Hi all, I'm gutting a galley kitchen and I'm in a bit of a quandary about the cabinet color scheme. A couple of years ago, I was thinking about dark brown lower and upper cabinets with a white countertop/backsplash(a durable Caesarstone or Silestone) with some light "veining." But now that I'm really moving forward on the project, I hardly see that combo in magazines and showrooms, plus I think... [more]
Hi all, I'm gutting a galley kitchen and I'm in a bit of a quandary about the cabinet color scheme.
A couple of years ago, I was thinking about dark brown lower and upper cabinets with a white countertop/backsplash(a durable Caesarstone or Silestone) with some light "veining."
But now that I'm really moving forward on the project, I hardly see that combo in magazines and showrooms, plus I think that, for a galley kitchen you want to go a little lighter (at the very least for the upper cabinets) so that you don't end up making the kitchen feel even smaller.
I'm always concerned about resale so I'm also conscious about choosing something with a more moderate / universal appeal (although I'm aware that after 10 years a new buyer would probably want to change the kitchen, from what I've seen there are some choices that tend to hold up longer than 10 years from a style perspective).
So here are the options that I'm considering - and I'd be curious to hear your thoughts:
1. white upper and lower, same cabinetry
2. white upper and lower, but the lower cabinets would have a subtle horizontal wood grain
3. beige or light gray lower with a subtle horizontal wood grain and white upper
4. medium or dark brown lower with a subtle horizontal wood grain and white upper
- All options with the countertop/backsplash as described above
There will be 2 stainless appliances on the same side - a Subzero frig and a Viking range. If I do the white on white, then I would do an "integrated" Subzero with white panels but the Viking would remain stainless.
But if I do one of the 2-tone cabinet options, I think that I would keep the Subzero stainless and not worry about "matching" the frig to either the upper or the lower cabinets. I think that doing so by adding white or wood grain panels would make that side of the kitchen seem a little too "busy" - and I'd rather keep it simple. So I think that I'd just do the more "clunky" Subzero in stainless. I actually like the look of the stainless Subzero with the compressor above it.
Any thoughts? (And thanks in advance)
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Response by NYCMatt
over 12 years ago
Posts: 7523
Member since: May 2009
Whatever you do in a kitchen, the buyer will hate and rip out anyway.
Do what you like.
I'm partial to white cabinets, particularly in a small kitchen, with a light but boldly colored countertop (apple green, orange, light blue, etc.).
There's nothing worse than a dark-colored countertop; you can't tell if there are crumbs, spills, or worse.
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Response by alanhart
over 12 years ago
Posts: 12397
Member since: Feb 2007
Go with a simple style of Ikea cabinets, but be sure they're painted ... and most of all, paintable. That way you or a future owner can just change the color to anything at all, or even do potato prints or decoupage.
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Response by FormerRenter
over 12 years ago
Posts: 87
Member since: Dec 2010
Do what you like is great advice. Actually, I like a lot of different looks, which is making this that much more difficult. I wish that there were fewer options so that I could land on one more easily.
I am choosing form over function, but even doing that requires a lot of "legwork." For example, I'm going to have a 36" Subzero frig regardless of which design option I go with. But when I compared the two types of 36" Subzero's I discovered a pretty significant difference. The "cleaner," integrated model has 13+ cu. ft. of frig space and 7 cu. ft of freezer space, whereas the classic stainless model has a 16+/5+ ratio, which is much more suitable to my needs. If you saw them in the same store, as I did, you'd be very surprised at how much smaller and less user-friendly the integrated model appears to be (e.g., the frig starts higher, almost waist level).
I keep reading about the "end" of the stainless appliance kitchen, but I think that it's here to stay. Regardless, I'm leaning towards one of the 2-tone options above (I saw something beautiful at Poggenpohl) and I think that the classic stainless works better anyway. In fact, if I do the light grey lower cabinets, I think that would go very well with stainless.
In trying to develop my sense of kitchen style, I did a lot of Streeteasy research, mostly looking at listings of new developments - and it's pretty heavily weighted towards all white kitchens. Perhaps that's the prevailing style of the moment but even if it loses some momentum, I do think that it will always be a pretty safe bet. Still, I'm trying to explore alternatives to all white that don't venture into "fashion victim" territory, hence my obsessive interest in resale!
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Response by Primer05
over 12 years ago
Posts: 2103
Member since: Jul 2009
FormerRenter,
We are finishing a kitchen right now, lower cabinets we made with a wood veneer and uppers with hi gloss white. I will post tomorrow with a link to a photo
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Response by FormerRenter
over 12 years ago
Posts: 87
Member since: Dec 2010
Thanks, Primer. Would love to see it. I'm finding myself a little more drawn to that style because it adds a little more of a design element and can still be subtle and tasteful.
And I just re-read my earlier post: I'm meant to say that I'm choosing function over form, not form over function.
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Response by Primer05
over 12 years ago
Posts: 2103
Member since: Jul 2009
FormerRenter,
I am not the best photographer, the lower cabinets look much better in person as you see the rift graining much more in the veneer. Here is the link. I hope it helps
Too "monochromatic" for my taste, though. I'd need all that white balanced out with a splash of color on the walls.
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Response by huntersburg
over 12 years ago
Posts: 11329
Member since: Nov 2010
purple?
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Response by FormerRenter
over 12 years ago
Posts: 87
Member since: Dec 2010
Thanks, Primer. It looks very nice and sleek and clean. You're right, as I can't really see the texture. It's very much what I'm looking to do. I'm just trying to decide where to land in the beige to gray to light brown color if I decide not to be monochromatic. I think that it will take a few more visits to showrooms to decide what I prefer. I also think that all options go with a stainless Subzero, but pure white or light gray probably work best. Thanks again.
