apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

If you do paint them, buy some Wilbond first - it will help take the shiny finish off, which will help paint stick to the surface. If you are going to apply a darker stain it would be well worth it to hire a professional for an even application. If not, take the doors off so you aren't fighting gravity, aka drip marks. Good luck!
p.s. do what YOU want, and forget about resale for now!

My goodness, who thought that wood and that counter and those color bricks would work together? The materials are find separately, but what an awful combination.

i've been on the search for a home...i get so frustrated with all the new kitchen renovations! i haven't seen a single one that i like. it's a shame, really. oh well.

the only thing about staining is that it might be difficult to achieve an even application. my husband wanted to help me stain a bunch of boards. it was my first time dealing with stain, so i didn't realize that it wasn't a good idea! i couldn't believe how different our boards looked because of differences in pressure while applying, etc.

good luck!

I would paint it white and change the bricks...

If you don't plan to move any time soon I'd do what you like.
You can't second guess the taste of the next owner. If I came along I'd like them painted because that's my taste.

I have the same problem - I don't like my worktop either, but I have about 30 feet of worktop. Replacing the whole kitchen would be very disruptive.

My cupboards are similar to yours, although perhaps not quite such good quality. I hesitate to make the leap, as I am worried the paint will look shoddy. To brush paint or spray, for a good finish?

If it is safe to assume that you plan on staying in your newly purchased home for a number of years, by the time you are ready to sell most likely the kitchen will need to be updated anyways.
Painting them white will no more depreciate the value of the house than not updating key areas (kitchens and baths) when it comes time to sell.

I say paint them white.
And as for the counter tops: you may be able to sell them, giving you money to purchase ones you like better. I myself think that a concrete countertop with white cabinets would look awesome against the brick wall.

I think the cabinets look smashing with the floor.
i would paint the bricks white, as well as the counter top. This way you only deal with two finishes (light wood and white) for a sleek look.
Yes, paint the counter top with white car paint and finish it off with a triple layer of high transparent gloss.
I did this in the kitchen in my new apartment and saved a lot of money, since I had new cabinets too but hated the counter top.

I would do nothing for a few months, to give the new construction time to settle. This will also give you time to learn how the sunlight lights the place, any odd noises, etc.

There are a million things you could do, and the realtor's opinion is the last one. If you're going to be there for two years, painting the cabinets won't affect the value of the house; your kitchen will be two years older by then.

Replacing the countertop is one option. You may want to visit Community Forklift to arrange a trade. Concrete would look great against the bricks; however, you will want to chose your countertop carefully. There is no sense in replacing granite with concrete if you really prefer soapstone.

I would consider staining the cabinets with Minwax's Aegean (http://www.minwax.com/products/wood_stains/water_based_wood_stain.html#Colors).

But again, what if live in the kitchen for a while and realize that the bricks have no insulation behind them, and you need to drywall and get a new backsplash? So...again...I'd wait awhile.

Looks like my post was cut off...stain them Aegean, which is a blue-gray stain! Minwax has over 70 colors to chose from.

It looks like your door and moldings are white, so painting the cabinets white would probably be a safe bet. But enmnm is right; get used to it for a bit before you go making any major and costly changes you might regret. And don't worry about the realtor...

I've got the same cabinets in my rental kitchen (renovated loft) & they are from one of the big box home lumber stores. Realtors & others tend to suggest "white bread" solutions when renovating before a move or sale. Those cabinets are truly plain "white bread"... don't they realize that some people might have preferred the original cabinets? or something with a little more style??

I would stain them a medium cherry to blend or coordinate with the red in the bricks... if you like a reddish tint. I wouldn't go too dark because of the brick. I also wouldn't paint them white... but then I wouldn't like them white & I prefer wood-like or wood-look cabinets. I actually prefer real wood, but those are almost non-existent now.

You also need to be careful since these cabinets aren't (may not be) fully solid wood. check the finish on the inside of a cabinet door that won't be used too much... and you may have to remove some of the polyurethane finish too... probably by lightly (or more) sanding it.

I purchased a home with oak cabinets that were painted white. I've been very happy with the white painted cabinets. They brighten up the kitchen.

If you're concerned about the value of the wood, stains come in ALL colors these days. You're not limited to the basic wood colors anymore.

Good luck. Have fun.

Don't take design advice from a realtor. You just bought the house, your not trying to sell it.

