SFGate

judyg Love that color, but, yes too dark.

Jayme Hobbs I think it would be too dark too.

judyg I think a beautiful white would make your cabs and floor look so rich.

Kelly Wilkes bm smokey taupe!

Nancy Schoenrock white with a slight gold tint, so little tint that you have to put bright white against it to see that it has a tint

mtrezza Those look like my cabinets.. What I did was paint the cabinets WHITE & changed the handle & I painted the kitchen walls RED

Victoria Bishop Way too dark!

Nancy Schoenrock yes, all the way to the ceiling

Marie Giugno Too much brown in the kitchen. I would suggest a colorful back splash and if possible changing the counter top with a granite with color splash in it. If counter top cannot be changed then add some decorative pieces on the counter in lemon orange and lime....to pick it up

bumbles12 Yes too dark. White would be a good contrast.

Carolee Spero I think the color is too dark. Paint the cabinets and the walls.
Or paint the walls in the yellow family. Or a gold. Or mustard, some color like that.

Amy C I think it's too dark too...how about a light "greige"?

Jervoso-Bibe Builders Inc. white wall would give a good contrast.....and to add some highlight...you may add mosaic tiles above the backsplash.

Keitha Would you consider tile between the countertop and cabinets... This would help to connect the two?

CMR Interiors & Design Consultations Inc. White is the most under rated color--there are 100's of different whites. Look at Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore and get one with a gold undertone like your countertop. Always look at what is existing and work backwards from there-unless you want to change that too. Good luck!

Tiffany Schnierle_Buckner I think a glass backsplash could add some reflective properties to the room to lighten it up. I also think that grey is too dark with your dark cabinets. It's hard to suggest a color without knowing what your colors are throughout or at least adjoining. Maybe a cream color on the walls and a glass backsplash with hints of cream, brown, slate grey and maybe some turquoise? Are the countertops granite or quartz? If they are laminate and if it were me, I'd probably try to get those replaced maybe to a nice slate grey quartz and skip the mini-backsplash in order to go for a backsplash from counter to cabinet. I actually quite LOVE the color of the cabinets. I also might add a rug to the floor to break up the color a bit (maybe a simple sisal rug). Have fun!

Phyllis Hood Yes, it is to dark. I would consider painting one wall a very light yellow, with a mid yellow color on the other wall for dimension. Add decorative tiles creating some interesting design and color on the back splash.

curraghgirl I don't find it too dark but I do think it is too yellow- if you do a backsplash you will have more options for paint above cabinets

Alice Harper If your time frame and $ do not include a cabinet make over, what about a nice beige gold...SWBlonde on the backslash and above the cabinets. Then add color at the window, on the counters and add a nice size rug in colors that include the Blonde in it but has other colors too. That might be a way to separate the floor and cabinets so they don't come across so brown. One things for sure....it would be inexpensive to try and you could still use the rug if you go to further steps. Take some Pottery Barn lessons on what to put on top of your cabinets...they show all sorts of things in their catalogs that can break up the brown. PS Home Goods have a number of rugs that would work and are not expensive. You don't want to spend a lot on the rug as it will get yucky over time. Good luck! You have a lovely kitchen with which to work.

Teresa Gootee This color isn't good , it takes away from the counter top and cabinets. You don't see any thing but the color, If you want yellow go with like a peanut brittle or a soft beige with tin under the cabinets.

Phyllis Hood I like the rug idea.

tj50 The color is too dark. I would use a color that goes with the rest of your colors. You could find an accent color as backsplash that would brighten the room.

Jane Turoczy I would add a wine crown moulding and paint it a light color mixing the ceiling color with a hint of the wall color mixed in. It would lessen the gap between the cabinet tops and the ceiling.

Kitchen & Bath Design Center I would definitely recommend going with something lighter than the color you selected.

Jervoso-Bibe Builders Inc. i have a project similar to your kitchen...you might consider changing the countertop to solid surface. and maybe change a few overhead cabinet doors to glass framed doors. hope this might help..

Vicky Lalehchini I think the current paint color is fine but adding a backsplash would give some pop and interest to your kitchen.

