A month ago Carla and her husband Evan hit us up for some suggestions to take their wood-on-wood kitchen to new heights. They wanted something vibrant, polished and a lot younger and fresher, so we tossed out a slew of ideas (painting the cabinets & chairs white while the table goes black to echo the backsplash, bringing in pops of fresh green with dramatic curtains and other accessories, adding a round jute rug under the table for texture, etc). Then we sat back and anxiously awaited the after pictures…. and they actually came pretty quickly! Here’s their letter:
We couldn’t wait to send the kitchen after pictures to you just one short month after our consultation. All we can say is WOW!!!! We honestly cannot believe the transformation- it’s like a brand new kitchen and we freaking L.O.V.E. it!!!! As you can see, we took a lot of your advice and I was able to talk my hubby into painting the table, chairs and cabinets- I think he’s still in shock! He was very apprehensive, as you know, but my smooth talking, good looks (haha) and the fact that I promised to do most of the work myself (even took a day off of work, thank you very much!) got him to love it AND help out too! We still cannot believe how different it all is. WOW! And all for around $800 (including primer, paint, curtains, rugs and every last plant, pot, accessory, and dishtowel). It was so great to be able to do this project with you and the best part is that we feel like we’re really making this house our home! You guys are an inspiration– keep doing what you’re doing! -Carla & Evan
Here are the before pictures for your viewing pleasure:
And the jawdropping afters thanks to some paint and a slew of accessories:
Is that not an amazing makeover? We love how much lighter and more cheerful the room is (we’ve said it a hundred times, but paint and curtains really can completely transform a space). We’re so glad that we convinced Carla- and Carla convinced her understandably nervous hubby- that painting those cabinets along with the table & chairs was the way to go (before the room was one big tan-on-tan blur, even the floor blended with the cabinets which blended with the blinds and the kitchen table). Plus tying the table into their sleek backsplash (with a dash of black paint) really added cohesion and updated what was once a country piece into something you’d find at Pottery Barn. And aren’t those punchy green curtains and that round jute rug the icing on the cake? We can’t get enough of ’em.
Oh an here’s a source list from Carla and Evan:
- Paint for cabinets: chairs/cabinets- Valspar’s Ultra White, table- Olympic Black Magic, walls- Benjamin Moore Ashen Tan (you were so on the money w/ those colors)
- 3 Curtain Panels: Crate & Barrel (thank you for suggesting 3- it makes all the difference!)
- Table & Chairs: free! (painted black & white at your suggestion)
- White Placemat on Table: Pottery Barn
- Blowfish Fruit Bowl: Anthropology (seriously, isn’t this awesome!?)
- The “M” in the window: Urban Outfitters (painted black)
- FAB Round Jute Rug: Pottery Barn (LOVE it!)
- Coral: Pottery Barn (every room needs a piece of sea life, right Nate Berkus?!)
- Dishtowels: Crate & Barrel
- Rug at stove: Crate & Barrel
Fabulous job guys! We love that you went all the way and the transformation is seriously stunning. We especially appreciate this makeover because it’s a great reminder that “new” kitchens don’t always have to call for major demolition and mucho moolah. Let’s play one of my favorite games: whats-your-favorite-thing? I’m on the fence between that amazing jute rug and those lively and lovely curtains. Yummy.
Update: We sadly can no longer find the time to take on client commissioned mood boards (we now whip up general inspiration boards instead) but if we ever reinstate them we’ll make a big announcement!
Jess says
GORGEOUS! I love it! And I’m re-inspired to paint my kitchen cabinets white.
Danielle says
Great job Carla! It looks like a brand new kitchen, yet its not!
Bridget B. says
Wow! I love this idea.Y’all read my mind again. Just yesterday I was searching for an accent color to go with by black and white bedspread in the master bedroom. Red is kind of overdone so I was looking at yellow….maybe.
But this lime green is definitely a great option. Can’t wait to get started picking out green decor.
