I’m a huge fan of wood cabinets (especially oak). Unlike melamine, thermofoil, and veneers, wood cabinets are almost always SOLID wood. And with real solid wood comes real potential.

Potential for what, you might ask?

Firstly, the potential for ‘hard wood‘ jokes (always a personal fave). Secondly, there’s a lot of updating potential, regardless of the century your cabinets were installed in. For example…

• an updated look via paint (which you can learn about HERE)

• a fresh finish with a more modern stain

• a facelift with hardware, decor, and wall paint colours that suit your wood stain

And while I’m sure you’ve heard me talk about painting/staining oak cabinets to update and add value, today we’ll talk about everything BUT that.

Are you ready, Betty?

1. UPDATE HARDWARE & LIGHT FIXTURES

I talked about hardware in this blog post, and today, I want to expand on those ideas with a few quick case studies…

BLACK HARDWARE ON WOOD CABINETS

Black is HANDS-DOWN, the top choice for updating wood cabinets. However, if you have FULLY exposed hinges (in other words, it’s not just the little edge showing), it’s a hard no from this cowgirl. Exposed hinges, especially ones that are in high contrast to your wood finish, can look harsh and show the age of the cabinets (as modern cabinets have hidden hinges).

For the scale of these cabinet doors (below), I would love to see handles with a bit more thickness and fewer curves…

In the above photo, notice how the new white subway tile backsplash and updated countertop give NEW life to the original oak cabinets – MAD LOVE!

This next kitchen has ALL of my heart…

Really, the only things I might change would be to find light fixtures that aren’t hanging on chains and maaaybe a subway tile backsplash in a muted neutral that matches the countertops. But even as-is, I love it.

While this next kitchen has all the original features (likely late 80s), the coordinated hardware and light fixtures help the space feel pulled together and purposefully designed. To REALLY update this space, here are a few ideas…

• Paint the island a colour that complements the countertop and surrounding wood finishes – the red stain is a bit off.
• If the pendants are staying, choose a chandelier with fewer curves. While the look suits the pendants, fewer curly cues would be better.
• Even better, I’d love to see black hardware, modern pendants in a black finish, and a coordinating chandelier.
• Brighten the walls with a modern beige paint colour.
• Budget allowing, I’d LOVE to see a subway tile backsplash, which is one of the BEST ways to update a kitchen with oak cabinets and granite countertops.

POLISHED NICKEL HARDWARE ON WOOD CABINETS

Polished nickel is in HOT second place to black, especially if you want a slightly more modern approach that coordinates with stainless appliances.

These next cabinets are gorgeous in their orange-red glory, but if it were MY home, here’s what I would do…

• I’d paint the cabinets (sorry #notsorry). HOWEVER, it would hurt me as the wood IS so darn pretty (it’s just overwhelming with the floor).
• But because painting wasn’t an option with this client, I’d put a rug on the floor (a washable one) to get a bit of a visual breather between the wood floor and the cabinets.
• Try black hardware and see which is better (I don’t mind the polished nickel, but I am curious to see black).
• Paint the walls so they don’t compete with the cabinets as much.
• Add a subway tile backsplash.
• Remove the single pendant.
• Add a striking, larger piece of artwork on the wall beside the back door, creating a focal point.

ANTIQUE BRASS HARDWARE ON WOOD CABINETS

If you’re looking for a low-contrast look, antique brass is a beautiful finish with oak cabinets, but it’s definitely tougher to pull off unless you have mad style (think Studio McGee) and the right cabinets (shaker style). The bonus is that most oak cabinets (if they have their original hardware) have hinges in this finish, so that’s one less thing to worry about.

OIL-RUBBED BRONZE HARDWARE ON WOOD CABINETS

Oil-rubbed bronze is another beautiful finish with wood cabinets but is usually better with oak than cherry or maple (depending on the stain colour).

However, of the four finishes, oil-rubbed bronze is usually the LEAST modern-looking.

To UPDATE this next kitchen without painting the cabinets, I would change the light fixtures for sure, going down to two slightly larger ones and capping off the middle one. I would also update the backsplash with a creamy beige subway tile.

GOLD OR BRASS HARDWARE ON WOOD CABINETS

While gold and brass are POPULAR finishes these days, they aren’t always a hit with wood cabinets.

Why?

Gold/brass is usually a yellow-toned metal finish, and some cabinets are too orange/red-toned for this yellow-gold look. Aged brass (antique brass) is often a better fit, but both can be considerably more expensive than black or polished nickel.

2. ADD GLASS TO FEATURE CABINET DOORS

Adding glass to a few key doors will relieve some of the visual weight of the wood and add reflective value to your kitchen (which is great if you have a dark kitchen and keep tidy cupboards). And of course, you could hire a cabinet company to do this for you, but with a bottle of wine and a saw, you might be AMAZED at what you can accomplish (it’s how I trim my toenails).

Seriously though, want to know how? Confessions of a Serial DIY’er has a great ‘how-to’ as does my gal Tamara over at Provident Home Design.

3. ADD A NEW BACKSPLASH

Whether you have an outdated backsplash or none at all, adding a well-chosen tile will do WONDERS for your wood cabinets!

The most popular, timeless choice would be subway tile with either white grout or grout that coordinates to your wall colour/countertop. This works well when partnered with a neutral white, gray, or black countertop.

This next kitchen looks right on-trend with its cream subway tile backsplash and warm white walls…

A few budget-friendly update ideas would be…

• paint the pantry door a darker accent color
• add a bit of interesting decor, like branches/leaves in the large vase
• considering pendants with a fabric or solid white shade as they offer a softer light
• find some upholstered stools in a darker fabric (dark green-gray would be pretty, as it would contrast the warm woods)

This next kitchen shows oak cabinets with exposed hinges…

My client took this photo mid-project, so excuse a few funny spots.

My client added a new countertop and white subway tile with contrasting grout to subtly jazz things up.

As shown in this next photo, you could also consider travertine. While travertine gets a bad rap, I’m a huge fan, and with the coming warm trends, you just might see it coming back! I also love the polished nickel hardware – a simple complement to the warm wood tones, whereas black would’ve created more contrast and been a bit harsh with the organic look of the travertine.

This next photo shows how adding hardware, a modern countertop, and a new subway tile backsplash can lighten, brighten, and update wood cabinets. I know a LOT of you would paint these bad boys, but other than the exposed hinges, LOOK at the bone structure of these cabinets – gorgeous!

To finish this up, I would replace the yellowed phone jack and put something pretty in the open cabinet

6 Budget-Friendly Ideas to Update Your HOME

How to Create a Timeless Home – 4-Part Series

This next kitchen is a great example…

• White quartz countertops.
• Modern marble tile backsplash.
• New black hardware.

And all of this was done without changing the cabinets or the original tile floor!

If I were to suggest one BIG thing, it would be to remove the wood valance over the sink. Valances like this cut back on the quality of light and date a space to the 80s.

4. USE THE RIGHT HOME DECOR

Using unified home decor with a consistent colour palette can help update a kitchen or bathroom with oak cabinets. The more colors and metal finishes you add, the more cluttered it can make a room look.

BLACK, WHITE, CREAM, BROWN, & GRAY HOME DECOR

Neutrals and simple, classic colors are a great way to update wood cabinets. Rather than contrasting the wood with a colour like blue or green, neutrals keep things simple and modern while still adding visual interest.

COPPER-COLOURED HOME DECOR IN KITCHENS

Copper is a beautiful complement to oak cabinets with its earthy, rich metal finish. Whether it’s canisters or small decorative pieces, adding copper can help to simplify and unify your cabinets and decor, as copper tends to have the same warm undertone as some oak finishes.

UPDATED FURNISHINGS

This next kitchen shows how the right furnishings finish a space. Wood stools would be overwhelming, considering all the wood already in this space.

If I were to suggest a change, I might choose stools that are just a bit less fancy – still upholstered, but with more simple lines and no nailhead details (and seriously, I’m just being picky for the sake of showing you ideas/options) – this space really is beautiful. And the artwork? PERFECT!

GREENERY IN KITCHENS

Generally speaking, too much colour isn’t great for wood cabinets. However, adding some greenery and keeping things simple is a GREAT way to add energy to the room without overwhelming it.

While I might add a bit more decorative love to this next kitchen, the right bones are in place, and the photo shows how even a wink of green adds LIFE (this home was getting ready for staging, so it was kept simple)!

NEED HELP? Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOR SERVICES – let me make it easy for you! 

I also believe that CLEARING THE CLUTTER is a great way to update wood cabinets. Simplify your space and let the products do the visual work for you. Wood cabinets (especially oak) have a grain that can add visual interest/clutter to a space.

Let’s look at this next photo…

Although the simplicity is alright for home staging, I have a few suggestions that would respect the owner’s need for simplicity while adding a decorative touch…

• add simple, repetitive decor pieces in those upper glass cabinets (i.e., coordinating bowls/vases/stacks of plates)

• remove the knife holders as they’re hangry-looking

• add a plant or two to complement the warm tones and add some energy! Even just one in the corner with the blender would make a BIG difference

• use a nicer utensil holder with some stainless utensils

• add a decorative soap dispenser

4 Tips for Picking the Best Subway Tile for Your Backsplash

In this next photo, while the backsplash diamond pattern isn’t terribly modern, the cabinets have great bones and a totally workable stain. If the countertops were cluttered, this space would have WAY less appeal. The use of greenery keeps the accessories in this room well-connected and complementary to the maple cabinets.

How to Update a 1990s Home

If the above owner wanted to take things a step further, they could consider the following:

• Add a soft, warm, creamy white subway tile. White would be too stark with the flooring and countertop. I would do a soft, light beige-ish grout to define the tile layout.

• Replace the pendant lights with clear glass ones that are slightly larger and more updated. I’d probably take it down to three lights and cap one.

• Find upholstered stools to break up the wood a bit and add some softness and texture.

Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages

5. PAINT…JUST A LITTLE

Okay, so I’m a big fat liar, I know – slap me with a wet noodle. However, this idea doesn’t involve painting ALL of your cabinets – just some of them, and it’s too good of an idea not to share!

By choosing a few key places to paint, you can give your kitchen an updated look and give the oak something to play off.

The 6 Best Paint Colours for Bathroom Vanities Are ALSO GREAT for Kitchen Islands! 

I’m in LOVE with this next kitchen with its cherry wood cabinets. And while this approach isn’t for the faint of heart, remember, sometimes wood needs something to PLAY with to come into its full glory!

Not sure if you should even CONSIDER painting your cabinets? Take my fun QUESTIONNAIRE to see what your kitchen says!

Of course, there are MANY different kitchen layouts, so it can be challenging to say, ‘Always paint these cabinets and leave these ones wood,’ but here are some ideas to get you going…

• paint only the upper cabinets

• paint only the lower cabinets

• if you have a pantry-style cabinet in the kitchen, paint it as well as the uppers OR lowers

• paint the island

• if you have a unique range hood or desk area, paint it

PEOPLE ALSO ASK…

ARE HONEY OAK CABINETS COMING BACK IN STYLE IN 2023 & 2024

This year, we’ve seen more wood cabinets, particularly white oak, emerge. In the coming years, expect to see more wood, even some mid-depth stains.

As for honey oak, in particular, it’s all about the grain and the stain. Some honey oak cabinets are muted; if they have a shaker or non-cathedral-style door, there are ways to update them.

However, some oak cabinets are heavily grained and have a strong yellow or orange stain on them, making it harder for them to look trendy or updated.

The cabinets in this next kitchen have GREAT bones, but in terms of being modern (if the homeowner were concerned about that), the strength of the orange stain is a bit strong. This being said, there are still ways to make cabinets like this work!

Want more?

5 Ideas to Update Oak Cabinets – (PART 1 in series)

Budget-Friendly Hardware to Update Wood Cabinets (PART 3)

The 16 Best Paint Colors to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets or Trim (PART 4)

The 16 Best Paint Colors to Coordinate with Wood

Should I Paint My Cabinets or Leave Them Stained? A Questionnaire

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colors

Need HELP?

Check out my E-Design and Online Color Consulting Packages 

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 2018, FULLY UPDATED IN 2023

The post How to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets WITHOUT a Drop of Paint (PART 2) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When it comes to painting any type of cabinet, there are SO many awesome colors to choose from! But in particular, vanities and islands offer GREAT opportunities for some serious PERSONALITY.

Why?

Because it’s easier to commit to something a bit different and ‘out of the box’ on a smaller scale vs. a large scale project like an ENTIRE KITCHEN, which can be costly to redo in five years if you’re tired of the color (or five months if you’re like me).

However, personality doesn’t always come in the form of a wild and wonderful color; many neutrals add interest to a room without tipping the scales. We’ll be touching on some of these days, AS WELL AS, a few wicked, wonderful brighter, darker shades of green.

But why does this blog post focus on gray, greige, and green only?

Some of the most popular shades of gray have green undertones; others are balanced between the two colors and are open to perception. As for greige, greige is neutral with green undertones (whereas taupe has violet undertones). For this reason, partnering these three colors in one blog post makes sense, so you can decide which DEGREE of green you want to see!

However, there are a few great gray options that don’t have any green undertones at all! 

And a HUGE thank you to my E-design and local clients, for sending me their ‘after’ photos – I couldn’t do this without you!

THE BEST GRAY VANITY, CABINET, OR ISLAND COLORS

Gray is a great way to add interest to a bathroom or kitchen without going over the top. And while light gray cabinets are no longer trendy, dark grays, especially those with interesting undertones, are still going strong.

As for the grays listed below, most have either a little or a LOT of green in them.

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ROYCROFT PEWTER 2848

If you like a gray that’s a bit of a chameleon, look no further than Roycroft Pewter. With its unique blend of blue and green undertones, Roycroft Pewter is a unique take on gray due to its undertones, which can shift between green and blue depending on your PERCEPTION and surroundings.

Roycroft Pewter has an LRV of 13, making it a medium-dark color. And don’t expect those undertones to sit passively, as they will DEFINITELY show up to the party!

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Roycroft Pewter

LRV & Paint Colors: The Ultimate Guide You Need to Read

2. BENJAMIN MOORE CHELSEA GRAY HC-168

Chelsea Gray is a solid, medium-toned gray that has been a fan fave for years. And while it’s FRACTIONALLY warm (you’d hardly know it), it acts more like a standard charcoal and can sometimes pick up a SUPER  vague green undertone.

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray

3. BENJAMIN MOORE METROPOLIS CC-546

Metropolis is a beautiful medium-toned WARM gray (almost taupe), with a subtle purple undertone – that’s right, there’s not a wink o’ green to be found in this bad boy! When it comes to homes built in the early 2000s, particularly those with granite countertops, Metropolis is a popular choice as it often suits the TYPE of gray found in these finishes.

See the AWESOME before and after of the above bathroom HERE

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Metropolis

4. BENJAMIN MOORE AMHERST GRAY HC-167

Amherst Gray is similar to Chelsea Gray but is darker, and the green undertone in Amherst Gray can sometimes show up just a wink more (depending on the products you partner it with and your lighting/exposure).

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray

5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS GAUNTLET GRAY 7019

Gauntlet Gray is one of the darkest, warmest grays available. As some warm grays darken, they pick up too much brown – not Gauntlet Gray. While it has some warmth, you’re still left with an overwhelmingly GRAY paint color.

As for undertones, Gauntlet Gray is flexible between green and purple, meaning it doesn’t commit to either. If you’re nervous of ANY undertone and hope for that ever-elusive ‘gray with no undertones,’ Gauntlet Gray (and Dovetail, listed next) could be as close as you get.

This next kitchen is still being completed, but is a great shot of Gauntlet Gray…

The 9 Best Benjamin Moore Gray Paint Colors

FULL REVIEW OF SHERWIN WILLIAMS GAUNTLET GRAY HERE 

And remember, when you’re choosing the best gray paint color for your vanity, you need to pay CLOSE attention to the needs of your tiles and countertop. Find out which undertones you’re working with and coordinate your gray paint color from there! Every gray will have undertones, and you’ll want to ensure they partner up!

6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS DOVETAIL 7018

Dovetail is like a lighter version of Gauntlet Gray. This means that it’s also a warm gray with flexible and non-committal undertones. As for LRV, Gauntlet Gray sits at 17, whereas Dovetail is a good dose lighter at 26, putting it in the medium depths.

Sherwin Williams Dovetail Paint Color Review

7. BENJAMIN MOORE KITTY GRAY 1589

With its blend of green, blue, and gray, Kitty Gray is a great way to make a statement without going over the top with color. This is because while Kitty Gray does cater a bit more to green, it’s heavily grounded by gray, and has blue mixed in for moderation.

Compared to the others, Kitty Gray is DEFINITELY more colorful, without dipping right into the green pool.

THE BEST GREEN COLORS FOR VANITIES, CABINETS, OR ISLANDS

Whether it’s a green-blue blend, emerald-inspired, or leaning into the mossy end of things, green is definitely one of today’s more popular cabinet colors!

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS EVERGREEN FOG 9130

If you’re looking for a more subtle take on green, Evergreen Fog is a medium-depth green with just the right amount of gray to calm it down without taking away the ‘green’ of it. As for temperature, Evergreen Fog doesn’t lean overly warm or cool, giving off a more ‘smoky’ look.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ISLE OF PINES 6461

Isle of Pines is a gorgeous green. While it winks at the Kelly Green end of things, it’s not as intense and is more emerald-inspired.

The 8 Best Green Paint Colors

Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS RIPE OLIVE 6209

Ripe Olive is a dark shade of green with a rich undercurrent. When it comes to cabinets, Ripe Olive offers a commitment to green without going anywhere NEAR Kelly or Emerald Green.

As shown in this next kitchen, Ripe Olive’s LRV of 6 is striking with off-white quartz countertops. And sure, you see GREEN, but it’s not punchy…

4. BENJAMIN MOORE SALAMANDER 2050-10

Salamander is one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular green paint colors for cabinets, color-washing, and front doors. This dark shade of green has a slightly cool tone (green-blue) and a reasonable saturation, meaning it’s not just dark (with an LRV of 5.72 ), but it’s also reasonably colorful.

Remember that you should never pick paint colors based on how they look horizontally or at an angle. ALWAYS place them 100% vertically so you can see how the light (natural and artificial) bounces off them.

Here’s Salamander and a few other popular shades of green (again, they should be totally vertical)…

The Best Medium & Dark Green Paint Colors

THE BEST GREIGE COLORS FOR CABINETS

Greige is another great choice and can sometimes work better than gray if you’re trying to transition out of the beige end of things. I say ‘sometimes’ as some bathrooms just CAN’T pull off gray or greige – it all depends on the existing finishes and what they can tolerate!

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS URBANE BRONZE 7048

Urbane Bronze is a WICKED gorgeous, super dark greige paint color. Some of my Online Paint Color clients see the green undertones and love them; others don’t see them at all – it just depends on the surrounding environment and your perception.

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze

The 4 Best Gray and Greige Paint Colors for Cabinets and Vanities

2. BENJAMIN MOORE KINGSPORT GRAY HC-86

Kingsport Gray is an awesome medium-toned greige paint color, planted nicely between gray and beige with an allegiance to beige/brown over gray.

However, while some greiges commit hard to their green undertone, Kingsport Gray comes in way more muted, so the green isn’t noticeable unless you partner it with finishes with an opposite (purple-pink) undertone.

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Kingsport Gray

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS KEYSTONE GRAY

Keystone Gray is one of my top greige paint colors for cabinets. While it’s similar to Kingsport Gray, it’s a bit lighter and less warm. It also has SUPER passive undertones that are hard-pressed to flash any green at all.

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray

SAMPLIZE offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots.

• samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 BUSINESS DAY
• they’re considerably more affordable than the sample pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AGREEABLE GRAY

If you want light or off-white depth cabinets and love the subtle greige look, it’s hard to beat Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray. IN FACT, I wrote an entire blog post on it!

Agreeable Gray is a light depth greige with an LRV of 60. And while this might be a bit darker than you had in mind, remember that the sheen of cabinet paint (satin) can make a color look a bit lighter than expected. Check out Agreeable Gray in this beautiful kitchen…

Agreeable Gray has flexible undertones. While there’s a touch of green in it, it’s so subtle that it rarely shows up to the party in a big way. On the other hand, it also doesn’t flash overly green or violet, either!

We did Agreeable Gray in this budget-friendly kitchen remodel…

READ MORE

The Best White Paint Colors for Cabinets, Trims or Walls

Farrow & Ball’s 10 Best Blue Paint Colors

How to Choose the Best White Paint Color for your Cabinets

The 12 Best Navy Blue Paint Colors for Cabinets, Islands, Front Doors & More

The Best DARK Greige & Taupe Paint Colors

LET ME PICK YOUR BEST COLORS FOR YOU!

Check out my Online Color Consulting packages; I’d love to help!

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN JULY 2019, UPDATED IN 2022

The post The Best Gray, Greige, & Green Colors for Bathroom Vanities, Kitchen Islands, or Cabinets appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Do you want your countertops to look like travertine, marble, or concrete without the MAINTENANCE or cost? Some of my most POPULAR bathrooms and kitchens on my INSTAGRAM are those with laminate countertops – not quartz, not granite, but LAMINATE! And while I’ve already done a blog post on how AWESOME the new laminate countertops are, I want to go in a bit closer with a few of my faves.

And just so you know, I’m not getting paid to promote any of the products I’ve shown you on this page. I pay myself in wine, Starbucks, and self-high-fives.

PROS & CONS OF LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS

• PRO: CONSIDERABLY more affordable than quartz or granite, often 3-5 times less expensive

• PRO: TONS of options that mimic the look of marble, stone, and more

• PRO: you can keep your existing sink if it happens to be standard (not under-mount)

• PRO: some laminate countertops can be combined in a kitchen with a quartz island (mix and match)

• PRO: look awesome with a subway tile backsplash for a modern look

• CON: will stain or scratch if you work at it (but are made to be pretty hardy for the price)

• CON: isn’t heat-resistant (very basic resistance)

• CON: any open ends will have a visible seam

• CON: while some have installed an under-mount sink, it’s generally not recommended

• CON: while a NEW laminate pattern is better than an outdated one, overall, laminate doesn’t always add to the RESALE value of a home

LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS THAT LOOK LIKE MARBLE

I LOVE the look of an authentic marble countertop; I DON’T love the maintenance of it – momma wants to put her red wine glass down wherever she wants! And while quartz countertops offer GREAT-looking alternatives without the maintenance, they still come with a hefty price. Sure, laminate countertops aren’t as HARDY as quartz, but they’re a fraction of the price and WICKED pretty in the right space.

Formica Calacatta Marble is one of my faves as it gives a SUPER modern look, similar to marble without the MAINTENANCE. With the square wrap profile on the front, it’s got the look of marble for under $400! If you want the reverse look, so black base with white/gray veining, check out Formica Jet Sequoia.

See all of this bathroom HERE

The Best Paint Colours for Kitchen Islands or Lower Cabinets

A well-chosen laminate countertop can look stunning while coming in at a FRACTION of the price of quartz or granite. And I’m not talking about hundreds of dollars; I’m talking THOUSANDS of dollars (particularly in a kitchen). While there are some ‘affordable’ lines of quartz and granite out there, they don’t come ANYWHERE near the reduced price of laminate.

REMEMBER, countertops usually come in a VARIETY of finishes (matte, etched, honed, etc…) Check out your OPTIONS before you order! 

FORMICA CARRARA BIANCO

If you don’t love the more graphic veining in Calacatta Marble, you might like the subtler approach of Carrara Bianco. You’ll see it has less/black gray and a subtle gray veining with a violet undertone (remember, every gray has undertones!). Again, this countertop looks a HECK of a lot like marble!

Paint Colour Sherwin Williams Pure White

3 Steps to Picking the Best White Paint Colours

LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS THAT LOOK LIKE CONCRETE

It’s hard to beat the organic look of real concrete countertops, but they stain easily and require yearly maintenance. For MUCH less money and stress, you can get the look without the work!

ARBORITE INUKSHUK GRAY

Inukshuk Gray is one of my fave concrete-look countertops for an organic, natural look. While this next project shows Inukshuk Gray in a matte finish, you can also get it glossy if you prefer a more polished look. I’d also love to see that edge a bit more squared off…

If you look at a sample of Inukshuk up close, you’ll see that it has small white flecks for visual interest.

Cabinets painted Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart / Walls Sherwin Williams Pure White

Sure, laminate countertops can stain too. But show me a concrete countertop and a laminate countertop that were both installed ten years ago, and I BET the laminate countertop is in better shape.

LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS THAT LOOK LIKE STONE OR TRAVERTINE

I know that MANY of you curse your early 2000s travertine tile, but if you ask me, travertine is a GORGEOUS product – warm, textured, and a great way to add interest to a space. In fact, I’d go so far as to pick up that look on my countertops…

5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

SILVER TRAVERTINE BY FORMICA

Formica Travertine Silver is a beautiful laminate with a range of greige and warm tones. This countertop often works with bathrooms with almond and bone fixtures as it has some of those colors in its pattern.

I’ve had clients want to use Silver Travertine in kitchens, but because of the strong linear veining, it doesn’t look good on countertops that aren’t one piece (where the slab meets in the corner, the lines/pattern of the countertop gets pretty mismatched). However, in a bathroom with its straight-run of countertop, it’s a beautiful choice, particularly if your floor tile is more subdued.

Vanity colour Benjamin Moore Kingsport Gray

The perimeter countertop in this next kitchen is an older-style laminate countertop that looks like travertine. My client did an awesome job transitioning it with new finishes in her budget-friendly kitchen overhaul!

See this whole project HERE

The 6 Best Paint Colours for Bathroom Vanities (or Kitchen Islands & Cabinets)

LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS THAT ARE VERSATILE FOR THOSE TRICKIER PROJECTS

When updating a home, replacing every surface is not always feasible. This means you’re often working with tiles, fixtures, or finishes that aren’t EXACTLY what you had in mind. Luckily, a few countertops help transition outdated finishes into a new decade.

FORMICA EBONY OXIDE OR WILSONART OILED SOAPSTONE

Black is often a popular choice for those wanting to update a space without having to do EVERY surrounding finish. Ebony Oxide and Oiled Soapstone are great examples of black countertops that still have visual interest.

FORMICA SOAPSTONE SEQUOIA

Soapstone Sequoia is one of my favorite laminate countertops. To save money on our kitchen remodel (in our last home), we partnered Soapstone Sequoia with quartz on the island – saving THOUSANDS while adding some serious style to the island…

With its subtle veining and WARMTH, Soapstone Sequoia is great for those who prefer the warmer end of things without dipping hard into the beige or cream pools.

Is Beige Back? Is Beige…TRENDY?

See the BEFORE & AFTERS of this budget-friendly remodel!

Because I rely 100% on my Online Paint Color Consulting clients for their photos (REAL HOMES with REAL BUDGETS), I don’t have photos of all my faves. So, if you’re looking for a flexible laminate countertop that’s a WARMER, check out…

• FORMICA MOCHA TRAVERTINE
• FORMICA PALOMA BISQUE
• FORMICA CREMA MASCARELLO
• FORMICA ANTIQUE MASCARELLO

THE 8 BEST LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS (QUICK SUMMARY)

1. Formica Calacatta Marble
2. Formica Carrara Bianco
3. Formica Jet Sequoia
4. Formica Ebony Oxide
5. Wilsonart Oiled Soapstone
6. Arborite Inukshuk Gray
7. Formica Silver Travertine
8. Formica Soapstone Sequoia

Now, let’s check out some of the most common questions about laminate countertops…

WHICH IS BETTER, FORMICA OR LAMINATE?

Formica is a BRAND of laminate countertop, so when you talk about Formica, you’re talking about laminate! The same goes for Wilsonart and Arborite – they’re brands of laminate countertop.

HOW LONG DO LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS LAST?

This is up to you. I’ve seen laminate countertops 30 years in that are still in great shape. However, the more cutting you do ON your countertop and the more hot pots and pans they see, the more you’ll reduce the lifespan of your countertop. In the average kitchen or bathroom that receives normal wear and tear, 10-20 years is a good estimate.

WHAT TYPE OF COUNTERTOP LASTS THE LONGEST?

The answer would definitely be quartz. However, with proper maintenance, granite is also a great countertop product.

The 8 Best Warm Quartz Countertops for Upcoming Trends

WHAT’S THE BEST EDGE FOR A LAMINATE COUNTERTOP?

A bullnose (or square-wrap) profile is definitely the most popular when it comes to laminate countertops. This gives a soft, subtle profile – no sharp edge, but without the rounded look of laminate countertops from previous decades.

CAN YOU PUT HOT POTS & PANS ON LAMINATE?

There’s a difference between CAN and SHOULD. While you CAN put somewhat hot pots on your laminate countertop for a short period (as I have), you SHOULDN’T, as you risk leaving a burn mark/discoloration.

Outdated laminate countertops can look MUCH BETTER surrounded by the right paint colors! 

The Best Paint Colours for Kitchen Islands & Bathroom Vanities

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS?

Unlike granite and marble, which require sealing, laminate countertops are EASY to maintain and keep clean with soap and water!

CAN YOU PAINT LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS?

