be very expensive to either redo/refinish.. I have at least 30 of them! I'd like to keep them the same color but sort of minimize the darkness if that makes sense... currently the hardware is an 80's golden kind of curlique thing...

The wall oven is stainless steel/black, same with the burners in the counter space.. (which are white). The dishwasher is black, my fridge is tan for now.. but want to go the stainless steel route at a later date. I love the retro stainless look


Between the tan/white lineoleulim (we will replace that some day.. think brick type patten-- mid 80's!) Willing to change the linoeluem to fit the colors...

So I would like to give pizazz, but also lighten up the kitchen.. .currently there are white/with dark cranberry trim curtains... (I will replace with something light and airier)


The room itself is -14 1/2 feet long and about 13 feet wide... (a big square!)


Basically all my counter appliances are either stainless steel or white...

So what would you do? I like vibrant, but also earth tones

 

[Serena]

To me that would be easy. Choose vibrant earth tones. Like golds, orangy-reds, leafy greens, and browns. Copper would be a good addition.
I know the stainless steel doesn't seem like it would fit, but in a kitchen it's fine, especially if it's the brushed stainless.



I just reread it. If you want to lighten things up, choose the lighter earth tones for the walls and use the more vibrant colors for accents.

 

[jamsmom]

Wish I could help, but I am not good at this sort of thing I was thinking along the lines of a soft beige.

 

[tstobb]

Instead of refinishing the cabinets, if they're in good shape, you might consider stenciling a pattern on them in light color that will contrast their dark color. If you're thinking of redoing the floor, match the color with that.
Major items like the dishwasher & fridge can be changed sometimes with panels that replace the existing fronts or can be painted to match/contrast .

 

[BarryHom]

I see a red door and I want to paint it black...

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd do the walls white. I know it sounds boring, but the contrast of the white walls with the darker cabinets will be striking. Change the knobs/handles on the cabinet to a stainless steel/brushed silver look. I'd do the floor light... not pure white but a textured ceramic tile with a light background but with some marblization through it, so that every little dirt speck doesn't show!! We just put something in our new bathroom. It's a tile from the Florida Tile company, their Mendocino line, and the tile color is "blanc". If you go to www.floridatile.com, click on "products", find the "Mendocino" line, and then find the color "blanc", you'll see what I mean. They show it in a bathroom, but I think it would look nice in a kitchen as well, and it's not their most expensive line, so the price wasn't outrageous. It's got kind of a rough texture, so it's not slippery...important for a bathroom as well as a kitchen.

I think the white/cranberry curtains are probably nice with the mostly black/stainless(except for the fridge!) kitchen. Once you get a new fridge, I think your kitchen will be nice.

I don't know that earth tones would look good with the stainless/black thing you have going on. I think if your appliances were that almond or biscuit color(off-white)earth tones would be better.

Good luck. We just did a huge renovation(bathroom, staircase, pantry closet,bedroom,central air)so I know what you're going through!!!!!!!

 

[Nutsy]

I've got beige & it's boring. Was good to start with, but I'm sick of now 13 yrs on. Needs a face lift BAD!!