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We are giving this kitchen a face lift. It’s old like me, but it could use a refresher. This is the original cabinets with a light wax stain applied over the cabinets to tone down the orange. This is the cheapest and easiest option but it reads very “dark” to me.
This is option one - paint the cabinets with refreshing sage, green paint. I like how it downplays the busy countertops. It’s okay. I could live with it, I guess.
This is option two the cabinets painted with a nice blue paint that pays homage to the original bones of the house which is early 90s ish. Feels somewhat French.
This is option number three. Here, the cabinets are just painted a clean and simple white. This is the one I gravitate towards the most, but I think it might be too much white and might be a little overwhelming. Post your vote below in the comments. None of the appliances are being swapped out for now. The lighting above the island/table will be updated to something a little bit more modern. Edit: Looking at everyone’s comments AND getting the painters opinion - we have decided to go with an alabaster white with a coffee glaze. We will post pics when we are done. I do use my kitchen daily - just check my post history for verification! It’s a long awaited facelift and I am very excited to be able to do this.
scottgarland12
Keep it natural
flagbasher
White will make the space feel large and be a more timeless color, but it's also "boring." I had my kitchen cabinet doors all professionally resprayed in white, and they have still worn through on some edges pretty quickly. Just keep in mind that white will look dirtier more quickly, and will show the painting wear more easily than a medium tone color that's closer to the original wood it's going over. White looks so clean in your pre-vis because the hardware is changed to chrome, as well.
skipweasel
I'd go for the white and you're right, that lamp has to go.
StrandedonEarth
Yup, that’s a 90s kitchen, same one we had with the wood grain cupboards. We went with white when we renovated the kitchen. We also have the same light fixture, which we kept and I spray painted it hammered silver. I used the same paint on some other wall hangings to tie it together
Manse84
Sage, but paint the inside of the cabinets white. That should give you some of the added "space" the white pushes. Also, concur with whoever it was below about the mismatched appliances. Getting an upgraded (black) stove would go far
0ldGregg
The person who designed my kitchen went full beige, too. The cabinet doors are solid oak, so I was loathed to paint over them. Beige tiles, beige counters. Yuk. So, I painted the walls black.
isetprettygirlsonfire
Painting oak cabinets is today's version of nailing carpet over hardwood floors
PressthamGravey
In the old days it was common to put hardwood as a sub floor. You couldn't imagine the joy of ripping up orange shag in a 1963 house to find a near mint hardwood slat floor (except by the windows, damn kids). Hardwood back then was considered a poor man's floor.
I don't know who uses carpet anymore, except me in closets and bedrooms.
Apothecarius
I also like the white.
CrocoSphinx
I'd paint it green. I'd also switch out the doors with windows for doors without windows.
Buckman88
If your plan is to sell in the next five years then white cabinets. If this is your forever home then look into removing the bulkhead above your upper cabinets if there isn’t house infrastructure. More space for cabinets and will feel larger. From there pick what you like the most, I like the blue the most but the green is nice too.
ParallelParkingInABurka
I like white the best, then blue. Word of warning: you said that the sage tones down the busy counter tops - it doesn't. The counter tops in the sage & blue pics look VERY different from the original & white pic, and not because of the sage/blue but because the counter is literally a much more toned down pattern/color.
KarateCanine
Option one
KawaiiInari
Personally, I like the blue. It looks inviting to me. But, do whatever makes you the most happy. I am trying to practice this thinking. I can never choose even though there is always "the one" that stands out the most. So do that one, whatever it is. And ignore all the house people that say, "Don't do this or that." It's your house, make it YOUR castle. If someone else wants to change it, let them spend the money. Your home is for you, not future tenants.
salunatics
IMHO, Sage.