Beth says
You may have to search above a little bit for my first comment and your response to it, because I need some clarification. Yes, I not only have wood floors, but wood trim around all the doors. So are you saying that because of that, and because of my cream countertops, I should paint both my walls and cabinets cream? Surely not the same cream?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Beth,
Yup, both the cabinets and the walls would look lovely in shades of creamy tan (you can use the same paint swatch and slide up or down to pick a tan tone for the cabinets that’s slightly darker than your cream counter and then select an even deeper tan tone for the wall which will look varied and layered and lovely). You can also paint the wood trim in your kitchen a crisp white and then take the cabinets a crisp white and go with a tan tone on the wall for another layered and lovely effect. When you use related tones in a space (as long as there’s a bit of variation between each surface) the effect is always foolproof and sophisticated. Hope it helps!
s
Stacey says
I love this makeover! I had my hubby totally convinced to paint our cabinets white also. THEN we read your response to the white floor tile question…Sherry you are totally bumming me out that you think it wont work. Is there any way to make it cohesive? I have my heart set on white cabinets and we can’t afford to change out the floor anytime soon. The room is painted a light grayish blue similiar to yours, stainless appliances, white trim, and currently white laminate countertops – no backsplash. We plan to replace the with granite the counters and splash when we paint, is there any way to make it work? We live in FL so I don’t mind a little cool feeling, just not sterile. Thanks.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Stacey,
Rules are meant to be broken! Of course it can work! What about tossing down a rug in front of the sink to warm things up & add a splash of color and texture? How about bringing in some pops of color in countertop accessories to keep things from feeling sterile and monochromatic? You definitely want to be careful when selecting your white paint (there are about a hundred different kinds and you don’t want your new cabinet color to make the floors look dirty or vice versa so be sure the tones work together)- but it can work and look lovely (there are tons of white on white kitchens that woo- just be sure to bring in warmth and texture and a bit of color in other ways to break things up and avoid the hospital feeling!). Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
Robin says
This design is perfect! We are currently looking at homes on the market and they nearly all have that same blah-wood cabinet look, so to know a paint job can make the house go from cookie-cutter to custom is awesome! We are officially convinced this will be the way to go with our new buy! Great job guys!
Madelaine says
This kitchen looks great! Seriously, you guys should be so proud of the results. I have been wanting to paint mine for a while now, but just haven’t gotten around to it. The amount of work is almost brain numbing.
Quick question for any of you cabinet painting pros: Did you paint the inside also? Pros and cons? I have dark cabinets and would love to replace the center panel (easily removed) with frosted glass on all of the top cabinets, but am not sure if I would have to paint the inside then? Ideas?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Madelaine,
If you scroll up you can see that we’ve been chatting about that very subject (we’ve been chatting about a lot so no worries that you didn’t notice!). We actually painted the back of our glass-fronted cabinet a soft gray-blue and it really pops with the white cabinetry so we always think painting the insides of the cabinets is a great way to go the extra mile and add even more color and sizzle in a kitchen makeover (although it’s a totally optional extra step). We also suggested a way to keep the paint from getting scratched or stuck to the items that you place inside each cabinet so feel free to scroll up and check that out as well. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
SoBella Creations says
What a great transformation. I can’t wait to paint my kitchen cabinets.
LizzieBeth says
I have to say my favorite thing about that room is those curtains! I love love LOOOOVEEEEE green in a kitchen (I’ve just painted mine Valspar’s Jalapeno Jelly) and I think paired with the neutrals of the wall, chairs and table they totally command that room.
I also love the hidden details of the coral and the M in the window. Great job!
LIZ.
Stacey says
Sherry, Thanks for letting me know I don’t have to give up hope for a white kitchen! Makes total sense to be careful of the shade of paint. I would guess maybe a darker color for counter? My heart wants the look of carrera and white subway tile splash, but that may be too much white. I love this makeover and I love your site. Thanks for all your decorating insight and inspiration. I’ll send pictures when we finally get it done sometime before end of year. Taking baby steps here since hubby just went back to work after layoff. Thanks again!
Sam & Jacci says
Oilcloth would be so killer on the shelves. You are totally right! I can’t get too excited about it right now, though, I still have to finish the *outside* of these puppies :)
Rowwith says
We had to reroute plumbing in kitchen from inside to outside wall, therefore must move sink, dishwasher, and cabinets and countertops that go with them. We don’t have money for new cabinets, but realize we may need new countertops. How do we detatch cabinets and move them without tearing them up? They’re cheap, stock cabinets put in by investors who flipped house before we bought it. Unsure if screwed and/or glued in. Thanks.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Rowwith,
You certainly have a challenge ahead of you but it’s nothing that time and patience can’t most likely solve. Without being in your kitchen we have no way of knowing if they’re screwed or glued (or both!) so our best advice is to go slow and start with the cabinet that would be the easiest to replace if something went wrong and try to gently use a small crowbar or glat-head screwdriver to pull the cabinet away from the wall a bit to look for signs of glue or screws. Sometimes the first cabinet will get a bit banged up, but getting one out makes removing the rest an easy process and then you’ve done 90% of the removal without damage which is a fabulous outcome- and replacing one cabinet is cheaper than all of them, right?). We’d also suggest calling in experts if you find that you can’t do it yourself. It’s often cheaper in the long run if the other option is ruining things on your own! Hope it helps. Good luck!
