apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

What were the previous owners thinking with that color scheme???

How lively of a color? I could see another lighter neutral with color brought in with accessories.

Say a gray - on the yellow side (not blue).

But I am not always the best at this.

Other ATers - chime in.

I always like white cabinets especially with the grey counters. Then you could do something bright and cheery on the walls or just an accent wall.

How about the silver / gray / caramel color scheme that was posted earlier this week?

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/scavenger/assemblage-scavenger-041649

I can tell you right now that blue looks awful with food (despite this, I have a teal accent wall in my kitchen that I love). Also, red and yellow are used in fast food joints for a reason: they stimulate the appetite. I would pick a favorite food and use it for inspiration, like maybe green for the cabinets and eggplant purple for accents. I want to accent my wall with tangerine (I swear it looks fantastic together) but haven't had the guts yet.

any color goes -- glossy white cabinets and limish green walls is a favorite combo of mine for kitchens

Glossy White!

I don't think the existing kitchen would be so dark if the window wasn't being attacked by the foliage outside blocking all the sun.

Wow. So dark!
From the angle of the pictures you really don't have much actual wall to play with to break up all that dark surface area. That being the case, I think either the counters need to go or you need to paint the cabinets. My vote is easily for a light cabinet color. White is always clean and simple, and allows you to have more fun with the wall colors.

I love all that green outside your windows, but that filtered light is another good reason to lighten up the room (especially in the Portland winter). I also have to add that I am jealous of your counter space!

Congrats on your new home!

I'm with phaedrus - glossy white cabinets and limey walls.

On second thought, with the white window trim and white appliances, white cabinets might be too much white.

I'm interested to see what other folks think...

I like dark kitchens, so I would leave it, live with it, or consider the lighting situation before cracking open the paint cans.

I think the white appliance are highlighting the problem, too. I know it's the go-to kitchen solution, but stainless appliances would look great with the existing kitchen.

I'd actually knock the floors darker, too. Slate would look great here.

Told ya I liked dark kitchens!

I think anything but some sort of nature-based neutral or pure white will look an amateur mistake with that countertop color.

are your appliances bisque (who invented that color anyway) or white? if they aren't white i wouldn't paint the cabinets white.

And I'd be more apt to make the cabinets and counters work by painting the walls, not the cabinets, as a short-term solution while you figure out how the kitchen works for you.

A grayed out PALE sage, or a grayed-out PALE Robin's Egg, leaving trim white, although I am typically NOT a fan of green or blue in kitchens.

Am I the only one who sees all of that foliage blocking the window, i.e. natural light???

Glossy white kitchen cabinets and any wall color of your choice.
It is easy to change the color of the walls but not the cabinets.
If you paint the cabinets white any color should be good;
If you get sick of the wall color it is easy to change.

I do not see any gray or otherwise gray-toned colors in this room. The counter is gray and thats enough. I would do glossy white cabinets with any bright happy color on the walls. Right now I'm thinking a light yellow or pale green but really anything "pastel" (ugh, hate that word) would look really nice.

WHITE! Paint everything WHITE! BRIGHT WHITE!

Unless you're a mole person and want to live in the dark.

P.S. I think ORANGE JULIUS has a point about the hedge.

i'm with bumblebeechicago...it would be pretty sweet to incorporate the silver, gray and caramel palette somehow.

that being said, i'm not exactly sure how it could be executed. maybe white cabinets with prominent silver handles, and caramel as a wall color?? they'd contrast nicely with the dark counters...

I agree with Patrick, unless there's something I'm not seeing, it actually looks pretty good - and the white appliances look out of place. The dishwasher is worse than the fridge.

Is the wall white? If so I'd paint it a muted gold color, or a grey toned pale blue.

And yes, the Triffids are attacking your home!

I like the dark color myself. How would it look to cover the cabinets with cut out recipes? The black and white print would look sort of grey. Seem like that idea came up recently on some other thread. I've been thinking of doing that to my cabinets. The insides of my cabinets are covered in fruit stickers and the multi colors look interesting. My counter is dark grey too. When you put some platters or applicances or bowls of fruit out, the dark background can make things stand out.

oh, take off the top doors for open cabinets and paint everything glossy white! it would open up the space so nicely...

Listen to Patrick, it's the appliances! Dark kitchens can be very warm and inviting, but you have to carry the color scheme throughout the room. So get yourself some top of the line energy saving darker non-white appliances. Congratulations on your new house!

i actually don't mind the kitchen cabinets as they are! but i suppose glossy white cabinets would be an alternative if you want everything to match and you don't want to spring for a new refrigerator.

I think that white might not be in keeping with a 1910 four-square. It's probably quite Craftsman-y, no? That being said, I like the idea of a dark color scheme, but definitely invest in better lighting. Under-cabinet lights and/or some uplighting that washes the tall walls above the cabinets will make it feel like a different space.

White cabinets with some eye-catching pulls will make a world of difference.

Wow! Thanks for all the comments everyone. I should have included a picture of the room in reverse - the other side of the kitchen has nothing on the whole wall, so it is potentially a LOT of color.