I would tear the fake bricks out and paint the wall, then look at the whole picture again and decide if you need to paint or stain the cabinets.

I completely agree with the "ignore the realtor" statements. Particularly if you are pretty sure you will be in that house for a while. Yes, make sure you've waited a sufficient time to be certain in whatever you do, but make the changes YOU want. Living for years with something that makes you less than happy is infinitely worse than losing a tad on resale. And truthfully, I would LOVE to see those cabinets painted white. For some people, that would be a total plus on resale. Do what you want. You didn't buy that house to please your realtor.

How about you paint the BRICK WALL white?

It will lighten up your kitchen, and remove some of the color. It will probably be easier to do than painting the doors.

If the cabinets were painted or restained, you may turn out to love the granite. If I were staining, I think I'd go lighter rather than darker. And, like Wesff3, I'd think about tearing out the brick. Ordinary walls, wood floor, white cabinets, granite countertops, it would be just fine.

Do whatever you like that will make you happy NOW.

Living in your home with your eye on when you sell will mean you're considering future buyers before yourself--DON'T DO IT!

If you want to paint them, paint them. Personally, I'm thinking staining them darker would be better as I think painting them will give you a more country feel--consider antiqueing/white-washing them if you go that route a la French country.

I do, though, think you need to get rid of that brick paper FAST.

Lots of luck!

The cabinet nd countertops are fine the bricks is the problem.. as an inexpensive fix I would buy acrylic sheets, fabric glue funky fablic or tiles to the acrylic, then affix with velcro, and use moulding on the sides, nailed to drywall, this way removable for sale...

What enmnm said---live in the house for a while before you make big changes.

That brick wall is the problem :) Swath it in white butcher paper to clear your mind. Then look for some paint chips that pick up different colors from the counter top and tape them to the white paper. Meditate on some new colors for awhile, and then paint the brick a color that compliments the counters and cabinets.

If you're serious about painting the cabinets, this is a very detailed article.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,783875,00.html

i was actually debating this very issue. i just bought a house in baltimore with some low/mid-grade wood cabinets in the kitchen that are brand new but like you, just not my style. i think i am going to paint mine white and i suggest you do what YOU want to do! i know so many people that like white cabinets so if you are concerned about resale, remember that you are the one living in the house NOW.

Don't listen to Realtors! They've convinced the world you have to have huge bathtubs even though nobody uses them!

With all due respect, the cabinets are cheap. I can't imagine the scenario where any change to them would make or break a future sale or have a negative impact on the resale price. I suppose a crazy color could do that but once painted you can always make them white before listing.

Anyway, you should do what you want. What could make this situation look best?

I do not think white cabinets, given the tile and stone colors would be attractive together. Certainly making the counter and stone white would be better. But I think you should paint the cabinet white and the brown tile white. Does it run to the ceiling? Is it just backsplash in areas where you have upper cabinets? Would you consider losing the cabinet doors in some places or popping the panels out of the frames and putting in some glass?

The demo of the brown tile would be messy and potentially expensive but you could sheetrock over top of it to get rid of it. In this spot you don't really need tile.

How about lightening the wood with a light grey wash. I like that better than white in any scenario. The brown tile has to go.

Good luck!

I agree with several of the previous posters. If you plan on staying there for a long time, do what you want. If resale value is important for the near future, then get rid of that ugly backsplash and learn to love the wood. I think an experienced realtor knows what people who are buying in your area, in your home's price range are looking for, and yes, a homemade paint job can definitely affect the price of your home. If you go with paint, call an auto body shop and see if they will paint the doors for you, so they will have a clean, glossy, dust-free, streak-free professionally done look that people may not realize is not original.
I have black granite countertops with light colored wood cabinets, but my granite has copper flecks in it that work with the warm wood color. I can't get a good look at your granite, but it looks like it's black and white/gray. Painting the cabinets black or white might be a good idea, but definitely get rid of the brick.

I agree with the people who said to live with it for a little while before you make any decisions. Then do whatever you want without worrying about resale value. After all, you dislike the kitchen but bought the house anyway, so will someone else when the time comes.

Have them painted, don't do it yourself! White looks great with stainless knobs and may make the counter look better. I love my white cabs and wouldn't want anything else!

I have gone through the cabinet-painting ordeal, and ordeal it was. They were sanded thoroughly, primed and painted with high quality oil-based enamel by a meticulous painter. It was messy and a huge hassle. The light color is hard to keep clean, and the paint does have the tendency to chip if hit with anything.