You DEFINITELY can, and this is a great solution if you’re on a budget and your current countertop needs some TLC.

While this blog post isn’t SPECIFIC to painting laminate countertops, here are the basics…

1. CLEAN WITH A DEGREASER
2. LIGHTLY SAND TO BREAK UP THE SURFACE WITHOUT BREAKING IT ‘DOWN’
3. WIPE WITH A TACK CLOTH TO REMOVE ALL SANDING DUST
4. USE A HIGH-ADHESION PRIMER – TWO COATS (you might consider a food-safe one)
5. USE QUALITY PAINT THAT’S MADE FOR THIS PURPOSE – TWO COATS (your local paint store will have a suggestion based on their particular lines of paint)
6. AS FOR A TOPCOAT/RESIN, IT DEPENDS ON THE PAINT YOU USE, AS SOME PAINTS MIGHT NOT NEED A TOPCOAT

READ MORE

The 8 Best Countertops for Coming Trends

Quartz vs. Granite Countertops: What’s the Difference?

4 Tile & Shiplap Ideas for a Small Bathroom

4 Ideas to Update Your Kitchen on a Budget

The Best Bathroom SINKS & FAUCETS on a Budget

How to Make a Small Bathroom Look FABULOUS

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING 

Chat soon,

WRITTEN IN 2017, COMPLETELY CHANGED & UPDATED IN 2023

The post The 8 Best BOUGIE Laminate COUNTERTOPS on a Budget appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

The 8 Most Popular Warm-Toned Quartz & Quartzite Countertops

While white quartz countertops are still in style for many of today’s homeowners, a new wave of countertops is on the horizon.

That’s right, with paint trends leaning warmer, I’m also seeing a LOT of demand for countertops that lean to the WARM side of things vs. the white and gray trend of the last 5-10 years.

And if I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again – you do you. If you aren’t concerned with trends or resale, pick whatever floats yer lil boat. However, if you’re hankering for something WARMER and potentially even more FLEXIBLE than the top countertops of previous years, I’ve got some beauties for you.

A FEW IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS…

Before we get this party started, there are a few important things to remember…

• The countertops listed below are for inspirational purposes. Please remember to visit your local supplier to see what the slabs look like in person.
• Whereas quartz is more consistent, there can be QUITE a bit of variation in quartzite slabs as they’re a NATURAL product (and MUST be sealed/maintained).
• I love sharing approachable designs, so I only use photos from my E-Design clients and local projects.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUARTZ & QUARTZITE?

When looking for a new countertop, the choice is often between NATURAL and HUMAN-MADE. And this is the big difference between quartzite and quartz – quartzite is natural, whereas quartz is a MIX of natural (approx. 90-95%) and human-made (5-10%).

Natural products like quartzite (and marble/granite) require a degree of maintenance, whereas a quality quartz countertop requires none.

As it relates to looks, quartz offers a more predictable, more planned-out pattern. On the other hand, because quartzite is natural, every slab is unique, although most have similar colorways.

Remember, because quartzite is a natural product, there WILL be variation between slabs. Please, apply the tips and ideas below as general guidance to your chosen slab to see what works best!

1. TAJ MAHAL QUARTZITE

Taj Mahal is one of my FAVOURITE quartzite countertops. While it has a beautiful warm base, it’s not OVERLY beige or tan. It also has a moderate amount of veining – not too boring, but not overwhelming either.

As with ANY natural product, you will find variations between slabs. And while some Taj Mahal slabs can politely nod at a soft white cabinet color, many prefer a slightly darker, more off-white color partner.

As shown below, the Taj Mahal is also gorgeous with natural wood cabinets…

If you’re looking for a countertop that’s a bit friendlier towards white cabinets, keep on reading.

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR TAJ MAHAL

• SOFT MUTED WARM WHITES, although they can be a bit more of a stretch depending on the depth of your slab
• SOME VERY MUTED TAN paint colors, depending on the slab
• SOME MUTED BEIGE paint colors, again, slab dependent (no strong orange-pink undertones)
• VERY MUTED CREAM/TAN hybrids
• DARKER GREIGE paint colors

2. BRITTANICA WARM by CAMBRIA

I love Brittanica Warm so much that I chose it for the kitchen countertop for our home!

In my search for the perfect quartz countertop, I wanted a flexible one – suiting today’s trends while flexing towards future trends.

How does Brittanica Warm do this?

Brittanica Warm has a soft, warm, off-white base, warm gray veining, and even a bit of taupe-beige mixed in. In short, a countertop like this is likely to withstand trends as it can flex towards the slightly warmer or stormier, cooler end as well.

See the WHOLE SPACE HERE

And while there is Brittanica Gold, which has MORE warmth in it, it’s not as popular with the masses due to its HEAVY, higher-contrast veining.

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS WITH BRITTANICA WARM

• SOFT SUBTLE warm whites
• WARM GRAY paint colors with a subtle green undertone
• DARKER GREIGE paint colors
• LIGHT GREIGE/TAUPE paint colors
• some OFF-WHITE BEIGE paint colors

3. SILESTONE CALACATTA GOLD

While Calacatta Gold parks itself in the ‘white quartz with gray veining’ category (i.e., intended to look like marble), because it has a gorgeous rusty orange veining it, it has a bit more flexibility than some of its slightly cooler cousins. This is true, ESPECIALLY as it relates to coordinating with some of the finishes from the early 2000s (Tuscan trend).

Along with that veining, you’ll find a warm gray with a violet undertone and a softer taupe with a violet-pink undertone. I know these undertones can sound scary, but they’re quite normal and beautiful for a countertop like this (a lot of people just see them as ‘gray’ veins, I’m just breaking it down a bit more for you).

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS WITH CALACATTA GOLD

• SOFT, NOT OVERLY WARM WHITES
• WARM GRAY paint colors with a violet undertone
• TAUPE PAINT COLOURS
• maybe the odd, subtle SHADE OF BEIGE

4. TAJ ROYALE by CAESARSTONE

Taj Royal is bound to be a popular quartz in the coming years. With a soft, muted, warm base and more subtle veining compared to Taj Mahal and Perla Venata, it offers an interesting but more CONSISTENT look.

Comparing Taj Royal to Taj Mahal, Taj Royal will be more stain resistant because it’s not a natural product – it’s quartz. Being quartzite and natural, Taj Mahal is more likely to stain. Also, because Taj Royal is a small percentage of human-made, the pattern is more consistent/reliable.

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR TAJ ROYAL

• SOFT MUTED BEIGE paint colors, although it can humor some of the slightly more saturated ones
• DARKER GREIGE paint colors
• warm whites are often a bit too yellow to be partnered directly with Taj Royal

5. WHITE MACAUBUS QUARTZITE

Ooooo, this one is a stunner. White Macaubus is a quartzite countertop that bridges the warm and cool worlds, committing more to the ‘greige/taupe’ end of things.

You can find a considerable difference between slabs, with some leaning into a softer off-white backdrop like this one below, while others pick up on a soft white with gray/greige veining.

Island colour: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR WHITE MACAUBUS

• SOFT & SUBTLE GREIGE paint colors in the lighter range (VERY minimal green undertone; borderline taupe)
• DARK GREIGE paint colors
• SOFT WHITES that aren’t overly yellow/creamy

6. PERLA VENATA QUARTZITE

Perla Venata has a relatively WIDE range of neutrals, ranging from soft off-white ivory to greige, tan, beige, and gray. Depending on the slab you choose, your countertop might favor beige (warmth) or greige/tan, or even pick up some ivory/cream hues.

If you’re worried that Taj Mahal or Taj Royal won’t humor your warm white cabinets, Perla Venata tends to have more flexibility towards the whiter, brighter end of things.

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR PERLA VENATA

You’ll find that Perla Venata is LESS inclined to humor shades of gray and happier in the following worlds…

• WARM OFF-WHITES
• MUTED & MORE MODERN LOOKIN BEIGES & TANS (depending on your slab)
• CONSIDERABLY WARM SHADES OF GREIGE (very mild green undertone)
• SOME WARM WHITES

7. IRONSBRIDGE BY CAMBRIA

Ironsbridge is DEFINITELY one of my favorite warmer-toned quartz countertops. With a more subtle approach compared to the likes of Taj Mahal and Perla Venta, Ironsbridge is a great way to get visual interest without it dominating the room.

HOWEVER, while it has a subtle, soft warmth, it’s LESS inclined towards beige, tan, and cream and more friendly towards soft greige/taupe paint colors.

See the FULL HOME REMODEL & COLOUR DETAILS

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR IRONSBRIDGE

Ironsbridge is a warm quartz countertop that’s not AS inclined towards beige (or cream). Here are some of its preferred colors…

• OFF-WHITES in the greige/taupe end of things
• SOME WARM WHITES, as long as they aren’t overly yellow/cream
• light depth GREIGE/TAUPE paint colors

Is Beige BACK? Is Beige TRENDY?

8. MONTEREY BY OMNIA

Monterey is another favorite of mine, which is why I chose it for our new lake home. I was looking for a versatile quartz with a soft white base and warm greige and beige veining. A countertop like this can nod politely at the warm gray end of things (especially with a green undertone) while humoring the coming warm trends.

Walls: Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White, Trim: Sherwin Williams Pure White

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS WITH MONTEREY

• WARM SOFT WHITES
• considerably MUTED BEIGE paint colors
• some EARTH-TONES such as gray-blue blends

A FEW MORE QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS WORTH CHECKING OUT

• DOLCE by VIATERA (Pinterest image HERE as the website photo is a hot mess)
• ETHEREAL GLOW by SILESTONE (Pinterest image HERE)
• CALACATTA MIRAGGIO GOLD by MSI (HERE)

PEOPLE ALSO ASK…

And, of course, there are questions I get asked all the time, some of which I can answer right here for you!

WHAT’S MORE EXPENSIVE, QUARTZ OR QUARTZITE?

While it can depend on the brand of quartz countertop you buy, with Cambria being one of the more expensive brands, quartzite is generally more expensive than quartz.

WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR QUARTZITE COUNTERTOP?

Taj Mahal is known to be one of the top quartzite countertops due to its subtle warmth and versatility.

WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR QUARTZ COUNTERTOP?

Calacatta Maximus is a HUGELY popular quartz countertop, intending to mimic marble with a white base and gray veining. Next year, ask this same question, and we could look at something warmer!

WHAT’S TRENDING IN QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS?

Quartz countertops that mimic the look of marble are still popular. These countertops primarily have a white background with gray veining.

In my Online Consulting work, I’m seeing a slow shift to some of these warmer countertops, as some homeowners are tiring of the white-on-white-on-white kitchen.

ARE GRAY QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS IN STYLE?

While gray quartz has been reasonably trendy in previous years, there’s a subtle shift into warmer palettes, including soft off-white quartz and warmer quartzite countertops like Taj Mahal.

READ MORE

Quartz vs. Granite – What’s The Best Countertop for YOUR Home?

The Best Bougie Laminate Countertops: Budget-Friendly & Beautiful! 

6 Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets White

How to Jazz Up a Subway Tile Backsplash

The 5 Types of White Paint Colours

How to Update Older Style Granite Countertops

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING! 

Chat soon,

The post The 8 Best Quartz Countertops for Upcoming (warmer) Trends appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

While I won’t say that gray is entirely outdated, it sure as heck isn’t today’s trendy choice for walls or cabinets. Sure, some darker grays are still kickin’ around, as are warmer versions, but gray is no longer the go-to color for homeowners and Designers.

The challenge is that the gray trend had people committing REALLY HARD to gray. This means that I often have to look outside the paint can when it comes time to warm up a gray room…

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

The following rooms are the biggest challenges regarding WARMTH and BALANCE…

ROOMS WHERE MORE THAN ONE MAIN SURFACE ARE GRAY

It’s one thing to have a gray countertop. Add in gray carpet, tile, or maybe even cabinets, and your chances of transitioning to something warmer aren’t gray-t.

NORTH-FACING ROOMS THAT ARE PAINTED GRAY

A room with northern exposure already has a cool gray natural light. Painting the walls a gray paint color can further enhance the gloomy look rather than counteracting and complementing it.

Benjamin Moore Wickham Gray

A room like this next one could easily fall flat and cool. However, the homeowner made some smart choices…

DARK ROOMS THAT ARE PAINTED GRAY

You’ll have many shady-looking areas in a room with low light. Shadows are gray – ’nuff said.

Benjamin Moore Dior Gray

ROOMS WITH NO NATURAL LIGHT

It’s the same problem as the above room, except we don’t have ANY natural light to play.

ROOMS WITH NO WARM COLORS OR FINISHES

This goes back to the first point about rooms with more than one gray surface. And it’s SO PREVALENT that, like Britney Spears, I’m hitting this baby one more time…

The challenge with the gray trend of 2015 (give or take five years) is that it was SO overdone. It’s one thing to have gray countertops, but top that off with gray carpet, backsplash tile, and paint colors, and your home is stuck in 2015 for eternity.

A room with too much gray doesn’t have any warmth to balance out the cool colors. Add the previously mentioned north-facing light to that, and you may as well invite Elsa to move in with you (for all you Frozen fans).

See this WHOLE BATHROOM REMODEL

Now, you might have your own special situation with gray. But it doesn’t matter what you’re dealing with; these five ideas will surely get your creative juices flowing…

1.  ADD WARMTH WITH TEXTURE

Texture is a fabulous way to add warmth to a cold-looking gray room. In this next dining room and bedroom, you’ll see a RANGE of textured finishes, adding interest and warmth to balance the cool gray paint on the walls…

Benjamin Moore Steel Wool

Benjamin Moore Dorian Gray

HOME DECOR IDEAS TO ADD TEXTURE TO YOUR COOL ROOM

• THROW BLANKET. A well-placed throw can be an invitation on a chair, couch, or end of the bed.

• BEDDING. Rather than choosing plain cotton, find something with a bit of texture; it doesn’t need to be patterned to add some visual warmth and interest!

• TOSS CUSHIONS — a mild obsession of mine, amongst many other things, including Cornuts, white wine, and Ryan Reynolds (in no particular order).

• HEADBOARD OR BED FRAME. An upholstered headboard instantly warms up a bedroom, regardless of the color/type of fabric.

• DRAPES. Draperies soften a room and warm up hard edges and are a great way to add texture or pattern (or both).

• LAMPSHADES. Avoid lampshades with a bit of sheen, and find some with a nice slub, linen, or lightly textured look.

• AREA RUG. As long as it’s a rug, it will add texture to a room, but don’t be afraid to ‘shag’ a little – particularly in the bedroom (wink wink)

• BRANCHES OR FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS. Curly twigs are softer looking than straight branches. Flowers are good as long as they look reasonably real and aren’t reminiscent of the local funeral parlor (NO 1990s FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS, LADIES!)

• WOVEN HOME DECOR SUCH AS BASKETS & TRAYS. Great for throws, books, plants, and more.

Texture can also come in the form of permanent finishes, not just home decor…

Believe it or not, this countertop is a laminate one by Formica– it’s not real marble!

Budget-Friendly Bathroom Update Ideas

The hexagon backsplash and countertop are both cool-toned. Still, the visual texture and variety of gray tones warm the room considerably – and a little greenery never hurts, either!

These next two photos show GREAT examples of adding balance to a gray-inspired space…

• brown leather bar stools add a grounded warmth
• the brown of the TV cabinet and sofa table add warmth and visually connects with the counter stools
• the wood pieces are considerably textured
• textured poufs under the sofa table
• the decor pieces have very visible texture
• a dog ALWAYS makes a home feel homier; if you asked this lil dog-lovin’ Ginger
• even the visual of unlit candles can soften a cold space

2.  WARM UP A GRAY ROOM WITH GOOD LIGHT BULBS

Lighting is often underrated when, in fact, it’s one of the most important parts of decorating a room.

Is Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter the Best Cabinet Color For Your Home?

CREATE A TRIANGLE OF LIGHT

You can create this decorative triangle using two table lamps and a floor lamp or three table lamps. When you draw a line between the three (not literally), it should create a triangle. This way, most of your room has light, and there’s a connection between the sources.

USE THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE OF BULB FOR YOUR ROOM (KELVINS)

This subject is NEAR and dear to my heart (but so are the previously mentioned fetishes). Choosing the right KELVINS to suit your paint color is a great way to control a room’s visual temperature and ambiance.

How KELVINS & Light Bulbs Affect Paint Colors

USE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF LIGHT FOR YOUR ROOM

You need to figure out how much wattage your room needs, especially if it has reduced natural lighting. A well-lit room can support a variety of colors and depths, regardless of whether the light is natural or artificial.

Learn about How Much Light Your Room Needs

3. ADD WARMTH TO A COOL GRAY ROOM WITH ACCENT COLORS

People often ask what COLORS warm up a cool gray room. Assuming your walls are already gray, adding accent colors is undoubtedly one of the BEST ways to add warmth to a cold, gray room.

COOL COLORS are blue, green, purple, and neutrals with these undertones.

WARM COLORS are yellow, orange, red, and neutrals with these undertones.

You can play around with ALL of these colors (maybe not all at once) to add warmth and interest to a cool gray room.

WARM ACCENT COLORS

Warm accent colors, such as red, orange, and yellow, help to offset the chill of gray, adding some balance to the visual temperature of the room.

In this next room, if you take that ONE ORANGE CUSHION away, the room’s vibe will be thrown off-balance…

COOL ACCENT COLORS

Accent colors don’t necessarily need to be WARM to add warmth to a room. While cool colors will always be cool, they can look a bit warmer when they have more depth and life to them (saturation).

Some of my favorite cool colors to accent a room are teal, navy blue, and dark green.

In this next foyer, the strong blue in the area rug and its texture add an inviting vibe to the space. The wood door is another important element in making this space look warmer and more balanced…

Are Gray Paint Colors Still Trendy on Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors?

TONE-ON-TONE ACCENT COLORS

You can also help gray look more inviting via a tone-on-tone palette, taking your gray into the medium and dark charcoal depths. Depth often leads to warmth, so don’t underestimate the value of darker neutrals; just don’t expect them to work as well as the warmer end of things!

Benjamin Moore Silver Chain

In the above photo, while the linens and rug certainly add texture and offer a tone-on-tone approach, the warmth of the wood furniture and golden hue in the bedding does the REAL heavy lifting.

BTW – ALL of the photos on this blog post are from my client’s homes, local and online! 

4.  WOOD TONES WARM UP A COLD GRAY ROOM

When adding balance to a cool-looking room, NOTHING does the job better than wood.

Why?

• most wood stains are in the red, orange, or yellow family (our previously discussed ‘warm accent colors)
• the right wood stain not only adds WARMTH to a space, but it also adds TEXTURE

It doesn’t need to be a MAJOR piece of wood, as shown with the above bathroom vanity; there are many ways to add wood to your space…

• small piece of furniture like a stool or table

• picture frames

• decorative bowl or vase

• cutting boards leaning against the backsplash

We saw this next bathroom previously, looking icy cool, and unwelcoming. But look at how it shifts when we add a bit of wood and textured, colorful artwork to the scene…

I mean, I wouldn’t say it wraps me up in a warm blanket of coziness, but these small touches definitely soften the space. Here are a few more things that could help…

• a textured white bath mat hanging over the side of the tub

• staining the wood stump a slightly warmer hue

• add some textured sheers to the window, softening the edges of the space and adding texture

• put a candle on the stump, as even the visual cue of a candle is inviting

• put a different frame around the art, as the silver is quite cold

5.  EXPAND YOUR COLOR PALETTE IN ADJOINING ROOMS

If you want to warm up the perception of a cool room, try painting an adjoining room a warm paint color, creating a balanced BACKDROP to your gray room.

In this next home, the cool of Gray Cashmere (eating nook) is balanced by the subtle warmth of Ballet White in the living area. And just LOOK at all of that gloooorious texture! COME TO MOMMA!

While Benjamin Moore Arctic Gray is a cool blue-green-gray blend, painting the dining room Silver Satin helps add a subtle warm balance to the overall space…

And it’s not just the dining room that warms up the above space; it’s the oak flooring, warm-toned furnishings, and the influx of warm natural light from the dining window!

READ MORE

Are Gray Paint Colors Still Trendy on Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors?

How to Redecorate Your Living Room Without Leaving Your Home

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray & Greige Paint Colors

Can I Paint My North-Facing Room Gray?

How to Accessorize a Mantel

NEED HELP?

Check out my E-design & Online Color Consulting packages!

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2016, COMPLETELY UPDATED IN 2023

The post HOW TO UPDATE A GRAY ROOM appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If you’re asking the question, either the style of your fixtures or their metal finish is having you question whether they’re still trendy – in which case, they probably aren’t (a little tough love never hurts.)

And while there are many light fixtures out there that I loathe – some are glass, some are brass, and most date from the 1980s and ’90s, there’s one that makes me twitch; that rises above the rest in ugliness…

THE BOOBY LIGHT

You might think that I’m being dramatic, and I am, but I hate this old light fixture with a passion for THREE reasons…

1. It looks like a boob (normally, something like this would amuse me to no end…)

2. Many of these fixtures hold ONLY ONE 60w bulb (single bulb lights should ONLY be pendants or lamps). SHOW ME THE BULBS! 

3. It’s often put in areas that desperately need good lighting: entryways, hallways, walk-in closets, and bedrooms.

Have I convinced you yet? I hope so.

If this were an expensive fix, I’d understand why you might not rush out and change it. However, in the Wild World of Light Fixtures, these lights are the least expensive to update and add OODLES of visual value – literally, you’ll be able to see your room better!

1. FLUSHMOUNT FIXTURE WITH CLIPS

They might not be any screamin’ glory style-wise, but they’re low-key, affordable, and better than the boob.

You can get them from almost any lighting supplier, but here are a few to check out HERE

For larger rooms such as bedrooms, laundry rooms, and even living rooms, get the ones that hold three, 60w bulbs (HERE) – the more the merrier when it comes to light!

Again, these lights aren’t necessarily the EPITOME of style. But when it comes to function and not looking like a mammary, they’re a HUGE improvement without breaking the bank.

This next light takes the style up a bit…

2.  SEMI-FLUSH LIGHT FIXTURE UPDATE

The new trend in lighting for the AVERAGE home is a dressed-up version of the previous light. It costs a bit more, but they’re no comparison for decorative appeal.

These semi-flush ceiling lights tend to have white shades (sometimes clear, but don’t get ones with Edison bulbs; they’re dated). As for the metal, black, polished nickel, gold, or oil-rubbed bronze – whichever suits the hardware in the rest of your home. The sky’s the limit with this light fixture style, and it’s a great way to add personality and style to any room in your home!

And sure, it’s still boob-ish, but it’s a MODERN boob!

KYE FABRIC LIGHT

RALSTON 2 LIGHT FIXTURE

HUSON LIGHT FIXTURE

Many of these lights come in different finishes, including the finish shown. 

ELOIDA FLUSH MOUNT FIXTURE – also available in nickel.

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

Wayfair puts these lights on sale ALL…THE…TIME. If it’s not on sale now, wait for it, or find a similar one that IS! 

I love this one if you’re more in the mood for something more DETAILED. It has a bit more traditional styling, but it could also work in a modern farmhouse or country-style home…

JOCELYN 3 LIGHT FIXTURE

Another thing I like about the above lighting fixture is that it would coordinate well with many chandeliers – ones with a similar bulb holder and general style- whereas some of the other shades on this page aren’t as flexible. The coordination of your light fixtures matters greatly if you have an open-concept home.

Here’s another beautiful one for all you brass lovers (below). Brass is currently trendy in the hardware world, and when it’s NOT trendy, it’s only a few coats of spray paint away from suiting the next trend!

PELAYO LIGHT FIXTURE

This next one is for you texture lovers. While a shade like this won’t give as bright light as white, the texture adds great visual interest…

NEKOOSA RATTAN LIGHT FIXTURE

If you put a fixture like the above in a room, have adequate floor or table lamps with white shades to add more ambient lighting, accent, or task lighting (as needed). This light ALONE cannot support a room’s lighting needs.

A FEW MORE CEILING LIGHT FUN FACTS

• Do you know HOW MUCH the Kelvins of your light bulbs affect your paint colors? This is a HUGE topic, so before buying new bulbs, have a read. I’ve had clients change their bulbs, resulting in a HUGE change in how their room looks (for the better.)
• Want to save money and modernize your old light fixture? Whether it’s a flush mount, chandelier, or pendant light, if your fixture’s style is modern (refer to previous images), why not do a little DIY? Grab a can of spray paint and give it a few coats (prep it first.) Spray paint comes in various metal finishes – black, of course, but you can also get nickel, chrome, and antique brass! I did this with my exterior lights and saved HUNDREDS of dollars!
• If you’re unsure what the current trend is in lighting fixtures, peruse Pinterest (i.e., if you’re thinking about dining room lights, type in ‘dining room’ in the SEARCH and see what pops up!) If you find something you like, go to that blog/website and see how long ago that blog post was published. You might need to find some new inspiration if it was over three years ago.
• Have you ever heard of CRI? I hadn’t either until I started researching light bulbs. This topic will change how you manage your home’s lighting, whether your bulbs are in recessed lights, hanging light fixtures, or table lamps!

READ MORE

How to Choose the Right Kelvins for Your Light Bulbs

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

5 Ideas to Update Your Fireplace

4 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Update Ideas

NEED HELP?

Check out my E-BOOKS and Online Paint Colour Consulting!

Chat soon,

Originally written in 2015, awesomely updated in 2023

The post Affordable Lighting Fixture Update Ideas (Graphic Content…wink wink) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Back in the day (you know, 30 years ago), laminate countertops were the most POPULAR choice for kitchen countertops; you’d be hard-pressed to see much else. And with the popularity of quartz and granite countertops in the last 20 years or so, laminate has got a reputation of being a ‘cheap’ alternative.

Don’t get me wrong; laminate countertops ARE affordable compared to quartz and granite – drastically. However, the word CHEAP offers a passive suggestion that a product is a low price AND low quality – which just isn’t the case.

Along with being an affordable alternative, laminate countertops are pretty darn hard. Of course, they aren’t as rock solid as quartz and granite, but this doesn’t make them a bad choice for the price point. In fact, laminate can be a wise investment for those on a budget.

Nowadays, laminate countertops ‘rock’ because not only are they super durable – they look like the real thing! Quartz, granite, marble, soapstone – you name it, laminate has come a long way in its effort to look like the real thing while staying SUPER budget-friendly!

And while there are a few big names in the laminate countertop world, it’s Formica, Wilsonart and Arborite that stand out as leaders in the style dept., as shown in these photos…

(click on the underlined name to view the product on their website, but please keep in mind that those site images aren’t often great examples)

REMEMBER, countertops usually come in a VARIETY of finishes (matte, etched, honed, etc…) – check out your OPTIONS before you order! 

SUMMARY OF THE MOST POPULAR LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS

Here’s a quick rundown of the best laminate countertops. Keep reading for photos and in-depth tips and ideas!

• FORMICA CARRARA BIANCO LAMINATE COUNTERTOP
• ARBORITE TYPHOON BORDEAUX LAMINATE COUNTERTOP
• FORMICA JET SEQUOIA LAMINATE COUNTERTOP
• FORMICA SOAPSTONE SEQUOIA
• FORMICA CALACATTA MARBLE LAMINATE COUNTERTOP

1. FORMICA CARRARA BIANCO LAMINATE COUNTERTOP

Carrara Bianco is my fave these days. Mimicking the LOOK of marble, Carrara Bianco laminate has a gorgeous white base with subtle gray veining. And remember, EVERY gray will have undertones, so choose yours wisely! These gray veins lean slightly into a violet undertone.

And seriously, its online image is terrible as it looks 1980s tobacco yellow – trust me, it’s not. Check it out below for a real-life view.

LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS THAT LOOK LIKE MARBLE

Wilsonart White Carrara (terrible online image)

Formica Neo Cloud

Wilsonart Calcutta Marble

2. ARBORITE TYPHOON BORDEAUX LAMINATE COUNTERTOP

Typhoon Bordeaux is a gorgeous product with its cool grayish-blue tones and rust-colored veining. Because it has a soft white base, it’s easy to coordinate with cabinets, flooring and backsplash. This countertop was designed to look like granite.

Sorry about the terrible photo; this was taken during my early days

In a bathroom, it’s a soft and subtle way to add some interest. In a kitchen, you won’t have to wipe the counters for days as these bad boys will hide all of your sins!

TYPHOON BORDEAUX LOOKS GOOD WITH

• white or slightly off-white cabinets
• painted warm gray cabinets
• natural cherry or espresso cabinets

COUNTERTOPS WITH SIMILAR INTENTIONS

Formica Crema Mascarello

Wilsonart Bianco Romano

Should you REALLY Paint Your Cabinets White? If so, Which White is Best?

3. FORMICA JET SEQUOIA LAMINATE COUNTERTOP

Jet Sequoia is a great way to get a high-end, high-gloss look without breaking the bank. This countertop is predominantly black, with a subtle grayish-white vein running through it.