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Response by huntersburg
over 12 years ago
Posts: 11329
Member since: Nov 2010
FormerRenter, are you now officially a former renter?
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Response by FormerRenter
over 12 years ago
Posts: 87
Member since: Dec 2010
Closer than I've ever been. About to schedule closing. With all of the false starts, open houses, missed deals, etc., never did I think that the process of moving from former renter to owner would have been this painful. Whenever I read the column in the NY Times real estate section called "The Hunt," I instantly empathize. Of course, my recent posts have focused on renovations, so it will still be a while before I can exhale and just chill on my new sofa (if I can afford one at that point!).
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Response by bramstar
over 12 years ago
Posts: 1909
Member since: May 2008
I think for a galley kitchen simpler is always better. I personally would not do anything dark. Classic white cabinets are about as universally appealing as you can get, won't look immediately dated, and won't make the space seem heavy and closed-in.
primer05, why you use horizontal pulls for the upper cabinets? is vertical bars easier for open/close?
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Response by Primer05
over 12 years ago
Posts: 2103
Member since: Jul 2009
Caonima,
As much as i like to help with design sometimes I am hired to be the contractor and I do what the client wants. Some clients like them horizontal and some vertical.
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Response by Boss_Tweed
over 12 years ago
Posts: 287
Member since: Jul 2009
My two cents: white upper and lower, same cabinetry
Whatever you do in a kitchen, the buyer will hate and rip out anyway.
Do what you like.
I'm partial to white cabinets, particularly in a small kitchen, with a light but boldly colored countertop (apple green, orange, light blue, etc.).
There's nothing worse than a dark-colored countertop; you can't tell if there are crumbs, spills, or worse.
Go with a simple style of Ikea cabinets, but be sure they're painted ... and most of all, paintable. That way you or a future owner can just change the color to anything at all, or even do potato prints or decoupage.
Do what you like is great advice. Actually, I like a lot of different looks, which is making this that much more difficult. I wish that there were fewer options so that I could land on one more easily.
I am choosing form over function, but even doing that requires a lot of "legwork." For example, I'm going to have a 36" Subzero frig regardless of which design option I go with. But when I compared the two types of 36" Subzero's I discovered a pretty significant difference. The "cleaner," integrated model has 13+ cu. ft. of frig space and 7 cu. ft of freezer space, whereas the classic stainless model has a 16+/5+ ratio, which is much more suitable to my needs. If you saw them in the same store, as I did, you'd be very surprised at how much smaller and less user-friendly the integrated model appears to be (e.g., the frig starts higher, almost waist level).
I keep reading about the "end" of the stainless appliance kitchen, but I think that it's here to stay. Regardless, I'm leaning towards one of the 2-tone options above (I saw something beautiful at Poggenpohl) and I think that the classic stainless works better anyway. In fact, if I do the light grey lower cabinets, I think that would go very well with stainless.
In trying to develop my sense of kitchen style, I did a lot of Streeteasy research, mostly looking at listings of new developments - and it's pretty heavily weighted towards all white kitchens. Perhaps that's the prevailing style of the moment but even if it loses some momentum, I do think that it will always be a pretty safe bet. Still, I'm trying to explore alternatives to all white that don't venture into "fashion victim" territory, hence my obsessive interest in resale!
FormerRenter,
We are finishing a kitchen right now, lower cabinets we made with a wood veneer and uppers with hi gloss white. I will post tomorrow with a link to a photo
Thanks, Primer. Would love to see it. I'm finding myself a little more drawn to that style because it adds a little more of a design element and can still be subtle and tasteful.
And I just re-read my earlier post: I'm meant to say that I'm choosing function over form, not form over function.
FormerRenter,
I am not the best photographer, the lower cabinets look much better in person as you see the rift graining much more in the veneer. Here is the link. I hope it helps
http://primerenovationsnyc.com/2013/08/change-is-good-new-kitchen-on-east-23rd/
Primer05, that's really nice.
Too "monochromatic" for my taste, though. I'd need all that white balanced out with a splash of color on the walls.
purple?
Thanks, Primer. It looks very nice and sleek and clean. You're right, as I can't really see the texture. It's very much what I'm looking to do. I'm just trying to decide where to land in the beige to gray to light brown color if I decide not to be monochromatic. I think that it will take a few more visits to showrooms to decide what I prefer. I also think that all options go with a stainless Subzero, but pure white or light gray probably work best. Thanks again.
FormerRenter, are you now officially a former renter?
Closer than I've ever been. About to schedule closing. With all of the false starts, open houses, missed deals, etc., never did I think that the process of moving from former renter to owner would have been this painful. Whenever I read the column in the NY Times real estate section called "The Hunt," I instantly empathize. Of course, my recent posts have focused on renovations, so it will still be a while before I can exhale and just chill on my new sofa (if I can afford one at that point!).
I think for a galley kitchen simpler is always better. I personally would not do anything dark. Classic white cabinets are about as universally appealing as you can get, won't look immediately dated, and won't make the space seem heavy and closed-in.
The stone you are considering sounds nice and you could go with a mini-subway tile backsplash like this http://www.homedepot.com/p/Merola-Tile-Metro-Subway-Glossy-White-11-3-4-in-x-11-3-4-in-Porcelain-Mesh-Mounted-Mosaic-Tile-FXLMSSW/100649499#.UhN_wW1Y9qw to keep the look light and classic.
primer05, why you use horizontal pulls for the upper cabinets? is vertical bars easier for open/close?
Caonima,
As much as i like to help with design sometimes I am hired to be the contractor and I do what the client wants. Some clients like them horizontal and some vertical.
My two cents: white upper and lower, same cabinetry