MalindaBrown
I agree
Perkunas687
If the black appliances were white, I'd tend to agree, but to me the black appliances really feel in conflict with sage cabinets, white oven, brown chairs, beige-ish countertop. Feels like it's either missing something or has too many colors, feels just shy of correct to me. Maybe if sage cabinets had brass handles?
nognomwifey
If you do this, consider painting the wall above the cabinets the same color as the cabinets all the way to the ceiling. It tricks the eye making it look taller and the room larger like the benefit of the white cabinets.
seir
You might want to paint the wood on the bottom of the island to match because between the white colour and the browns in the counter tops there still feels a bit of a disconnection/mismatch
ThomasTheWankEnglne
white is the least to regret...sage looks very dated to me, and will return to looking dated very soon. the blue looks good but looks like a beachhouse if youre into that. white is your best option,. you could alwasy strip and restain the wood, but thats a giant pain.
KillingTlme
Agreed. Unless you plan on doing a facelift again in 5 years, go with something that won't be out of style in 4.
lynand529000
I'd go blue lowers and white uppers.
tinyvalkyrie
I was going to say do white uppers and dark lowers to let the white add vibrancy and openness but also add contrast. We had deep blue lowers and white wall open upper shelves in our last kitchen and it was gorgeous.
aphinityforimgur
Exactly what I was thinking.
Gingeringeri
I like the blue!
NotGoodAtUserNames1
I hate that orange shade of oak so much. I feel you on this refresh. And all of them are better than the orange. But, if you ever want to paint walls and change other stuff, the white would be more neutral and make it easier to play with color elsewhere in the kitchen.
If you always plan to keep the walls white, then the color cabinets will look good!
thundercactus
Everyone remembers the 80s for being brown. I remember the 90s for being orange oak.
annonymouse211
Leave the cabinets as they are and replace the three non-steel appliances so those match. Also replace the countertops with a light cream or white quartz. There are places you can use remnant stone from other projects for a fraction of the cost.
PineappleIsDeliciousOnPizzaFightMe
The white makes everything blend into a homogeneous whole. It has no character but makes the entire kitchen seem bigger. So it depends which you value more - a large bright kitchen or a kitchen with visual depth. They are all better than the current
Poppasgrill
I prefer the original cabinets. Then again, I am old, but I like the wood grain look.
ThenWhatHappened
Is there another option for refinishing the wood with a darker stain? It'll go with your lighter countertops. That and an updated backsplash would make all the difference. Or - hear me out - what about only painting the top set of cabinets? The wood on the bottom would keep the space grounded.
rjmmbc
If you want to notice the cabinets, blue. It balances the tone of the counters better imo.
If you want the kitchen to feel bigger/brighter, white.
rjmmbc
Also if you’re not sold on sage (or on the fence about green in general), I’d skip green. It’s hard to pick a good shade of green, according to our painter.
OverThunkTheRadiation
The white option best blends all the mismatched appliances for now. I’d reconsider color options if/when all the appliance match, then I do like the sage. But the colored cabinets make it obviously that the microwave, oven, and fridge are all different finishes
majortool
I definitely wouldn't paint over the cabinets. Leave them with the wood grain until you replace them. If you paint over them, the paint's going to chip and it'll just look ugly. Just recently a family member did that and we had a discussion about how they should've just left it. It really looks ugly.
Thesaya
the paint won't chip if you prime the cabinets properly first.
Lonecoon
If those are just veneered MDF, then I'd say reface the cabinets with something more modern. If they're real oak, then consider just replacing the handles with something brighter and more modern.
joeyecho101
If you have to paint the cabinets, I vote white. But i acknowledge what the other commenters say about white looking dingy quickly. If there's some way to revitalize the oak, such as a steam clean and new varnish, do that. I also agree that new pills and a new light fixture are your easiest go to for updated look.
SpikedDoggos
The house we last had was all oak colored everything. Cabinets, trim, railings, everything in the house, it was excessive and felt outdated so I get it.
I personally like the sage, I feel it's a light color for the room, but I guess it could depend on the rest of the house
I love the color blue, but Eh.
White seems too bland to me, even though it would be the most future proof option
6ft1DickC
You can do an in-between as well. Cabinets white with say a sage or blue doors. Adds enough color to not be boring, but also breaks up the space to add character. Here's an example
therandombagofmeat
Sage then blue