Via Formica

THIS BLACK MARBLE-LOOK COUNTERTOP LOOKS GOOD WITH

• cherry cabinets
• white cabinets
• painted gray cabinets

COUNTERTOPS WITH SIMILAR INTENTIONS

Formica Basalt Slate

And while it’s a bit grayer, I also love Formica Paloma Dark Gray

3 Kitchen Countertop Update Ideas: How to Save Money

How to Pick the Best Paint Color for Your Kitchen Cabinets

4. FORMICA SOAPSTONE SEQUOIA LAMINATE COUNTERTOP

Soapstone Sequoia is a GORGEOUS warm greige-taupe countertop with cream veining. I used it in our last home when we updated our kitchen (on a budget) and LOVED it.

This countertop was designed to mimic soapstone, so it doesn’t have the high gloss finish that you see on some of the other popular countertops. We lived with it for two years before we moved, and I loved every minute of it – it hid so many crumbs I rarely had to wipe. It was FAR easier to keep looking nice than our quartz island countertop.

To see more, check out this blog post… Kitchen Makeover – Maple No More!

COUNTERTOPS WITH A SIMILAR LOOK

Wilsonart Potter’s Clay (looks WAY warmer online)

Formica Silver Quartzite (online image is GROSS, check it out in real-life)

5. FORMICA CALACATTA MARBLE LAMINATE COUNTERTOP

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE marble, but the maintenance part of it is a deal-breaker for me. And believe it or not, you can get the lovely look of marble without the hassle with Calacatta Marble by Formica!

Calacatta Marble is an imitation marble that almost puts the real thing to shame! And not only does it look great, but it’s also 10x easier to maintain!

To see more of this bathroom, check out this blog post… A Marble Inspired Ensuite Bathroom

CALACATTA MARBLE COUNTERTOP LOOKS GREAT WITH

• white cabinets
• painted gray cabinets
• cabinets that are navy blue or blue-green

Marble – Get the Look Without the High Price

So, you can spend all of your money if you want OR you can choose one of these uber-fab countertops to update your kitchen and add some serious visual value!

READ MORE

Countertop Update Ideas: High-End Ideas, Low-End Price

The Best Budget-Friendly Bathroom Sinks & Faucets

How to Update Your Wood Kitchen Cabinets – 4-PART SERIES

How to Create a Timeless Trend-Proof Home

The 5 Types of White Paint Colors

Top 4 Kitchen Update Ideas – Budget-Friendly

NEED HELP?

Check out my affordable E-Decorating and Color Consulting Services

Originally written in 2017, updated in 2022 for content and photos

The post The New Era of Laminate Countertops & Why They Rock: Review appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Can’t determine which paint color best suits your wood cabinets or trim? Maybe you want to highlight the beauty of your wood and make it come to life. On the other hand, maybe you want to CAMOUFLAGE your wood as you find its stain or grain too bossy. Whatever it is you’re looking for – I bet I’ve got it (except for sanity, that’s in short supply around here).

But before we get into the nitty-gritty, you need to decide whether you want to accent your wood or whether you want to blend or camouflage it…

• Warm or cool paint colors that are a few tones lighter or darker than the wood tone will accent it more than colors with the same depth. Why? Because not only will you have contrast in color temperature, but in color DEPTH!

• If you REALLY want to jazz things up, choose colors that don’t have TOO much gray in them, as these will offer more contrast and energy against your wood.

• Even if you THINK you want to blend in your wood cabinets, you might be surprised at how awesome a well-chosen cool color can look.

However, if you want to downplay a strong wood stain, you’ll want to avoid cool tones and lean into these colors below…

• Keeping the paint colour a similar depth to your wood is a great way to keep things seamless, but it can be a bit bland looking if you choose a warm or neutral color. It’s better to go a bit lighter (OR darker) than your wood’s depth or shift into a slightly cooler (but not COLD) shade. This will add a bit of thoughtful layering without overexposing your wood. (There are sooo many jokes I could make…)

• When it comes to cream, beige, and brown, find ones with similar undertones to the ones in your wood. This helps to keep things muted and subtle and prevents clashing undertones.

• Some cream, beige, and brown paint colors can pick up a wink of green, which can look a weeeee bit murky against many warmer woods (especially, red or pink tones commonly found in cherry).

YELLOW-TONED WOOD STAINS

Yellow-stained wood finishes were especially popular in the 90s and fell a bit out of favor in the early 2000s. As for undertones, yellow-toned woods are often committed to yellow but can slide slightly into yellow-orange or, more rarely, yellow-pink or yellow-green.

WHAT COLORS TONE DOWN YELLOW WOOD?

If you want to make your yellow stain look LESS yellow, you might need to lean into it a bit with the following colors…

• Cream paint colors with similar undertone profiles, i.e., if your wood is yellow-orange, you’ll pick a shade of cream that blends yellow-orange (like Benjamin Moore Navajo White.)

• Subtle tan paint colors. Whereas beiges lean more on orange, tan paint colors lean on a yellow undertone (yellow-orange or yellow-green). A color like Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan or Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan can look pretty.

• Some greiges look great with yellow stains. While there could be a minor degree of accenting, depending on the greige you choose, many greiges (with their green-yellow) undertone, are beautiful partners to yellow woods. Of the options listed, they’re the LEAST likely to blend out the wood tone, but also won’t OVERreact (depending on the greige).

The staircase in this next photo has a wood stain with yellow-orange undertones…

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

WHAT PAINT COLORS GO WITH OR ACCENT YELLOW WOODS?

These colors will make your wood POP a bit (pun intended…wink wink – I can’t help myself). This means that if you love your wood stain and want to contrast and accent it, these are the colors you’ll want to explore (you’ll see references to SPECIFIC colors shortly).

• Paint colors that are blue-green blends or blue-green-gray blends.

• Gray with blue-green undertones.

• Warm gray with a violet undertone (not AS great with yellow-green stains).

As shown in this next photo, colors that are cooler than your wood will help highlight it…

Benjamin Moore Light Pewter

ORANGE-TONED WOOD STAINS

Orange wood stains are super common as it relates to oak cabinets. However, you can find orange on almost ANY wood species, as the STAIN can have orange in it!

While yellow-toned woods are usually pretty darned yellow, orange-toned woods easily lean into yellow or red, but the dominant undertone is still orange.

WHAT COLORS TONE DOWN ORANGE WOOD STAINS?

If you’re considering using cool colors on your walls, think again. Sure, they can look GORGEOUS, but they will highlight the warmth and color of your wood finish, whether its cabinets, floors, trims, or furniture. To downplay an orange-inspired wood stain, check out…

• Muted beige blends, preferably in the off-white to light depths (specific colors are coming shortly).

• Warm gray with a violet undertone can be an interesting approach without hitting things too hard, although some accenting can occur.

• Some greige/taupe colors can be quite pretty for a moderate balanced approach. However, beige is your BEST bet.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray

WHAT COLORS GO WITH OR ACCENT ORANGE WOODS?

If you’re a bit of an exhibitionist and want to show off your wood, these colors will do the trick! You’ll see references to SPECIFIC colors shortly.

• Paint colors that are blue-green blends or blue-green-gray blends.

• Gray with blue-green undertones.

• Warm gray with a violet undertone can be particularly striking without being OVERLY contrasting.

RED, PINK, OR CHERRY WOOD STAINS

Red or cherry-toned woods are often the strongest of the bunch, adding depth and color to a room. Red-toned woods can also look slightly pinkish (pink being the light version of red) or can give off a subtle purple cast, depending on the combination of wood and stain choice.

While sometimes its hard to tell what undertone a wood stain has, there’s one hiding in there. This next wood finish has a slight pink undertone…

WHAT COLORS TONE DOWN RED OR PINK WOOD STAINS?

While leaning into red (pink) can be scary, it’s often the best way to mute the STRENGTH of your red-stained wood…

• Taupe paint colors share a similar undertone (taupe has a touch of pink in it).

• Warm gray with a violet undertone can be an interesting approach, especially, but not exclusively, one with a bit more depth.

• Some beige paint colors that lean into orange-pink, but it depends on the exact wood stain/strength.

The burnt-red hue of the walls in this next kitchen isn’t favoring the gorgeous orange-red cabinets; this is a case of WAY too much of a good thing…

WHAT COLORS GO WITH OR ACCENT RED OR PINK WOODS?

Red or poink-toned woods can be super fun to play with as they respond SO well to cool colors. So, if you’re a bit of an exhibitionist and want to show off your wood, these colors will do the trick! You’ll see references to SPECIFIC colors shortly.

• Paint colors that are blue-green blends or blue-green-gray blends will really light things up!

• Gray with blue-green undertones.

• Warm gray with a violet undertone can be a more modest approach (it’s one of my fave choices with red stains).

In this next photo, Sherwin Williams Jogging Path provides a nice subtle highlight to the red furniture stain and red oak flooring…

Now that you’ve done your homework, it’s time to look at REAL COLORS! Remember…

MANY wood finishes will pick up on more than one undertone.

This means that not ALL of these paint colors will look good with ALL wood stains, but they should get you pointed in the right direction!

1. BENJAMIN MOORE CLASSIC GRAY OC-23

For a soft, subtle look, Classic Gray is a nice, slightly warm gray. This gentle shade of off-white has vague violet-pink undertones that suit MANY wood finishes. Its passive approach won’t blend with your cabinets but also won’t highlight or accent them.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Classic Gray

If Classic Gray is CLOSE, but not hitting the mark, Sherwin Williams Egret White has a similar approach, as does Benjamin Moore Silver Satin.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH CLASSIC GRAY

Classic Gray doesn’t work well with yellow-green stains, but tends to humor a range of yellow, orange, and red woods.

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS REPOSE GRAY SW 7015

Repose Gray is a warm gray paint color that’s SUPER unpredictable. While it can pick up a slight touch of green, it can just as easily wink at violet or even a touch of blue! Make sure you sample Repose Gray CAREFULLY and read its FULL COLOR REVIEW.

The 10 Best Sherwin Williams Gray and Greige Paint Colors

Colors that are similar to Repose Gray, but with slightly different intentions include Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray and Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH REPOSE GRAY

It’s always hard to say with Repose Gray. With its slightly dirty undertones, Repose Gray is especially pretty with more ‘brown’ wood tones – ones without dominant yellow, orange, or red (pink) undertones. In other words, it can handle a ‘bit’ of undertone, as long as it’s not overpowering or overly noticeable.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Repose Gray

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS KILIM BEIGE SW 6106

Kilim Beige is a soft, subtle, and versatile shade of beige. While Kilim Beige has a main orange undertone, it can entertain various finishes and wood tones.

Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige is a soft complement to the wood floor, stairs, and railings

How to Mix and Match Wood Stains & Finishes

If Kilim Beige is closer, but you need a color with slightly different undertones or depth, check out similar colors like Sherwin Williams Natural Linen and Benjamin Moore Muslin.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH KILIM BEIGE

Kilim Beige doesn’t look as good with red-stained woods that lean red-violet or have a decent degree of yellow. However, it’s especially nice with orange woods or those with a mild red stain (like the stain on the stairs in the above photo).

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige

4. BENJAMIN MOORE ABALONE 2108-60

Abalone is a mix between gray, brown, and purple. The purple is subtle but adds a decent dose of color to get things out of the gray range. Abalone is also light enough to help offset a bit of the visual weight of darker cherry cabinets while still contrasting with white trim. I love how the purple taps into the wood tones without being ‘obvious’ about it (shown below).

The 9 Best Purple Paint Colors

While Abalone is perfect for many rooms, if you need a shade with a similar, but slightly different approach, check out Benjamin Moore Collingwood, Barren Plain, and Balboa Mist.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH ABALONE

Abalone is SO stinkin’ pretty with red hue woods, especially red-violet ones (above). However, it also suits some yellow woods, as long as they aren’t yellow-green and many orange stains.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Abalone

5. BENJAMIN MOORE COLLINGWOOD OC 28

Collingwood is a beautiful warm gray with a subtle purple undertone. The undertone is quite passive, so this is a ‘gray-centric’ color. It can look wicked pretty with red or violet-toned wood finishes. Most grays can lean into ANY of the three cool gray undertones with the right lighting or exposure, but Collingwood usually holds pretty steady with its commitment to violet.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Collingwood

While Collingwood is the perfect warm gray for many spaces, your particular wood might need something a bit different. Check out Benjamin Moore Nimbus, Balboa Mist, and Sherwin Williams Alpaca.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH COLLINGWOOD

Collingwood is flexible toward MOST wood tones, depending on your intentions. It can be a bit fussy with some yellow stains (yellow-green) as it prefers more legit yellow, orange, or pink undertones. My FAVE combo is Collingwood with red-stained woods.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Collingwood

6. BENJAMIN MOORE GENTLE CREAM OC 96

Gentle Cream (also known as Barely Beige) is a great way to create a warm and inviting room without it looking overly golden. With its almost ‘butterscotch’ undertones, this color will sit pretty neutral with oak and other woods without camouflaging them or accenting them.

The 5 Best Cream Paint Colors

If you’d like to sample a color that’s similar to Gentle Cream, check out Benjamin Moore Navajo White and Sherwin Williams Casa Blanca.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH GENTLE CREAM

Gentle Cream can be a gorgeous partner to yellow and orange hue woods but can be fussy with red tones, depending on the exact blend.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream

7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS CANVAS TAN SW 7531

Canvas Tan is a relatively neutral tan paint color that doesn’t fall too flat or greige toned for orange-toned woods NOR too golden warm, making it flexible for various wood stains, as shown below…

And while Canvas Tan is one of the more popular warm neutrals, check out Sherwin Williams Neutral Ground, Natural Tan, and Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan as well.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH CANVAS TAN

Canvas Tan is a bit fussier than some of the others and doesn’t love closer partnership with overly red stains (the dining set above is as close as you want to get). It’s also hit-and-miss with some orange-hued woods. It BEST suits yellow woods, especially ones that might lean a weee tiny wink into green.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan

Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots.

• Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on the location.

• They’re more affordable than the sample pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling.

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

8. BENJAMIN MOORE STONINGTON GRAY HC 170

Stonington Gray is a stormy gray with a soft blue-green undertone; it’s a beauty if you want a subtle accent to your wood tones.

What’s the Difference Between Stonington Gray and Gray Owl?

If you’re looking for a shade that’s similar to Stonington Gray, check out Sherwin Williams Tinsmith, Silverplate, and Big Chill.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH STONINGTON GRAY

There’s not much Stonington Gray can’t do if you want to highlight your wood (without going over the top). Stonington Gray is friendly to MOST wood stains, including oaks, maples, and cherry’s.

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

9. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SEA SALT SW 6204

Sea Salt is a lovely complement to most woods for a fun, fresh look. Sea Salt is a light-toned green blend with a gray-blue undertone to calm it down. Yes, it will slightly accent your wood stain, but it can look BEAUTIFUL! Read ALL about Sea Salt in its color review.

Sea Salt is a color unto itself, but for a similar (but tweaked) approach, check out Benjamin Moore Quiet Moments, Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray, and Silver Strand.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH SEA SALT

Because the goal is to highlight wood stains, Sea Salt is pretty flexible and you can expect almost any wood stain or species to pop against this cool-toned beauty.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Sea Salt

10. SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL LINEN 9109

With trends leaning warmer, Natural Linen is bound to be a popular shade. With a light-depth, more modern approach to beige, Natural Linen’s warm, flexible undertones are a soft and subtle partner to many types of wood stains, including most oaks.

Natural Linen is DARN pretty, but if you need a color with a bit more this or that, check out the similar approach of Sherwin Williams Rivers Edge, Kilim Beige, and Benjamin Moore Muslin.

WOOD STAINS THAT LOOK DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH NATURAL LINEN

Natural Linen is a versatile warm neutral that suits a wid range of wood stains, especially those with orange (orange-yellow, yellow-orange) undertones. It can be a bit fussy with overly red wood stains and cherry woods.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Natural Linen

11. BENJAMIN MOORE JOCKEY HOLLOW GRAY HC 108

Jockey Hollow Gray is a gorgeous shade of greige with a decent green undertone. While it WILL accent the warmth of your cabinets, the neutral base keeps things a bit more in check.

WOOD STAINS THAT LOOK DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH JOCKEY HOLLOW GRAY

Jockey Hollow Gray is a heavier approach than the others and is a beautiful complement to yellow and orange stains. I’m not as BIG of a fan of red hues, but that’s a personal opinion, as some will love it.

12. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SILVERPLATE SW 7649

Silverplate is a slightly stormy gray with a vague blue (blue-green) undertone. While it CAN look cool, Silverplate isn’t traditionally cold. On the other hand, it’s not very warm but has a stormy softness.

The subtle undertones of Silverplate will slightly enhance any wood tone, but it’s a great way to create a more modern look with your yellow-toned wood (shown below).

And don’t forget about LRV when choosing a paint color! How to Use LRV to Pick a Paint Color

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH SILVERPLATE

Silverplate isn’t BAD with many wood stains and humors most. As shown above, I love how Silverplate plays with a yellow-orange stain. And while it certainly suits red well enough, it’s not my PERSONAL fave.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Silverplate

13. BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY CASHMERE 2138-60

Gray Cashmere is a soft gray with a strong blue-green undertone, making it almost whimsical with its fresh feeling (it usually favors blue over green). Gray Cashmere is similar to Sherwin Williams Sea Salt, but has more gray in it, leaving a whisper of color without being too powerful. This color will accent wood tones, not soften them.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH GRAY CASHMERE

Gray Cashmere isn’t SUPER fussy about its wood tones, although I’m not a huge fan of it with DARK espresso finishes. Gray Cashmere is especially pretty with most yellow hue woods, offering a soft contrast.

14. SHERWIN WILLIAMS HERON PLUME SW 6070

Heron Plume is an interesting off-white – stuck between gray and taupe. Because of this, it can shift a lot depending on the exposure of your room. While its undertones aren’t overpowering, they can flash through depending on the finishes you partner it with.

WOOD STAINS THAT LOOK DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH HERON PLUME

Heron Plume can be STUNNING with wood stains that are red-inspired, as it’s subtle violet undertones suit many red hues. It’s also pretty with orange-toned woods but can be a bit fussy with some yellow woods.

15. BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY HC 173

Edgecomb Gray is one of the most popular colors, sitting nicely between gray and beige, with no obvious preference for either. Its undertones are also passive, catering to neither greige (green) nor taupe (violet-pink). Edgecomb Gray won’t really highlight nor blend in with most woods unless you have DARK wood, which would be highlighted via the degree of contrast, not the color. 

V1 Real Estate Photography with Kylie M.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH EDGECOMB GRAY

Edgecomb Gray can handle wood stains with muted OR strong undertones, making it super versatile. However, be careful when partnering it with gray-wash woods, which can have a bit too much violet undertone for Edgecomb Gray.

Remember to pay attention to your room’s exposure too!

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

16. SHERWIN WILLIAMS COLONNADE GRAY SW 7641

Colonnade Gray is a soft, light-medium warm gray, borderline greige. Because of this, it favors a very slight green undertone but can easily flash into the others depending on your exposure/interior finishes.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH COLONNADE GRAY

Colonnade Gray looks gorgeous with many yellow and orange-hue woods and more muted brown stains. It can also work with red ones but can enhance the red, so watch for that.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray

17. BENJAMIN MOORE DRY SAGE 2142-40

If you want a dynamic combination between your wood cabinets, trim, and walls, look NO FURTHER than green. In particular, Dry Sage is a beautiful partner if you want your beautiful wood to pop a little!

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH GREEN

Green is pretty easy to please when it comes to its wood partners, enjoying yellow, orange, and even some pink stain colors! Just remember, your wood will POP in comparison!

I rely 100% on photos from my Online Color Consulting clients – thank you to everyone for sending them in! 

18. BENJAMIN MOORE FERNWOOD GREEN 2145-40

Again, it can be hard to go wrong with green. Fernwood Green is a warm green paint color with JUST enough of a neutral base to calm it down while leaving a GORGEOUS green hue on the walls!

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH WARM SHADES OF GREEN

As shown in the photo above, woods with a red or pink undertone can look stunning with green paint colors. However, I also love how yellow-orange-toned woods look equally as much.

19. BENJAMIN MOORE IMPERIAL GRAY 1571

Imperial Gray is a gorgeous blend of blue-green and gray, creating a soothing, calming combination with many wood tones.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T GO WITH IMPERIAL GRAY & OTHER BLUE-GREEN BLENDS

In the above photo, you can see how beautiful the blue-green paint color looks with the red stain on the dresser. However, you’ll find that these types of colors can be equally as stunning with yellow and orange-stained woods.

Here’s Imperial Gray in the same room, just at a different angle, shown with more orange-stained wood…

20. BENJAMIN MOORE COVENTRY GRAY HC 169

Coventry Gray is a stormy, subtle shade of gray with a whisper of green-blue undertones. This cool approach contrasts so nicely with warm-toned woods.

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray

WHAT WOOD STAINS DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH GRAYS LIKE COVENTRY GRAY?

While woods with a strong red undertone look okay with a color like Coventry Gray, it really hits its stride with orange-stained woods or those with a muted yellow.

Get your SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK samples of Kylie M’s recommended colors from this post!

Want more?

5 Ideas to Update Oak Cabinets – (PART 1 in series)

MORE Ideas to Update Your Wood Cabinets – WITHOUT a Drop of Paint! (PART 2)

The Best Hardware to Update Wood Cabinets (PART 3)

CONFUSED? NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting & E-Design Services!

READ MORE

How to Coordinate Different Wood Stains and Finishes

Should You Paint Your Cabinets – A Questionnaire

The 8 Best Whole Home Warm Neutral Paint Colours

WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2022 JUST FOR YOU!

The post The 20 Best Paint Colors To Go With Oak (or Wood): Trim, Floor, Cabinets & More (PART 4) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When it comes to updates that add value to your home, granite and quartz countertops are the top contenders. And while there are some FABULOUS high-end laminate countertops, nothing beats the quality and popularity of granite and quartz.

Of course, there are other countertop options, such as soapstone, marble and concrete, but these aren’t on today’s menu.

Why?

Because HANDS-DOWN, granite and quartz countertops are the most popular choices for style and DURABILITY. But when it comes to these two, it isn’t always about STYLE; there are a few other important considerations. This is why today, you’re getting the answers to the most COMMON questions related to these two competing surfaces.

Countertop – MSI Calacatta Botanica / Cabinet colour – Benjamin Moore White Dove

But first, for those of you who are NEW to my blog – welcome to the club, a club where we talk about paint colours, decorating, wine and Ryan Reynolds ALL DAY LONG!

Seriously though, let me say that while paint colours are my JAM, I’ve spent two decades in the decorating and design industry, helping over 7500 homeowners create their dream homes – INCLUDING paint colours, countertops, home update ideas and MORE! I’m an industrious lil Ginger…

Now, let’s get this party started…

1. WHICH COUNTERTOP IS THE MOST HEAT-RESISTANT, GRANITE OR QUARTZ?

Granite is DEFINITELY the most heat-resistant, but quartz has a ‘reasonable’ heat resistance.

GRANITE & HEAT-RESISTANCE

Granite countertops are REMARKABLY resistant to heat. However, place the same hot pot on the same spot time and time again, and you risk losing a bit of colour in your granite countertop. But aside from this, granite countertops are GENERALLY heat-proof. Still worried? Use a trivet.

Black granite countertops in a budget-friendly update with Sherwin Williams Alabaster cabinets

QUARTZ & HEAT-RESISTANCE

While quartz countertop does a GREAT job of withstanding heat (not including the less expensive/lower quality brands), even high-quality brands can be damaged by excess heat.

Remember, these countertops are VERY hardy and heat-resistant; they’re just not fool-proof.

That said, I’m a HUGE fool in the kitchen and am hard-pressed even to wear an apron or bib, never mind putting a trivet under my hot pot of Kraft Dinner. And guess what? So far, so good, and that’s in 10 years of homes with quality quartz countertops.

Cambria Statuario Nuvo with Revere Pewter cabinets

See the above Tudor Kitchen Remodel HERE

I summarise that while quartz isn’t as heat resistant as granite, it’s better than laminate, butcher block or marble and is pretty darn hardy overall – I would NEVER hesitate to put it in my own home.

Is Gray Still Trendy on Cabinets, Walls & Exteriors?

2. DO GRANITE & QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS NEED TO BE SEALED?

Granite? HECK YES. Quartz? NEVER!

GRANITE & SEALANT

Because granite is a natural surface (like marble or soapstone), it will absorb liquids. Keep in mind; it’s harder than marble and soapstone and FAR more resistant to staining, etching and loss of sheen. HOWEVER, suppose you don’t seal and maintain your granite (depending on how often your particular sealant needs reapplied). In this case, you risk not only staining and discolouration but MOULD and bacteria build-up.

Granite countertop similar to Sienna Beige with Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze on the island

I was talking to my fave installer, and he told me a story of going to a home to install new countertops. The OLD granite countertops were unsealed (or maybe were originally and were never done again). Underneath the countertop in the lazy Susan corner, what was festering there? MOULD. Wooooof. Please, seal your granite.

6 Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE You Paint Your Cabinets WHITE

QUARTZ & SEALANT

While quartz countertops are approx 90-95% natural, the 5-10% *resin/filler in them makes them pretty darn bullet-proof as it relates to staining (they’re also EXCEPTIONALLY hard to scratch – trust me, cutting boards are against my religion and my countertops are in perfect condition).

*They can also have some pigments added for design/colour.

But are the stain-PROOF? No, nothing is 100% safe. This being said, the high-end quartz brands stand behind their products and most times, can pull stains out of their product IF something manages to get through.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S AN EXCEPTION! 

With the price point of quartz and granite, it can be tempting to save money – don’t. Cheap quartz countertops are often made with a lower quality resin, making them less resistant to heat, staining and SCRATCHING – ask my neighbour who has a lovely red wine stain on her newer, inexpensive quartz countertop (white wine’s better anyway). Again, nothing is totally bullet-proof, but the cheaper the quartz is, the more risk you’re assuming.

Although, if you’re looking at one of these products for your bathroom, a more affordable lower-end quartz works if you don’t have to worry about heat tools or use abrasive cleaners. We have older granite countertops in our ensuite, and they have absorbed a few hair products and whatnot, leaving a few spots (we’re replacing them soon – don’t tell Tim).

MSI White Macaubus with Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray cabinets, tile backsplash TBA

3. ARE GRANITE & QUARTZ NATURAL PRODUCTS?

Granite? YES. Quartz? Almost.

GRANITE IS 100% NATURAL

While granite has to go through a manufacturing process, it’s 100% natural, which is why you’ll see WILD and unpredictable variations in patterns.

The Best Wall Colours For Cream Cabinets & Trim

QUARTZ IS 90-95% NATURAL

Whereas granite countertops are just like me – alllll natural baby, quartz countertops are like the ‘botox’ versions of the countertop world.

What does this mean?

They’ve been injected with resins and/or fillers to improve their look and performance.

What are these improvements?

1. These resins help to prevent bacteria and mold from forming as the countertops don’t ABSORB anything (kind of like when Tim talks to me). This is also why granite DOES get sealed, as it doesn’t have these resins.

2. The use of resins in the creation of quartz countertops allows for altered colors and patterns.

Cambria Summerhill quartz with Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray paint colour

However, it’s this same resin that can cause discoloration when exposed to HIGH heat, which is why using a trivet is important.

Cambria Brittanica Warm – see more of this home HERE

By the way, if you live on Vancouver Island, it’s HARD to beat the service and quality at VI Granite. They’re the only ones I trust with my countertops!

4. WHICH IS HARDER- GRANITE OR QUARTZ?

Both countertops are pretty darn hard based on the MOH’S scale (which measures the hardness of minerals). However, quartz is a weee tiny bit harder, coming in with a score of 7 to granite’s 6 (but this can vary slightly). At the end of the day, they’re pretty comparable.

And personally, unless I’m dealing with a LEGIT soft product like soapstone or butcher block, hardness isn’t a huge consideration for me when choosing between quartz or granite. As for muscles, that’s a whole ‘nother story.

Viatara Rococo with Sherwin Williams High Reflective White

Caesarstone Bianco Drift with Benjamin Moore Metropolis vanity

The 6 Best Paint Colours for Kitchen Islands & Bathroom Vanities

Want to learn more? READ THIS from MARBLE.COM Is Quartz Harder Than Granite

5. WHICH COUNTERTOP IS THE MOST SCRATCH-RESISTANT – GRANITE OR QUARTZ?

This is where the HARDNESS of a surface comes in handy, especially if you’re considering a countertop OTHER than quartz or granite. The higher its rating on the MOH’S scale, the more resistant a surface will be to scratching and etching.

COUNTERTOPS – SOFTEST TO HARDEST

While there’s a bit of variation depending on the source, this is a good GENERAL guide for hardness (I’m doing my best not to include any innuendos…it’s hard…that’s what she said).

BTW, butcher block/wood and laminate countertops can’t be rated as they don’t fall under this scale/system. If I put myself on the same scale, I’d say I’m a solid 8 – wink wink.

WHICH IS CHEAPER – QUARTZ OR GRANITE?

Regarding affordability, the word ‘cheap’ can passively suggest a low price AND low quality – such is the case with cheap quartz (which WILL stain/etch). Aside from the low-quality brands, granite, and quartz are often comparable in price, depending on which brand/line you invest in.

