I've been away from the forum for a few days. I needed some time to think, and to do some pricing. I checked out the cost of new appliances (in stainless and in black). Oooo mama those things can cost a dollar or two!! The long and the sort of it is, I'm not prepared to put out that kind of cash for that kitchen; at least not yet. When I am it will be to gut the thing and redo it completely. I'll probably have to hire someone because there are two walls that I want removed. Once they're out the entire floor plan will be different and it will be time to completely rethink the lay out; including all design features. What that means is that anything I do in the meantime is only meant to be temporary. So I only want to do small things.
Without the new appliances an all grey scheme is out of the question. So what do I have to work with? When I take stock of the kitchen here's what I come up with: a white fridge, a black and white dishwasher, a black and white stove, a black and white range hood, a white microwave, a black counter top (actually it's PC "Charcoal", but it reads as black most of the time), and a white ceramic tile back splash. Seems to me I've got a ready made scheme on my hands.
Here are the possibilities for the cabinets: all white (in high gloss?), except the counter top which would remain black. Or conversely, I could do them all black (in high gloss?), except the back splash which would remain white. Or, black lowers and white uppers. Or, white lowers and black uppers.
Then there's the question of the wall colour. Seems to me I can paint the wall white (egg shell finish to contrast with the cabinets if they're in high gloss), or perhaps one of those heavier cream colours like Ralph Lauren "Pale Cream".
Got to think about it more; but I'd be happy to hear people's thoughts. By the by, the floor is a beech laminate; but in a yellow-brown tone, not the pale, near white stuff with a pinkish cast.
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I think what you say *cmm* Mikes place will be smashing with that look I can see it there and he can do it.
I agree. MikeD can pull it off for sure.
I like Suzanne's colour palette too -I think that would work for you!!
-white walls
-warm DARK brown lower cabinets which will also somewhat disguise the D/W
-keep black counter (I think it'll be smashing with the brown cabinets)
-white uppers so your backsplash and fridge tie-in.
That's it.. This is my FAV SO FAR! The uppers can be cut-out with glass inserts or shelving style without doors (but with side dividers, kinda like large cubbi-holes)
But this colour palette is my favourite and I can see it perfectly clear! Wish I could see things clearly for my own space.
Open shelving is only for very neat people and Mike I think by your pictures youa re one that could pull that look off.
I took a look at those two videos -- I especially like what Suzanne has done in place of upper cabinets. Lots of ideas to ponder. It's going to take me some time, but the idea of completely removing the upper cabinets (at least on the window side of the kitchen) is becoming more and more attractive. Everyone is coming up with such great ideas for me! Thanks all.
MikeD
Check this link out and scroll down to tour 4 and 6 to start. If you can't view the videos on your computer, you can still see the pic (unfortunately, not clickable to enlarge) but it gives an idea. There's probably lots more if you keep scrolling, but those first 2 caught my eye.
one with light lowers and uppers and a dark counter, and the othre pic looks like some open shelving cabinets, not just shelves, but cabinet-style shelves with no doors. Maybe you can have them cut out and put plexi in the upper panels to soften it up and it might solve the "what colour works" dilemma. Just a thought.
[url]http://www.cityline.ca/homeandgarden/housetours/[/url]
OH..... what about dark chocolate brown walls, a warm grey flannel for lower and uppers, and keep the white backsplash and black counter!! I can SO see that!!! I wish I had time to mock-up today. Maybe later on but I can't promise (I hate working) :(
please mock my kitchen, It needs mocking :-) Just ask Red.
By the by, yesterday evening I went to Starbucks for my evening fix. I wandered down to the decorating section of Chapters, as I often do, with coffee in hand. I noticed a book by Trends on sale for $12.95: I think it was called something like Trends in Kitchen Design, and it had a long sub-title. I didn't buy it! But as I was flipping through it I came across photos of a kitchen with, wait for it, multi-coloured cabinet doors. They didn't use the same colours I used, but there was at least three different colours used. What's more, and to stress the theme, the doors and drawers has different style knobs too. This was hailed not as some frat-house left over, but as an interesting and artistic effort. I feel vindicated. Then again, my belief that I had something original has been shattered! I guess it's true what they say; there's nothing new under the sun!
I like the dark grey cabinets both the uppers and lowers. For a wall color (in the words of our little tweety) how about dove grey?
suggestion of losing the upper cabinets and installing shelves. Your toaster etc. will look good elevated to shelf level.
I think I would go cabinetless on one side only and you could display the good stuff on this side, leaving the other side for hidden storage.
Could one of the 'mockers' please remove Mike's cabinets on the sink side only?