xo,
Sherry
Alicia says
Beautiful transformation! I have the same dining set and want a new look. You’ve inspired me. :) I do have a question regarding sanding. In addition to my oak dining table and chairs, I also want to paint my window trims (12 windows), baseboard trims throughout the house, and two end tables white. With all the sanding required, would you suggest that I invest in an electric sander or just do the sanding manually? Thanks! I love your blog and read it daily.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Alicia,
That’s totally your call! You’ll probably move a lot faster with a little plug-in hand sander (they’re not very expensive for a basic model at somewhere like Lowe’s or Home Depot). That being said, some people just prefer to be cordless and grab some sand paper and do it themselves (a lot of times wood is easy to sand so this works, and if you find that yours is tougher to make headway on you can always upgrade to an electric sander mid-way). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Yvette says
We are looking to paint our cabinets white too, so seeing this before and after example is so exciting. The only thing is that I am enlisting a professional to paint ours. I’m too afraid of screwing up, but quotes are around $1500 for our kitchen. I’m still looking to find a good painter for under $1000. Wish us luck! And congrats on your new kitchen! I’ll share our photos once we are done!
Stephanie says
Hi! A question for the king and queen of remodel! I recently painted my bedroom and have some lovely “oops” marks on my ceiling. I’ve tried spot covering with ceiling paint and it’s very noticeable. What is the best way to cover these mistakes without repainting the entire ceiling? I apologize if this has been answered before. I searched the site and couldn’t track anything down. Thank you so so much for your help!!!!
Steph
“Single mom changing the world(OK, maybe just my house!), one room at a time!”
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Steph,
Bad news. You probably have to repaint the entire ceiling. We feel your pain, it actually happened to us a while back in the living room and we ended up repainting the whole thing. One product that definitely made the mark a lot less noticeable was primer of all things, so you might want to try priming the spot to see if that tones it down enough to save you the entire ceiling-painting project. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Julie says
Hey guys,
When repainting walls, in what case do you use primer first? I never have used it unless it was a new wall/plastered but some people always prime first over an old coat of paint…what do you do?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Julie,
Now Behr has paint that’s self priming which is said to go on thicker and get better coverage so if you’re looking to save a step there’s always that! We actually don’t usually primer unless we’re using a very deep color or painting over wood paneling or something else that can bleed through. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jamie says
I’m loving this kitchen and looking to do the same in my own this weekend. A few questions (and please forgive me if you’ve already answered these questions): first, what sheen do you recommend for kitchen cabinets in stark white? High gloss? Second, you just mentioned that you only use primer when covering a dark color or wood paneling. What about when covering oak wood with white? Do I want to prime it all first?
xoxo!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jamie,
Here’s the whole cabinet painting tutorial (you can find links to a slew of tutorials by clicking the “How To” tab under our header)! You’ll definitely want to use semi-gloss paint and use an oil-based primer no matter what (to help the paint stick so it doesn’t flake or crack off later). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Becca says
Hey John and Sherry! I cannot for the life of me believe that I missed this post. So pretty! Love love LOVE the white cabinets!
I have been wanting to paint our cabinets for the past year but haven’t convinced the hubs. Ours our fake wood (laminate?) so I’m not so sure that we can even paint them…? Do you have any tips on that?
Thanks and love the new blog name!!