SHOULD I REPLACE MY GRANITE WITH QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS?

If you have one of the more traditional granite countertops from the early 2000s, there’s a good chance you’ll add value to your home by investing in a more modern-looking quartz countertop. While a lot is based on personal perception and target market, more people prefer quartz to granite.

The above granite is DEFINITELY one of the more popular ones and will hold its value reasonably well (with Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray on the cabinets).

Kylie, what do YOU think is better – quartz or granite?

THESE DAYS, whether you want to hear it or not, quartz is the more MODERN choice. With granite countertops, you’ll never know whether they were installed in the early 2000s or yesterday #truthbomb.

Why?

Because granite is 100% natural, there are rarely any great BREAKTHROUGHS in pattern or color combos – if Mother Nature doesn’t make it, you ain’t gettin’ it.

Many of the granites installed today are the SAME ONES that were used 20-30 years ago.

The above granite countertop is one of the more MODERN looking versions – Bianco Antico

A well-chosen black granite can be a timeless, more flexible choice than many other granite countertops

6 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Update Ideas

How to Update Your Older Granite Countertops

This doesn’t make granite a BAD CHOICE, but it isn’t always the most MODERN choice.

Because quartz (in a small part) is man-made, we can make new varieties – ones that shift with the trends. This flexibility allows us to choose a WIDE variety of colors, patterns, veining, flecks, and finishes.

Cambria Brittanica Warm with Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter / AMES tile backsplash

Viatara Minuet with Sherwin Williams Pure White

And this isn’t to say granite isn’t gorgeous; IT IS – some of my favorite countertops are granite (I LOOOVE the versatility of black granite). However, if you’re looking to update your home, especially with the potential of resale, quartz is HANDS-DOWN the most popular choice.

SUMMARY OF THE PROS & CONS OF QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS

• PRO: reasonably heat-resistant, but a trivet is recommended
• PRO: low maintenance – no sealant required
• PRO: super hard, making it very challenging to crack/scratch
• PRO: more popular/trendy than granite in most target markets
• PRO: very stain-resistant
• PRO: consistent appearance
• CONS: not totally heat-resistant
• CONS: seams can be noticeable depending on the pattern chosen

SUMMARY OF THE PROS & CONS OF GRANITE COUNTERTOPS

• PRO: super heat-resistant
• PRO: very hard and chip/scratch-resistant
• CON: must be sealed regularly to prevent staining – even then, wipe up spills quickly
• CON: unpredictable appearance (some would see this as a PRO)
• CONS: seams can be noticeable depending on the pattern chosen

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

The 8 Best Quartz Countertops for Coming Trends

How to Update Your Older Granite Countertops

The New Era of Laminate Countertops & Why They Rock!

3 Ways to Save Money On Your Laminate Countertop

Should You Paint Your Wood Cabinets or Keep Them Stained? A QUESTIONNAIRE

4 Subway Tile Backsplash Ideas

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Consulting Packages – talk to the EXPERT! 

Chat soon,

The post Quartz vs. Granite Countertops: Which One is Better For YOUR Home? appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Oak cabinets – you love ’em (if you’re a man) or hate ’em (if you’re a woman). And yes, I’m generalizing, but I encounter the same gender divides again and again, especially when helping clients update homes with wood finishes. However, it’s oak cabinets that are usually the divorce makers.

And while many designers can’t WAIT to get rid of oak cabinets, I’m a big fan. Sure, some of them need a complete overhaul, however many oak cabinets from the 1980s and 90s are solid gold. Not only do these workhorses stand the test of time in STYLING (those with hidden hinges & simple door profiles), it’s only after 30-40 years of wear and tear that they need some love (kind of like me, wink wink). I’ve seen modern kitchen installations that have barely made it past five years.

However, whether I look at wood cabinets, trims or furniture, I often refer to my favorite saying…

‘just because it’s wood, doesn’t mean it’s good’.

This means that if your wood cabinets are fugly, worn out, or mismatched with other finishes, they won’t be adding value (emotional or monetary) to your home.

There’s a HECK of a lot of orange and pink going on here – and check out that wood grain! 

But before we get into the guts n’ glory of this blog post, you need to figure out what style of cabinets you have…

CABINET DOOR PROFILES

Figuring out which door profile you have can help you make the best choices moving forward.

I know the top right isn’t oak, but it’s the best example of a flat panel with a shaker-style frame

TOP LEFT: shaker style with raised panel

TOP RIGHT: shaker style with flat panel

BOTTOM LEFT: double cathedral

BOTTOM RIGHT: single arch

Are your kitchen cabinets cathedral, arched or shaker style? Shaker style is great as the look transitions to modern styles quite easily. On the other hand, a cathedral or arched style is difficult. Even if you decide to restain your cabinets a lovely finish, they might STILL look outdated as it’s the style that’s dated.

Now let’s talk about some solutions…

1. OAK CABINET UPDATE IDEA – RESTAINING

This article is about ‘updating’ your oak cabinets, not about ‘returning them to their former glory’ – or lack thereof. Therefore, when I mention stain, it’s with the idea of changing and updating – not resurrecting.

RESURRECT: keep the old golden oak and refresh it with a fresh coat of golden oak stain and lacquer

UPDATE: add value to your home with cabinets that are modern and updated

While these next cabinets are GORGEOUS, the red stain isn’t an updated look…

With their muted, more natural stain, these next cabinets are PERFECT as they are…

These cabinets add HUGE value as they look totally updated and are suited to the home!  

If you want to update your home, restain with a darker, more modern stain color OR sand things down completely and opt for a lighter, more natural stain (no strong orange/yellow/red hues). Most home buyers (if you have resale in mind) are looking for the more subtle approach offered by a neutral wood tone, OR they want painted cabinets (usually white).

Sherwin Williams Iron Ore feature wall

5 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU RESTAIN YOUR WOOD CABINETS

• Are you thinking of staining them a lighter color than they currently are? Lots of blood, sweat and beers.
• Or maybe you want to stain them a darker color? Still takes lots of work, but it’s easier than going lighter.
• Stay away from the strong yellow, orange and red hues as they will not look updated unless you still live in 1990 (helloooo sponge paint!).
• Choose a stain depth that best suits the surrounding finishes and potential target market (if selling is in your future).
• If you want to refinish your cabinets properly, you’ll need to sand them down entirely. You can play around with Gel Stain, which ‘can’ go over existing stains. However, even professionals have a hard time getting a consistent and quality look that doesn’t wear off (it’s not penetrating, it’s sitting on top of the old finish).

2. OAK CABINET UPDATE IDEA – UPDATE YOUR HARDWARE

More often than not, cabinets from the 80s and 90s don’t have hardware (handles or knobs). While functionally it’s not a big deal as you can still open them, decoratively it’s like you’re missing the last piece of the puzzle.

Transitional style hardware is great and works ESPECIALLY well with cabinets with a shaker door profile. For cathedral-style doors, you’ll want to choose hardware with slightly softer lines (#9, 10,12), nothing too tubular or sleek.

To view/purchase the above hardware, please visit the links in this blog post here: The Best BUDGET FRIENDLY Hardware to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets

And of course, there are always knobs…

To view/purchase the above hardware, please visit the links in this blog post here: The Best BUDGET FRIENDLY Hardware to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets

3. OAK CABINET UPDATE IDEA – ADD CROWN & A VALANCE

Crown molding isn’t just for ceilings!

Crown molding is the ‘crown’ that sits on top of your cabinets – not to be confused with the crown molding that attaches to your ceiling line. The valance is the strip of wood (approx. two-three inches) that’s attached to the bottom part of your upper cabinets. It increases the visual height of your cabinets, gives them a custom profile, and allows them to hide under-cabinet lighting.

These two features take your cabinets from looking like builder basic – to custom-made.

While adding crown molding and a valance isn’t easy-peasy to do, ESPECIALLY with older wood stains, it’s manageable for the average homeowner or a semi-capable handyman.

Click HERE or on the above image to view available packages

4. OAK CABINET UPDATE IDEA – FILL IN THE BULKHEAD

NOTHING makes basic cabinets look more custom than a filled-in bulkhead. And while you can do it with proper cabinets (ideally), you can also save a LOT of money and even DIY it with some well-placed MDF and decorative molding.

My client (below) did just as described above, giving her arched oak cabinets a whole new look…

My next client did the same, although the look is a BIT more natural as the space between the cabinet/ceiling isn’t as tall…

As for this next kitchen, believe it or not, my client updated it for LESS than $3500 – bulkhead and all. She even hand-painted her Zellige-look tiles!

 A Budget-Friendly FULL KITCHEN Makeover!

5. OAK CABINET UPDATE IDEA – PAINT

You had to see this one coming.

Why?

For wood cabinets that have seen better days, paint is a GREAT way to update and modernize them. Many men (and some women) will say, ‘but it’s wood; YOU CAN’T PAINT WOOD!’ and this is where I hand them a scotch on the rocks and calmly repeat my previously mentioned mantra…

‘just because it’s wood, doesn’t mean it’s good.’

And they will still BE wood – they will just be painted wood.

These next cabinets didn’t have any redeeming features…

• the stain is too dark and red and clashes with the flooring
• the door profile is dated

And while my client opted for new doors, she saved money by keeping the cabinet boxes and having them all painted the same beautiful white…

See the FULL REMODEL HERE

And HUGE thanks to all of my E-Design clients who send in their after photos. I rely 99.9% on these and couldn’t do this blog without you! 

You can also consider a happy medium by leaving some areas wood while painting others, as shown in this next beautiful kitchen…

Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze on cabinets, Graystone walls

WHY IS IT GOOD TO PAINT WOOD?

Well, it’s good for resale. Generally speaking, traditional golden oak cabinets appeal to those 70 and older. If that’s your target market, then keep them stained and call it a day. However, if you’re looking to appeal to a younger and more modern crowd (69 years and younger), you’ll want to consider painting them.

I know your hubby is cursing my name right now and polishing his darts – and you’re checking the birth date on your driver’s license and yelling, ‘HONEY, SHE JUST CALLED ME YOUNG AND MODERN! But seriously, if you have resale in mind, you might want to put paint at the top of your to-do list.

See the FULL PROJECT HERE

Undoubtedly, this next kitchen has MUCH more personality than it used to. And while this might not appeal to the masses, if you’re staying in your home, don’t be afraid to embrace a bit of COLOR!

The Best Green Paint Colors

Still not sure whether to stain or paint your wood cabinets? Take the QUESTIONNAIRE! 

A FEW CONSIDERATIONS WHEN UPDATING OAK OR WOOD CABINETS

SHEEN LEVEL

EXPOSED HINGES

If you have exposed hinges, make sure the finish of them matches your handles/knobs – no mix-and-match hardware finishes allowed!

HARDWARE FINISH

Polished nickel and black are the most popular hardware finish, hands down (read more HERE).

CONSIDER KNOBS ON THE DOORS, PULLS ON THE DRAWERS

If you currently have handles on your cabinet doors, consider filling in that hole and installing knobs instead. Using two different types of hardware on your cabinets creates a custom look (see hardware HERE).

THE GRAIN OF YOUR WOOD (OAK IN PARTICULAR)

The shinier your paint finish is – the more the grain of your oak will show. If you can have them professionally sprayed, go for it. This will give you the best chance to reduce the amount of grain you see. While you CAN take the time to fill in the grain to get a more seamless approach, it’s a biiiig project.

APPLIANCE COLOR

If you have white or black appliances, you’ll need to figure out which color makes the most sense regarding contrasting with the appliances (black appliances with white cabinets) or blending them in (white appliances with white cabinets). I can help! Black appliance owners HERE. White appliance owners HERE

THESE are some gorgeous wood cabinets!

Want more?

5 MORE Ideas: How to Update Oak Without a Drop of Paint (PART 2)

Budget-Friendly Hardware to Update Wood Cabinets (PART 3)

The 16 Best Paint Colors to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets or Trim (PART 4)

READ MORE

The 15 Best Paint Colors to go with Oak / Wood

Are Gray Cabinets, Walls & Exteriors Still Trendy?

How to Pick the BEST Paint Color for Your Kitchen Cabinets

The Best Gray and Greige Paint Colors for Cabinets

Not sure what to do with your kitchen?

Check out my Online Decorating and Color Services 

Originally written in 2016, awesomely updated in 2022

*This post may contain affiliate links that I have carefully selected, meaning if you purchase an item or sign up for a service through a link in this post I may receive a commission.  These programs are a big help to me to be able to maintain this blog. Thank you in advance if you find something you are interested in and choose to purchase with these providers.

The post 5 Ideas: How to Update Oak or Wood Kitchen Cabinets (PART 1) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Are you looking for ideas to update your kitchen or bathroom cabinets without spending a fortune? Or maybe you’ve ALREADY spent a fortune on your space and NOW you want to save! Regardless of whether you’re starting your journey or ending it, this hardware will give you some major bang for buck (non-street-corner style – sorry to disappoint).

The first thing you need to do is figure out what type of cabinets you’re working with…

SHAKER STYLE CABINETS

CAN BE A VARIETY OF WOODS INCLUDING OAK, MAPLE, PINE OR CHERRY

This type of cabinet has a square/rectangle door profile with a ‘frame’ around it. It can be fresh outta the 80s oak or a simple recessed maple panel, but the great thing about this profile is that it’s super timeless (it’s usually the finish of the cabinet that gives its age away).

There are shaker styles that have more detail and some that have less. Some have a raised panel with a bit of detail, and some have a flat recessed panel. Regardless, the MAIN idea is that your door panel has a square or rectangular-shaped ‘frame’ around it.

ARCHED & CATHEDRAL STYLE CABINETS

USUALLY OAK OR MAPLE

Of the two, arched is an easier style to update than cathedral style. Arched is just a bit more subtle, a bit less…churchy. Cathedral-style cabinets are trickier to update as their shape is much more pronounced (passive-aggressive word for dated). In this case, regardless of the finish (wood or painted), it’s the STYLE of the cabinet that gives its age away. And while most of us get curves as we age, these aren’t the type of curves that are easy to camouflage.

And I’m not trying to be mean, I’m trying to be realistic so that I can help you embrace what you have and make the best choices moving forward (I swear)!

Left: Double Cathedral / Right: Single Arch

There is a single arch and double arch, a single cathedral and double cathedral and curse thee who has the double cathedral. The DC is just a bugger to update as its style is hard-pressed to step out of the ’80s UNLESS you want a more country look.

Should You Paint Your Wood Cabinets or Leave Them Stained – A QUESTIONNAIRE

But I digress; let’s stay on track here and start looking at hardware…

Let’s Give it a Name – Transitional

When I’m hardware shopping for clients who want to update their kitchen cabinets, I’m looking for styles that transition the cabinets from where they currently are to a more updated, modern version. I want flexible hardware, that can nod to one style while kindly humouring another – make sense? And we’re going to call this hardware style ‘transitional’.

TRANSITIONAL STYLE HARDWARE TO UPDATE KITCHEN CABINETS

Because shaker-style cabinets are transitional themselves, we can look at hardware with slightly cleaner lines, without being UBER modern and sexy – yes, I just called hardware sexy.

And, of course, you can get most of these styles in whichever finish you like; these are just the shapes to get you on the right track. And while some of these are a BIT pricier than I’d like, you can take the idea and shop at your local store to see if you can find a better deal.

GETTING A HANDLE ON THINGS

Cabinet handles, also known as pulls, have come a LONG way. Gone are the dated plastic pulls of the ’80s and wood-metal blends of the ’90s. NOW we have handles that actually add function AND style to a cabinet door, such as these…

Click on the links below to see the different available finishes.

1.  Cup Pull – Black  |   2. Bar Pull – Black  |   3. Arch Pull – Black  |   4. Cup Pull – Polished Nickel  |   5. Bar Pull – Polished Nickel   |   6. Arch Pull – Polish Nickel   |   7. Cup Pull – Oil Rubbed Bronze  | 8. Bar Pull – Oil Rubbed Bronze  |   9. Center Bar Pull – Oil Rubbed Bronze  |   10. Cup Pull – Brass  |   11. Center Cup Pull – Brass   |   12. Center Pull – Brass 

UGH, YOU’RE SUCH A KNOB

Just joking. However, some cabinets look best with knobs, particularly when you only have one knob hole and aren’t inclined to bust out the drill.

Knobs are a bit more unisex when it comes to working with shaker and cathedral-style cabinets and one knob can often suit both profiles. And really, can you believe I haven’t made a rude joke about knobs yet? I know, it’s disturbing, isn’t it?

Click on the links below to see the different available finishes.

1. Classic Mushroom Knob – Black  |   2. Mushroom Knob – Black  |   3. Geometric Square Knob – Black  |   4. Square Knob – Black  |    5. Basic Mushroom Knob – Polished Nickel  |   6.  Mushroom Knob – Polished Nickel  |   7. Round Knob – Polished Nickel   |   8. Square Knob – Polished Nickel  |   9. Mushroom Knob – Oil Rubbed Bronze  |   10. Basic Mushroom Knob – Oil Rubbed Bronze  |   11. Detailed Mushroom Knob – Oil Rubbed Bronze  |   12. T-Bar Knob – Oil Rubbed Bronze  |   13. Mushroom Knob – Brass  |   14. Simple Mushroom Knob – Brass  |   15. Square Knob – Brass  |   16. Rectangle Knob – Brass

And you might be thinking, ‘umm Kylie, there are a lot of mushroom-shaped knobs in that image?’ That’s because I love you and am trying to save you from the freakin’ AGONY of oval and square knobs that inevitably loosen up and go off-kilter so you spend half your time in the kitchen tweakin’ your knobs so they all line up. I’ve got a few in there, but consider yourself warned. And no Mom, I’m not going to make a rude joke to finish the ‘tweakin’ your knob‘ sentence off but you KNOW I thought about it.

And I know you might have some questions about hardware finish, but that is an upcoming blog post (don’t hold your breath though as I have a few good ones in the meantime).

Want more?

5 Ideas to Update Oak Cabinets – (PART 1 in series)

MORE Ideas to Update Your Wood Cabinets – WITHOUT a Drop of Paint! (PART 2)

The 16 Best Paint Colours to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets or Trim (PART 4)

Need to get a ‘handle’ on things? 

Check out my affordable E-design, E-decor and Online Color Consulting Packages! 

READ MORE

8 Best Whole Home Warm NEUTRAL Paint Colours

The 4 Best Gray & Greige Paint Colours for Kitchen Cabinets & Vanities

The 7 Best Paint Colours to Update Dark Wood Trim

4 BUDGET-FRIENDLY KITCHEN UPDATE IDEAS

The Best Paint Colours for Kitchen Islands & Lower Cabinets

6 Questions to Ask BEFORE You Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets White

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2018, UPDATED IN 2022

The post How to Update Oak (Wood) Cabinets with Hardware that’s Budget Friendly (PART 3) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Is your kitchen being held hostage by fugly granite countertops from the 1990s or early 2000s? Are you wanting to update your walls or cabinets, but don’t know what paint colours will work – can you do white, can you do gray, can you do ANYTHING? And let’s not get STARTED on what to do with that ole backsplash…

Don’t worry; I’ve got your back and am here to help.

Most granite patterns from 20-30 years ago weren’t picked with LONGEVITY in mind, they were picked because they suited the current trends, trends that no longer apply unless you’re still sponge-painting your walls and stuffing plastic bags in your bra like me valances. The ones we’re hitting today include…

• ST CECILIA
• VENETIAN GOLD
• SAPPHIRE BLUE
• PEACOCK GREEN
• UBA TUBA (seriously, who named this one, a Teletubby?)
• BALTIC BROWN

But not ALL older granite countertops are a challenge, and in fact, some are friggin’ GORGEOUS and highly coveted. Others are maybe not coveted but are still easy enough to work with – the most TIMELESS and VERSATILE granite being BLACK.

However, even some of the BEST-INTENTIONED black granite countertops have flecks of pink, taupe, green and blue in them that severely limit their long-term potential. This makes UPDATING a heck of a lot more difficult, but not impossible if you have a lil Ginger in your back pocket (I pinch upon request).

And by the way, if you think your granite countertop is calling all the shots, you might be surprised to hear that your BACKSPLASH calls first dibs on paint colours. 

Let’s say that again in a different way…

MOST of the time, your backsplash is more important than your countertop when it comes to coordinating cabinet colours.

Why?

Because the backsplash is on the same vertical sightline as the cabinets, the visual connection is more immediate. With the countertop being horizontal, there’s a BIT more room for forgiveness.

Suuuuure, it’s all good in the hood if your countertop and backsplash coordinate, but if they DON’T (which is the case more often than not with homes from the 90s), you may want to think about refreshing it too.

5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

In this next example, the granite countertop is still going strong, but the backsplash is limiting the room’s potential…

After, you can see how a fresh new backsplash along with a coordinated cabinet paint colour brought this kitchen back to LIFE!

Remember, your outdated countertops can STILL look amazing if you surround them with the right paint colour, backsplash and decor – in fact, there are some granites I’ve grown to LOVE in my E-Design adventures! The key is to stop FIGHTING your granite and choose paint colours and products that actually SUIT it – this is how you create a space with style and intention.

As the great Britney Spears once said, let’s hit that baby one more time…

The key is to stop FIGHTING your granite and choose paint colours and products that actually SUIT it.

I believe the above countertop is actually soapstone, but it proves my point – going WITH IT works! 

So, what are the BEST ideas to update a kitchen or bathroom with outdated granite countertops?

1. paint the cabinets and/or walls
2. replace the backsplash
3. modernize the hardware and light fixtures
4. refresh the accents

Today we’re going to focus on coordinating your granite countertop with paint colours and backsplash ideas, as they’re your best BANG FOR BUCK ideas (non-street corner style). But before we get started, I want to make a VERY IMPORTANT POINT about painted cabinets…

If you want to paint your cabinets and can’t find a paint colour that both YOU and your countertop love, it might be best to leave them stained wood! This can ESPECIALLY be the case if you have a backsplash or tile flooring that isn’t SUPER well-coordinated with the countertop – PAINT CAN’T FIX EVERYTHING (but wine can certainly help) 

Are you ready to dive in? I know I am…

1. SANTA CECILIA OR VENETIAN GOLD GRANITE COUNTERTOP UPDATE IDEAS

SIMILAR GRANITE COUNTERTOPS: Giallo Ornamental

Oh Ceciiiiiilia, you’re breakin’ my heart…anyways.

St Cecilia AND Venetian Gold are WARM granite countertops that can hold the following colours…

• creamy soft off-white paint colours
• warm golden tones and some beige/tan hues
• warm greige-taupe with a violet (violet-pink) undertone
• a touch of burgundy/maroon
• almost black-brown

Santa Cecilia Home Depot

The key with these granites is that you SHOULDN’T introduce a colour on the cabinets that doesn’t ALREADY EXIST in the countertop.

If you add a new colour, there won’t be a visual connection between your cabinets and countertops – you could have a hot mess on your hands. Any NEW colour needs to be in the form of an accent, not a full-scale commitment.

TWO EXCEPTIONS

1. Depending on the surrounding space, furnishings and backsplash, some kitchens can pull off a darker greige/taupe or green hue.
2. If you paint your main cabinets a soft warm white or off-white, you could paint your island a darker neutral with a reasonably strong green undertone. This way, rather than competing with the countertop, it will act like an ACCENT.

In this next kitchen, while this isn’t as warm as St. Cecelia or New Venetian, it has a similar look. The reduced warmth and simple subway tile leave room for a fantastic green hue on the cabinets!

However, as shown below, Sherwin Williams Antique White is a bit too yellow for the backsplash, countertop and tile floor combination…

BTW – there are SEVERAL varieties of these granite countertops, and there’s ALWAYS variation between slabs. The examples might not show the EXACT St. Cecilia/Venetian that you have.

The 5 Best Off-White Paint Colours

Sherwin Williams 4 Warm Gray Paint Colours

CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS WHITE IF I HAVE ST. CECILIA OR NEW VENETIAN?

Yes, but they must be CONSIDERABLY warm and soft, not stark or clean.

JR Photography

It can also look nice if you have warm white main cabinets and paint the island a dark colour like a soft warm black that’s bordering on black-brown.

The Best Warm White Paint Colours

IF I HAVE SANTA CECILIA OR VENETIAN GOLD GRANITE, CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS GRAY?

Nope. The gray you think you’re seeing in Santa Cecilia and Venetian Gold is more of a greige or taupe, so it’s warmer with a subtle violet or violet-pink undertone.

As shown in the above photo, while MOST of my clients are getting rid of their cream cabinets, they’re one of the best choices for countertops like St. Cecelia and New Venetian.

WHAT ARE THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR MY WALLS IF I HAVE SANTA CECILIA OR NEW VENETIAN GRANITE?

• gray isn’t just a stretch on cabinets, but on walls too
• warm, golden-beige paint colours
• soft muted cream paint colours

In this next photo, Sherwin Williams Repose Gray looks okay thanks to the natural light…

However, from a different angle, it’s too cool to connect…

This isn’t to say it’s a hot MESS, it just isn’t the best choice.

In this next photo, St. Cecilia is hiding under the drop cloths…

After, Miss Cecelia looks lovely with Sherwin Williams Casa Blanca (walls) and Alabaster (cabinets)…

JR Photography

WHAT’S THE BEST TYPE OF BACKSPLASH TO UPDATE SANTA CECILIA OR VENETIAN GOLD?

This is where many people hop on the wrong bus – STOP, YOU’RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!

If you’re thinking of doing a WHITE subway tile backsplash or heaven-forbid, MARBLE (yes, I’ve seen it all), you need to put on the brakes and shift into a new gear.

In the above example, my client was looking for a paint colour for her cabinets. I had to break it to her that paint wasn’t going to fix things, and could in fact, further the disconnect between her backsplash and countertop – she needed a new backsplash. And of course, I can’t FIND the after photos to show you, but maybe my client is reading this and will resend them (wink wink nudge nudge…).

Instead of white subway tile, take a look at…

• Soft off-white tiles that PERFECTLY match the soft off-white in the countertop. For a subtle look, match it with soft white grout. If you want to add some visual interest, choose a light to medium-depth grout that matches the greige/taupe in the countertop.
• Greige-taupe tiles that have the same warm violet undertones as the flecks in your countertop. For this look, I would do a soft white grout to add a bit of contrast and visual interest

4 Subway Tile Ideas for Your Bathroom or Backsplash

In the above, example, the walls are too drab and flat for the type of warmth in New Venetian Gold (and don’t even get me started on the backsplash #hotmessofundertones).

BTW – there can be A LOT of variation between slabs, so the examples might not show the EXACT Venetian Gold that you have.

CLICK HERE OR ON THE ABOVE IMAGE FOR AVAILABLE PACKAGES!

2. PEACOCK GREEN GRANITE (BLACK) COUNTERTOP UPDATE IDEAS

SIMILAR GRANITE COUNTERTOPS: Green or Verde Uba Tuba

Peacock Green Granite has a DOMINANT black base along with the following colours…

• green-blue blend with some gray to calm it down
• gray with a blue-green undertone
• golden brown specks/veining (more so than Uba Tuba)
• a WINK of taupe
• specks of white

Peacock Green Granite Home Depot

Peacock Green Granite is a tricky one, as a lot of people see it as black, however, it has some VERY interesting and finicky undertones! Again, the key is not to introduce any NEW colour to your palette, and instead, pick up one that you already see.

THE EXCEPTION. There’s NO exception with this bad boy – you’ve got to go with it or you WILL be going against it!

BTW – there can be QUITE a bit of variation between slabs, so the examples might not show the EXACT Peacock Green that you have.

CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS WHITE IF I HAVE PEACOCK GREEN GRANITE?

Yes, as long as you’re okay with a HIGH contrast look. As far as the ‘actual white’ goes, I wouldn’t do an overly warm one, nor a super COLD one. Instead, I would look at some of the WHITER shades of white.

BUT (a great big one…), there are more things at play in a kitchen, such as backsplash tiles and flooring. In this next example, while the countertop here isn’t Peacock Green, it has similar colours in it (gray-green). And while we could easily do white cabinets, we have to take the backsplash and floor into consideration, both of which won’t be happy if we go white!

In my client’s Online Colour Consultation, I suggested several options, of which they chose a SOFT warm off-white to humour the needs of the backsplash and tile floor, while still updating and brightening the space…

When you’re working with existing finishes that aren’t being replaced, it can be challenging to update your kitchen.

Remember, if you can’t find a paint colour that your existing finishes and you agree on, stick with wood until you can budget for a larger remodel.

Before, from a different angle…

And after, MUCH lighter and brighter, without being stark white…

Should I Paint My Cabinets or Leave them Stained? A QUESTIONNAIRE

IF I HAVE PEACOCK GREEN GRANITE, CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS GRAY?

Well, you can paint your cabinets gray-ish, but that gray will need some VERY SERIOUS green (green-blue) undertones in it. If you don’t embrace these hues, your cabinets could look violet (as every gray has undertones) and will CLASH with your countertop.

The Best Blue-Green Paint Colours

WHAT ARE THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR MY WALLS IF I HAVE PEACOCK GREEN GRANITE?