Personally, I don't find your cabinetry objectionable (mine were much worse). It looks like the cabinets match the floor. I agree with the those who have said the backsplash is the worst feature, at least in the picture you have posted. It looks like brick tile, and if so, it would be just as easy to change as the cabinet color.

Are those real bricks or is it wall paper? Something is uneven...if you look at the left vs. the right side of the counter, the level of the bricks change.

There is no reason to NOT paint or do what you want because of the resale value. Obviously the previous owners weren't too concerned with that, considering the choices they made.
Just make simple, clean, modern choices...and it will be fine.
It looks like you have nice wood floors, so that's a great start. I would paint the cabinets a rich off-white (I think white can be a little too stark.) Is that real brick or some sort of weird wallpaper? Maybe you could paint the brick?
I would go ahead and paint the cabinets (you can have the doors sprayed at a cabinet shop for fairly cheap) and add some hardware. Then see what that looks like. Then you can decide whether it is worth selling the granite and buying new, or painting the bricks. Good Luck!

I agree that the cabinets aren't the problem - it's the brick(?) wall covering. Lighten it up - maybe white (or a light grey that speaks to color of the granite).

The realtor doesn't know what she's talking about:
Get rid of the fake bricks and paint those cabinets!

But don't use a stark white - try for something creamier that will give a nice warm contrast with the blueish counters - and install some nice shiny chrome handles while you're at it.

Paint them. I live in Arlington. My husband and I are in the middle of a cabinet painting project as we speak. I found an unbelievable VA-based painting company to do the work for us. The first coat of paint goes on today, the second coat will be painted tomorrow (fingers crossed). We're painting them white.

Our wood cabinets are a little darker than yours. I've only seen the cabinets with a coat of primer but they already look ten times better. Although I'd hesitate to paint over quailty wood, our wood cabinets were old (circa 1983) and cheap, not the good stuff.

Also, ChellyT: Last week we had Silestone countertops installed in the Grey Expo color. They look like polished concrete. You're right, the white cabinets with a grey countertop is a nice combo.

Do what you want and don't listen to the realtor! I painted my cabinets white 5 years ago. It was the best thing that I ever did. I love my kitchen now.
Years ago I had a large kitchen with that color cabinets and PINK countertops (not my choice), so I don't think yours looks all that bad. It's the brick that I find objectionable more so than the cabinets.

j i, can you share the name of the painting co that is doing your cabinets?

dkk: Rich Winkler Painting: I couldn't ask for a more professional experience. http://www.richwinklerpainting.com/

I'd paint them white/off-white, keep the counters, and replace that brick with subway tile.

Some blue and white accessories, some nickel hardware, and you got yourself a very cute kitchen.

Have fun!

I second painting the bricks white or gray from the countertops. The cabinets match the floor nicely as it is.

oak cabinets are a dime a dozen, paint them!

I agree with everyone who says that the brick (or brickish) backsplash is the weak link in that kitchen. Paint it white or replace with white subway tiles and you may find you like the cabinets and especially the granite just fine.

Painted cabinets seem very in at the moment. White is always nice, but I think yours might also look good in a pretty pale gray to pick up the gray in your granite (and against a new white backsplash). And add some nickel hardware.

it seems to me people are now straying from oak cabinets...(i hate them too) i think the cabinets would look great painted, so i wouldn't listen to the realtor... especially if you are going to live there a while! i would hate to be limited to something in MY home because of resale value... and even if they are painted they are still good solid wood cabinets!

and like everyone else i agree that the brick has to go!

Cheap builder's box cabinets, fake brick, boring granite. I wouldn't worry that anything YOU might do would make it any worse. There's no value there to begin with.

Don't try to make oak look like cherry. It won't. I'd paint them white, but that's my preference. If you do paint them white or any light color, remember that oak can bleed tannin into the paint and stain it. Seal it first with something like Kilz. And I'd use oil paint, not latex. It goes on smoother and holds up better to the constant cleaning in a kitchen. I agree with everybody who said ignore the realtor's resale advice. That thinking is so over.

we had a similar challenge (although no bricks). i found that by painting the cabinets white it brought out more of the white in the countertop and i think the contrast made the countertop look so much better. we've painted brick elsewhere in the house and it worked really well.

http://rowhousenearu.blogspot.com/2009/03/interim-solution-for-green-kitchen.html

Congratulations on your new home! I agree with everyone who said you should ignore the realtor. They have their own agenda--and it has nothing to do with you being happy and comfortable in your house.

