Happy Monday to you all!
Painting wood (especially dated wood) should be done in the following circumstances. OR at least in my opinion
Dated 80’s style cabinets. This image below is a great example of a dated kitchen deserving a new start. The color of cabinets are not in style and never will be again. By no means am I saying that we should all keep up with the latest trends, but we should be aware of what trends that will NEVER be back. I think that this kitchen is one of them.
This picture is a great example of a kitchen that went from sooooo… dated and turned out great with just simple Paint. Nothing fancy, just good old paint. They did however add new backsplash, new counters, and painted over the existing paint color on the walls. The first great change you notice is the vibrancy that the white adds to this space. An instant update for sure! Even if they hadn’t done all those other things, painting the cabinets would have added so much bang for their buck too!
Your cabinets should be painted or cabinet doors changed out if you are trying to sell your home. Let’s face it, today’s home buyers want fresh, bright, and tailored kitchens. Nothing more. Sorry men, but I know this is a shot in the heart, but I really do have your best interests in mind and your wives as well. Most home buyers in today’s market want to buy a home that is in move-in condition, or they are highly skilled and want to tear it apart and start from scratch.
Today’s buyers want a kitchen that they can imagine themselves working in. To work in a kitchen well requires light! Working in a dingy, dark kitchen like the above BEFORE picture can leave most of us with the feeling of wanting to take a nap instead of making a gourmet meal!!! If you can’t even imagine painting wood, at the very least consider changing out the dated cabinet doors and replace them with new doors. I guarantee you will make your money back and more.
Here’s another example if I haven’t convinced some of you. This couple took their obviously dated kitchen and gave it an updated look with paint and other materials. The after image is no surprise to what paint can do to cover up dark, dingy cabinets.
and after….
Isn’t this stunning work for the cost of not shelling out thousands of dollars for new cabinets! Mind you, I bet it was a lot of work! Great job to them for all their hard work.
Well have I convinced you yet Men? Or at the very least I hope I have entertained you…
Love the wood you live in…..
I totally agree! And you’ve found some perfect kitchens to illustrate your argument! The funny thing is once that wood is painted, men are happy with the transformation!!
Victoria
I sure hope so. OR if they do like it, they probaly wouldn’t admit it! 🙂 Nice to hear from you!!
oh yes………..this is an ongoing battle in my home. I too love wood, but i like a healthy balance between painted and rich, warm woods. maybe greg will finally go for a totally white furnished playroom! hehehehhehe
Monica,
Yes, I do love the look of natural wood with painted wood. Too much of one thing is a bad thing in my opinion.
Thanks for sharing!
Jodi,
It was interesting to read about your post on painting wood. In cases like this then there is no guilt in doing it. A dresser or fine table, NOT. Its like painting stainless steel, you don’t do it. Wood always feels warm. I would never say NEVER to wooden cabinets never comming back, they might be back. Bell-bottom pants, bug eyed gases etc.. of the 70’s, now they are back.
What are your thoughts on painting cabinets other than white. I see in new homes, too much white!! Have you come across cabinets painted in other colors but stilll look modern? For example dark like that center piece on your last picture?
Thanks for your manly comments on painted wood. I was beginning to think all the men hated me… There are definitely things that would never paint. Pianos, antiques, like clocks, etc. to name a few. Your right, dated cabinets may come back but highly doubtful.
I love the idea of painting cabinets other than white. I have so many other color ideas that bring forth a modern look. Gray is making it’s new come back. Brown is out and gray is in for 2011. Two toned cabinets look fabulous as well. Lighter on the top cabinets and darker in the same tones on the bottom. This gives a very sleel look paired with pewter finishes… Also tones of black look amazing on any cabinet surfaces…. Tones like gray/ blues look amazing too when the correct color is chosen. If you happen to paint some cabinets some day, I would be more that happy to point you in the right direction and feel for the space you want to create..
Hope this was helpful.
Jodi
When we get our new home I am sure the cabinets will need work. I will keep you in mind for color co-ordinating. Thanks.
GREAT before and after examples … When I read where you said that color/look of cabinet will never be back again , I had the quick thought too off ‘ya never know….’ even though it will NOT be my choice!
I prefer painted over wood – even in houses , how they used to be built ‘all stained’ or ‘all painted white’… all stained is just too much wood, then when you combo wood floors or wood furnishings your house feels like a log cabin. the newer, custom homes I’m in now (Im a decorative painter) are still mainly painted trim but not so much white white anymore – its a warm white, or offwhite. lovely. AND – one room or two rooms might be all stained woodwork – like the library or great room – it works – whole houses dont have to be the same anymore.
I’m involved in a diy paint for cabinets/furniture – most folks (for kitchens) are going over oak so they are grabbing white or cream, then antiquing/glazing over top. Scott, some are doing black, I’ve seen some paprika, and some cobblestone (like a sage color) – I am seeing alot more mixing up , which I always recommend – like doing all the mains one color, but the island something else, or a focal cabinet something else – or a desk area or range hood .
The reality is, unless you bought a hand crafted home where the cabinets are solid and hand made and of wonderful quality inside and out, you’re only going to get xx amt of years out of them, before they start to really get beat up – cabinets are a huge expense to rip out and redo so I say get the most mileage out of the ones you have – spending a couple hundred bucks to paint them is a great investment to get, say another 10 or or years out of them….
Jodie these are wonderful transformations. In these two examples it made perfect sense (old dingy cabinets from the late 70’s early 80’s that aren’t super high quality to begin with). Don’t get me wrong, painting these ugly ducklings was the right thing to do.
With all do respect, I think what most men object too is the painting of millwork in old homes (well since your blog is not PC anyways; men painting wood work in their homes, because their wives nag them to do it). Most of these women have spent too much time loafing on the sofa watching HGTV and the latest trends. Contractors agree with it because its cheap and EASY.
Most women never swing a hammer, never do woodwork, sand, stain, etc. and have zero appreciation for the amount of time and effort to install millwork. This latest trend (paint everything white and create a sterile character free home).
And before everyone jumps on me and goes crazy, yes I agree its too much dark hardwood can be dark and imposing. A simple solution is painting the walls light colors. and installing proper lighting which older homes often lack.
Painting millwork in old homes (trim, wainscoting, chair rail, crown molding, stair treads & risers, balusters, etc.), is virtually irreversible and a travesty. You would be smarter to remove the wood and sell it (yes, old wood work in homes can be worth a small fortune) and replace it with cheap composite wood and paint it white.