Refreshing your walls can be a great way to update the look of Peacock Green granite. Check out some of these…

• grays with reasonable green-blue undertones
• reasonably bright whites (if you have wood or gray-green cabinets)
• green-blue blends with some gray mixed in to calm them down
• some beige paint colours as long as they don’t lean into yellow

WHAT’S THE BEST TYPE OF BACKSPLASH TO UPDATE PEACOCK GREEN GRANITE?

If you want to update your backsplash, it will depend on what colour your cabinets are (and for the sake of brevity and sanity I can’t cover them ALL), but generally speaking…

• With WOOD CABINETS and Peacock Green granite, I would look at gray (with green-blue undertones) or green-blue tiles. White would be awfully stark, but that could shift depending on the wall colour.
• With WHITE CABINETS and Peacock Green granite, I would look at gray (with green-blue undertones) or green-blue tiles.

There are other, similar granite countertops with green in them – like this next one. In this case, we’re looking at a WARM green, not a cool green, and would adjust our colours/undertones accordingly…

BTW, I have some FANTASTIC blog posts regarding: updating the green-inspired surfaces in your home; check them out here…

How to Update Forest Green Countertops, Carpet or Tile

The Best Accent Tiles to Update Forest Green Countertops

How to Update Forest Green in Your Home

3. SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE UPDATE IDEAS

Oh, that Sapphire Blue is ALWAYS a bugger with its particular blend of colours…

• black
• rose-taupe blend (pink-violet hues)
• gray with a strong blue-violet undertone
• soft dark taupe-based brown

Sapphire Blue Granite Home Depot

Seriously, I actually had to take a deep chug of wine straight from the bottle breath before I dove into this one.

Why?

Well, because what I have to WRITE, isn’t always what my readers want to READ.

CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS WHITE IF I HAVE SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE?

That’s a hard no.

BUT WHY NOT?

Because Sapphire Blue doesn’t have any white in it, it’s a tough sell to introduce it on such a large scale as cabinets. You CAN, but I’ve found that with the particular colours in Sapphire Blue, white cabinets can make it look more dated. If you REEEEAALLLY want white cabinets, DON’T choose a warm white and be cautious with your wall colour choice.

BTW – there can be QUITE a bit of variation between slabs, so the examples might not show the EXACT Sapphire Blue that you have.

IF I HAVE SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE, CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS GRAY?

This is where we can breathe a little easier and go back to our sippy cups as YES, you can paint your cabinets gray, but it can’t be ANY old gray or some of the more POPULAR gray paint colours like Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray or Gray Owl. You will want to sample the following carefully…

• Grays with decent blue-violet undertones. Blue LOVES to move around, so make sure you hit the right one and the right depth (nothing too light)!
• warm muddy grays with a soft violet undertone (check out my DOZENS of paint colour reviews!)
• colours that are even warmer, going into the subtle taupe end of things

Should I Paint My Cabinets or Leave them Stained? A QUESTIONNAIRE

WHAT ARE THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR MY WALLS IF I HAVE SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE?

If you want to freshen up your walls, you can check out some versions of…

• warm grays with NO GREEN UNDERTONES
• taupe paint colours with violet-pink undertones (something like Sherwin Williams Popular Gray is a good place to start)
• I would be careful with the whole ‘gray with a blue-violet undertone’ thing. Some of these can work well on cabinets but can feel a bit too cool for walls unless they have some good depth/body to them

5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

Sherwin Williams Best Gray and Greige Paint Colours

WHAT’S THE BEST TYPE OF BACKSPLASH TO UPDATE SAPPHIRE BLUE GRANITE?

Again, it can really depend on what colour your cabinets are, but generally speaking, check out…

• taupe tiles with the same undertones as the flecks in your countertop
• warm gray tiles with reasonably strong violet-pink undertones (the key is to MATCH one of the flecks in your countertop)
• gray tiles with a blue-violet undertone

4.  UBA TUBA GRANITE COUNTERTOP UPDATE IDEAS 

ALSO KNOWN AS…

• VERDE UBA TUBA
• BUTTERFLY
• GREEN LABRADOR OR VERDE LABRADOR
• GREEN UBA TUBA
• UBA TUBA GOLD

SIMILAR GRANITE COUNTERTOPS: Butterfly Green, Peacock Green, Amazon Green

Uba Tuba is tricky as there are SO many versions and colour blends. While some focus hard on a cool green with gold, black and silver flecks, others drop all of the green, grabbing only black, gold, taupe and white! So, I’m going with the two UBAs I see the most…

Uba Tuba Granite Home Depot

CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS WHITE IF I HAVE UBA TUBA GRANITE?

YES! Most versions of Uba Tuba do just fine with white cabinets.

• if you have the green-based Uba Tuba shown above, or one very SIMILAR, try a cleaner, non-creamy white
• if you have the black-based  Uba Tuba, try a warm, softer white

But while white might be tempting, look at how gorgeous these wood cabinets look with blocked-off areas in Sherwin Williams…

Benjamin Moore’s 8 Best White Paint Colours

Sherwin Williams 4 Best White Paint Colours

IF I HAVE UBA TUBA GRANITE, CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS GRAY?

Some of the Uba Tuba’s love gray cabinets as long as you hone in on the right undertones…

• if you have the green-based Uba Tuba, you’ll want a gray with cool green or green-blue undertones and AVOID violet
• if you have the black-based Uba Tuba, avoid gray cabinets as they could enhance the gold and make the countertop look more dated

BTW – there can be QUITE a bit of variation between slabs, so the examples might not show the EXACT Uba Tuba that you have.

WHAT ARE THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR MY WALLS IF I HAVE UBA TUBA GRANITE?

If you’re looking to freshen up your walls, it depends on which Uba Tuba you have…

• if you have the green-based Uba Tuba shown, you can try gray with a decent green (green-blue) undertone, white walls that are clean/not creamy or green with a gray-blue backdrop
• with the black-based Uba Tuba, check out warm beiges/tan (with slight green undertones, not red/pink), muted creams with a decent golden tone, the odd greige

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray & Greige Paint Colours

WHAT’S THE BEST TYPE OF BACKSPLASH TO UPDATE UBA TUBA GRANITE?

Regarding the best backsplash to update Uba Tuba, it can really depend on what colour your cabinets are. Let’s start with the green-based Uba Tuba shown above…

• With WOOD OR WHITE CABINETS and Uba Tuba, check out gray-green tiles (NO VIOLET HUES!), white tiles with NO yellow undertone or green tiles (if you’re feeling brave).
• With gray/green cabinets and Uba Tuba, check out a clean white subway tile.

If you have the black-based Uba Tuba, you might look at…

• With WOOD OR WHITE CABINETS, try a soft white subway tile, but NOT a stark one (if you have white cabinets, the two whites should match). Partner it with a soft beige grout to pick up on the gold tones in the countertop. You can also look at some travertine tile backsplashes. Doing this in a more MODERN subway tile pattern can update the look of this black granite.

5. BALTIC BROWN GRANITE UPDATE IDEAS

Ahhhh, Baltic Brown, you’ve been kickin’ it for a long time my friend, and I know ALL of your dirty secrets, including colours like…

• black
• the very odd wink of cream (not overly yellow)
• MAJORLY orange-hued (leaning orange-pink rather than orange-yellow)
• green (cool green-blue, not yellow-green)

But, NO TWO GRANITE SLABS WERE CREATED ALIKE, and this is definitely the case with Baltic Brown as you can get slabs that are a bit darker and richer like this…

Or lighter and brighter like this…

Which makes it REALLY HARD for me to specify which direction you should go in. So, I’m going with what I see in the AVERAGE consult with Baltic Brown.

CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS WHITE IF I HAVE BALTIC BROWN GRANITE?

For the love of everything beautiful – no. Because Baltic Brown doesn’t have legit white in it, white cabinets would look stark and out of place in a kitchen with these countertops.

However, you CAN paint your cabinets a soft warm off-white, as long as it doesn’t lean into yellow/cream. Baltic Brown favours an orange undertone and one that leans slightly into red (pink) rather than yellow. Some of the more modern off-white beige paint colours can be interesting partners to Baltic Brown.

BTW, HUGE thanks to my E-Design clients who send their after photos in; I couldn’t do this without you! 

6 Questions To Ask BEFORE You Paint Your Cabinets WHITE

IF I HAVE BALTIC BROWN GRANITE, CAN I PAINT MY CABINETS GRAY?

You can paint your cabinets gray, but they can’t be a TRADITIONAL or standard gray paint colour, they need a MASSIVE shot of green in them and absolutely NO VIOLET OR BLUE! And along with a heavy dose of green hue, you’ll also want some depth –  no off-white or light depths for THIS countertop.

WHAT ARE THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR MY WALLS IF I HAVE BALTIC BROWN GRANITE?

If you want to freshen up your walls, you can check out some versions of…

• gray with DECENT green undertones (green-blue NOT green-yellow, so in other words, a COOL green)
• green-blue shades (leaning hard into the green with a GOOD shot of gray to calm it all down)
• beige paint colours with a focus on an orange-pink undertone

WHAT ARE THE BEST BACKSPLASH IDEAS TO UPDATE BALTIC BROWN GRANITE?

I actually like working with Baltic Brown, as it’s pretty clear on its preferences…

• Some travertine tiles. The key is to choose an updated subway tile pattern, not a diamond or square-lay pattern. The above travertine tile has a great COLOUR, but the diamond pattern does date it a bit.
• Gray tiles with a strong green undertone.

READ MORE

Quartz vs Granite Countertops – Which One is BEST For YOUR Home?

5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

The 6 Best Paint Colours For Kitchen Islands & Bathroom Vanities

5 Ideas to Update Your Fireplace

The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They Rock

NEED HELP?

Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING PACKAGES!

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2022 WITH MORE GOODIES FOR YOU!

The post How to Update Your Older Granite Countertops appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Is your fireplace outdated and boring? Have you been wanting to do a remodel, but can’t afford a full makeover? If so, then get ready to give your fireplace a swift kick in the ash…

1. FIREPLACE UPDATE IDEA: paint the brass surround

Nothing kills a beautiful brick or stone fireplace more than an outdated brass surround. Luckily, you’ll find that most fireplaces with brass surrounds have removable pieces, making it MUCH easier to paint them. However, some surrounds have the odd details that are built-in to the frame, making them a bit more finicky, but not impossible to paint.

HOW TO UPDATE THE BRASS SURROUND ON A FIREPLACE

All the steps must be followed to a tee (and I am watching…).

STEP 1: Sand with fine-grit sandpaper

If the original surface is shiny, new paint won’t adhere properly – you need a roughed-up surface for the paint to stick to. HIGH grit sandpaper should be used to etch the surface without carving it (kind of like giving your skin a light exfoliation). And like your Mom always says, ‘remember to give it a good wipe when you’re done‘! 

STEP 2: Heat resistant spray primer (here)

When spray painting, fine/thin coats are essential to avoid drips and build-up. It’s also important that this paint is heat-resistant, rather than flammable (for obvious reasons). 

STEP 3: Heat resistant spray paint (here)

Again, the paint needs to be heat resistant and NOTHING works as well as this Rustoleum product as it’s actually a BBQ paint and works like a hot damn (literally and figuratively).

A matte finish is usually the best finish to coordinate with any other existing black on your fireplace surround and glossy can come off a bit abrasive looking.

Remember, paint can take three weeks to properly cure – be very careful with your painted pieces when reattaching them.

BTW, with all of these update ideas, it never hurts to get a second opinion if you are unsure of any of the above. My advice is based on personal ‘hands-on’ experience and I’m not a tradesperson nor an employee of a paint/hardware store – I’m just a crazy lil Ginger who likes to paint stuff!

2. FIREPLACE UPDATE IDEA: retile with peel & stick tiles

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to update your old fireplace tile, other than paint, peel & stick stiles are the best way to get a fresh new look. Of course, this won’t work going over a more textured stone surface, but it’s GREAT over old tile!

While this next fireplace isn’t updated with peel and stick tiles, there are tiles out there that look VERY similar…

In the above photo, notice that we also took the dated round details off the supports, giving the mantel a more updated look.

1. Linear White and Gray 12×12 Tile | 2. Natural Stone Chevron Pattern Tile | 3. Dark Charcoal Peel and Stick Tile | 4. Warm Travertine Tile

Keep in mind, this isn’t necessarily a FOREVER solution – this is a ‘for now’ solution. In the ideal world, we would ALL start from scratch and use products that are in it for the long haul. However, ‘starting from scratch’ can cost serious scratch. This is really a great idea if your fireplace surround is fugly, but not forever, and you’d like something to get you by for a few years!

BTW, I say the above to be on the safe side, but at the same time, you might get 10 – 20 years out of it! I just trust it less as it’s not applied with traditional mortar/grout. 

3. FIREPLACE UPDATE IDEA: paint the mantel & fireplace surround

A wood mantle is not necessarily a ‘good’ mantle. If it’s outdated and doesn’t match your decor, it won’t do you or the aesthetics of your home any favors. On the other hand, if it’s white and you’re looking to make a change, painting it a dramatic color can add some instant impact to your space. Let’s flashback to one of my favorite Kylie-isms…

Just because it’s WOOD, doesn’t mean it’s GOOD. 

In this next photo, the river rock stone fireplace (the early 2000s) looks dated and drab with the darker taupe paint color and stained wood, but AFTER – what a facelift!

In this next photo, if you have a good mantel in place, this look can be achieved using Ideas #2 and #3 – peel and stick tile and fresh paint…

Examples of good wood mantels that suit the room they’re in…

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

Why yes, that IS a suit of armour! I have the coolest clients…

HOW TO UPDATE A WOOD MANTEL WITH PAINT

STEP 1: SAND

When prepping a mantel for paint (whether it’s stained or currently painted) you need to sand your surface to remove the majority of the sheen. If you don’t do this, the new finish may not stick as well. Just remember, you don’t need to completely ‘sand it down’ you need to ‘scuff it up’. Use approx. 220 grit. Once you’ve done this step, give it a good wipe.

STEP 2: PRIME

If you’re painting over any raw wood, it’s smart to prime it first. In most cases, it’s best to use oil primer as the water in latex primer can often raise the grain in the wood – creating yet another step in the process. You can use latex paint over oil primer without any worries and two coats of primer should do the trick.

STEP 3: PAINT

Regardless of whether you’re painting over wood/stain or existing paint, I recommend Benjamin Moore Aura – pearl finish. 2-3 coats of this product will give you a beautiful finish as it has a moderate amount of self-levelling properties (which make for a smooth surface when applied with a 10-13mm nap roller). If it’s a hot day and your paint is drying fast, use Flotrol to give it a bit more drying time.

While the wall paint color and painted mantel are DRASTIC improvements to the above fireplace, I would definitely paint those silver metal strips on the fireplace!

In this next example, a white painted mantel is a CLASSIC choice (also, notice the painted brick, a super affordable update)…

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray with White Dove

DON’T FORGET, paint can take three weeks to cure properly, so be gentle with your freshly painted surface.

While you can apply lacquer or varathane as a finishing coat, I personally haven’t found it necessary as this product (and other comparable ones) seem to hold up very well on many different surfaces in my home – as long as it’s been cured properly and I haven’t gotten impatient and put things on top before I should!

And remember, fireplaces don’t need to be over-the-top to look FABULOUS…

The 5 Types of White Paint Colors

The Best Paint Colors to Update Your BRICK Fireplace

4. FIREPLACE UPDATE IDEA: seal your stone, brick or hearth

Whether you have old brick, modern river rock or a 1980s black slate hearth, these are all products that can change color/tone when sealed (assuming they aren’t already sealed).

In these next photos, these stone fireplaces are DEFINITELY contenders for sealant, if the homeowner’s so inclined…

To see what your fireplace would look like when sealed, fill a spray bottle with water and spray a section of your fireplace with it. It’s really pretty cool. Keep in mind that many of the sealants won’t have the ‘sheen’ that water makes, but will create the ‘depth of color’ needed to see a noticeable change. There are the odd stone & brick products that don’t respond to water or sealing and this is usually because a) they’re not natural products, or, b) they’ve already been sealed.

Some stone sealing products have a level of sheen to them. Usually, the more sheen, the more enhanced the colors will be. However, you ALSO don’t want shiny rocks or bricks, so keep moderation in mind.

5. FIREPLACE UPDATE IDEA: paint your brick or stone 

Yes, men around the world are cursing my name – it won’t be the first time my face is featured on a dartboard (I’d prefer a calendar)! These days, you may notice a wide range of trends coming back in style; trends you NEVER thought (or hoped) you’d see again. However, you don’t see many bricks being resurrected from years gone by (although there are a few that are classic and should be left as-is – I’m a BIG fan of these).

This next living room is an example of what some whitewashed stones can look like…

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray walls

This next stone fireplace is a tricky one as its warmth and saturation can be limiting as it relates to wall colors. And while whitewashing it won’t change a LOT, it would definitely calm things down by taking some of the saturation away…

The Best Beige & Tan Paint Colors for Today’s MODERN Home

As for this next fireplace, while the owner doesn’t love the warm brown stonework, it actually has some great colors. In fact, based on trends getting WARMER every year, it could certainly come back. HOWEVER, you need to love the home you live in and this homeowner is planning on whitewashing the stone to soften its look…

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

Whitewashing is a popular look right now as it lets a lot of the texture and under color show without having the full-color commitment of the original product. Just keep in mind, that many bricks, when covered in a whitewash, look a bit pinkish (particularly red or darker purplish bricks).

To be TOTALLY honest, I loved the warmth of the stone in its original form – BUT THAT’S ME. When it comes to your own home, you’ve got to do what YOU love and what speaks to your personal style and tastes!

These next photos show beautifully painted stone fireplaces…

Benjamin Moore White Dove on both stone fireplaces, Ballet White on the drywall of the bottom photo 

For less than $50, this next 1970s brick fireplace has a modern updated and modern look. And I promise this brick is NEVER coming back in style…

The 8 Best White Paint Colors from Benjamin Moore

So, if you’re feeling the itch to paint your brick or stone, here are some tips and how-tos…

STEP 1: CLEAN

If your fireplace has soot/build-up on it then you need to clean it. Here are some in-depth cleaning instructions for brick (TSP works well). If you don’t have any build-up, be sure to use a wire brush to remove any loose hunky-chunks (a super technical term) from your surface and then dust it all off.

STEP 2: PRIME

You need to use water-based primer – NOT OIL BASED. Oil primers will prevent the brick from breathing – as we all know, breathing is essential. One good coat of primer will do the trick.

Of course, don’t paint the firebox or anywhere that the fire would touch.

STEP 3: PAINT

Using latex paint (satin finish is appropriate for brick) and a nice thick nappy roller, apply paint to the brick. I recommend using a brush to fill in the grout areas that are too deep for the roller. You’ll save yourself a lot of work doing it this way rather than cutting in ALL of the grout lines first and then rolling.

BTW, with all of these update ideas, it never hurts to get a second opinion if you are unsure of any of the above. My advice is based on personal ‘hands-on’ experience and I’m not a tradesperson nor an employee of a paint/hardware store – I’m just a crazy lil Ginger who likes to paint stuff!

This next brick is one that I love. Its classic and simple colors make it flexible for a variety of styles and the texture/warmth adds a nice vibe to a living or family room…

READ MORE

6 Ideas to Update Your Home on a Budget

The Right Height to Hang Artwork 

How to Update Your Kitchen On a Budget: 4 Ideas

The Best Paint Colors for Your Front Door

Chat soon,

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE COLOR CONSULTING, COURSES & E-BOOKS! 

Originally written in 2016, awesomely updated in 2022

The post How to Update Your Fireplace – 5 Easy & Affordable Ideas appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

I’ve come across many almond tub surrounds in my day-to-day work, and the first question I get asked is “I can’t afford to replace it, but how can I possibly make it look good…?”

And for those of you with an almond bathroom, let me just say this…”I feel your pain.” In our last home, we had a bathroom with bone-coloured (tan) fixtures, and when we redecorated, the budget did not allow for updating them. However, our budget DID allow for two bottles of wine which helped me come to terms with the fact that we couldn’t afford to replace them.

This is my E-design client’s bathroom – not mine

So, I’ve come up with a list of the most common questions related to almond/bone bathroom fixtures with some straightforward answers to help you update and modernize your space!

(and if you haven’t checked out The Best Paint Colours for an Almond Bathroom, then do so when you’re done with this one!)

CAN I HAVE A WHITE SINK IF MY TOILET & TUB ARE ALMOND?

If you have an almond tub, surround and/or toilet you can have a white sink.

BUT your countertop has to have a blend of white/cream/beige/almond (basically some kind of tone-on-tone blend). The goal is to have your countertop act as a ‘go-between’ between your white sink and almond fixtures.

The above countertop is a manufactured marble with a blend of cream, beige and off-white in it – making it a great ‘go-between’ for the almond toilet and tub and the white sink.

A real or fake travertine countertop is a GREAT contender for an almond bathroom! I love the wood and countertop combination on this vanity here as well as this one.

You shouldn’t do a white sink and almond toilet if…

• You don’t plan on updating your countertop, and it isn’t cream/white. A countertop that isn’t a cream/beige/white blend could further accent the difference between the colour of the toilet (almond) and the colour of the new sink (white)
• If your bathroom has only a toilet and sink in it. Chances are this is an itty bitty bathroom/powder room, and therefore, the space is too small to have the toilet/sink different colours from each other

In the above photo, if you look in the reflection, you can see that there is in fact, an almond shower surround!

CAN I HAVE A WHITE TOILET WITH AN ALMOND TUB OR SHOWER SURROUND?

If you are replacing your toilet YES you can have a white toilet AS LONG AS it is not DIRECTLY next to your tub (as in between 12-24″). It can be approx three feet (or more) away, separated by the vanity or on the opposite side of the room – you just can’t have a white toilet right next to an almond tub/shower (says me…).

Why? When your eye roams around the room there needs to be enough distance between the two so that they are not in the same visual sightline. If they’re directly next to each other it will be clear as day that they’re different, which will only ACCENT your almond tub and make it look dirty compared to the toilet (which seems very hypocritical of the toilet.)

In the above photo, that accent tile is GENIUS. Why? It has almond AND white in it, making a white toilet feel a bit more at home!

The exception: hang a shower curtain that is closed all of the time and hanging on the outside of the tub, rather than the inside.

Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages

WHAT COLOUR FLOORING SUITS ALMOND OR BONE BATHROOM FIXTURES?

Avoid the use of a dominant white in your flooring. Try to find a tile or linoleum that is either a mix of creams (which can include a bit of white) or a tile with other colours and a dominant cream coming through (as shown in the collage below). A tile with cream in it will blend in with your tub/toilet when they meet which will help tie the almond colour into the palette of your bathroom.

If you’re looking for a quick pick, travertine tile (or the look-alike porcelain) is hands-down the best tile to update a bathroom with almond fixtures.

This example isn’t the most affordable, but it gives you a great eyeball on it. Plus, products on Wayfair go on sale ALL THE TIME!

French Pattern Travertine Tile

This silver travertine is a great way to lean toward the gray side of the palette, while still hitting the needs of your fixtures. Most travertines have warmer, creamier colours which are well-suited to almond.

  1.  Veneto 12×24 tile |  2. Alterna Mesa Stone tile |  |  3. Antoni chevron tile | 4. Alterna Tuscan Path tile | 5.  Moscow wood-look tile | 6. Hexagon porcelain tile

While you can get away with a touch of white (mixed with cream) in your flooring, TOO much white will contrast directly with your tub when they meet at the base and will only serve to accent the ‘almond-allure’ of it.

IMPORTANT NOTE: How products look online vs how they look when they show up at your door can be TWO different things. Ensure that the undertones/colours in the tile are the SAME undertones as the specific almond/bone fixtures you have.

DOES A WHITE TUB OR SHOWER SURROUND GO WITH AN ALMOND OR BONE TOILET/SINK?

If you have an almond or bone-coloured tub with a tile surround and want to retile, you’ll need to pay homage to that almond tub with a tile that follows a similar premise to the tiles suggested above. However, if you’re going to the effort of re-tiling (which always involves re-drywalling) then you should spend the extra moula and get a white tub. This also means that EVENTUALLY, you’ll want to get a white toilet and sink, but those can come later. However, with having a white tub, you have a cleaner slate to work off of should you want a more updated tile around the shower.

However, things add up FAST when you’re updating/renovating, so if you’d rather keep your budget at a dull roar, check out these tile-choosing tips…

These almond/bone-coloured subway-style tiles are a great way to modernize an almond tub as they’re a few tones darker than almond and add some visual depth to the space.

A MODERN LOOK

• 4×12 or larger tiles. Staggered layout or stacked

TRADITIONAL SUBWAY TILE

• 3×6 or 4×12 tiles. Staggered/brick pattern

LOW MAINTENANCE

• Large, 12×24 tiles (less grout to maintain/clean)

A FEW MORE ALMOND BATHROOM TIPS & IDEAS

• Don’t do a white shower curtain. Follow the same guidelines for tile – layered neutrals are the way to go! A large expanse of white will accent the almond/bone colour of your tub and make it look murky/dirty in comparison. Choose one that is cream or has a pattern on it that suits the rest of your space – it’s that easy!
• Do a tile baseboard instead of traditional moulding; this way you can eliminate another white product that could enhance your almond fixtures
• Any metal finish suits almond fixtures – EXCEPT BRASS. However, you will find that polished nickel/chrome are the lowest contrast, whereas black or oil-rubbed bronze will contrast/pop

The Best Hardware to Update Wood Cabinets

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

THE BEST PAINT COLOURS FOR BATHROOMS WITH ALMOND OR BONE FIXTURES

To check them out, click here…The Best Paint Colours for an Almond Bathroom

See more of this project here

Well, I hope that info helps you on your journey to update your almond bathroom and helps you choose products that will take it to the next level!

READ MORE

The 6 Most Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

How to Update Your Kitchen On a BUDGET!

E-Design: An Updated Almond Bathroom

The Best Paint Colours for an Almond Bathroom

Do you still need help? 

Check out my affordable Online Decorating and Colour Consulting Services!

Chat soon,

 Originally written in 2017, updated in 2022

The post Ideas to Update your Almond Bathroom – Toilets, Tubs, Sinks & Surrounds appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

In between flooring, faucets, countertops and cabinets, kitchens offer so many ways to spend spend spend and add to that never-ending ‘honey-do’ list. And while updating your kitchen is a great way to add value to your home, it’s also an easy way to suck the living daylights out of your bank account (it’s a yin/yang thing).

So, today I want to talk to you about countertops and how to add value to your home, while not going too buck-wild (which I have been known to do occasionally).

Listed below are entry-level laminate countertops. To view luxury laminate countertops (that are still a HECK of a lot more affordable than quartz or granite), check out this blog post…The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They Rock

TIP #1   Not all laminate countertops are the same price

Many countertop suppliers have special groupings of countertops that are purchased in bulk and are then offered at a lower price. Locally, we have a grouping called The Top 66 with some gorgeous high-end laminate selections.

These aren’t the least expensive because they’re the least desirable. In fact, they’re some of the most popular countertops which means they can be bought in bulk and then sold to you the buyer at a fan-tiddly-astic price.

Here are a few of my faves…

MINERAL JET by Formica

Mineral Jet is a mix of black, brown and gray and is best in the Radiance finish. This AFFORDABLE laminate kitchen countertop looks fabulous with oak cabinets.

5 Ideas to Update Wood Cabinets Without a Drop of Paint

CALACATTA MARBLE by Formica

If you want a marble look without the price tag, check out Calcatta Marble by Formica (see more here).

PALOMA POLAR by Formica

Paloma Polar is essentially a soft white countertop with a gray fleck with a slight violet undertone (remember, EVERY gray has undertones) – it also has a fabulous sheen!

Not every company will call their bulk items ‘The Top 66’, but most companies should have a range of kitchen countertop products that are offered at a reduced price. Also, I generally avoid the big box stores when it comes to these products and try to find a local supplier (like BC’s Colonial Countertops) to avoid the whole ‘middle-man’ thing so I can flutter my eyelashes, wear a low-cut top and see how it goes (I do not encourage my male readers to do this…)

IDEA #2   The Countertop Profile Can Cost You Money…or not

The profile is the front edge of your countertop. And believe it or not, the profile you choose can make a HUGE difference to the overall look of your kitchen.

My fave countertop profile is the square wrap or double radius, shown below on Soapstone Sequoia…

• rounded is dated, don’t do it…says me

• don’t even consider doing your front profile in wood with your top in laminate as it costs more, wears easily and is soooo 1990s

• a bevel edge profile (standard or micro-bevel) is a classy look; however, keep in mind that it’s an extra cost per linear foot

• the square wrap or double radius is the most popular profile as it’s modern, but not too edgy and is included in the product pricing (aka – free)

See countertop profiles here

TIP #3   Do you have 2 feet & a heartbeat? Well, then you can save some money!

Okay, so it’s not THAT easy as you will also need some time and a moderate amount of muscle. You will pay per linear ft for the countertop company to remove and dispose of your old countertop. This usually costs $7 per ft which means the average kitchen is $150 – $200 (and is included in the overall price, so you don’t know it’s hiding there). Just recently we removed our countertops and took them to the recycle depot. This took about 1 hr and 1/2 a bottle of wine – well worth it if you ask me!