Anne Miesbauer Bradley great great color......just paint those cabinets white and it will be beautiful.....dont be afraid. i wasted 25 yrs with dark cabinets. now i have white with grey walls...lovely

Martha Layton Smith I would go with a white,not a stark... but a soft white, I would soften the window with a curtain and add color in the things you put on the counter... you could go with earth tone accents... naturals are in, or mossy green accents... or bright pops of color... add some artwork to finish it off ( like a cute letterpress print about coffee or something). i have to admit, my space is full of color... I can't help it!

Martha Layton Smith just noticed judyG's post above with the photo of the wonderful kitchen... that is EXACTLY what I was thinking... LOVE the light fixtures to add a little drama... or uplights on top of the cabinets!

Jennifer Boulio Sawyer That is a beautiful color, but definitely too dark for what you already have. If you had countertops that were say like calcatta or carrara marble or a white quartz or granite in coloring then I would say that gray could work because you'd have something else light in there. I don't think that gray would go with your current tops. Your cabinets and floors are a beautiful color though. Maybe take the color that you have and go to a lighter shade and accessorize with your favorite non-neutral color.

lstroh I would go with a creamy white. i would NOT paint the cabinets! Remember....less is more. Not too much "kitch" in the kitchen.

printesa Nice color, but too dark. The cabinets are already dark and so is the floor. I would suggest to paint an off white with a tint of yellow to warm up the space a bit. As for a back-splash, glass would be best so that it reflects some light. The window doesn't seem to bring enough light in the room. The idea of Jervoso-Bibe to change a few of the cabinet doors with glass (frosted maybe) is great. It breaks up the all-wood kitchen.

James Whalen too much yellow .. it nice... soft colours lite lime... lite rasberry ...lite wine colours on the kitchen wall ...you have nice kitchen,, too dark .. just need the colours with soft pastels ideas into your kitchen ... it will brighten it up the kitchen .. you just have to play with the colours... what is your best colours you have in mind you like... try that... so enjoy your home. smile. you have to find the colours you like that you enjoy the most to make your kitchen more welcome otthers ... smile again ..spashwall i mean spash wall with these colours.. lite colours... try with the watercolour.paper.. and paint the colours to put them on the spashwall and to see which one you like the best.. before you paint the wall.. it will give you the ideas.. thanks.

Crystal Petersen Yes to dark.. Don't paint your cabinets, they look pretty. I would go with lighter walls also.

Cheryl Wilson Monihen I don't the cabinets are too dark,,,I think coral on the walls
a lighter under the cabinets and alittle darker above.

Yvonne Fitts The white you need is called 'White Oak'........

Joy Overstreet In feng shui we would say there is wayyy to much of the wood element here. So I would replace several of the upper cabinet door with glass ones (lit inside!), and paint the rest of the uppers with a light tone taken from the countertops. Hard to choose a wall color without seeing things up close, but I like the idea of a peachy wall paint (the fire element, to burn off some of the woodiness).

Yvonne Fitts Put a different style of window covering, unless you have to block out something!!!

AMN Many people seem to be missing what I think the point is of the question -- she wants to paint it that gray color featured in the swatch below the photo of the kitchen. Regardless -- too dark. I like all the suggestions regarding the different white colors that are available and the backsplash suggs.

Amy Stanley I love the charcoal color but I question how it will work with your counter tops, is there any gray in them? I think a gray/silver granite with specks of brown and charcoal and white in it
would look fabulous and take your kitchen to a very classy modern.

Kathleen Coleman I think it's . okay . Change the hardware on the cabinet's

beren i wouldn't go so dark, not grey at least.

Margaret Noblin similar to mine but with white appliances, apricot wall color. I like the color with the dark brown and also am putting in glass back splash of various colors

Michelle Forgues the cabinets are are beautiful rich brown. If the walls were white, it would really pop

Cristelle Bryson thank you all for the great suggestions, I can't change the counter tops yet ($$) and the rest of the house is more mid century modern design so I'm trying to make the kitchen fit in with just paint for now untill I can change the big things later ( cabinets, counters)
thanks again

Camille Regina i think you should go for a glass tri color backsplash with blues and greys and the walls should be a white linen color to bring out the dark color cabinets and if you can change your counter top to granite

Artistico Dark colors add richness add depth to overall feel of a room. However I would not do a blue or green in any color in a kitchen it turns your meat a funky color.

