apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

My friend has black painted kitchen cabinets in his DC row house. They look great; however, he also has the light, and space (kitchend opened up into a sitting area/sunroom, to pull that look off. I think black cabinets might be too much in a smaller galley kitchen.

I like the idea and suggest you use other reflective materials like stainless or tile back splash or stone counter tops to give the illusion of more light. You don't say what color the kitchen walls are or surrounding walls, or where windows are located, so it's hard to say whether it will look too dark. Could you use open shelving above instead of white cabinets? I think the black cabinets below will really ground and delineate the kitchen space.

Adding to recloverstar's thoughts, if you do use cabinets above rather than shevels, I'd consider clear glass cabinet doors to make the black less overwhelming in a smaller space. Keep the walls, floors, backsplash, and countertops white or use very light colors to counterbalance the black and create light and the illusion of space. Add small pops of color with things like tea towels or rugs. And since it is an eat in, use a white table as well.

If you end up using black cabinets, be sure to post before and after pictures down the road as this is an intriguing kitchen design. Good luck!

Absolutely!

Just saw one of our homeowners do black cabinets.... she chose black with a little rubbing to reveal the lighter wood behind the paint. She used black cabs throughout. But she also has a skylight in the kitchen that opens up to two huge rooms.

If you are going to do black on the bottom, white on top, I think you'll be fine in an eat in sized kitchen.

Go for it. Not every choice can be 'safe'.
Actually those are the words of another homeowner who choice white on top... natural maple for the bottom. Smaller kitchen, and they couldn't be happier!

I love love love black kitchen cabinets! Ive always liked that look, especially with carrera(? grey and white) marble as the counter and full height backsplash. Or else some kind of lighter countertop with subway tile or similar backsplash. If you don't have the light I love whats going on it the photo above, with glass cabinets. Please post photos when your finished. I think it will look great!

Yes! Black cabinets in a rich, high-gloss paint. But pleasepleaseplease skip the distressed look!

I like that term..."cost sensitive".

I prefer it to what my girlfriend CURRENTLY calls me...

"%#$(@ * CHEAP!"

I agree with J that the glass with black accents will make the upper cabinets less noticeable and create more light but don't be afraid of the dark. One of my favorite funny design terms ! Black can be a lot more sophisticated than white at times and with the right hardware wow you could have a stunning kitchen. I would advise to paint the walls a great lighter color, do the cabinets in a semi-gloss or if you can stand it a high-gloss =high maintenance but not really just frequent touch ups and do a simple light counter top like a gray quartzite or a wild one like Golden Ice. Marble is tricky if you actually USE your kitchen because it stains easily otherwise marble looks magnificent.
so Point 1- glossy black paint
2- glass top cabinets with black muttons
3- light paint
4- light hardware like glass/crystal/white/even shiny black could be cool
5-light counters nothing fake!
Good luck painting cabinets is a big job- talk to your painter before hand esp since most paint jobs were done with Oil which can be a pain in the butt but worth it. Before you start be sure to talk to your paint store about what you currently have on your cabinets- could be a bigger job than you think!
Have fun

Question for clarification. Are you painting your cabs or ordering them?

Here is a tiny black kitchen.
http://www.oprah.com/presents/oathome/200703/spaces/spaces_105.jhtml

I am in the midst of my kitchen remodel and we now have black cabinets. I think you can pull it off if you go 180 degrees w/ countertops, i.e. white, carrara marble, or white quartz, which is what we did. It's quite fabulous.

Hey!

Thanks so much for the great feedback, let's see if I can address the concerns and questions:

I'm painting the cabinets myself - I can't affordt to replace or reface them and their solid wood (Man, I sound like my grandma!) so they can handle a couple coats of sanding and painting. Luckily my kitchen has a wall of windows with Eastern exposure.

I really like the idea of adding glass to the cabinet fronts and a lighter countertops - it won't be carrerra(?) marble but I think I can find a laminate that will do. And, yes, the plan is to replace my current appliances with stainless steel.

I will also try to send before and after pics when the works done.

Formica and Wilsonart laminates both offer a stainless laminate top-ask your countertop dealer and they will show you all kinds of metal clad countertop samples that are preformed.

It's a "black comment", but not about the kitchen. So sorry if I am in the wrong place here, I'm brand new and not sure what I'm doing.
Does anyone have a link to a black painted wall or staircase? I am seriously thinking about p[ainting the ugly white spindles black, but am afraid it will bring the whole room "down". I'd submit a pic, but don't know where to do that.
Thanks everyone

Hi, i just love the wall color in the picture featured at the top of this web page!!! What is the brand name and color of the paint on this wall???

Shine - I just happened to be blowing past my (own) posts - and saw your comment. I "borrowed" the picture from the this old house website but it did not provide any information on the paint colors in the kitchen - sorry I couldn't give you more info. Happy Decorating!