If those cabinets are solid wood, then the value in them is not the color of the stain but the solid wood cabinets in your kitchen. I say paint--the next person can always paint them a different color or have them stained to their taste for a lot less money than buying new. If I were looking at your place to buy, I'd be a lot less offended by painted wood cabinets than ones that were stained an 80's honey color or the 90's light caramel you've got going on.

Painting brick is sort of a nightmare. I'd gel stain the cabinets darker and go on.

I would reface the boxes and replace the doors. That way you get the exact look you want.

Leave the granite alone. Get rid of that backsplash and paint the cabinets. White could work, so could a soft gray or a darker more metallic gray. It depends on what you want to do to the wall.

If you stain the cabinets, I would stain them much darker than cherry, to a near-black, that just allows the grain to show through, and I would lighten the wall to something very very light to contrast, maybe a cream or light gray. I can't tell what colour the granite is, but maybe the lightest tone in it.

Paint the bricks white, paint the cabinets a lacquer black or dark dark charcoal color instead of white, add some really cool unique or handmade hardware to the cabinets (ie: http://www.sunburstknobs.com/). I think you'll like the granite counter top with this new color story.

Katy
http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com

I'd paint them white...in the grand scheme painting them will have no effect. I actually think painting the brick (if it is real brick?) could be bigger in terms of resale.

i think i agree with some of the other comments the brick is more distracting. I'd paint that instead of the cabinets.

I'm currently staining all the cabinets a dark espresso/java color (to be followed by doors and trim work) in my new house (trying to finish before we move in) to tone down some seriously dated and orange-ing woodwork. I decided against painting white just because it was going to be soooo much work and any mistakes I made would be obvious. I got a professional quote for just the kitchen cabinets of $2450. Anyway, I suggest gel staining. It is easy. I am not crafty or handy in any way and I can do it. I found detailed directions here that I'm following to the letter and it is working out just fine, though don't be fooled, it takes some time, though very little money (less then $100 not counting yet to be purchased new hardware), and if I don't like it in the end or change my mind in a couple of years I can always paint white right over it: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/decor/msg0211062720691.html

Good luck whatever you decide and congrats on your new home!

The cabinets are FINE, a good, neutral color (it's not like they're that icky cherry color or anything), but I would try to do something with the countertop. It clashes with the brick.

PAINT THE BRICK white!

No-one will miss ugly 70's brickwork.

Short term - leave everything major alone, then splash out on some really nice designer hardware for the cupboard doors. You'd be amazed how good quality door furniture can really given the whole thing a lift.

Long term - paint the cabinets, and the wall, in a colour that complements the granite. I notice that the varnish has already worn away on the extreme right of the photo; in a few years, by the time this becomes an embarassment, paint away.

Paint the brick wall white!

Leave the cabinets alone; they have a nice, light, warm colour and they go well with the floor.

Granite countertop - wait and see what it looks like with the white walls.

I haven't read all 55 comments above, so I'm sorry if I'm repeating...

There is NO easy or practical way to stain those cabinets another color. That oak has clearly been polyurethaned to death, and to actually stain the wood another color would require industrial-strength stripping first.

Painting the cabinets would be fine, though it might be best left to professionals. Someone with a shop could even remove the doors and drawer-fronts and paint them in a sprayer booth, giving you something approaching a factory finish.

No, you shouldn't worry about diminishing resale value by painting. Those are just base cabinets anyway--the cheapest kitchen cabinets the builder could find, available ready-made and pre-finished at any Home Depot or Menards.

I agree with others that, depending on whatever else is going on in that kitchen, it might be to good effect to go ahead and paint that brick. It's just thin-brick anyway--a tile-like veneer--and frankly, it looks rather cheap as is.

I voted painting them white.

Really - What the heck? I am a realtor and I would NEVER tell someone something like that. Updating the kitchen to a better cohesive design scheme is never going to devalue the house - hardwood cabinets or not. Someone already said it best - don't take design advice from realtor - we sell houses and MOST don't even do a decent job at that!!! PULEEEEZE.

As someone who remodeled my own kitchen, I agree with a few other comments, you could wait it out just a bit. You may become inspired to do something that you have yet to think of. Then again,it may re affirm your wish to paint them white.