Tip: take a blade and cut where your countertop meets your drywall as paint often binds the two together.

You can also save money by removing your own appliances and unhooking your plumbing (sans plumber butt). This can save you approx. $125+.

There are even more fun and fabulous ways to save money when updating your kitchen, but that’s it for now my friends!

READ MORE

How to Update Your Oak or Wood Cabinets – 4-PART SERIES

4 Ideas to Update your Kitchen on a Budget

3 Ways to Add Style to Your Small Bathroom

New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They Rock

The Best White Paint Colours from Benjamin Moore

The Best Paint Colours for a Bathroom Vanity

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Consulting Services!

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2015, UPDATED IN EARLY 2021

The post 3 Laminate Kitchen Countertop Update Ideas: How to Save Money! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If you ask me, it should be the Top 50 things to update your home as there are SO many ways to save money when redecorating and updating. However, for the sake of short attention spans, the BEST bang for your buck, and the amount of time it takes me to polish off a bottle of wine, I’m going to stick to the Top 6.

The ONLY things that changed in this huge kitchen were the light fixtures and painted cabinets, yet it looks like a whole new space! 

To make the list, these ideas need to be as follows:

• affordable (buck)

• impact (bang)

• easy (peasy)

Are you ready Betty? 

1. HOME UPDATE IDEA – INTERIOR DOOR KNOBS & HINGES

APPROXIMATE COST: If you do some smart shopping you should be able to do each door for under $50 (hinges and handle).

It’s shocking how many homes have been fully renovated yet the homeowners didn’t think to change the door hardware…CHANGE YOUR DOOR HARDWARE PEOPLE!

I’m going to give you a few examples below. And if you like the STYLE, but not the finish, still check it out as most handles have different finish selections.

HOWEVER, watch out for this particular one…

I actually don’t mind the style of it this door handle. However, you won’t be updating your home; you’ll be backdating it. This style was WAAAAY overdone in the early to mid-2000s and can look a bit dated compared to cleaner-lined options (especially in an oil-rubbed bronze finish).

Black is a SUPER trendy choice of door hardware. However, you can also get this style in different metal finishes. Clean and simple…

Schlage Solstice Series non-locking / Solstice Series locking

This one has a slightly more traditional vibe, with a modern approach…

Schlage Accent Lever, Traditional

If you’re shifting your home from outdated to updated, but don’t want too modern, this is a good transitional style…

Torino lever non-locking / Torino locking

Read about my experience with SCHLAGE HERE

2. HOME UPDATE IDEA – CHANGE YOUR CABINET HARDWARE

APPROXIMATE COST: $200 (approx. $5-6 per handle). Average 30 handles per kitchen. Of course, you can ALWAYS spend more or less, but there are enough options out there, and that price range should satisfy most styles.

WHERE SHOULD YOU SHOP FOR AFFORDABLE CABINET HARDWARE?

I’ve got some great hardware ideas from Wayfair in this blog post HERE. However, even Home Depot and Lowe’s have some great ideas.

WHAT’S THE BEST METAL FINISH TO UPDATE CABINET HARDWARE?

There is no ‘best metal finish’. Sure, there are TRENDY ones, but they’re irrelevant if they don’t actually suit your kitchen. The best metal finish for your kitchen should complement the colour or stain of your cabinets, as well as the surrounding light fixtures (keep reading for a few more specifics).

Is Black Still a Trendy Finish For Hardware, Light Fixtures & More?

WHAT’S A TRENDY HARDWARE STYLE?

The trendiest hardware style is the one that SUITS the style of your kitchen cabinets. There’s nothing worse than a country-style arched cabinet door with sleek-lined modern hardware. Check out this blog post for hardware ideas to suit your door style HERE.

EXTRA NOTES

• make sure to measure the distance between the holes, so you get hardware that is the right size

• if you have knobs, consider handles instead. Buying a template like this one from Home Depot will make your life ten times easier

• and don’t just focus on the kitchen, do the bathroom, laundry room cabinets and CLOSET doors as well!

HOW DO I PICK THE BEST METAL FINISH FOR MY HOME?

Look to your existing metal finishes – light fixtures, cabinet hardware and metal stair spindles, as clues for what finish to choose. If none of those is updated (in other words, they’re probably brass), then choose black. Black is great as a transitional finish when you have gold or antique brass. This works great if you’re on a budget and can only replace a few things at a time.

Black is the most flexible hardware finish if you’re transitioning from an outdated style to an UPDATED one, but can’t afford to replace everything at once.

I WANT TO CHANGE ALL OF MY HARDWARE AND DON’T KNOW WHAT FINISH IS BEST

This is where trends come into play, especially if you’re concerned with resale. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a new metal finish for your home…

• Do you like high contrast or low contrast? If you have white cabinets or doors, black or oil-rubbed bronze will create a high-contrast look whereas polished nickel or gold will be lower contrast.

• Does your home suit curved, rounded lines, transitional lines or a more sleek, straight profile? The style of your bedroom doors and kitchen cabinets can give you great clues. If your doors have arched or curved lines, your hardware should pick up on this or at least be transitional (in the middle). If your doors have square, 90-degree angles, you might go for a transitional or more sleek style.

• If you change your door handle, you will want to change the hinges, so they match. There are several different hinge profiles, so be sure to take one of your original hinges to the store with you to get the right size.

• Black and gold are currently the trendy, popular hardware finishes for cabinets and plumbing fixtures.

• Black is the most popular finish for bedroom door hardware, followed closely by polished nickel.

• Black hardware is the most popular metal finish for wood doors (bedroom or kitchen cabinets).

• Don’t forget to update your closet door knobs too!

3. HOME UPDATE IDEA  – PAINT A FEATURE WALL

Approx cost: $100 (paint, brush, roller, etc…)

Paint is one of THE least expensive ways to change your space! On a small scale, you can choose to do a feature wall or nook. On a larger scale – the whole shebang!

If you don’t know WHERE to do a feature wall or what colour to choose, I have a FULL blog post on this topic right HERE.

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE BEST PAINT COLOUR FOR MY ROOM OR ENTIRE HOME?

Okay seriously, that’s an entire book unto itself. Colour is VITAL to the aesthetic and emotional health of you and your home, and any choice should not be made lightly!

If you need help with choosing a new paint colour, I’m here for you and have DOZENS of blog posts related to paint colour, for example:

The Best Gray and Greige Paint Colours

The Best Neutral Tan Paint Colours

The 5 Best Off-White Paint Colours

And many more…

4. HOME UPDATE IDEA – PAINT ANY WOOD TRIMS & DOORS

APPROXIMATE COST: Under $100 (paint, brush, rollers)

This applies to homes built in the 60s – 90s when there was an overabundance of narrow dark wood baseboards, window casings and doors. In some modern or old homes, this look can be striking and dramatic as the quality and scale of the wood is often better. However, in others, this dark wood sucks the living daylights out of a room.

Ummm, is this hard to do? No. Is this labour-intensive? You bet your booty it is!

STEPS TO PAINTING WOOD TRIMS & DOORS

1.  Tape off walls and floors and lay down dropcloths – you don’t want to spend more time cleaning up from your paint job than you spent doing it.

2.  Fill any holes with wood filler and let it dry.

3.  Lightly scuff sand with 220 grit sandpaper – just a basic exfoliation is good.

4.  Use a primer like Zinsser oil base primer (I know, it stinks and takes longer to dry but it’s most likely to ensure the adhesion of your paint). Many of these wood trims have an oil finish on top of them and aren’t going to take new paint easily. If you prefer a non-oil primer, I totally forgive you.

5.  Apply 2 -3 coats of paint. Brush only where necessary and do the rest with a 10-13mm nap 5″ roller.

AND REMEMBER, paint can take up to 3 weeks to properly cure.

Be kind and gentle. If you hit it the wrong way it CAN peel off, but give it time and with the proper prep work it should be rock solid.

WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE PAINT COLOUR FOR CEILINGS, TRIMS & DOORS?

While my three favourites are Sherwin Williams Pure White, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace and Benjamin Moore White Dove, there are a BUNCH more gorgeous options out there… 

The 4 Best Sherwin Williams White Paint Colours

How to Pick the Best White for Your Trim/Cabinets

The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colours

The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colours

WHAT’S THE BEST PAINT FINISH OR SHEEN FOR TRIMS & DOORS?

The average home suits satin finish on trims and doors. If you want more thoughts/details, read here: The Best Paint Finishes for Any Surface in Your Home

When painting doors…

• always remove the handle/knob before you paint the door, otherwise, you’ll spend many tedious hours painting around handles and end up with a less-than-ideal finish with brush marks

• only use a paintbrush around the hinges (and tape those hinges off).

Keeping your wood trim and doors? Check out this blog post for some great coordinating paint colours –The Best Paint Colours for Dark Trim 

5. HOME UPDATE IDEA – PAINT THE INSIDE OF YOUR FRONT DOOR

APPROXIMATE COST -$50

A FEW REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD PAINT THE INSIDE (AND OUTSIDE) OF YOUR FRONT DOOR

• In our previous home, the entryway had THREE doors that all looked the same and were all shut 95% of the time (front/garage/suite). This created an opportunity to single out the main door and paint it a key colour. If there is any door confusion at all, then pick out your main door and give it some TLC.

• Your front door is a direct backdrop or in the SAME room as your living room or dining room. This is a great opportunity to add an accent colour and personality and REFINE your entryway, especially if you don’t have a defined entryway.

• If you have a back door (not including a sliding door) that leads out to your garden/backyard and it’s located in a major room (kitchen/family room/dining/etc…)

• If you have a pantry door in your kitchen that stands out in comparison to your cupboards (ie: you have espresso or wood cabinets and a white pantry door or white surround with a glass insert). Painting your pantry door will reduce the level of contrast in your space which will add to the flow and overall appeal OR it will add visual interest if you have all white cabinets/trims/doors.

To read more about the best paint colours for your front door, check out this post… The Best Paint Colours for the INSIDE of your Front Door

6. HOME UPDATE IDEA – GET RID OF THOSE BOOBY LIGHTS!

I actually wrote an entire blog post on this as I’m so passionate about it (no pun intended with the boobs reference). Boob lights instantly advertise the age of your home and are one of the LEAST expensive ways to update a space – so why not change ’em!

My favourite transitional light fixture is this one…

And it’s hard to beat the price! Click HERE

Is it thrilling and exciting? HELLS no, but it’s affordable and simple and is a great choice for hallways, closets and secondary bedrooms – common locations for ye ole booby light.

Want to read more about boobs? Well, you’ve got the wrong site! Want to read more about updating booby lights? Check out this blog post… Budget-Friendly Lighting Updates

Well, that’s it my funny friends. My Top 6 Update Ideas. If I’d done the Top 50 I’d be about 10 bottles in and flat on my face at this point, so ‘cheers’ to moderation!

READ MORE UPDATE IDEAS

Bathroom Update Ideas: High-End Look, Low-End Price

6 Ideas to Update Your KITCHEN On a Budget

How to Add Curb Appeal to the Exterior of Your Home

How to Create a Timeless Home

The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They Rock

Need help finding your room’s BEST paint colour?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting, I’d love to help! 

Chat soon,

 Article originally written in 2016, awesomely updated in 2022

The post How to Update Your Home On a Budget – 6 Best Update Ideas appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Partner post: Ideas to Update an Almond Bathroom

Almond bathrooms can be buuuutt-ugly, and I have no problem saying that without worrying about insulting you and your butt-ugly almond bathroom.

Why?

Because I have owned a butt-ugly almond bathroom, I’ve felt your exquisite pain. But, I will also clarify that not ALL of them are that bad, but there are some…whoa.

And because paint is the easiest and most affordable way to transform any space in your home, you’ll want to look at some color options before making any costly changes involving new bathroom fixtures. So, read on my almond-challenged friend!

LET’S CALL IT LIKE IT IS…

Start treating almond as a color, rather than a ‘thing’. In my work as an Online Color Consultant, I often hear ‘…my almond tub, my bone-colored sink,’ but when you think about it, what exactly is almond? Well, almond is a light tan-beige. And that’s why it’s so darned awkward! If it were a normal beige or tan, it would be dark enough to accommodate a wider range of colors (I mean, what doesn’t go with tan, right?)

However, because it’s a light tan it can look dirty and dated when placed with the wrong colors.

But regardless, once you start treating ‘almond’ like a color, you can incorporate it into a color scheme that complements it – rather than fights with it.

THE BEST PAINT COLORS FOR A RANGE OF BONE OR ALMOND FIXTURES

There are many ‘tan’ tubs out there with different undertones. While one person might have a more passive, muted, almost creamy tan, another will have one with a pink, yellow or yellow-green undertone (yellow-green is the most common). This means that these colors aren’t fool-proof with EVERY tan fixture, as there are many manufacturer finishes out there – but they sure are a great place to start!

1. BENJAMIN MOORE KINGSPORT GRAY HC 86

Kingsport Gray is a subtle mix of gray and brown, which means it’s a greige, however, it does FAVOUR brown over gray.

The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They Rock

While the above photo doesn’t have almond fixtures, you can see how nice it would look as the countertop has some of those warm almond-inspired tones in it.

Please remember that I use ONLY my E-Design client’s photos on my blog. Sometimes I won’t have exactly the photo I need, but I’ll do my best to show you what I’m talking about with a photo or ‘paint blob’. 

COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO KINGSPORT GRAY

These colors will have different undertones and depths, but the comparison can help you decide which is BEST with your particular bathroom fixtures.

• Benjamin Moore Iron Gate
• Benjamin Moore Equestrian Gray
• Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray

Can you STRETCH your bathtub into the slightly lighter Ashley Gray? It never hurts to try!

The 6 Best Paint Colors for a Bathroom Vanity

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS MEGA GREIGE 7031

Mega Greige is a soft medium-toned greige that sits well in a room with tan fixtures and can look gorgeous on a bathroom vanity.

In this next image, why is Mega Greige a great choice?

The strong color of the tub surround doesn’t agree with the tile floor – they have different needs. HOWEVER, one thing they do agree on is that they both like the color of the GROUT around the tile! That’s right, grout can be a great place to pull a color from!

I’m sure my client was hoping for a lighter, more modern color, but their bathroom just wasn’t ready for it!

COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO MEGA GREIGE

These colors will have different undertones and depths, but the comparison can help you decide which is BEST with your particular bathroom fixtures.

• Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS TONY TAUPE 7038

Tony Taupe is a soft, medium-toned beige-brown, but leans nicely into gray, so it doesn’t have a typical golden look to it.

COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO TONY TAUPE

These colors will have different undertones and depths, but the comparison can help you decide which is BEST with your particular bathroom fixtures.

• Sherwin Williams Portico
• Benjamin Moore Indian River
• Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige

The 5 Best Sherwin Williams Beige Paint Colors

The Most MODERN Beige & Tan Paint Colors

4. BENJAMIN MOORE SMOKEY OYSTER 2109-40

Smoked Oyster is a beautiful blend of purple and a warm gray/greige – a fab color for some personality! It would be particularly beautiful with some of the travertines out there. However, if you have the yellow-green version of almond fixtures, stay far away, as the purple and yellow-green won’t love each other at all! This color prefers the more subtle, lighter color tan fixtures.

COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SMOKED OYSTER

• Benjamin Moore Stone Harbor
• Benjamin Moore Silver Fox

The 9 Best Purple Paint Colors

The 8 Best Darker Greige & Taupe Paint Colors

5. BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOWN OC 131

White Down is definitely one of my fave off-white colors. Please note, your tan fixtures maybe end up being DARKER than your walls; this will happen with any off-white paint color. However, it’s still a pretty and fresh combo, especially if you support it with the right bathroom decor.

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO WHITE DOWN

• Sherwin Williams Creamy
• Sherwin Williams White Duck

The 5 Best Cream Paint Colors: Benjamin Moore

The 5 Best Off-White Paint Colors

5. BENJAMIN MOORE REVERE PEWTER HC 172

Revere Pewter is another interesting choice for an almond-inspired bathroom. If you’re going for a beachy theme, this soft gray and its subtle green undertone can be enhanced with off-white towels and blue-green accents. However, it’s best in a bathroom with a more MUTED almond finish.

Above, you’ll see a Kingsport Gray vanity with Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter walls. Revere can SOMETIMES be a wink muddy/green for some almond fixtures. You can see how they relate here when you look at the shower surround reflected in the mirror.

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO REVERE PEWTER

These colors will have different undertones and depths, but the comparison can help you decide which is BEST with your particular bathroom fixtures.

• Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray
• Sherwin Williams Jogging Path
• Benjamin Moore Fieldstone

The Best Gray and Greige Paint Colors

A FEW POINTS TO PONDER

• You may have noticed that MOST of the above colors are not in the off-white or light range. It’s not a great idea to partner almond fixtures with a color that’s LIGHTER than them – the balance will be off, and you’ll risk highlighting the fixtures. The exceptions are some creams and tans, as they’re warm colors and can layer better (but still, it’s risky).
• If you are looking for drama, warmth, interest and personality, then you could paint your walls a darker color. However, if you don’t have a great ventilation system (common in homes with almond fixtures), those dark walls might show drips after a hot shower. Learn more about paint finishes here. 
• Cream will give you a lighter and brighter look and allow you the opportunity to accent with browns, blacks and earth tones. However, with varying shades of almond/bone out there, it can be tricky to find the one that works just right (not all bones were created equal…wink wink). See some beautiful cream paint colors here

More Ways to Update an Almond Bathroom

PAINT COLORS THAT DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH ALMOND OR BONE BATHROOM FIXTURES

WHITE

White or off-white walls will only accent the almond-nessity of your tub and white will make the almond look dirty.

PINK, ROSE OR PEACH

Any version, whether it’s light, medium or dark will look terrible with almond.

ALMOST ANY COLOR THAT’S LIGHTER THAN YOUR BATHROOM FIXTURE

Most light colors in will make almond look dirtier than it is.

BLUE & GREEN

These colors can be touch and go in a bathroom. While you can humour some blue/grays or green/grays, be careful that you aren’t contrasting too much with the warm tones of your fixtures.

And remember, there are other things to consider in your bathroom, such as your countertop, flooring, exposure and of course, your PERSONAL taste! Be sure that your chosen color satisfies as many of those as possible.

READ MORE

E-design: An Almond Bathroom Update

Ideas to Update an Almond or Bone Bathroom

The 11 Best Warm Neutral Paint Colors That AREN’T BEIGE! 

How to Create a Timeless Home – 4-PART SERIES

Need help? 

Check out my E-Design and Online Color Consulting Packages!

Originally written in 2016, updated in 2022

The post The 6 Best Paint Colors for an Almond or Bone Bathroom appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

(partner post to ‘The Best Paint Colors for the Outside of Your Front Door’ )

Other than ceilings and bodies, doors are often the most ignored paintable surface in a home. I’ve had clients repaint their ENTIRE HOME without giving a second thought to the inside of the front door – leaving it in all of its ‘factory white’ glory.

So, that’s why today, we’re going to talk about why you SHOULD paint your door, as well as a few color considerations!

DOORS IN YOUR HOME THAT CAN BE PAINTED

DOOR #1  THE FRONT DOOR, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER DOOR CLOSE BY

In our previous home, the entryway had three doors that all looked the same and were all shut 95% of the time (front/garage/suite). This was a great reason to single out the main door and paint it a key color. Regardless, even if your door is lonesome, it deserves a little TLC (or KLC if you hire me to help you pick a paint color!).

DOOR #2   A BACK DOOR LEADING OUT TO YOUR YARD or GARDEN

A back door (not including a sliding door) that leads out to your garden/backyard can be a great place for a dash of color!

DOOR #3   LAUNDRY ROOM OR OFFICE DOOR

With laundry doors often being located in central areas, it’s okay to add a little love to at least make them interesting! Same with office doors, which are often near the entryway of a home.

This next door would LOVE a lil’ color…

DOOR #4   A PANTRY DOOR IN YOUR KITCHEN

If you have a pantry door in your kitchen that stands out compared to your cupboards (ie, you have colorful/wood cabinets and a white pantry door), you could paint your pantry door to reduce the level of contrast.

DOOR #5  ALL OF YOUR INTERIOR DOORS

If you’re not a fan of white doors, don’t be afraid to add a little color to your life!

Do the interior and exterior of the door need to be the same color?

Absolutely not! Just think, if the exterior of your door is already painted and the interior is white, then there’s ALREADY a difference – and a high-contrast, drastic one at that.

What’s the best way to sample the paint colors below?

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out soon to grab paint samples – stop there! Please check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a few reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 DAY, depending on the location

• they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling

• if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

How to Pick the Best Color For Your Door

• Choose an accent color that suits the interior of your home. Accent colors tend to be in the darker range (like the last one or two colors on a color strip.) You can repeat an accent color that already exists in your space OR choose an accent color that complements/contrasts your home.
• If you aren’t a fan of dark colors, there are some mid-tone colors and neutrals that work too!
• Look at the permanent features in your space for inspiration. If you have tile, linoleum, brick or stone, there should be some color inspirations that will help tie your door into the scheme of your home
• Consider the temporary inspirations in your space, like your wall color, furnishings, textiles and artwork
• In the ideal world, while they don’t need to be the same color, the interior should coordinate well with the paint color on the exterior of the door

THE BEST PAINT COLORS FOR THE INSIDE OF YOUR FRONT DOOR

Remember, just because you LOVE a paint color doesn’t mean it will suit your room. Refer to your surrounding floor, furnishings and general decor style to ensure your home can pull off the look you want!

The above blobs are just approximating some of the colors listed below

THE BEST NAVY BLUE PAINT COLORS FOR YOUR FRONT DOOR

• Benjamin Moore Hale Navy – a rich navy blue that isn’t too primary toned
• Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue – navy blue with a weee wink o’ green in it
• Sherwin Williams Cyberspace – a more toned-down approach to navy blue
• Sherwin Williams Naval – another gorgeous navy option

THE BEST BLUE-GREEN OR TEAL PAINT COLORS FOR YOUR FRONT DOOR

• Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue – a beautiful blue/green/gray blend
• Benjamin Moore Caribbean Teal – a slightly darker blue-green blend with some gray to calm it down
• Sherwin Williams Peacock Plume – a stunning blue-green with some gray
• Sherwin Williams Cloudburst or Grand Canal – striking, stronger teal paint colors
• Sherwin Williams Festoon Aqua – a bit lighter and brighter!

The Best Blue-Green Paint Colors

The 7 Best Teal and Navy Blue Paint Colors for Your Front Door

THE BEST BLACK & CHARCOAL PAINT COLORS FOR YOUR FRONT DOOR

• Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10 – hard to go wrong if you’re looking for black (find more blacks in this blog post re: exterior door colors)
• Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray or Chelsea Gray – medium-toned charcoals with a touch of green
• Sherwin Williams Dovetail or Gauntlet Gray– soft, warm gray paint colors
• Benjamin Moore Metropolis – a warmer gray compared to Dovetail
• Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray – a darker gray-green blend, or the lighter version, Cityscape

The Best Paint Colors for a Kitchen Island (similar options to the door)

OTHER FUN, DIFFERENT OR MORE COLORFUL PAINT COLORS FOR YOUR FRONT DOOR

• Benjamin Moore Coral Reef – a beautiful coral blend between orange and pink
• Benjamin Moore Hodley Red – a beautiful rich burgundy color
• Benjamin Moore Incense Stick – a deep purple with an earth-toned base
• Sherwin Williams Sommelier – see more gorgeous red and burgundy paint colors here
• Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter – nothing wrong with going neutral! (FULL REVIEW HERE)

If you didn’t see it above, I DO have an awesome blog post re: the best paint colors for the OUTSIDE of your front door, where you’ll find some equally as gorgeous options and more pretty pictures to check out!

The Best Paint Colors for the OUTSIDE of Your Front Door

READ MORE

The 7 Best Navy and Teal Paint Color For Your Front Door

6 Budget-Friendly Ideas to Update Your Home

How to Pick Exterior Paint Colors in 5 Easy Steps 

Need help? 

Check out my E-Design & Color Consulting Packages! 

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2017, AWESOMELY UPDATED IN 2022

The post The Best Colors to Paint the Inside of Your Front Door appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

I’ve talked a lot about oak cabinets, white cabinets, appliances, and wine – all in the same sentence, but I’ve YET to touch down on the best paint colors for a kitchen island or lower cabinets. And while this idea isn’t for EVERYONE, there are some brave souls out there who want to add some personality to their kitchen but don’t necessarily want it on a LARGE-scale (ie: ALL of their cabinets).

Now, if you go onto Pinterest or Houzz, you’ll find no shortage of ideas for what color to paint your island or cabinets, and we’ll touch on a few of my faves below, but…

just because you CAN paint your island a different color, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.

This is why today, we’re not just chatting about some of the best paint colors for your island/cabinets, we’re also going to look at some pros and cons.

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The Pros to Painting Your Kitchen Island or Lower Cabinets a Different Color 

1. A PAINTED ISLAND CAN CREATE A FOCAL POINT & A FOUNDATION FOR A ROOM

Painting your island a different color from the main cabinets can be a great way to ground your space and create a striking focal point, especially if you have light colored tile/vinyl and white cabinets.

2. A PAINTED ISLAND OR LOWER CABINETS CAN BREAK UP A WOOD-ON-WOOD LOOK

While some kitchens can pull off the wood-on-wood look, it can be a bit much if the floor and cabinets are EXACTLY the same OR have different undertones. Breaking things up with a colored island/lower cabinets can add a nice shift while giving the countertop/backsplash an opportunity to be pulled into the palette.

In the above kitchen, there was a HECK of a lot of wood grain going on. Painting the HUGE island a dark, grounding color (Sherwin Williams Cyberspace) was a great way to slow things down and give the space a solid foundation for the remaining wood to really dance (and you all know how I love to make wood dance)!

3. YOU CAN NOD TOWARD THE CURRENT TREND WITHOUT HAVING TO PAINT ALL OF THE CABINETS

Painting ALL of your kitchen cabinets a trendy paint color can be a risky choice. However, nodding towards the trend by painting ONLY the island is a great happy medium without a 100% commitment to color on a large scale.

This is also an important consideration if you want to sell in the next 5-10 years. Chances are, whatever trend you commit to will be gone, or on its way out and could affect your resale value.

4. IT’S MORE AFFORDABLE TO CHANGE IF YOU GET BORED OR TRENDS CHANGE

Painting kitchen cabinets is an expensive project and not every budget can accommodate this kind of investment. Painting the ISLAND is not only more affordable to do NOW, but it’s also affordable to change down the road if you get bored (or on a monthly basis like me).

It’s not just about paint colors either! Painting the MAIN cabinets white (for example) and partnering them up with an island or lower cabinets in a wood stain is a popular idea, as shown in these next photos. Both of these kitchens were created from scratch, so doing the island a different color/stain was easier to incorporate vs doing a remodel using existing products.

The Cons to Painting Your Kitchen Island or Lower Cabinets a Different Color

1. A PAINTED ISLAND/LOWER CABINETS CAN MAKE A KITCHEN LOOK TOO BUSY

If you have two different countertops, painting your island a different color from the main cabinets can add to the busy-ness, unless things are very carefully coordinated. It’s a bit easier to do if your island has a butcher-block countertop and wood flooring, as that would eliminate a few products that need to be cross-coordinated, but if you have tile/vinyl flooring and two different countertops, things can look really cluttered really fast.

Even though the above kitchen had some great bones in place, painting the island a different color wouldn’t have ADDED to the look, it would’ve cluttered it up.

2. IT CAN OVERWHELM A KITCHEN THAT ALREADY HAS ENOUGH GOING ON

Wait, didn’t I just cover this, just in different words? Anyway, it’s a good point to make…again.

Multiple cabinet colors can be too much of a good thing if you already have some interesting features happening in your kitchen. In this photo below, painting the island a different color would have cluttered things up and taken away from what is already a gorgeous space!

3. IF YOU DON’T PICK THE RIGHT PAINT COLOR, IT WILL BE A HOT MESS

Picking the best paint color for your kitchen island isn’t just about picking the color you WANT to paint your island, it’s about picking a color that ties into your existing finishes – including the floor, countertop, backsplash and main kitchen cabinets.

4. IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT BLEND AND BALANCE OF DEPTHS, YOU COULD SET THE ROOM OFF-BALANCE

Not every kitchen was designed to have an island in a different color. Some spaces need the consistency of ONE cabinet color due to the depth of the walls, backsplash, countertop and main cabinets.

For example, in this next space, while a darker island would’ve looked ‘okay’, the balance down the center of the room, considering the stately stone fireplace and dark sectional, would’ve been pretty strong, whereas the white island added balance.

Read more: The Best Sherwin Williams White Paint Colors

5. IT’S TRENDY

It’s as simple as that. Right now, painted islands are popular…but so are crop tops and shorts that show off your bum cheeks (hey, I would if I could). Like any trend, it’s only a matter of time before painted islands or lower cabinets aren’t as popular and when it comes time to sell, your choice could devalue your home.