Becca says
I meant to say ours are* fake wood… apparently I can’t type! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Becca,
Our advice would be to take a door off and bring it to a paint professional at Lowe’s/Home Depot/Ben Moore and see what they recommend. I would definitely go for an oil-based primer (many places recommend water-based ones now but we find they just don’t do the trick) but other than that they might have a few more ideas for you. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Becca says
Thanks so much Sherry! I will do that this weekend :)
Amy says
I love all your ideas for the white kitchens. We recently purchased a house with new granite counters that are a black/brown mix (comes off looking a little gray)and the flooring is more of a tan/sand color. Would you think white would mesh well with that mix? They are necessarily the colors we would have chosen, but being new, we are trying to make it work. The existing cabinets are the oak which everyone has, except they put a dark glaze on top resulting in a very dark drab kitchen. I love your website and we are seriously considering using your services!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
I think white will work beautifully for a totally classic palette. We love Benjamin Moore’s Decorators White but try bringing a few swatches home to settle on the final color because you might actually love a white with a soft gray or tan undertone better with your existing materials. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amy says
Do you have a suggestion for a white with a tan undertone? I am thinking a tan undertone because we also have brown carpeting. Also new….so we are working with it.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
Try Benjamin Moore’s Wind’s Breath. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Katy says
Do you have a suggestion for a white with a bit of gray and blue/green undertones? I’ve been struggling to find a paint color for my entrance and living room – I’m planning to paint walls, trim & ceilings all the same color – so I don’t want something that is too stark or something that has too much color. I tried Ben Moore’s Decorator’s White & it was too stark with our lighting on 3 of 4 walls – I also tried Sherwin Williams Ethereal White but it had to much color – any suggestions? By the way, I’m new to your blog and absolutely love it! You’ve given me so many great ideas already!!
YoungHouseLove says
Good question! Try Horizon or French Canvas by Benjamin Moore… or even Overcast. All three have cool blue-green-gray undertones. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
sharon says
Love your blog, it is very inspirational. If I take wallpaper down can I just paint the wall? Or do I have to texture the wall first? If so how would I accomplish that?
YoungHouseLove says
If the wallpaper comes off completely (along with the glue) you should be left with a pristine wall that you can just paint afterwards. We have never had to texturize a wall after removing wallpaper. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Katy says
Thanks so much for the suggestions!!
leona says
I’ve been thinking about painting my kitchen cabinets, but I have a few questions.
-What kind of paint should I get to get that polish look? I don’t want the paint look/feel…. HELP!
-Would I then need to glaze it?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Leona,
Here’s a post with step by step instructions for painting your cabinets! It’s as simple as oil-based primer followed by latex semi-gloss paint. No glazing necessary and it’ll last for years- decades even!
xo,
s
leona says
Thanks! I’ve been reading that tutorial you listed closely, but I guess I’m just too scared! HAHA! We just closed on the house and the kitchen is my first project!!!!! Thanks for your assurance!
Holly says
Hello!
I am trying to ‘warm up’ my living room with some accessories and can’t decide on a color scheme. The room is mainly black/ white/ and cream (with beige walls). It needs some color! I am a horrible decision maker and would appreciate any advice! You guys rock!!
Thanks!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Holly,
We’re going to “teach you how to fish” instead of just dictating a color scheme for ya. Here’s what you do: go to Target or Bed Bath & Beyond and buy a bunch of pillows in a wide range of colors and fabrics. You will be returning a ton of them so don’t be scared to come home with twelve options in a variety of tones and shapes. Then toss them on your sofa and see which one(s) you like. You might find that a red and orange color scheme tickles your fancy and then you can return the rest of the pillows and pick up other accessories (throws, vases, planters, lacquered boxes, etc) in those colors. Or you might love how sophisticated blue and chocolate (again, just return the rest of the pillows and snag more accessories in your newfound color palette). It really is that easy!
xo,
s
Holly says
wow. you’re fast! thanks for your advice.
Natasha says
Hey again! This couple’s cabinets were the builder basic oak just like mine, do you know if it was more of a hassle for her to sand and paint them since they are not the heavy duty solid wood like the original ones in your home? Thanks for your response to my other question as well!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Natasha,
From our correspondence with Carla and her description of the cabinet-painting process it sounded just as simple and straightforward as ours was (and we do know that she followed the exact same steps that we did). Her result is certainly flawless- not bad considering it was her first time attempting a project like this- and she was thrilled with the outcome. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Virginia says
The change is awesome. Not a great fan of wood finishes myself. Small accent pieces are OK. But not the whole darn room the way that kitchen was.
Julie says
Hi! Wondering if you have any tutorials on removing a wallpaper border. I am about to tackle that project for the first time and could use any tips you have!
Thanks!!