Couple things: The hedge isn't nearly so close as the picture makes it look, but, yes, trimming it back is high on my list. We are also going to increase the lighting, since it has only one halogen fixture now (the one above the window is busted).

The appliances are white, and cheap and terrible. Especially the dishwasher which is half sized (despite there being room for a full sized one?!)

I wish I had a better picture of the floor, it is a mottled tan/rust/gray which is truly awful. My last two kitchens have been red, white and light so this cave has been a real challenge.

I vote for glossy white cabinets with a lime green, pale sage green or go for it with tangerine wall paint.

I also don't mind the dark kitchen, and agree that the white appliances are throwing things off. Stainless would be nice with the silver/grey/camel combo suggested above. But if the existing appliances are of good quality/energy efficient, I hestitate to recommend that you toss them for aesthetic purposes (unless, of course, you can sell them to someone who will use them). If you keep the dark, change the cabinet pulls to something a bit more modern.

If you keep the white appliances, I agree with the suggestions to go glossy white on the cabinets. And maybe a granny smith apple color on the walls? Someone in the January Jumpstart contest did a kitchen in that color and it looked really cheery and bright.

I am also a fan of a dark gray and green color combo.

For the cabinets I think your best choice is white, as it will also help to blend the fridge and dishwasher and lighten up the space considerably, which is what I think you really want at this point. If possible removing the doors of some, if not all the upper cabinets to display colorful cookware/dishware/cookbooks will also open up the space. Plus it's always nice to have something to look at that you really love.

Since it appears you are going to be redoing this space in the near future anyway I wouldn't invest in too much outside of a few nice cans of paint, and if you can find it, some cheap hardware. Other cheap fixes, curtains for around the window (not to necessarily block light) and perhaps rummage for a vintage lamp or two to bring in a nice pop of color and some additional lighting into the space. Pots of fresh herbs, fresh flowers and I think it will be enjoyable enough that you don't have to run head first into that reno.

Good luck!

I tend to agree with Patrick. I'd leave the cabinets and just paint the walls. I do like someone's earlier suggestion of Tangerine - it might look good against the green shrub through the window.

Use the effort that you would have spent repainting cabinets on the lighting. Get as much under cabinet lighting as you can and use some rope-lights on top of the cabinets to get a glow on.

Although me, cheap as I am, I would just wait six-months for the true renovation and do it right once instead of worrying about it now. 6-months will pass in a flash.

How about painting all the cabinets a pale gray, adding flashy drawer/cabinet pulls, and using colorful wallpaper in the strip just above the backsplash?

The windows are beautiful, but they're washed out by all that white. You need some contrast next to the white window panes.

Also, you could install an inexpensive track light set and emphasize the colorful accent areas.

I would open the image in Photoshop and run a few color studies against the cabinets and walls.

I love a light-filled kitchen, but sometimes you've got to work with what you've got.

My vote is to keep the cabinets dark brown. They are very contemporary and will look really sleek if dressed up properly.

If this was my kitchen, I would lighten things up by simply changing out the upper cabinet doors with frosted glass fronts. (If you really can't stand them, just paint the upper cabinets a high gloss white and leave the lower one's brown Pick a neutral colored countertop - preferably white marble or concrete. And last but not least, definitely switch to stainless steel or black appliances. Leave the walls white and invest in good lighting.

There will be more contrast and a lot more shiny surfaces for the light to bounce around.

How much do you want to spend? The less expensive solution/something to do "for now": gloss white paint for the cabinets. Keep the walls white, or a warm ivory. It's a small space and by having the maximum number of surfaces in one color, you'll get a greater feeling of spaciousness. Get rid of the foliage in front of the windows. New lighting would make a big impact. Overall, keep it simple.

Eventually, you'll want to consider new counters, perhaps cabinets, and so on. A really modern, sleek, light-filled kitchen would be a wonderful contrast to the bungalow-ness of the rest of the house.

What's wrong with the color the cabinets are now?

I'd paint the walls Tomato Red and replace those drab countertops with a glossy Solid-White Formica or Corian with a simple square edge and no rear lip - instead, a backsplash of 3"x6" high-gloss Super-White subway tile laid in a vertical running bond - then complete the picture with new brushed-chrome handles on all the doors and drawers and new brushed chrome electrical faceplates.

Finally, I'd install LED rope-lights under the upper cabinets for task lighting, and above the uppers for indirect ambient lighting.

While you're at it, replace the flooring with a plain glossy white vinyl tile, the sink faucet with a tall brushed-chrome gooseneck and the ceiling light fixture with a big round ball like the FADO from IKEA:.

All the window and door trim should also be painted a High-Gloss Super-White.

Do this, and accessorize with Red & Stainless cookware and accessories, and you'll have a glamorous new look.

I would leave them dark and opt for some undercounter lighting and a nice blacksplash (maybe slate) and swap out the appliances like others have said.

Its the flooring and the white appliances that are causing the cupboards to look 'off'. Deal with those, leave the cabinets but change the handles - perhaps long silver handles, then put a metal venetian blind over the window.

I vote for the glossy white cabinets, a light lime green for the walls and trim down that hedge...

forget changing the cabs...change out appliances and swap dark counter for light....Caesarstone Baja, perhaps....and some neat pulls or knobs and you are in great shape....