4 PART SERIES: How to Create a Timeless Home

And now, let’s get this party started…

Colors are just example blobs, not direct references to actual colors

1. The Best NAVY BLUE Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets (or Island)

• Sherwin Williams Cyberspace
• Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
• Benjamin Moore Ocean Floor

When it comes to my Online Color Consulting, navy blue is definitely the top choice when it comes to painted islands and lower cabinets. However, there are MANY kitchens that can’t visually support ANY type of blue, so make sure it makes sense for YOUR space and its finishes!

See more of this project HERE

Shown above, Sherwin Williams Cyberspace

Shown above, BM Ocean Floor is wicked gorgeous with Cloud White main cabinets

While there are ALWAYS exceptions, in order to paint your island or cabinets blue, your kitchen would ideally have:

• white or wood cabinets
• a countertop that has blue in it or is white/gray
• it’s flexible towards many tiles/linoleum products, it DOES love wood floor too!

Read more…

The Best Blue-Gray Paint Colors

How to Choose the Best Blue Paint Color

2. The Best GRAY Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets (or island)

• Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray
• Sherwin Williams Dovetail
• Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray
• Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray
• Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

Coming in a hot second to navy blue would be gray. Choosing a neutral is almost ALWAYS a better choice than a color if you’re worried about resale value, as you’re more likely to appeal to a wider range of buyers. And gray is HANDS-DOWN the most popular neutral choice for a kitchen island/lower cabinets, but that’s not to say it’s the easiest…

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace and Amherst Gray

BTW, because I rely 100% on my Online Paint Color Consulting photos, I don’t always have a good shot of the color suggested, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great contender! 

Every gray has undertones. It’s important to make sure the undertones in your countertop, flooring and backsplash (if they have gray in them) jibe with the undertones of the gray of your cabinets. Some of the more POPULAR quartz and marble countertops lean towards a soft purple or blue-purple undertone, so you’d want to pick a gray with those same undertones. If you choose the wrong undertones, you’ll have a HOT mess on your hands that can only be fixed by repainting.

Shown above, Sherwin Williams Dovetail

When it comes to painting your island or lower cabinets gray, there is a LOT of room to move, but there are a few limitations…

• if you have warm-toned countertops, there aren’t many gray paint colors that are going to look good
• if you have beige tiled flooring, again, there are few grays that will work
• gray cabinets look good with MANY of the most popular white paint colors, but NOT always as good with overly warm or creamy ones

The Best Paint Colors for a Bathroom Vanity (or any cabinets)

3. The Best TEAL or BLUE-GREEN Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets (or island)

• Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue
• Sherwin Williams Gulfstream
• Sherwin Williams Riverway (mad love)
• Sherwin Williams Peacock Plume
• Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray (FULL REVIEW HERE)

I LOVE TEAL or blue-green kitchen islands…but there sure aren’t many kitchens that can visually support these colors, unless you’re starting things from scratch and can include them from the get-go (and I’m eagerly awaiting some of my client’s after photos to show you how pretty they can be!).

And while a LEGIT GREEN isn’t popular for kitchen cabinets, neutrals with green-inspired undertones sure are!

Let’s look at this cutie-patootie little before and after…

By pulling into the colors in the backsplash tile and the flooring, we were able to give this lovely little home some great personality for a FRACTION of the cost of a new kitchen.

This next kitchen had the standard granite and backsplash tile from the early 2000s and a fresh coat of paint gave the kitchen a whole new lease on life!

Shown above, Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray

While there are ALWAYS exceptions, in order to paint your island or cabinets green or teal, your kitchen would ideally have:

• white or wood main cabinets
• white, black or gray countertops OR butcher block countertops, although there are a few exceptions
• there are also a few granites from the ’90s and early 2000s that can work well (update ideas for that era HERE)
• white subway tile or a tile with green/teal in it that is the same type of green/teal as your island color

The Best Blue-Green Blend Paint Colors

In this next example, the yellow stain of the maple cabinets clashed with the orange-red tone of the wood flooring, but after, it’s a whole new kitchen!

4. The Best BLACK Paint Colors for a Kitchen Cabinets (or Island)

• Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10
• Benjamin Moore Jet Black
• Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black
• Sherwin Williams Iron Ore
• Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron (which is more of a navy-black blend)

Ooooo, I do love a black island and it can be a great way to tie in black appliances if you aren’t ready to shift to white or stainless steel.

Here’s another gorgeous kitchen with painted cabinets and a striking darker island…

And one more, just because it’s so fun…

Shown above, Sherwin Williams Iron Ore

While there are ALWAYS exceptions, in order to paint your island or cabinets black, your kitchen would ideally have:

• black or gray in it
• a butcher block countertop
• white or wood cabinets
• wood flooring or tile/lino that can easily accommodate a sharp color like black

And of course, I HAVE to mention Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze. Not only is this awesome color the “Color of the Year for 2021”, but it’s also the color on my own kitchen island!

See the whole space HERE

READ MORE

The 3 Whites I Would Never Paint My Kitchen Cabinets

Should You Paint Your Wood Kitchen Cabinets? A Questionnaire

Painting Kitchen Cabinets: How to Pick the Best Paint Color

Not sure what the best paint color for your island or cabinets is?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting packages, I’d love to help!

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2021

The post The 4 Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands or Lower Cabinets appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Have you been hankerin’ for floral window valances stuffed with plastic grocery bags for extra volume? Or maybe you want to update your home with rose-colored carpet and hunter-green walls topped off with a floral wallpaper border? And dare I mention sponge paint?

Oh, the ’90s. Not only did they result in some of the WORST decorative decisions, but they’ve also resulted in homeowners who 30 years later, need to take out a second mortgage to FIX all of those decorative disasters.

I mean, at the time, those choices were TRENDY, right? But that’s the problem when you decorate based on what’s TRENDY – it doesn’t always stay that way. Sure, you might happen on some timeless element that can stretch into the next few decades, but chances are – you’re going to have to do a small OR LARGE scale renovation to update your home for either personal use or resale.

So, today, we’re going to talk about a few ways to update your 1990’s home and bring it into the 21st century. Now, because I ONLY use photos from my Online Color Consulting clients, not ALL of these homes are necessarily 1990s, but they’ll still give you the general idea of what I’m talking about.

UPDATE IDEA #1 – METAL FINISHES 

Brass is one of the FIRST signs of a home that was built or renovated in the ’90s. And while gold finishes have made a HUGE comeback, the lines tend to be cleaner and even then, it too will have its time in the sun and will slowly fade away.

Updating all of the metal finishes in a home can be costly, as you can find this gleaming golden finish on MANY metal surfaces, such as:

• door handles and hinges (as well as glass door inserts)

• light fixtures

• cabinet hardware

• bathroom plumbing fixtures, including frames on shower doors

This shows the more modern, trendy side of brass/bold, but I bet within five years it’ll be gone! 

So, where do you start?

PICK YOUR NEW METAL FINISH

While the pros can do some great mixing & matching, when it comes to the everyday homeowner, there are some things I wouldn’t play around with – including Grade 6 math (hello COVID homeschooling) and brass combined with any type of nickel finish.

If you want to transition your home out of brass and into nickel/chrome, you’ll want to do it a ROOM at a time, rather than a ‘product type’ at a time. Nickel and brass do NOT like to be partnered up in the same space (although others will disagree with me…and that’s okay).

If you want to do things transitionally, you need a finish that can live in a room with brass for the short or long term and here are some good combos…

• Brass loves to be partnered with a black metal finish.

• Brass can also accommodate an oil rubbed bronze, as long as the bronze is PASSIVE and not dominant on the surface (and black is better). It can also work with an antique brass finish, but depending on your decor style, you could be further dating things, so be careful!

I recommend the following updates (in order):

1. Door handles and hinges (you HAVE to do both). This should cost approx $50 per door

2. Cabinet hardware (approx $175 for the whole kitchen)

3. Key light fixtures (ie: dining/kitchen)

4. Plumbing

Let’s look at a brass-inspired example. If I had this bathroom in my home and didn’t want to fully update the whole shebang, here’s what I would do instead…

1. Remove shower door entirely, fill any screw holes

2. Add a hotel style shower curtain rod and a nice shower curtain – I would be killing the etched glass and brass for under $100

3. Remove the hotel style towel holder and replace it with something less honky

4. I’d definitely paint the vanity

5. The mirror is a tough one as those are often glued on with industrial adhesive. I might consider keeping the gold on the mirror and the cabinet hardware so that they have each other and then change the remaining brass products to black

6. Or, I’d go gung-ho and take the mirror down (patch walls and replace the mirror) and do the whole room in the metal finish I love the most

The bathroom would look CONSIDERABLY more updated, without touching any of the EXPENSIVE surfaces, like the tile floor, vanity (other than painting it), countertop or shower surround.

Look at this beauty below…

A fresh and coordinated shower curtain, painted vanity, updated countertop, faucet and mirror and BOOM, it’s like a whole new space for a FRACTION of the cost of ripping it all out and starting from scratch.

Let’s look at another 1990s beauty…

Check out the FULL project HERE

PICK YOUR STYLE

If you want something transitional that’s more likely to flex with the times, don’t choose a style that is committed to being either SUPER SLEEK or SUPER ORNATE. Simple lines, no muss no fuss.

Original artwork by the talented Ronei (print available)

Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t choose a product with STYLE, it’s about not taking it TOO FAR or too committed. And while I do have a life-long addiction to hearing myself talk, this blog post would be WAY too long if I hit on ALL of the above products, so I’m going to focus on door handles I love, that range from classic and traditional to slightly more modern…

Classic with a traditional vibe…

Schlage door handle HERE

A little bit curvy, a little bit classy (like me…well, curvy at least)…

Schlage door handle HERE

Modern and clean-lined, but still transitional…

Sure Loc Hardware HERE

UPDATE IDEA #2 – JAZZ UP YOUR FRONT DOOR

Nothing sets the stage for what’s INSIDE your home more than your front door – not just in COLOR, but in STYLE.

As shown in this next photo, 1990s front doors usually involve fiberglass, glass inserts, diamond-shaped detailing and LOTS of brass. I can’t even BEGIN to list the sins of this fugly entryway…

With some paint color, decor and some AWESOME glass inserts, this entryway looks ten times better. Same doors – new windows!

Have a chair rail in one of your rooms? Learn how to deal with it HERE!

PICK YOUR STYLE BASED ON YOUR EXISTING WINDOWS 

The window insert style you choose needs to relate to the window style on the rest of your home. So, unless your home happens to BE a Craftsman or mid-century modern style home that was built in the ’90s, don’t try to stretch your home into something that it’s not – make sure your window insert relates to the style of the rest of your home. 

For example, in this next photo, notice how the panes of the front door relate DIRECTLY to the style of panes in the windows. Well done, House of Blue Hues.

Jenn had hired me to help her with a new color for her shutters as well as for her porch ceiling, but MAN did this home have some great bones in place already.

In this next photo, notice how the transitional window style SUITS the look of the support beams and Hardi-siding, nothing is overly styled or committed to a particular look/era, which goes for the door hardware as well.

PICK YOUR COLOR

The LEAST expensive way to update ANY surface is with paint. Time and time again, I’m BLOWN away with the difference a few coats of paint can make to ANY surface – and the front door (inside and out) is NO exception (and I’m sure you can tell that I’m a bit of an ‘expressive talker’ by the number of bold words I use, which also varies depending on how much wine I’ve had to drink).

But don’t pick just ANY old color, you need to choose a color that relates to the products on the exterior of your home. But for the sake of keeping this blog post under, oh, 4000 words or so, I’m going to refer you to a few great blog posts instead…

The Best Paint Colors to Update Your Front Door

The Best Paint Colors for the INSIDE of Your Front Door

UPDATE IDEA #3 – PAINT OUTDATED WOOD SURFACES 

It should come as NO surprise that painting outdated ’90s wood is a great way to update your home. But, I know not everyone (ahem, husbands) aren’t always on board. Why not? Well, IT’S WOOD, YOU CAN’T PAINT WOOD!’  Well, guess what Harold, it will STILL BE WOOD, it will just LOOK GOOD. And those who’ve been following me for a long time will know what I’m going to say next…

Just because it’s wood, doesn’t mean it’s good…

Seriously though, I’ve advised MANY CLIENTS over the years to NOT paint their gorgeous wood cabinets – oak, maple and more. However, not all cabinets were created equally and you can actually lose MONETARY VALUE in your home by leaving things as is (if resale is a thought) or EMOTIONAL value if your wife is unhappy.

And while there are many wood surfaces from the ’90s, let’s focus on the kitchen, which often includes the following:

• oak cabinets – often pickled, giving them a pink look or just the standard oak stain (maple comes in second place)

• cathedral style door panels and exposed hinges

• pink or green-toned countertops OR the faux granite look countertop (which is easier to accommodate than pink/green and really started more in the early 2000s)

• NO tile backsplash or a backsplash of 6×6 tiles laid stacked or in a diamond pattern

• 12×12 tile floor with varying shades of colored undertones (blue/pink/purple being the most common)

And while your kitchen might have some, all, or NONE of those things, whatever you’ve got can be darned costly to replace! So, let’s break it down.

1. DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR CABINETS

Before you do anything else, figure out a plan for your cabinets; whether you’re keeping them as they are, painting, staining or replacing them. If you’re not sure WHAT to do, I have a fun and easy QUESTIONNAIRE here, which might point out a few things you haven’t thought about.

Notice it’s the same countertop and backsplash tile! 

I also have some great blog posts that can help you choose the best color for your cabinets, should you decide to paint them…

How to Pick the Best Paint Color for Your Cabinets

The 4 Best White Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets: Benjamin and Sherwin

The Best Floor Tiles to Update Forest Green Countertops

2. ARE YOU KEEPING YOUR COUNTERTOP OR REPLACING IT?

The cost of a new countertop can be INSANE if you’re considering quartz or granite. However, there are some AMAZING laminate products out there that just might surprise you with how real they look! Check out this blog post here for a few of the most popular laminate countertops.

And while you CAN do the backsplash first, if you’re planning on replacing your countertop in the next few years, I’d hang tight as you want to pick the countertop FIRST and then coordinate the backsplash to it, rather than coordinating a new backsplash to your OLD countertop that’s going to be torn out. Chances are you’ll end up doing BOTH in a few years if that’s the case.

See this budget-friendly remodel HERE

If you have GRANITE from the 1990s or early 2000s, I ALSO have a great blog post you should check out… How to Update Your OUTDATED Granite Countertops

UPDATE IDEA #4 – DON’T FIGHT THE CURVES

90s style homes are well known for their curves (just like me, wink wink). Curved doorways, curved cupboard door profiles, curved alcoves and CURVED windows. Oh, those curved windows.

The thing is, sometimes when you FIGHT something, you end up going against it, which can make it stand out a whole lot more. So, when it comes to some curves, I’m more inclined to EMBRACE rather than AVOID (which is why I also love my Lululemon leggings).

For example, let’s look at this dining room with its curved window…

Notice a few things:

• The chandelier has plenty of curves. You don’t need THIS much curvature, but rounded lines vs straight-lines will help to nod toward the style of the window if you do it with a MODERN style chandelier in a modern finish.

• The dining chairs have a rounded back vs a square back. Perfect.

• The only adjustment I would make would be to place the artwork horizontally, not angled, as the angle fights the curves a bit. I would also replace the lamp in the corner with a plant for some softness and acoustic value.

UPDATE IDEA #5 – OPEN UP A LITTLE

When it comes to opening up a 1990s layout, it can be easy if your walls aren’t load-bearing (I mean easy, ‘relatively speaking’) or NOT ALWAYS WORTH IT if they ARE load-bearing.

Before, this entryway and stairwell were closed-off and made the home feel more like a townhouse than a 2500 square foot detached home…

Once we opened up the stairwell walls and replaced them with railings, it was like a WHOLE NEW HOME!

And from the top of the stairs (awesome blurry pic, I know)…

After, the natural light was able to pour from top to bottom!

This next home had the typical separated dining room and kitchen…

I apologize for the TRAGIC photo quality, this was before I bought my good camera…

So there you have it! But it doesn’t end there. I’m going to sum up some GENERAL UPDATE IDEAS that I would consider if I had a ‘typical 1990s home (in order)…

6 Budget-Friendly Ideas to Update a 1990s Home

1. Update the metal finishes – doorknobs, hinges, cabinet hardware, light fixtures and plumbing fixtures

2. Remove any window coverings from the ’90s, none are worth keeping

3. Paint or restain the cabinets (READ MORE)

4. Countertops – laminate is the most affordable (READ MORE)

5. Update the fireplace (brass, surround and mantel as needed – READ MORE)

6. THEN I would paint the walls

And of course, there’s flooring. However, unless it’s a small space, it’s not a very budget-friendly project.

• if the flooring is typical ’90s carpet, vinyl or tile, with pink, blue or green tones, I would put it higher on the list, especially if it’s a small room like a bathroom or small entryway

• if it’s a typical 1990s oak, I wouldn’t put it anywhere near the top of my to-do list as it’s WAY easier to work with than colored products

READ MORE

How to Paint a Room with a Chair or Dado Rail

Ideas to Update Your Wood Cabinets Without a Drop of Paint

Bathroom Update Ideas: High-End Ideas Low-End Prices

How to Deal with Popcorn or Textured Ceilings – Info You Need BEFORE You Scrape!

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE COLOR CONSULTING PACKAGES!

Chat soon,

The post 5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

They say the devil is in the details, but DAMN those details add up fast! This is why I wanted to share some budget-friendly ideas to add style to your bathroom without breaking the bank.

You might’ve already read about affordable laminate countertop ideas and fabulous small bathroom decorating ideas on my blog, which is why today, we’re talking about SINKS & FAUCETS.

But before we get started, let’s have a quick chat about STYLE.

OVAL OR ROUND SINK

When coordinating your sink and faucet, you want to put like with like, for example, an oval or round sink will suit a faucet and light fixture with round lines – no straight lines or too much squared-off detail.

This next bathroom is looking good with the round sink and rounded faucets – even the cup pulls on the drawers are rounded…MAD LOVE!

See the BEFORE & AFTER HERE

SQUARE OR RECTANGLE SINK

If your room and style are best suited to straight lines, you’ll want to make sure your sink, faucet and light fixture are coordinated with regard to SHAPE. However, some rectangular sinks have rounded curves on their INNER BOWL and can handle a transitional faucet with lightly curved lines.

This next bathroom is WELL-coordinated as the shape of the faucet, sink and light fixture all are pickin’ up what the other is puttin’ down (cabinet hardware too)…

See this gorgeous NEW CONSTRUCTION bathroom HERE

DROP-IN BATHROOM SINKS UNDER $150

VESSEL SINKS

I don’t love traditional vessel sinks, you know, the ones that look like a literal BOWL on your countertop? However, there are some darn pretty ones if you take a more modest approach…

(Take note of the countertop in this photo, another FAB money-saver)

The above photo is my fave style for sure. I used this one with my client, Laura, and get TONS of comments on it. This Jacuzzi brand sink (below) will give you a look similar to what’s shown above and save you some moula. Anna Farmhouse Sink by Jacuzzi.

The above sink is a great example of a sink with a rectangle border and rounded bowl, making it more flexible towards a faucet with a ‘bit’ more curve to it. Decolav also has a semi-vessel sink with a similar look. I also love this one, but it’s a bit more shallow and I wonder how much splashback I’d get (not as bad as toilet backsplash, but still…).

If you aren’t digging the square look and want something softer looking, THIS is one stunning sink! I love the soft curved oval shape. This is definitely a sink that wants a faucet and light fixture with curved, rounded lines rather than straight lines…

I also like the look and the price of this Ronbow vessel style sink.

Now I KNOW that you might get better quality with brands like American Standard and Kohler, but money talks (when I’ve had too much wine, everything does) and sometimes you can get a bit more bang for buck at a lower price point when it comes sinks (I feel different about faucets).

TRADITIONAL LOW-PROFILE DROP-IN SINKS

This first sink is simple and straightforward and best suits a faucet with round curves and a light fixture with similar lines…

Pennington drop-in sink

If you prefer a square or rectangle shape, a vanity like this next one should do the trick at the right price…

Drop-in rectangle sink

UNDERMOUNT SINKS (only with non-laminated countertops)

While the photo of this next sink is no screamin’ glory, it’s a great example of a simple oval under-mount sink…

Glacier Bay under-mount sink

If you’re into clean lines, this next one will do the job…

Rectangular under-mount sink

And lastly, a style that’s RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE…(my fave)

Rectangle sink with rounded interior

THE BEST AFFORDABLE VANITY FAUCETS

Now, this could be a blog post all unto itself, so I’m going to focus on a few faves to get you started…

In the above photo, because the sink has a rounded interior, it can handle a curvy faucet (although the faucet could be a bit LESS curvy, just sayin’).

This next photo is about as curvy as you’d want to go with a clean-lined sink (The Glyde Collection from Moen)…

BATHROOM FAUCETS FOR UNDER $150

MOST OF THESE FAUCETS ARE AVAILABLE IN OTHER FINISHES

Just remember, there’s a BIG difference between what’s a good price and what’s a CHEAP FAUCET. If you aren’t familiar with the brand’s name and the price seems too good to be true, I HIGHLY advise you look elsewhere. Personally, I stick with Moen, Kohler, American Standard, Delta and Grohe. I’m not AS familiar with Pfister (but haven’t heard BAD things), same with Glacier Bay.

This first faucet by MOEN is a great partner to a square or rectangle sink; whether it’s under-mount or drop-in…

Moen Genta Faucet

If you like slightly more traditional lines but the ease of a single handle, this next faucet should do the trick. And the CHROME finish is only $69!

Kohler Numista Faucet

For a curvier approach (round or oval sink) this gorgeous faucet comes in CHROME, BLACK, POLISHED NICKEL OR GOLD!

Glacier Bay Oswell Faucet

The Farrington Faucet by Glacier Bay offers a more transitional approach with square lines and a curved faucet with clean lines…

Glacier Bay Farrington Faucet

Now PERSONALLY, I’m not a big fan of single hole, two-handle faucets. I find they look too squished and I don’t love cleaning in those tight nooks and crannies. BUT it’s not all about me, so I picked a pretty one for you that’s ALSO budget-friendly…

Essie Faucet by Moen

READ MORE

4 Ideas to Update Your Kitchen on a Budget

Countertop Update Ideas: High-End Ideas, Low-End Prices

The 12 Best Gray & Greige Paint Colours

Fabulous Small Bathroom Ideas

4 Subway Tile Ideas for Your Bathroom or Kitchen Backsplash

And I’m just BURSTING with ideas for saving money, so if you want to know what is best for you and your home, check out my affordable and fun…

E-Design and Online Colour Consulting Packages! 

Chat soon,

The post The Best Bathroom Sinks & Faucets on a BUDGET appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Updating ANY room in your home can be expensive and stressful and time-consuming AND, well, you get the point. That’s why today, we’re going to talk about 3 ways you can FIX and REDECORATE – without even leaving your house! That doesn’t mean you can’t shop ONLINE though – just joking Tim (kind of…).

When it comes to decorating and design, it’s not that hard to create a beautifully decorated space when you buy everything brand-spankin’ new, hire a designer and take visual cues from Pinterest and Houzz, and if that’s your jam, that’s cool with me. But, not everyone can afford to do that – sometimes you gotta work with whatcha got (says my Aunt who claims I got my Grandma Mack’s hips).

Personally, I love the idea of a home that’s evolved, that has artwork and decorative pieces that aren’t on the shelf at your local Home Sense or Pier 1, pieces that have sentimental value – they tell a story. Maybe it’s your Grandma’s porcelain figurine or your daughter’s first painting – that’s what makes a home feel inviting to me. And that’s what this blog post is about…

Using what you ALREADY HAVE to create a beautifully decorated space, by displaying your pieces in a way that WORKS

So, get ready to open up those old china cabinets, purge the attic and crawlspace and steal items from one room to use them in another – it’s going to be FUN, especially if you have a glass of wine in hand (and a bottle/funnel close by).

Ready Betty?

1. The Right Height to Hang Artwork Above ANYTHING

First up – let’s get your artwork hung at the right height, rather than hanging on whatever nail was already in the wall or at the 6′ foot level as your 6’4 hubby says it looks better that way.

And please note, these are only GUIDELINES, not rules (no wet noodle slaps here). There are always exceptions as there are TONS of artwork sizes, wall sizes and other things to consider when hanging artwork – you’ve got room to play around.

I went into the guts n’ glory of hanging artwork in my e-book, ‘The 5 Room Fix – Love the Home You Live In‘, but there are some GREAT basics that I can cover right here.

THE RIGHT HEIGHT FOR AVERAGE* SIZE ARTWORK HANGING ON A BARE WALL

*average size is approximately 8-32 inches tall

And that MAGICAL NUMBER IS…60 inches (5 feet). That’s 5 feet from the floor to the center of your artwork. It doesn’t matter how tall your hubby is or how high your ceilings are, this is about what looks good on the active, viewable wall space – capiche? I actually like to give a little wiggle-room by allowing approx. 58-62″ as it will accommodate a wider variety of sizes.

The 60-inch rule applies to this next photo as well, as the center of the two pieces as a WHOLE should sit approx. 60 inches from the floor…

This rule also applies to:

• Hanging art above the loooo (funny if you’re a hockey fan, especially the Canucks. Wait, nobody is a fan of the Canucks)
• Hanging a gallery wall. The CENTER of your arrangement should be around 58-62 inches from the floor
• Hanging art above furniture that’s SHORTER than 33″

Do you want to know a cool trick? Figure out where 60 inches is on your body (don’t get any ideas men, that’s wishful thinking). For me, being 5’3, 60 inches sits at my eyebrows, giving me easy eyeball measurements rather than having to bust out a tape measure every time.

THE BEST HEIGHT FOR HANGING ARTWORK ABOVE WAINSCOTING

Again, we’re looking at the guideline of 58-62″. Or, depending on the height of your wainscoting/size of your art, approximately 4 inches above the top of the wainscoting.

This is a great example of art above a toilet AND wainscoting…will wonders never cease.

THE BEST HEIGHT TO HANG ARTWORK ABOVE A SOFA OR SECTIONAL

When you’re hanging anything above a sofa, whether it’s artwork, a mirror or a decorative piece, you’ll want approximately 8-12 inches of wall space between the top of your furniture and the bottom of your frame.

THE BEST HEIGHT TO HANG ARTWORK ABOVE A HEADBOARD

It can depend GREATLY on the height of your headboard, but generally, you’ll want approx. 5-10 inches of wall space between the top of your headboard and the bottom of your artwork.

Whether it’s a sofa, sectional or headboard, if you leave TOO much wall space, there will be a disconnect between your furniture/artwork and they will act independently of each other, which is a BAD thing when it comes to decorating.

And you know what’s SO COOL? These are ALL photos of my E-Design client’s homes – real homes, real people, real budgets – LOVE IT!

THE RIGHT HEIGHT FOR ARTWORK ABOVE A FIREPLACE MANTEL

When it comes to fireplace mantels, we’re usually looking at 4-8 inches. If you have a large piece of artwork and an 8-foot ceiling, you’re more likely to leave 3-5 inches. If you have a standard piece and TALL ceilings, you might bump it up to 8 inches, but you still don’t want to break that visual connection between the fireplace and your hanging piece.

The HIGHER your mantel is, the less space there should be between your artwork and your mantel.

And did you know, I did an EXPANDED version of these ideas in my blog post ‘The Right Height to Hang Artwork and Mirrors‘? So, if you’re looking for more information or photos, check it out.

THE BEST HEIGHT FOR HANGING ARTWORK ABOVE FURNITURE THAT’S TALLER THAN 32 INCHES

Let’s keep this nice and simple – 4-6 inches. BOOM, done.

Do you have an OVERSIZED piece of artwork? Maybe you should just read the whole blog post here: The Right Height to Hang Artwork Above Anything

2. Create a decorative vignette using pieces around your home

I love this one because once you learn how to do it, you can decorate almost ANYTHING – mantel, shelf, bookcase, bed – you name it, you can do it! The difference between a vignette and say, a mantel display is that a vignette is a SMALL-SCALE decorative display, whereas a mantel or shelf would be made up of MULTIPLE vignettes.

And I’m keeping it simple and straightforward here. I have a blog post that goes MORE in-depth, but these tips will DEFINITELY get you rolling down the right path (or stumbling if you took that bottle of wine comment too seriously).

STEP 1  PLACE YOUR FOUNDATION OR ANCHOR PIECE

The foundation piece goes on the WALL if you’re decorating a flat surface with a wall space right behind it. If you don’t have a wall space, you’ll move RIGHT along to the anchor.

The foundation piece could be artwork, photography, metalwork, mirror, etc…

As for the ANCHOR PIECE, you need this item whether you have a wall space behind your display or an independent flat surface with NO wall space (ie: side table). Your anchor piece could be a vase with flowers, a stack of books with a decorative item on top – basically anything that is taller or larger/more noticeable than the other pieces. This piece often goes slightly further back and slightly to the left or right, but usually not as far back as the foundation.

And make sure you hang your artwork at the right height, based on the previous tips – I’m watching! Just joking. I’m not. Unless you leave your blinds open at night with the lights on, I will look.