Julie
YoungHouseLove says
Check out the comments on this post for lots of ideas: https://www.younghouselove.com/2008/08/pure-comedy/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Julei says
Thanks!! I’m aiming to report back with some before & after pics for you guys (if all goes well)
~Julie
Heather Jastrzemski says
Oh, man…I’m trying SO hard to convince my husband that we need to paint our oak cabinets (they were new when we bought the house 3 yrs. ago but I never would have chosen them…but since they’re new, he hesitates to mess with them.) and this is all I needed. We bought some cool Anthropologie knobs last year, and, even though I love them, they don’t look right with these cabinets.
My walls are chocolate brown with avocado-green and white accents…would white look weird with dark walls?
YoungHouseLove says
No it’ll look crisp and lovely- the perfect balance to those rich walls. We say go for it… and send us the photos when you’re done!
xo,
s
KiKi says
I love this kitchen update! I really want to try this, but have one problem though. I have white appliances. How could I make it modern and airy but not stark with all of the white?
YoungHouseLove says
Just bring in pops of color or deep rich wood tones in the accessories so it doesn’t look too flat. It’s all about layering in tones and shades and materials so a wooden fruit bowl full of oranges with an orange dish towel draped over the white stove handle and a chocolate colored tea kettle on top of the stove would immediately add more dimension. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Mon says
Did they replace or paint their dishwasher?
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, same one. There’s just more light reflecting off of it in the second picture (plus those lighter cabinets make the whole room lighter!) so it emphasizes the stainless steel front in that photo. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Summer says
I love the makeover! We painted our cabinets white a few months ago and added black nobs. We made the mistake of just using a brush and not a roller and it looks a little streaky (Not as flawless as I’d like) Could I fix it by doing a light sand and rolling on another coat of paint? Also would a black countertop look nice or too “matchy-mathcy”? Or should we go with a different color like in this kitchen? It’s currently light blue (yuck!) Would love any advice!
YoungHouseLove says
We definitely think you can sand things down a bit and then apply a thin and even coat (or two) of black semi-gloss paint with a high quality roller for flat surfaces (we like the ones by Purdy) to get a more seamless look. As for the black countertop, it should look stunning with the white cabinets and black knobs. So classic. We say go for it!
xo,
s
Lily says
Hi am all the way in Nairobi, Kenya. l stumbled upon your site and absolutely loved what you have done with your home and this makeover is jaw dropping!! l do agree that sometimes a little does go a long way. Am planning to move into my own home next year and want to try and come up with a mood board to get my creative (lol) juices flowing. Thank you for giving us an opportunity to glam up our homes affordably!!
Alison says
I am planning on painting my oak cabinets white very soon and was wondering what shade of white you think would be best? I was thinking just using pure white (not having the paint tinted at all) but was wondering if this would be too stark? Is it better to go with some shade of off-white?
YoungHouseLove says
We like Benjamin Moore’s Decorators White (which you can have color matched for free to Behr paint which is more affordable). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lindsey N says
I love love love your blog, you all inspire me to whip our house into shape. the hubby and I painted our kitchen today (mojito from behr) and just decided to take the plunge and paint our oak cabinets white (which gives me the wonderful excuse to paint all of our trim white as well!) Thanks for all the inspiration, I look forward to reading daily!!
Sarah says
LOVE those green drapes. Planning to paint my cupboards white this summer using your tutorial. I want to pull in mostly green along with the colors in this runner from Target: http://www.target.com/Home-Neutral-Exploded-Floral-Collection/dp/B0031P71L2/ref=sc_qi_collection_item
Any ideas?
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds cute! White cabinets with soft green walls and accents in the same tone as the runner could be cool! Good luck!
xo,
s
Catherine says
Please can you tell me the name of the Crate & Barrel curtains? I can only find “Wallace” ones on the website and they don’t look the same. Help – I MUST have them!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man I just checked in at C&B and it doesn’t look like they’re online. Maybe try in stores? They have more sheen to them (like the lavender ones on the bottom). Or maybe try ebay? Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Bianca Langford says
For the cabinets did you just paint over the wood veneer? (Assuming that is what it is obviously). It looks like the same cabinets I have and I want to paint them but am unsure about where to start.
YoungHouseLove says
They’re solid oak so she just followed our tutorial here: https://www.younghouselove.com/2008/11/how-to-paint-your-kitchen-cabinets/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s