Reader Rebecca’s 1963 kitchen is in need of some TLC. She already has come up with a great solution to swap a wall oven with a full size stove — which she documented on her blog, The Vintage Life. But now she’s stuck. Rebecca will use Formica aqua boomerang laminate on the counter tops… she has picked out a mosaic tile back splash… and she’s decided on a wall color. Her final dilemma: What color to paint or refinish the faded chippy wood kitchen cabinets?
We are redoing our 1963 kitchen and have decided on an aqua, orange and white palate. We are keeping the current cabinets and my dilemma is what color should the cabinets be. We are considering using the Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformation product but I am stuck as to what color. Our thinking was that the cabinets needed a “refresh”. They are leaning a little yellow and yes there is some damage in a few places. I have attached a couple pics I put together from the Sherman Williams Color Visualizer. [Editor’s note – we did not show these photos – but we made our own, below.] They are crude but give a little bit of a vision of what it could be. One picture is with the cabinets in a darker color and one picture is with the cabinets staying as they are. We thought the painting of the cabinets at least in a darker color really made the other colors pop a little more. So that is what we were thinking. It would be easier to leave them alone but I really think we need to do something with them. We are open to your suggestions.
The counter tops are going to be the Formica aqua boomerang that we bought before they discontinued it.
The back splash is going to be glass mosaic tile from Mosaic Tile Supplies. I used their tile maximizer to create my own blend of white at 70% then aqua and orange at 15% each. Here is a link to their site. Colors we chose are Snow white – KA077, Pumpkin – KD101 and Rochester – KB009. If you haven’t played with it before it is really fun.
We have an aqua oven and I was thinking of putting some of the Formica in the front of the dishwasher like the gal did with her Betty Crocker cookbook cover. We are looking at doing a cork floor in perhaps a lighter cork color. Any painted wall space will be in the Holiday Turquoise from Sherman Williams.
With all this in mind, what is your suggestion on the color of the cabinets?
Thank you for helping me get unstuck!!
5 ideas to repaint or refinish these old wood kitchen cabinets
This first mock up (above) shows what Rebecca’s kitchen would look like with her new counter top, backsplash, flooring and paint choices while keeping the wood cabinets the same color they are now. While I personally like the current look of the natural wood cabinets — I understand her need to paint them — since my kitchen cabinets — which were a similar color and construction — were also heavily chipped and damaged. Using about a gallon of wood putty, several coats of primer and a fresh coating of paint really helped my kitchen feel cleaner and removed the “rough around the edges” feeling. If you want to replicate the look of the natural wood, yes, Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations might be great — you can add just enough glaze (maybe further diluted) at the end to bring out the natural grain after the painting.
Rebecca also is considering painting her cabinets a darker wood toned color like the mock up above. While I like the idea of keeping a wood like finish on the cabinets — this darker color in combination with the other choices — makes me think of the 1970s more than the 1960s. This is fine if that is the look that Rebecca is going for, or if she likes this look — but I was under the impression that she is wanting a more late 50s early 60s look.
My initial thought — if the original wood tone cannot be preserved — was to paint all of the cabinets white. This will help the dishwasher be less obvious — though I would not use the laminate panel in this case. The all-over white will also substantially lighten and brighten the space and really let the fabulous aqua boomerang countertops, aqua appliances and mosaic tile backsplash take center stage. Because of the warm cork flooring it and other color on the walls — the space will not feel too sterile.
Pam suggested trying the mock up above — instead of painting all the cabinets white — paint the bottom cabinets aqua.
Or even going as far as to paint all the cabinets aqua (like the above mock up) and making the wall orange to match the tile?
Dee Dee Rhinehart says
I did this at my first home in 1991: I had wood cabinets with wood doors stained medium. I painted white primer on all surfaces then painted the base cabinets in country blue and painted the doors white with round white knobs. Everyone loved the contrast. In this case, she could paint the base cabinets white or rust and paint the doors aqua to match the stove. The knobs can be the “other” color, not used – either white or rust.
lady brett says
i love the white cabinets!
but if what you’re going for is more color, i still feel the all-aqua base cabinets are a bit “much” with the aqua counter – i would throw some orange in there to break it up a bit, perhaps by painting those two front-and-center drawers orange.
another thing you could do for a “pop” of color is go all-white, except for the two front-center drawers *and the doors* in aqua or orange (or aqua doors, orange drawers, etc.). something a bit mondrian.
pam kueber says
To all the folks saying aqua cabinets with aqua countertops may be overload, I remind, that’s what’s in my kitchen — https://retrorenovation.com/pams-kitchen/
That said, I do think there is an issue of “scale” to consider. My kitchen is quite large — 15′ wide, with a big window shining in. Rebecca’s is much tighter. So indeed, it *may* be “too much” to have all that aqua so close together.