In addition to leaving the cabinets and countertops, try long stainless steel pulls for your doors and drawers. You just may end up liking the look.

And add a fabric faux-Roman shade with the gray, brown, white and a punchier version of your pale (new) wall color in the pattern. And on your blank opposite wall, put up a grid of framed plates (bookplates, not dinner plates) of vintage images of bird's eggs, to make sense of the overall palette. I promise you can make this work without any major changes. But those appliances...

And don't change your kitchen floor until you are sure what surrounding-- and adjoining-- flooring decisions will be. In the meantime, put down Chilewich vinyl, Bolon synthetic sisal, a sisal area rug or Flor tiles if you can't stand what you have even temporarily.

I would definitely keep the cabinets - they look beautiful, at least in the pictures.

However, I would get a lighter colored countertop - whitish/beigish/sandish - a warmer shade, not a cool grayish shade. The dark gray countertop is not working with the dark brown of the cabinets. I think a lighter countertop would make the most difference in getting the room to feel brighter.

Paint the walls whatever color you like, but probably not a cool shade of white - I think that would be too stark a contrast against the dark, warm cabinets.

Remove some of the foliage/branches/bushes, if at all possible.

Keep the window trim white.

The floor is okay too, until you are ready to invest in a new one.

Definitely consider new hardware, i.e. cabinet and drawer pulls - long stainless steel ones would look great.

The worst thing in your kitchen is definitely the dishwasher and the refrigerator. I know that stainless steel is getting a bad rap lately, but I love it because to me it is a timeless medium neutral that works well with nearly anything. Plus, stainless steel is shiny, so it adds to the light in a room. So, if/when your budget allows, I would definitely get stainless steel appliances.

Just my opinion! :) I would love to see pictures of what you do with your great new kitchen!

I am really surprised at all the people advocating keeping dark brown cabinets with a grey countertop! I think the lighting in that photo is playing some tricks, because it almost looks as though the cabinets/countertop are the same color when I'd bet in reality they are not. I'm shuddering at the thought of deep brown coupled with deep grey!

I'd either do glossy white with a fun colored wall, or I'd go with a retro muted aqua (think VERY muted and matte) - there's a great example of this in, I think, the most recent blueprint?

wanted to add - this is kind of a bad picture, but it gives an idea of the color I mean: http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=d5da16d7de9e6110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

Shuddering at deep brown and deep grey? So funny how subjective things like this are! I love that combination, and even wear it all the time!

If the cabinets were a deep beautiful Wenge and the countertops were a rich slate, would it not work for you then?

And kittyj, to make you feel better, the majority here still seem to be saying paint it.

I have an aversion to DIY repainted kitchen cabinets (perhaps since I grew up with them) so, since this seems to be a temporary situation, I say live with it. If the homeowner "always" lived with a red and white kitchen, perhaps this is a time when the house can speak to her, and give her something different to work with.

Patrick - I think in the case of Wenge coupled with slate, the color combination might actually work for me. However, I'm unable to tell if this is merely me being wooed by the thought of such beautiful materials :-) I imagine in a situation where there was such rich material contrast, the pairing of two dark colors could work quite nicely. In the example at hand I am not convinced, but I do hear your point about allowing the home to speak to the owner.

Also think that hedge is probably creating privacy from a close-by neighbor, and it doesn't look to me like those plants are even up against the window. Looks to me like there is a walk-way.

The color in the pics is a little misleading - here is a (blurry) pic that better reveals the colors.

That photoset also has the rest of the house, which I didn't post for fear of the small space brigade.

I'd still be inclined to work with, versus against it, for the timebeing. Or, if even more ambitious, a slate or glass mosaic backsplash that makes the colors seem more intentional. And leave the trim white if you paint the walls.

The cabinets look a little beat up so I vote for painting them white. My rental dishwasher was just as ugly, but I covered with stainless steel contact paper for a quick fix. You can see my before & after dark to light paint job here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89407368@N00/sets/72157603838199384/

I actually love the color of the cabinets! AND the counter top is great too. Unlike most here I don't like white kitchen AT ALL.

I would keep it as is and change the appliances, yeah, I know stainless seem the best...

Please! no white!

I also love the color combo the cabs and counter. My advice depends on how much renovation you are planning. If the appliances you want post-renovation will fit into your current kitchen configuration, get them now. If the new appliances need to be different sizes to accommodate a new floor plan, or if you are against buying stainless appliances, a) live with it as is or b) paint the cabinets white. Painting cabinets is a long, tiresome job, so I would avoid it at all costs. Another option is to reface the cabinets. But if you're ripping them out within a year, don't put a lot of money into them now.

Whatever you do with the rest of the kitchen, you are in desperate need of more/better lighting. That spot above the window is scaring me! Get under-cabinet lighting, and look for craftsman fixtures that will fit into your new kitchen as well.

Let us know what you end up doing!

I like this color combination
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Benjamin-Moore-Pottery-Barn-Colors-Winter-07-RR-p/mpc-bmcombo_pbw07rr.htm