I have to admit to liking the dark look too; maybe the second from the last of DBD's mock ups (the very last seems just too dark). What wall colour would you put with such a dark look? White? Grey? More black (or charcoal as the case may be)? Or even some shade of brown or tan (black and tan is a classic -- if not overused).
OMG, we're going to end up back at Red's early suggestion -- all grey flannel or railway crossing!!!!
...some would worry about spiders crawling over their plates.
I am loving the darker cabnets, really a very sexy chic look. You should go for it. Oh and for the open shelf thingy.. i have some, and well... I dust a lot ! LOL
I like some of those ideas -- sounds a sexy and chic. Would you remove the uppers on both sides of the kitchen (it's galley style) or just from one side? I have one small mental problem with piling dishes on open shelving, however: I worry about dust build up, etc. Is that a real issue, or just a psychological thing?
I'm just going to throw this out there.
Looking at your kitchen, I find it really lends itself to no upper cabinets.
Storage seems to always be an issue to everyone, but , lets' pretend it's not.
I know you are thinking of gutting it in the future, but I can so see thick black floating shelves...(of course, not cluttered), but with your dishes, wine glasses etc. exposed.
Is there tile back there, suppose that would be a problem, but you could sure have fun with the back wall....
is that completely unreasonable?
not so easy now is it????? ;)
Very useful. Now if only I could decide on the one!
the darker variety
Okay, I gave it a go having zero idea of what the colours might be that were suggested...no samples I could find on the web of either PC or P&Lto help me out but hopefully this will give you some idea.
I had no idea of what to do with the walls or whether the backsplash went right up around the window or not, so I basically left that area and around the fridge alone. I did try the wall by the chair in a couple of pictures.
I am open to trying other colours if there is a sample somewhere on the web I can grab to use.
jumping in to add my thoughts really REALLY late it appears. But I also like a dark charcoal for the lowers (close to black but not black) and a warm clean white like cloud white. But I have the zen sample and it doesn't seem to have much yellow in it to me. Its very nice.
ninja birdie. I'm not threatening to use the unmentionable; I only referred to "cloud white" as an example of a shade of white. I was wondering if you had a design reason for suggesting something with as much yellow as Zen, rather than something as white as "cloud white," or "silver lining" as the case may be.
It's going to cost me $15 to find out what clay gray looks like. Kent has the formula in their computer, but no sample at all; not even anything they can bring up on their computer screen. It had better be good! :-)
for the love of all that is good and holy let's go with P&L's Silver Lining shall we?
What's the sound of one brush painting? A Jen Master of course!
Picked up a chip of Zen. MMMMmmmmmmmm. It's got an awful lot of yellow in it -- more cream than white. Wondering Meredith, is there a particular reason for something so yellow? Originally I was thinking, forgive the reference to Satan, of something more like BM "cloud white". Why not something as white as that?
Is there anywhere a person could get a look at those colours (or something close to them)? The PC site isn't much help (to me anyway) unless they are on one of their chips on the site that you could point me to (I can't read the names on the site). I can always use the WAG system but if you have some reference for me I can try a mock up for MikeD.
I love the little budgie just as she is, plain talking and all.
for some reason when i try and do it...i still get the different colours showing thru...ok someone better at this than me has to take a shot at it.
Meredith fussy??????....nooooooo......particular yes....picky yes...diplomatic NOOOOOOOO....but would we have it any other way????....NOT A CHANCE!!!!... ;)
fussy????????? Hardly.
Just particular. Exacting. Festidious at times.
I think that that fussbudget Heron (fussbudgie?) will insist that you do a mock up with ALL of the lower cabinets and doors a darker grey and all of the uppers a pale grey (white?). She has a problem with Mike's cool abstract cabinet art. Can you do another?
Mike it's in the computer with the other formulae. You just don't get to see any chips.. so you will have to have blind faith. bwaahaaaaa
not the greatest mockup...actually really crappy job...sorry
Jj for the mock-up. I'm still under a death threat from the majority of my Nfld friends; I touch that paint job at my peril! LOL
Meredith: I might have difficulty getting colours from the tonic accent collection -- I don't think Kent, which is the store that carries PC here, has access to it. If I can't find it, is there something close to it in PC's regular compliment of colours? I'd like to take a look at it before I make up my mind.
Thanks to everyone for their ideas and for helping out.
ps for dbd -- my dishwasher's panel is indeed reversible, and it is white on the other side!
for the basecabinets will tie into your dishwasher...
Zen for the Upper Cabinets will tie into the Fridge.
Clay Gray for the Walls - a tonic Accent colour will marry the lot together.NB33-3