Lkristine The paint to me seems slightly off, I would paint a more taupe/gray color. Add an area rug to bring in color you love. If time/funds allow a glass backsplash. http://www.onlyarearugs.com/indoor-rugs/transitional/transoceanravellarvl194704arearugaqua.cfm http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ADK6AV0/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3/179-2154695-4293067?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=1PKC9X509KZW5MNQ3P94&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_i=B0099ULQMI

Freda Gable I would Definately Lighten the Cabinets, Possibably OAK, If Not the Cabinets then I would Definately Lighten the Floor. . . . Just way too Much DARK. Then Add a backsplash of multi -Color. Something that Would Go with about Any Decor you chose., Then Lighting under Cabinets, as a Highlight. Greenery over top of Cabinets, With Multi Tiny Lights, and Start Decorating. . . Have Fun. Lots of Possibilities Here.

This Layout is Just Like My Kitchen, I painted the Walls a Soft Butter Yellow, I have White Tile Floor, & I have Red Strawberries for my Decor, and a Chandelier over the Dining table and Always get Compliments.

Shellie Orr Mosaic tile and leave the color

Rhonda Lyon It's a nice color but I think it would be too dark in there with the dark cabinets, too.

ArtZenFlowers Color & Design I don't think its too dark, I think its the wrong color, too similar to the counter top. Something bright, a green perhaps with some personality; Ben Moore's Dill Pickle, or a deeper tan like HC41 Richmond Gold or a vibrant warm red like Affinity color # AF290 Salsa Dancing. The cabinets are nice, just the overall look is dull, no contrast or vibrancy, needs some KICK! Any of the above would be beautiful.

Paula Cotton I think a pale lime green or a seamist blue would look wonderful with the dark brown cabinets.

SPACIALISTS I agree its dark, maybe change the wall colors. The issue here is the cabinets and wood floor share the same color scheme. that's the dilemma here....

kphone I don't think it's to dark at all. We just did a house with cabinets that color. She choose a neutral almost gray color with sharp white trim and light creamy granite counters it looked beautiful.

Charlotte Puglisi Can you paint some scrap wood or paper with the color and place it in the kitchen above the counter tops and send another picture?

underedenx Too dark... if you love grey try BM Revere pewter!

jimandjoy Check out Valspar.com . On their website you can upload a picture of your kitchen and actually put any color on the walls. Their paint is sold at Lowes

ALLURE INTERIORS, Connie Sloma, Allied ASID The real problem with this kitchen is the lack of light. Lighting can change the look of colors and reflection of a space, unlike simple paint.

So here is what I would do:

1) "IF" money is an issue, and you have a very small budget, invest in under-counter lighting, next paint the kitchen in any soft color (stay away from browns) and make that your theme. Make sure not to add accessories that are all the same color, as it will make it too boring.

2) Have a little more to spend, then add a granite counter top. Granite is usually honed to a brilliant shine and will reflect your new under-counter-lights. Then add a contrasting back-splash that is also reflective (meaning it has some shine to it). Go all the way to bottom of the upper cabinets. Then paint and you will have a fantastic kitchen! No need to paint your cabinets! I would add new stainless steel pulls too!

Good luck!

Rosy Blanco I think the problem is that is not contrast between the floor and the cabinets, almost the same dark color , floors should be lighter that the cabinets to or the other way around.

tracey330 depends on how much light you will have with sun and then with lighting. I see you have can lights... add lamps, and a small one in the corner of the counters. Do you have under counter lighting? If still too 'dark' in the room, You can always go a shade lighter. Or do a taupe that has less yellow in it. I would do the ceiling the light version of this paint.... some do it 50% or more lighter. I have seen designers recommend you do the ceiling in a glossy finish to reflect more light! Good luck. I have cabinets dark like this too. I have a pale taupe on the walls and ivory trim. My ceiling is a lighter version of it. When late afternoon hits, I turn on the lights all around!