Personally: I am a fan of the original wood finish — either refinished with stain etc, or repainted.
lady brett says
no offense meant (that was my intent in using quotes around much – because this is clearly a matter of personal taste)!
though i would add that with the aqua-on-aqua, in your kitchen the metal coutertop trim adds a border between the two, and i think their bleeding together is a part of what i was referring to with “much” – as well as the scale you mention (and, of course, my personal propensity towards 40s black-and-white rather than 50s color, which *is* entirely beside the point in someone else’s kitchen =).
pam kueber says
I agree! The stainless steel edge provides separation. If Rebecca wants to stay *true*ish to 1963, I think she should not use metal edge.
Rebecca - Madison, WI says
Hi Pam,
Yes, we were looking to stay more 60’s than 50’s. Would you consider the metal edging more 50’s? Is that why you are suggesting to not use it?
pam kueber says
Yes, I would consider metal edging more 50s. I do not have this all academically verified, but I *think* that by the early 60s the trend was moving to postformed (curved) edges. But Rebecca — do what makes you happy! Note — I think my kitchen (1951 house / 1963 cabinets) kind of bridges both — and I have the stainless steel edging…
Diane in CO says
Pam,
Looked again at your kitchen countertops (love that kitchen).
Don’t you have a METAL TRIM along the vertical edges? It’s a great look and perhaps that’s the solution for this kitchen, metal trim to give more definition and contrast between turquoise cabinets and counters – if Rebecca chooses to go turquoise.
lynda says
Pam, yours are metal and I think that makes a different statement than the painted wood. Also, you do not have the orange added to the back splash and as you mentioned, the bigger space handles the aqua cabinets very nicely. I vote for the original wood, if the cabinets can be saved. Sometimes 1000 grit wet/dry sand paper from an auto supply store polishes up old wood surfaces. She could paint an end cabinet turquoise, like the side next to the wood counter that is lower. (looks like butcher block? If yes, that can be sanded and oiled to look new.) I think a white dishwasher is fine since she will probably have a white refrigerator. The aqua stove is very nice. I agree, the tile should go to the ceiling and around the window if there is any wall space there. I also think the window frame should be painted white to match the tile. She could hang a heavy duty bar on the tiled wall for utensils with hooks and a cute dish towel. A cute retro clock could hang above the rack. I think the color of the cork matching the cabinets could look nice. Marmoleum would look nice too, but the colors may be a bit muted. Maybe the Sahara color would look a little like the color of cork with a bit more orange it it.
Nicole says
My first choice would be keep it original.
Second choice would be all white.
Lynne says
I haven’t had a chance to read all of the comments this morning, so forgive me if these suggestions have already been touched upon. It doesn’t look like this kitchen gets a lot of natural light. So, as a safe bet, I would go with painting the cabinets white. While I like natural wood, it does soak up the light. If you want a more whimsical touch, you could paint the cabinet boxes white, and then the doors the aqua or orange.
As for the floor, again, natural light comes into play. A cork floor, unless kept to the very lighter side, will again soak up light. I would at least consider a shinier more reflective surface, be it sheet vinyl, or something similar.
Andrea says
What is the cabinets were painted a lighter version of the aqua of the stove (ie picks up the colors in the boomerang pattern itself).
(edited)
The floor needs something neutral and not overwhelming.
If you loveLOVE the idea of orange accents get some curtains, mat, dish towels and vintage ceramic cookie jars, etc. That way the orange will be undoable/changeable in the future.
Valerie Clark says
I’d try to keep the cabinets as is…oil them up and try to live with them for a while after you do everything else. I think they would look really good with the turquoise and white palette.
I do agree with others that in the mockups the cork color looks a bit off but in real life it probably looks different. I personally would lean more towards a whitish type of floor perhaps white washed wood or white marmoleum (with pops of orange or turquoise…oolala!)
Do you know anything about your existing kitchen floor? It looks just like mine except mine is yellowish and blue. Mine honestly looks like it was poured down and will definitely be a big old pain to remove. I’m trying to love it.
Suzanne says
I would give my eye teeth for original wood cabinets over the layers of paint in my kitchen! Keep it orginal.
Rinke says
Please keep some the wood!
See if you can find a transparent orange (or make one by diluting the paint) for the doors and drawers on the bottom cabinets, clear coat on top of that. The cabinets themselves solid orange, so the chipping won’t show. Upper cabinets in white, countertop aqua.
But I really like the aqua-white-como Pam made too!
Rinke says
Excuse me: -combo
kelly brickey says
My choice would be mockup 1, with modifications. High gloss poly on those cabinets will make them pop. Tile the blank window space with the back splash tile, and fit a cool mid mod wall clock. Paint the ceiling light framework aqua. This will be a wow kitchen! Good job on the tile.
Gracie Manasco says
EVERYONE tried to get me to paint my honey colored cabinets white… I stood firm and kept them. I love how my vintage wood moldings and trim and crown moldings are the same color as the cabinets… it makes the pastel colors that I’ve painted the walls through the years look so bright and clean! Currently they are butter yellow, and with all my vintage kitchen ware in pastels of blue, yellow, pink, and gray, my warm honey cabinets are just so homey… modern AND early American at the same time! LOVE IT!!!