what color should I paint my kitchen? - need a little help.

Whitney&Candace'sMommy wrote: Well, I've wanted to paint the kitchen and the dining room for ages but can never decide on a color. The whole house is the color in the picture and it has been forever, it's just gotton so boring..and it get's so dirty with the kid's putting their hands on the wall's and the dirt and scuff marks. Every little smudge show's up, it's horrible. I want it to feel kind of warmer, if you get what I mean. It's got more of a fresh look now, and I'd like it darker but can't decide on a color.
Any suggestion? dh, who is apparently the boss of painting, claims I have to pick a color without his help because he "doesnt do that stuff". So he won't help, and I need some advice..


p.s. I love how clean it is in this picture, right now theirs peanut butter all over the counter and a washing basket full of clothes that need to be folded..plus the number of odd things Whitney claim's to "need in the kitchen" (and inflatable beach ball in the kitchen? I think not sweetheart)..I have so much to do....

kit_kats_mom replied: First, lovely home. Where do you live? My step dad is an architect and that looks like something he'd design. Very nice!

Since I see so many natural elements in the house, I'd probably try to steer clear of crazy colors. Maybe try to find a shade in the stone wall that you love (a light to medium grey?) and paint the kitchen the lighter of the two & the d/r in the darker. Or possibly a very earthy green...kinda olivey.

mckayleesmom replied: My vote is RED...a really dark, rich red....and maybe some decorations that are cream colored with Red accents.......Your house is beautiful.

msoulz replied: Wow, you have a beautiful place!

Green is a popular color right now, and looks very nice with hardwood floors, like an earth tone type setting. I'm thinking of an olive-like green, not really dark. Your place looks quite neutral and open so you could probably pull off pretty much any color. What is the color in the bricks aside from gray - is that a possibility? Although it might not be suitable with those beautiful floors.

What fun, good luck with your redecorating!

Whitney&Candace'sMommy replied: Thanks I live in SoCal..
I like both your suggestions, I wrote them down or else I'd probably forget. Also both of your suggestions would go really well with the furniture and the floors, thanks heaps

moped replied: Ok.............NICE HOUSE!!!! WOW, I can't say or vote on a color because I can't relate to a kitchen like that..............SWEET, I like it just the way it is

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: How about a warm terra cotta color? I think I saw a brick or two in that shade. It would warm up the space.

Whitney&Candace'sMommy replied: lol, you can have it right now if you want. As long as you can explain to Whitney that we don't need an inflatable beach ball that's bigger than your sister in the kitchen...you made me laugh your so cute
and I added you other guyses suggestions to the list cause i love them too...

mckayleesmom replied: Go bold while you can.....go RED ...Ive always wanted a really rich red kitchen or dining room.....I don't own yet....so I need to live through someone

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: We've seen before. Now we'll bug you for afters.

My2Boyz replied: I vote for red. Not to bright, more of an earthy red. I always bring home tons of color swatches from the hardware store and stick them on the walls and leave them for about a week before I decide. The color always looks different in the store. If you still aren't sure by the smallest amount you can and put it on one wall and live with it for a bit and then decide. I love your kitchen!!!

mckayleesmom replied: hmmmm....maybe a rust colored red would be more earthy

Whitney&Candace'sMommy replied: Here's a picture from a different angle, because it's got the living room in their too, I don't think I mentioned that...all of the colors you's suggested would go great. The red would look really great against all of the furniture and the black frames, which you can see in this picture...It's good that I kept it mainly white a grey's, it leaves so many options. And the floors go with anything...

dh did have one suggestion, black. He has this obsession with wanting to paint our bedroom entirely black too
Rust colored red would look nice in the kitchen area with the other area's a darker red, that would also seperate it a bit more

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I like red, but the floors to me already have a lot of red in them. So making the walls red may make the floors appear too orange...therefore too much warmth. What about the opposite of orange and introduce a blue? It would compliment the floors really well. I just painted our master bedroom the same blue as a Tiffany box (like the jewelry store)...I've done my kitchen that color too with dark cherry wood and stainless steel. It tones down the reds a bit!

3xsthefun replied: I'm not sure what brand paint you are going buy. But I looked at some of paint samples I have here at home. The paint sample booklet I have is for Dutch Boy.

I found some really pretty colors and ideas. I think a nice dark red color would be nice. One is called "Red Riches" it is the darkest. Then there is a Elemental Red, I think would look nice also. It is little lighter then the other red.

Green is a good color also, we are actually using 2 different shades of green in our house. One is for the kids room it is a "Mossy Rock" and then another green will go in our living room. I'm not sure what it is called now.

There is a "Neutral Sage" that is really pretty shade of green and is more earthy of a color.

Since you seem to have a fairly big room, you can go with the darker earthy colors and it would look good.

I wish we had a big kitchen/dinning area, but unfortunely ours is smaller so we will go with a brighter color.

I also think a shade of blue or a greyish color would look nice in your kitchen.

Let us know what you decide.

Aprilnewbee replied: I agree with the no black thing. However, my kitchen is a cream yellow, and the cabinets are black, and the edges of the cabinets have been sanded to see the wood underneath. From what I can see, I don't think you have wood cabinets, and if you don't want to do all that work (it is alot). I painted my living room and dining room pewter grey, in some light it looks grey in others a soft blue.
What ever you choose don't fret if you don't like it at first the wonderful thing about paint is you can always repaint.
You have a beautiful home.
Good luck

Beth