Gaye LaFoe Love the color but I would go lighter...and add some pops of color like yellow or orange to the space.

Marilyn Wilkie A glass tile backsplash would do wonders.

mholycro 'Greige' paint = Pismo Dunes by Benjamin Moore. A glass backsplash with dark brown, grey and sea foam tiles. Then pick up those colors along with some green in a window treatment and rug. Pick up the green in accents for the counters. An interesting pendant light with a colorful glass shade would look great above the sink.

Amy Stanley I forgot to answer about where to put the paint, I would paint both below and above the cabinets the same color. I think the color is fine but if you were worried about being dark you could add under cabinet lights pretty easily. The dark floors and cabinets are great together, the lighter counter-tops break up the darkness and the gray will be a contrast to the brown and tie in your stainless and cabinet hardware. Benjamin Moore has a color viewer, you could upload this picture and paint the walls this color and see what you think and could explore other color options at the same time http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/personal-color-viewer

Southern Patina Interiors WOW - I'm always amazed at the solutions posted on Houzz, for something that's a simple fix.

This individual asked for help with a paint color................ Why on earth would you suggest changing the counter tops to granite. Why would you suggest painting the cabinets?

Some people don't have the budget or the means to make such elaborate changes.

Here are my suggestions for this post.

The cabinets are fine as they are. I agree they're a little dark, but if you cannot afford to replace them, there may be other simple fixes you can do to give you some relief from too many dark doors.


- Update cabinet hardware with something more bold and brighter
- Remove one or two cabinet doors and fill it with colorful bowls, cups, baking ware. This is a great way to break up all those cabinet doors. You may be able to paint in the inside of the cabinet a color and bring some interest to the area.
- Remove a couple of door fronts and replace with glass
- If you can add a kitchen island, that would be great. Not sure if there's enough room. You can build an island yourself from stock legs from Lowes/Home Depot and a butcher block top from Ikea. Paint the legs white or off white or a funky color for fun.
- Add a easy care light colored runner in front of cabinets to bring in some color and lightness. These rugs get dirty bc they get a lot of use, so buy something you're not wedded to and can throw out and replace when it gets grungy. Actually, you can get these stock runners at the Depot/Lowes and they're not expensive at all.
- A shinny subway tile backsplash is a wonderful, but it won't change the fact that you have all those dark cabs.

Your first step is to figure out what to do to break up all the dark wood on the overhead cabinets.
Removing doors, adding glass front panels and new hardware is a conservative start.

Artistico I agree with Southern Patina!!!

Southern Patina Interiors Thank you Artistico.

linbyr Yes the wood is quite dark but classy.You really should think about changing your flooring to a lighter shade, maybe cream/greige porcelain tiles would really lift it and bounce light upward during daylight .If its not in your budget to change to change the wood maybe paint them a lighter colour .
If you decide to stay with the dark wood then i would suggest you paint all the walls a paler colour such as ivory and try match a back splash in a lighter colour also. You can always add colour with your kitchen accessories.

Monica McCleary-Stuart I agree w Southern Patina.....what we stated was so needed and the truth! TY!

Monica McCleary-Stuart Sorry Southern Patina..I meant what u stated...And Cora T..back splash is good too!

Amy Stanley Sounds like the home owner is just trying to make a paint change for now until they have the $$ to start changing large stuff. Could you show a close up of your current counters?

Cora Torres_Patek I know the cabinets are dark, but they still look good. I agree with Patina also, you did not ask people to tear apart the cabinets, you asked for help lightening up the room with the wall colors. That is exactly why I am scared to ask for help on here with my remodel even though i have been tempted. :-( I would select a creamy back splash and add lighting under the cabinets and maybe above to brighten it up. You would be surprised at how that helps. Lowe's has a strip of LED lights that look like a piece of tape, that simply stick under there. They are inexpensive and they do the job.

dreaw80 This kitchen is screaming for a light paint color and a new tile or glass tile backsplash.

Southern Patina Interiors Cora - don't be afraid to ask for ideas, because you'll get plenty.
It gets frustrating when you ask for a simple color idea and folks tell you to change the hardware on your cabinets and add lighting, etc., NOT what you asked for.

