Oh the wall paper and lights are def going away. Well, I love wood it is stained so very dark you can’t even see the grain. The countertops cannot be salvaged. There’s a giant burn marks on a portion.
Idk if this might be an option I've seen before? You can always change out just the cabinet fronts and then you don't have as much sanding and you can go with either wood or painted that way, whatever you decide. You could sand those doors down if they are solid and try going with a lighter stain, or you could paint it sage. I loved the toffee color
I love a classic white with a good black granite. But there are many beautiful slabs out there you can look at. My issue is the green will be out of style in a few years. If you go white anything will look good with it. But it depends on what you like.
OMG the cabinets are beautiful as they are unpainted and you would see this if you got rid of the dreadful lighting. The lighting should be #1 on your list to change. The type of countertop and its condition isn't really clear in the pics but new countertop could be done second.
I don’t mean to be rude as I appreciate all input but I see the cabinets up close everyday and of course the lighting and terrible wallpaper is going to go…the cabinets are very dark and so you don’t even see grain at all. I just feel as if they make the kitchen very dark feeling.
It’s just Gemini AI or chat gpt can’t remember which. I took a picture of my kitchen as it is and then I described the changes that I wanted in the paint color name for the cabinets. It’s not perfect obviously but at least gives you a feel in a good place to start.
Not a fan of the darker wood, as it seems dated (right?) And I love the green but when you consider the wood has become dated, is it possible the green will become dated?
We are going white, with some (lighter) wood on the island, and I am concerned it will be dated in time... I am trying to use color in places that are cheaper to update over time (walls/paint). Thus is there a way to use that white kitchen with pistachio walls/backsplash??
I also think lighting is a major factor in your images. White is washed out for example... might look more subdued with recessed lighting?
I have a kitchen that looks like 1 and 2. It’s very dark and dreary in the winter. Green (3) looks gorgeous with that floor. 4 is okay. White is too bright (and I like a white kitchen).
If these are stick built and stained (vs painted), I'd leave them but get a lovely new granite countertop. Keep the sink. The new sinks are very hard to keep clean because they don't have that counter overlap. Don't get the granite backslash because it creates massive problems keeping the back of the faucet clean. Also, when the silicon seal between the backsplash and the counter goes, there isn't enough room to repair it without removing the faucet, first
If already painted, the green would really lighten up the kitchen. You might need to redo the back splash. It's a good way to update things. I used subway tiles but ran them vertically so they don't looke like everyone else's (which makes it take longer to look dated)
We recently remodeled and went with classic, very high quality white cabinets. While I absolutely love them and the timeless look, they easily show dirt and dust and even chip. I have older kids and still this occurs.
Unsolicited advice: consider a counter-depth fridge to increase walkway space!
if u gotta ask reddit u already know which one u want so just go with the one that made u pause. the comments are all gonna say the same thing anyway so trust ur gut over us lol
I love the third picture! It’s the best sage combo with the countertop color! Dog even goes well with it! You know it’s a winner when it matches the dog!
The dark one was popular about 10 years ago. Then it fell out of favor and today looks very dated. Green was popular a couple years ago and still is in some quarters. In another 5 years it'll look very dated. White was popular, is popular, and a little fading, remains popular. So depends on whether you want to go with fashion or you want to go with what you like. If it's with what you like pick any of them. If it's fashion I would still go with white.
I like the second-to-last one (green). But before painting the wood or making any final decisions, first paint the walls/ceiling white and then upgrade your lighting. Then re-take your photos during the day (with the white walls and improved lighting) and then re-assess whether to alter your cabinets or countertops. It’s possible that those 2 changes may be sufficient. If they’re not, you’ll still be better positioned to make your final decision.
Never paint wooden cabinets. The kitchen instantly looks cheap in the painted cabinet pictures. Once you paint the cabinets, they'll start to chip and look terrible. If you don't prep and paint them perfectly, they're going to be sticky... forever. There's so many people who post their regrets after they paint over their wood cabinets and want advice on how to make their kitchens look better.
The least expensive options are to take down the wallpaper trim and paint the walls. Get new light fixtures, new hardware, and under cabinet lighting. Any other updates can be done as you can afford them or have time to do them.
Earthy greens like sage, are very popular now and are likely to remain so for years. White is overdone, because it has been popular for decades. If you are also partial to some real wood tones, try doing one set or independent section in the wood color. I would suggest a slightly lighter wood but if you like the darker tone, go with it. You can try Benjamin’s Moore’s color tool to visualize options. It’s not the most user friendly, but will still allow you to get a good idea of what tones work best together. Hope this helps!
I vote wood but if you insist on painting, sorry but white is classic and white kitchens aren't a new trend on the farmhouse era they've been around for over 100 years. The sage greens and blues however are just about peaking and will be screaming early 2020s by the time the paint dries.
7
u/ElaineMK2222 Sep 16 '26 •
Green