Now, that top shelf above could use a LITTLE love…

• Move the foundation piece closer to the center
• Move the large dish (anchor) to the left side of the shelf and smaller dish (finishing piece) to the right, overlapping the artwork and creating a decorative triangle

STEP 2  PLACE YOUR SECONDARY PIECE

The secondary piece doesn’t grab as much attention as the anchor but still carries its own visual weight. It’s usually shorter than the anchor piece and assuming you haven’t used it already as the anchor, this could be a vase, stack of books, candleholder, framed photo, etc…

In this next photo, because the artwork isn’t hung, it’s less of a foundation piece and more of an anchor. This leaves the plant as the secondary piece and the bowl as the finishing piece, which we’re going to talk about next…

Is it PERFECT? Heck no. Could the proportions be better? Yup. But are the BONES in place? Is it a reflection of the people who live there? You bet your cute lil’ booty it is.

• The artwork is us, the Mawdsleys! It was created by Lindsay R Hopkins Art on Etsy. She even took a copy of how I write our last name for the Mawdsley – so cool. She gets all the info about the different family members, draws up the photo and you can then get it printed at your local printer on high-quality paper. And it’s even more special because my sis-in-law had it made for us for Christmas
• The wee brass bowls have some of the rocks that Maggie would bring me home from the playground in Kindergarten and Grade 1 – the prettiest ones, and a daisy chain that Cassie made me
• The plant is named Matilda and she’s almost like family…until I murder her, which I do to all plants

This next photo shows the bookshelf in our dining room, which is a whole MIX of vignettes, groups of threes, decorative triangles and more – you’d be AMAZED at how many of those pieces have sentimental value, and with a few key store-bought pieces, it all works!

STEP 3  PLACE YOUR FINISHING PIECE

This is the final touch and will round out your decorative triangle as well as giving you an effective group of three – both of which are IMPORTANT parts of a good decorative display or vignette!

Let’s look at the first display in a different way now…

And did you know you can create a vignette in a corner using FURNITURE? True story. You’d use the same tips above, but they would apply to things like artwork/accent chair/side table/lamp, like these next photos…

Remember, if you’re excited to learn MORE about creating a decorative vignette, I have a more in-depth blog post right here: How to Create a Simple Decorative Vignette

Now, that was a LOT of info just on two topics, so for this next idea, I’m keeping things short n’ sweet – just like me (wink wink).

3. Hang your light at the right height

Nothing drives me crazy(er) than a dining room light hung at the wrong height! Okay, so maybe chewing is right up there, along with random nose sniffing, but lights are DEFINITELY in a hot second place. So, what IS the right height?

A LIGHT HANGING OVER A KITCHEN OR DINING ROOM TABLE

In the average kitchen nook or dining room (with 8-9 foot ceiling) the light should hang approx 36 inches above the tabletop (give or take 4 inches depending on fixture/ceiling height).

This is OUR home, see more of it HERE

LIGHTS HANGING OVER THE ISLAND

A pendant light hanging over the island should be approx 30-36 inches above the countertop, but of course, there are ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS. Remember, these are just some guidelines to get you thinking about things.

So, get your tape measure and step ladder out and see if YOUR lights are at the right height for what they’re hanging above!

Check out more of this beautiful home HERE

Need more info? I have a BIG blog post on this topic right here: The Right Height to Hang Light Fixtures

So, there you have it. I hope these ideas get you excited to change a few things and TRY a few things around your home!

READ MORE

How to Redecorate Your Living Room Without Spending Any Money

6 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

5 Ideas to Update Your Fireplace

How to Decorate a Fireplace Mantel

NEED HELP?

Check out my E-BOOKS or Online Paint Colour Consulting packages

Chat soon,

The post 3 Decorating Fixes You Can Do Without Leaving Your Home! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

I love 1990s oak cabinets. Crazy right? I know that 90% of you are cursing your oak, maple, or cherry cabinets from the 90s and early 2000s, while the remaining 10% love them and wouldn’t let a lick of paint go near them! And it’s not that I don’t understand both sides of the story, I do, having oak cabinets in our own home. HOWEVER, not ALL wood cabinets are created equal.

Remember…

Just because it’s wood, doesn’t mean it’s good.

What does this mean?

It means that just because your cabinets are solid wood, doesn’t mean they actually look good (insert angry husband HERE). 

3 REASONS WHY YOUR WOOD CABINETS MIGHT LOOK OUTDATED

While all of this can be open to perception, perception MATTERS if you want to update your home, either for yourself or for resale. On the other hand, if you plan on living in your home forever and ever amen, don’t bother with trends, or don’t care what other people think, well, you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog post in the first place.

Aside from perception, I find that there’s often a gender divide when it comes to wood cabinets (or anything wood, really). Based on my experience, more men love to keep their wood cabinets, whereas many women are a bit more inclined to paint them. If I hadn’t come across this literally HUNDREDS OF TIMES in my daily Color Consulting work, I wouldn’t mention it…some men are sensitive about their wood (wink wink).

As for what makes a wood-infused kitchen look UPdated or OUTdated, it can be a combination of the items listed below – items that park a kitchen in a particular decade (i.e. the 90s) or style. Hey, if you’re happy in the 90s, then do the Macarena, sponge-paint your walls, and fill your lil’ wood-lined boots. However, if you’re open to a new way of looking at things, keep on reading.

1. WOOD GRAIN, STAIN & STYLE

• If your wood cabinets have a strong STAIN/color on them, this can detract from any other beautiful features your wood cabinets might have.
• Wood cabinets with a strong GRAIN can overpower a space in their busyness and take away from the beauty of the wood itself.
• Sometimes it’s the STYLE of the cabinets, combined with a slightly overpowering stain or grain that can make them look less than their full potential.

The above can also be more noticeable in a home where other finishes have been updated. For example, if your home has wood trim, your wood cabinets likely look more at home. However, if the surrounding trim has been painted and the cabinets have the above challenges to consider, they could look outdated.

Wood cabinets need surrounding finishes that visually support them. 

Wood cabinets can also look dated based on the finishes that directly connect to them, such as the backsplash in this next kitchen…

There’s not a SINGLE THING WRONG with these beautiful oak cabinets – I wouldn’t touch them with a lick of paint! However, COMBINED with the slate tile backsplash and narrow door trim, the space looks outdated.

A great update to the above space would be to keep the cabinets just as they are, and replace the backsplash with a soft off-white subway tile – let’s give those cabinets something to play with! I’d also paint out the narrow wood door trim to match the wall color – I’d rather see it disappear.

2. YOU HAVE TOO MUCH WOOD

If you have TOO MUCH wood (ooooh the innuendos) it’s not always a good thing as one can easily dull the beauty of another (if they’re not carefully coordinated).

In this next kitchen, the cabinets are STUNNING, as is the flooring. However, they actually both take away from each other as the flooring blends with the lower cabinets – they aren’t PLAYING with each other – they’re canceling each other out.

However, couldn’t the same be said for the previous kitchen? Here it is again for quick reference…

What’s the difference between these two kitchens? STAIN.

The one kitchen has a far less bossy stain color on the cabinets and floor, whereas the other has some darn strong hues in it. So while the kitchen directly above has a bit of blending going on between cabinet and floor, the overall look is soft, rather than overwhelming.

Remember, this can all be open to perception. I’m here if you’re wanting to UPDATE your space; I’m not here to cater to personal preferences – that’s what my Online Paint Color Consulting is for (I mean that kindly – my blog posts are for the ‘average’ homeowner and are geared more towards mass appeal).

3. YOUR NEW WOOD FLOOR CLASHES WITH YOUR WOOD CABINETS

Nothing murders a perfectly good wood cabinet (or wood floor) like a mismatched wood partner. Many people update their wood floors without considering the undertones, grain, and specific needs of their wood cabinets – they’re only focused on putting in a more modern-looking floor.

In this kitchen below, there’s nothing wrong with EITHER wood finish, other than the fact that they clash with each other – visually devaluing the whole look…

In this particular situation, my client was replacing the flooring with something more muted and wanted to paint the cabinets to coordinate with the new flooring and granite countertops…

While the gray-wash wood floor makes me nervous, the overall look adds to the resale value and updates the space.

Unfortunately, in the process of updating, many people mistakenly choose a more modern wood or wood-look flooring that clashes with their existing wood cabinets. As shown in the kitchen below, my clients chose a muted LVP floor in their kitchen, and it clashes with the oak cabinets. And while they planned on painting the cabinets ANYWAYS, this is a great example of the type of mismatch I see ALL…THE…TIME.

Just for the record – I LOVE THESE OAK CABINETS! But the floor kills them. 

Benjamin Moore White Dove, island Sherwin Williams Dovetail

And while I’ve advised MANY clients to paint their outdated oak cabinets, there have ALSO been many that I’ve advised to KEEP their oak or wood cabinets.

WHY?

Let’s chat briefly about what makes for a good wood cabinet…

WOOD CABINETS – IMPORTANT DETAILS TO CONSIDER

I might’ve had a conniption if my clients (below) had decided to paint their gorgeous wood cabinets. The connection with the floor is fabulous and they were wise to choose dining furniture that kept the wood palette simple and consistent. MAD LOVE.

GOOD GRAIN, GOOD STAIN, GOOD STYLE.

I posted this next kitchen on my Instagram, just to get a read on whether my followers agreed with painting them or WISH they’d been left original (it was a pretty close tie)…

While the hardware is a bit graphic, it’s part of the charm of this home! 

Deciding whether to leave your cabinets stained or to paint them is a HUGE decision. And while this isn’t the holy grail for deciding what to do (you get the final decision), it will help you understand WHY stain or paint could be the best finish for your cabinets AND your home.

But, before we get started, there are two questions that could make this whole process a bit more to the point for you, and touches on the LAST big consideration in your kitchen – STYLE.

1. WHAT STYLE OF CABINET DOOR DO YOU HAVE?

a. RAISED OR RECESSED PANEL/SHAKER

b. SLAB

c. ARCHED, CURVED OR CATHEDRAL (either just the top edge or both top and bottom)

TOP LEFT raised panel – TOP RIGHT recessed panel – BOTTOM LEFT double cathedral – BOTTOM RIGHT arched

2. WHAT CONDITION ARE YOUR CABINETS IN?

There can be a big difference between cabinets that are in GREAT shape, those that need a little work, and which direction is BEST when it comes to stain or paint.

My cabinets…

a. are in GREAT CONDITION, they just need a basic cleaning

b. are in GOOD CONDITION, but need some stain touch-ups and cleaning

c. NEED SOME LOVE (refinishing needs to be done on a larger scale)

If your stained cabinets need some TLC, consider the cost/labor of staining vs painting. Also, decide whether the effort to refinish them is worth it if they will still look dated based on the other factors involved (hinge style/flooring/surrounding finishes/etc…).

Restaining cabinets is not just labor-intensive, it’s also expensive if you don’t do it yourself. Don’t get me wrong, paint is labor-intensive and expensive too, but it doesn’t hold a CANDLE to restaining.

And in the end, if your cabinets don’t have the STYLE factors needed to look updated, a fresh coat of stain might not move you ahead at all – you’ll have done all of that work for the same end result – an outdated-looking kitchen.

DID YOU CHOOSE ‘C’ FOR THE ABOVE QUESTIONS?

You’re welcome to do the questionnaire, but you may just want to scroll down to the ‘MOSTLY Cs’ section. That’s right, the above two questions supersede ALL OF THE QUESTIONS BELOW because if you have arched, curved, or cathedral-style cabinet doors, there’s no stain color that will update them.

And sometimes, even paint can only take them so far, but it can be a step in the right direction.

As for condition, if they need to be completely rehabbed ANYWAY, paint is likely the best way forward for an UPDATED MODERN look.

IS IT BETTER TO STAIN OR PAINT YOUR WOOD CABINETS? THE QUESTIONNAIRE

Pick the answer that best applies to you and your cabinets (even if it’s not bang-on)…

1. WHAT TYPE OF HINGES DO YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS HAVE?

A. totally hidden

B. partially exposed

C. full-exposure (oh, you dirty bird)

2. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR STAINED CABINETS (referring to general stain color)?

A. kind of a muted ‘brown’ color with a bit of warmth/color, but nothing overpowering

B. a stronger warm tone, but it coordinates with the surrounding space (i.e. flooring/trim/furniture)

C. a strong yellow, orange, red, or pickled (pink) finish

3. HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN ON STAYING IN YOUR HOME?

A. we’re going to have to drag you out

B. you don’t know, maybe the next four or five years?

C. no more than one or two years

4. HOW UPDATED IS THE REST OF YOUR HOME?

A. it’s not very updated; it still has outdated wood-stained trims*, doors, and other finishes that could be updated – and you don’t plan on doing them all!

B. it’s somewhat updated, but you still have more do to and you WILL be doing it!

C. it’s pretty updated

*not all wood trims/doors are outdated, but those from the 70s/80s/90s tend to lean that way.

5. HOW WELL-COORDINATED ARE YOUR FLOORS & CABINETS?

A. they’re well-matched

B. they’re tile or vinyl and coordinate well enough, but aren’t super updated

C. your floors are wood, but in a different stain color than your cabinets, compete with them, OR they are tile/vinyl and aren’t updated and you’re not prepared to change them

6. HOW UPDATED ARE YOUR COUNTERTOP & BACKSPLASH?

A. both are updated in neutral colors

B. one or both of them are a bit dated but you plan on changing them in the future

C. not updated or are a color/non-neutral

7. HOW’S IT HANGIN’? YOUR DOORS THAT IS…

A. your cabinet doors aren’t totally plumb and level; there are some gaps that you can’t fix/straighten-up

B. everything is more or less level and straight, only a few spots aren’t 100% (but are fixable)

C. everything is top-notch and level, meaning if the cabinets are painted white, you won’t see a bunch of uneven black gaps between doors/drawers

MOSTLY A’s

KEEP THOSE CABINETS STAINED

If you picked mostly A’s, you may want to KEEP your cabinets in their natural wood finish. Just remember, if you have arched, curved, or cathedral-style doors, OR if they need a LOT of prep work, you’ll want to head on down to the ‘C’ section, it’ll be like giving birth to a whole new kitchen – get it?

Based on all of these A’s, you have GREAT bones in place to support wood-stained cabinets; the first bone being the right door style. And while hidden hinges are BEST, exposed hinges are okay, as long as other factors (A’s) are in place.

But this doesn’t mean you get off scot-free. You might still have some serious work to do to update the look of your kitchen. Based in how you answered the previous questions, consider the following:

• Replace your old countertop with an updated one in a NEUTRAL color.

• Add an updated backsplash that suits your countertop and general style (subway tile and travertine are popular choices with wood, especially oak).

• Update your flooring so that it coordinates with your cabinets. This means that either, a) your tile or vinyl needs to be updated to coordinate with the cabinet stain/countertops, OR, b) your wood flooring needs to be better coordinated with your cabinet stain.

• Updated hardware and lighting that suits the style of your home. Finishes should be consistent and coordinated.

The oak cabinets in this next kitchen are STUNNING – moderate stain, moderate grain, hidden hinges, and a simple door profile…

MODERATE STAIN COLOR, MODERATE GRAIN, MODERATE STYLE

My client (above) wanted to paint the cabinets, as well as the newly installed island. While she was open to painting only SOME of the cabinets; leaving some wood, I HAD to tell her how I really felt – THE CABINETS ARE GORGEOUS AS THEY ARE! Of course, the island could be painted, to break up some of the wood-on-wood, but it would hurt my heart to see these oak cabinets covered up entirely.

As for this next kitchen, sure, it would look BRIGHTER and more UPDATED with painted cabinets, but I absolutely love the rich depth of these cabinets and how the updated countertop and backsplash brighten the space instead…

MODERATE STAIN COLOR, MODERATE GRAIN, MODERATE STYLE

This next one is touch and go.

WHY?

The STYLE of the cabinets is great, as are the white quartz countertop and backsplash tile. And while the grain is a BIT wild, it’s totally liveable. However, the orange stain on the cabinets is FIGHTING with the red-violet hues in the wood flooring. Is this a dealbreaker? Not at all, it’s still a great kitchen, but to COMPLETELY update this space, one of these stains has to change.

This next kitchen has a modern door profile and while the stain color is a bit bright, it suits the floor and surrounding finishes. COULD you paint them? Sure, but I sure as heck wouldn’t…

RELATED BLOG POSTS

How to Update your Wood Kitchen Cabinets WITHOUT Painting Them

The Best Paint Colors to Update Oak & Wood

4 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Update Ideas

MOSTLY B’S

STAIN OR PAINT – the choice is yours!

If you picked mostly b’s, your cabinets could be GREAT contenders for stain…OR paint! The big decision will come down to personal preference and the overall appeal of your cabinets based on what you’ve learned so far.

You might also consider meeting your kitchen HALFWAY by painting the island only and maybe making some other smart kitchen updates while keeping those beautiful wood cabinets in all of their glory!

This next kitchen has great bones…

• cabinet doors with square profiles

• flooring and cabinets that are well-coordinated

• stain color that isn’t overwhelming

• while the white appliances are no screamin’ glory, they’re being replaced

The ONLY THING is that between the wood cabinets, island and floor, there’s a HECK of a lot of wood, to the point where you lose some of the beauty in the AMOUNT of it – it’s just one big orange-hued blob…

Painting the ISLAND ONLY was a great solution, offering a bit of contrast to the floor and the main cabinets. Along with a new countertop, backsplash and paint color, the BEAUTY of these solid oak cabinets really shines through…

See more of this project and others here

In this next kitchen, while I’d take down the valance on the window, the cabinets have some pretty good bones. If they WERE painted white, the hardware would REALLY pop in contrast, creating a busier look. Instead, we painted the island Sherwin Williams Night Owl, just to add some visual interest and play off the wood…

Sherwin Williams Night Owl

Now, if you can’t decide whether to keep the stained look or to paint, here are a few things to consider:

• if you plan on selling in the near future (ie. five years or less) consider painting them, as painted cabinets are almost ALWAYS more appealing to buyers – especially in the younger demographic (the exception would be if you have exposed hinges, that’s always a tough call unless you’re painting your cabinets a darker color)

• if the cabinets are AWESOME but don’t look so hot with the floor – but you’re not replacing the floor, I’d paint the cabinets a color that DOES work with the floor or you’re devaluing both

• if the countertop and backsplash are not updated/neutral, but you don’t want to change them, consider painting the cabinets and updating your lighting and hardware to add modern elements to the room and to distract from the more outdated features

RELATED BLOG POSTS

How to Choose the Right White Paint Color for your Home

The Best Paint Colors to Go With Oak or Wood Cabinets

How to Pick The Best Paint Color for Your Cabinets

The 4 Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands

The Best Gray & Greige Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets or Bathroom Vanities

MOSTLY C’S

BETTER GET YOUR PAINTIN’ FACE ON

If you chose mostly c’s, it looks like your kitchen is ready for a change – maybe YOU aren’t ready, but your cabinets are. Remember, just because it’s WOOD, doesn’t mean it’s GOOD.

And you know what? Even if your cabinets are GOOD, as shown next, you can still paint them if you want a LIGHTER and BRIGHTER look. Don’t feel bad, they’re still WOOD, they just have a few coats of paint on them…

Sherwin Williams Pure White and Peppercorn

And as you now know, there are many factors that can devalue the look of wood, which in turn, can devalue your home. I know, there are oodles of hubbies out there who can’t understand how wood cabinets can be a BAD thing, I mean, they’re SOLID WOOD and you CAN’T PAINT WOOD! But just think…

If you paint them, they’ll still be solid wood – they’ll just look better. 

This next kitchen had a double-whammy (no, not Tim’s favorite Friday night move), but curved doors and a strong red stain. They also weren’t so hot with the orange-hue of the flooring. It didn’t matter HOW MUCH the homeowner may have wanted to keep their wood cabinets (which they didn’t) the ONLY choice was to paint…

And while this project involved a HUGE facelift, including new door fronts, white was the way to go as the previous look would turn off the majority of buyers…

See this project and its listed finishes HERE

These next cabinets CLASHED HARD with the flooring – something HAD to go. On their own, each was pretty, but together they were a HOT MESS…

While I’d love to see a more interesting backsplash in the above kitchen, this was a budget-friendly refresher for the sake of resale, so we painted the backsplash instead!

Painting kitchen cabinets is HUGELY satisfying. If you go white or off-white, it will INSTANTLY brighten your space, adding a more updated look to even the most OUTDATED of cabinet styles (which would be cathedral).

This kitchen below had GREAT bones. I loved the color of the stain, the door profile and hidden hardware, but it was SO stinkin’ dark! And while a light countertop/backsplash could’ve jazzed things up, so could some paint…

RELATED BLOG POSTS

6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Painting Your Cabinets White

How to Choose the Right White Paint Color for your Home

How to Pick The Best Paint Color for Your Cabinets

The 4 Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands

The Best Gray & Greige Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets or Bathroom Vanities

Will gel stain work on wood cabinets?

I’ve been asked this MANY times and as an answer, I have a few points for you to consider:

• Gel stain on wood cabinets is WAY less labor intensive than restaining, but still requires DECENT prep (sand/clean).

• Unless you have bare wood, it does not penetrate the same, meaning you’ll have more product sitting on the surface. To sand enough so that the stain sinks in, well, that’s a heck of a lot of sanding and it needs to be a CONSISTENT sand job so that you avoid blotchiness where the stain sits/absorbs. The more stain that sits on the surface, the more you risk the ‘painted’ look as you see more of the product and method of application (ie: wipe marks/brush marks) and you also risk it wearing off sooner.

• You can only go the same color or darker.

• It can reduce the look of the wood grain. Why? Well, when wood is unfinished, the stain will penetrate the wood, but the grain area doesn’t always take stain as well as the open wood areas. When you break up that sheen and restain a darker color, the open wood area will often take more stain, while the grain doesn’t always darken much more, so they start blending into each other a bit (I hope that makes sense…).

• It takes a steady hand and can look like a hot mess if you don’t do a great job.

To see some gel stain before and after projects on Pinterest, click here.

If you’re still not 100% sure what to do, sometimes seeing a home SIMILAR to yours can be a great way to settle any nerves…

WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS: oak with arched door style, hidden hinges & travertine tile backsplash

This oak kitchen had an arched door profile, but NO exposed hinges. Sadly, I don’t have a great ‘before’ shot as it was a Realtor’s photo (I’m not allowed to use them, I only use photos from my E-Design clients), but I do have a snippet of another area of the kitchen…

See this project and a few others here

Notice how they also filled in the bulkhead to give the cabinets a full-height/custom look. And check out the island in the WICKED gorgeous Benjamin Moore Ocean Floor!

Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages

WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS: oak with arched door, raised panel & STRONG stain color

In this next kitchen, the granite countertop and backsplash were circa the early 2000s, but still doing the job the homeowner wanted them to do (personally, I’m a BIG fan of travertine tile). BUT these finishes didn’t work well with the strong red of the cabinets. We also had that darn arched top to consider which meant it was drinking painting time!

All of a sudden the backsplash and countertop look more updated and the WHOLE space has a new, brighter lease on life!

WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS: oak with square inset (shaker style) door & exposed hinges

You know, the stain color of these cabinets wasn’t bad, but in such a small space, the grain, hinges and hardware were too busy and weighed things down…

Truth be told, they actually put in new cabinets. However, the IDEA is to show you how a space can go from outdated to updated with the right paint color choices and products! They could have kept the existing cabinets and done the same paint treatment, but you would’ve still seen the hinges and they would have had to fill in the bulkhead.

And again, BIG thanks to my E-design clients who send me their before and after photos – I couldn’t do this without you! Real people…real homes…REAL BUDGETS!

WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS: maple with recessed door style (decorative shaker) & hidden hinges

Looks like this kitchen had great bones, right? Sure, but it didn’t have any energy. There was no contrast or interest and the cabinets clashed with the wood flooring.

See more of this project here

There are a few things to notice in the above kitchen:

• the GORGEOUS granite countertop which all of a sudden came to LIFE

• the new glass-front cabinets which brighten the space

• the removal of the microwave oven and new range hood

• the covering up of the dated-looking side of the island

WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS: maple with shaker style door & hidden hinges

Wooooof. This kitchen had great cabinets surrounded by a hot mess of finishes…

After, it’s like a whole new kitchen…on a budget!

See the before and after photos of this kitchen here

 The fresh paint color, along with hardware, backsplash and countertop were game-changers for this kitchen, adding to the resale AND emotional value of the home!

6 Questions to Ask Before Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets White

So there you have it! Hopefully, these tips and ideas have helped you figure out what is the best choice for you and YOUR kitchen!

RELATED POSTS

Hardware Ideas to Update Your Wood Cabinets

4 Ideas to Update Oak Cabinets

5 Ideas to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets WITHOUT Paint! 

The Best Paint Colors to Go With Oak or Wood Cabinets

How to Choose the Right White Paint Color for your Home

Need help?

Check out my E-design Color Consulting packages, I’d love to help!

Chat soon,

WRITTEN IN 2019, UPDATED AWESOMELY IN 2021

The post Painted Wood Cabinets or Stained Cabinets? A QUESTIONNAIRE appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

As far back as the early 1900s, subway tile has been a top choice for tiled surfaces. Why? Well, there are a few reasons…

SUBWAY TILE IS BUDGET-FRIENDLY

The average kitchen needs 30 sq ft of backsplash. You can easily find FABULOUS subway tiles for under $8 sq ft. So, worst case scenario your tile is going to cost $250 (do not check my math on that one). Best case scenario you’re looking at approx. $90 (plus grout and spacers).

SUBWAY TILE IS TIMELESS

If you stick with good old white/off-white in a standard subway tile layout you will get YEARS’ worth of style out of it. There’s a good reason why this tile has been kickin’ it since the early 1900s – it’s awesome. 

SUBWAY TILE IS FLEXIBLE

Subway tiles are a versatile product that can transition into a TON of styles depending on personal tastes, colour, layout, grout choice, etc…

And while subway tile might sound boring, being so ‘affordable, practical, timeless, etc…’ there are some SUPER fab ways to jazz it up to make it LOOK like you spent more money, without bustin’ out the kid’s piggy banks!

Kylie M Interiors E-Design

1. SUBWAY TILE IDEA – choose your material carefully

Traditionally, a subway tile would be porcelain or ceramic but you can get the subway tile PATTERN in any number of products such as marble, travertine, glass and more. Don’t limit yourself to what has always been done, see what else is out there!

Let’s start out simple with none other than the classic white subway tile (two different sizes)…

Notice that in BOTH of the above projects, the grout is a soft gray, which accents the brick layout of the subway tile, whereas white grout would have blended more.

In this next photo, we chose a beautiful tumbled travertine subway tile for my local client. It complements the warm veins in her granite as well as the natural cherry cabinets…

Ideas to Update Older Granite Countertops

This next kitchen features a gorgeous marble subway tile backsplash, coordinated with the quartz countertop and white cabinets…

Should I Paint My Cabinets White? And Which White is Best?

2. SUBWAY TILE IDEA – add colour & texture

Choosing a subway tile in a colour (solid or mixed tones) is a great way to keep things classic and simple, while still adding a personal touch. The classic SHAPE of the subway tile gives you room to be brave with colour and style!

The 4 Best Gray & Greige Paint Colours for Kitchen Cabinets

I’m OBSESSED with this next blue subway tile with its hand-glazed look…

Benjamin Moore White Dove on cabinets and walls

In this next photo (similar tile, different bathroom), notice that while the tile is flat (unlike the above tile), it still has a hazy, glazed look to it…

See this bathroom remodel HERE

3. SUBWAY TILE IDEA – tile edge & grout details

Traditionally, subway tiles are flat with very slightly rounded edges. While this is a ‘timeless and classic’ approach, you can also jazz things up with a bevel, reverse bevel or glazed finish as shown below…

I looove me a bevelled tile…

See the whole project HERE

You can also consider a unique glazed porcelain subway tile with dark grout to really define the pattern, as shown in this next kitchen…

See the before and afters of this kitchen HERE

Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages

4. SUBWAY TILE IDEA – size & layout

As shown in a few of the previous photos, you can also jazz things up via tile size to add a slightly different look to your tile installation.

In this next bathroom, we chose an elongated 4×12 cream coloured subway tile in a staggered layout. It suits the shape of the floor tile (12×24) and the warm tones are softer than the traditional white.

Next up, with its matching grout, the 4×12 off-white subway tile is a subtle complement to the white cabinets and quartz countertop. My clients were wanting a more contemporary look so we did a stacked layout, rather than a brick layout.

In this next photo, I LOVE the colour my clients chose for their kitchen cabinets – Benjamin Moore Kitty Gray. And they couldn’t have chosen a BETTER backsplash – love the elongated, glazed look!

And seriously, there are MANY more ways to play with subway tile and I’m sure I’ll be writing ANOTHER long-winded blog post on this topic – but for now, that’s it!

READ MORE

The 10 Most Timeless Interior Finishes

4 Tips & Ideas to Update Your Kitchen on a Budget

3 Kitchen Countertop Update Ideas to Save Money

3 Steps to Choose the Best White Paint Colours for Your Home

How to Choose Carpet with Confidence

Need help picking the perfect paint colour for your kitchen? 

Check out my affordable E-Design services!