If it were asking for a color suggestion I'd be frustrated too if people came back with some elaborate ideas that would then make me feel like...........well, guess just changing the color is not going to do it - I'd have to make all these other changes for it to work. Having said that, I don't mind making other small suggestions to tie the whole thing together, but really.......lets keep the suggestions it in perspective.

carlamedina The dark cabinets are beautiful but that color on the walls does nothing for them.. Experiment with some colors YOU like and then paint the walls and follow thru with some pretty accessories.

Berry Supply Corp. The over all look if this kitchen is bland. someware there needs to be some punch of color. The counte top doesn't help much it's too much nutral to the color of the cabinet. I don't think the gray color you picked will help much either.

I think some spark of clor to the wall just above the counter would help. Either in a ceramic or a glass tile. Something in a light green or blue might help. Dark colors wont work. Perhaps a brown slate with a gray in it might work Since you seem to like gray. But the rest of the wall needs a totaly different color.

You have a Brown floor, a Brown cabinet. A Tan top and a Tan paint. Need I say more?

ALLURE INTERIORS, Connie Sloma, Allied ASID There are many comments here that may seem confusing and counteract with each other. Before you go spending hard earned dollars, only to disappointed with the outcome, hire a "professional" designer, at least for a consultation and advice. It will be well worth the money, time and expense.

chrisroh I'm not a designer, but I have a few suggestions. First, have you thought our crown molding? It would give it a finished look. I don't know how old the cabinets are, but changing the handles could give it a new look. Personally, I like the color you have on your walls. It's not too dark. A valance over the sink with an accent color (a dark red, perhaps) would give it some life, and change the look of the kitchen, and a rug in front of the sink would break up all the browns. Adding something at the top of the cabinets would also give the kitchen some life.

La Maison Chic Your kitchen needs some color go orange shades it would work well with the brown. Your floor and cabinets are too similar in color. You dont know where cabinet starts and floor begins. Go with a great tile backsplash

Janet Buxton I would consider tiling the backsplash, something complimentary to countertop. Then painting the area from cabinets to ceiling as near to cabinet color as you can. This will give the appearance that the cabinets go all the way to the ceiling, the new 42" so popular today! Not my idea, saw it on a home decorating show with Candice Olson I believe. It was gorgeous....she does terrific work!

EnvironmentalLights.com We just launched a new line of ultra thin LED under cabinet lighting that would really help to upgrade your space as well. All of the lights have built in diffusers too so you won't get a glare on the tiles or countertops. And best of all, it's very user friendly to install so you might not even need an electrician's help if you wanted to install the lighting yourself.

It has interchangeable LED light bars and LED puck lights that you can choose from, in two colors of white (soft or neutral). Soft white is definitely preferred in kitchen lighting - and since they're dimmable too you can create a any atmosphere you want.

Complimentary design advice from our lighting specialists at (888) 880-1880 if you need any help!

http://www.environmentallights.com/led-under-cabinet-lighting/environmentallights-premium-modular-led-under-cabinet-lighting/led-under-cabinet-lights.html

bumblebee728 Love the idea of removing a few cabinet doors and showing color or objects on shelves. Under cabinet soft lighting is another great idea. When you find a rug with pattern and color that looks great in your kitchen, you'll be able to pick a color from there. Good Luck, it's a great kitchen.

onthefence I know this is an old-ish thread but wanted to tell you that your existing cabinets are absolutely beautiful. Based on how they appear in your photo, I'd love to have them in MY kitchen just the way they are.

This is one of the great examples of MCM I think. This is what is defined in the word classic. I don't know when these were installed -- but you could go to many websites and buy pretty much the same cabinets today. In fact, the style and color is what I've been looking for. A plain slab door in a dark stain.

If you DO decide to change your cabinets later, please consider being VERY gentle with them and donating them. Or possibly even offer them for sale. Well built cabinets in this style are always in demand and new ones are NOT inexpensive right now!

Marie Hebson's interiorsBYDESIGN Inc. Why don't you put mosaic tile on your backsplash instead of painting?