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?
Rebecca writes:
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?
Readers — what do you think that Rebecca should do with her cabinets?
Rebecca - Madison, WI says
WOW! I just go through reading all the wonderful comments, feedback and suggestions. This is just amazing. I really appreciate everyone taking their time to provide feedback. Kate, you did a great job working your magic with the mock-ups. Thank you so much. I am a visual person and that really helps. Thank you Pam for this wonderful site and featuring my kitchen.
I tend to be a purist and usually like to keep things original. I would be interested in keeping the cabinets original but in person they are really yellow and dingy looking. I don’t feel like I would know how to bring them back to life effectively.
I would like a kitchen that says HELLO when I look at it. I love Pam’s kitchen and would have loved to do metal cabinets but I didn’t think I had the skill to find them and figure out how to install them.
I think white would be great and I would love to be bold and just do it all in aqua as I just love the color. So much to think about!
I will keep Pam and Kate posted on the results and will continue to document the process on my blog.
Many, many thanks for everyone’s help!!!
susan says
The yellow could be old stain. You can use a stripper, or just sand with a 100 grit. I did the same on mine, they look amazing all refinished.
Mary Elizabeth says
Hi, Rebecca,
I was thinking about your terms “yellow” and “dingy” regarding your cabinets and doors. The old lacquer finishes they used in the 1950s and 1960s do tend to yellow with age. But if you like the idea of keeping the original wood, the color might look very different when you put in the new countertop and backsplash. Someone else suggested living with the cabinets a while before painting and refinishing. Are they dinged up any, or just grubby looking?
You may have years of grease and grime on those cabinets. Maybe you should try a deep cleaning first. What worked ion my old 1959 kitchen was Murphy’s Oil Soap (in solution with warm water, not in a spray bottle) and one of those green flat scrubby sponges that is slightly abrasive. Wipe down afterward with a soft cloth, then let dry. If the finish then looks too dull when dry, you can apply a good furniture wax to bring back the luster. Finally, minor scratches can be repaired by getting the finish repair crayons in the hardware store. They come in different finishes and under a .variety of brand names. Let us know how you are doing.
Roberta Lee says
Have you considered a pale, creamy yellow? I did a mockup–not sure how to upload it but if you email me at bertgrrrl@yahoo.com I will send it to you. I just love yellow kitchens, and it looks really nice with the aqua and orange!
pam kueber says
Roberta, can you put your mockup on a photo sharing site (flickr or even google docs) that way you can “share” the link. I prefer readers do that rather than posting their email addresses online.
tammyCA says
I would lean towards restoring the cabinets and not painting them…overall they look in good shape. One thing that keeps me from painting my worn cabinets is the warm, glowy look they have in the evening with the kitchen light…feels so homey.
Maybe you could go with a orange-y shade from Rust-oleum to go with your glass backsplash. I know lighting (natural & artificial, especially florescent) and the size of the room can change colors and seem overpowering so you might have to experiment…what sounds good on paper might be very different in reality.
You’re lucky you got the Boomerang before it was discontinued…and, your vintage stove is cool…like my fave t.v. show: http://pinterest.com/pin/320881542169874302/
Janice says
I’m partial to white cabinets so I would say go with all white. It’ll make your other colors stand out more. My second choice is the white uppers and aqua lowers, but that might be a little too much aqua in a room….if there’s such a thing as too much aqua. Can’t wait to see the finished product!
Jessica says
Oh my gosh, I am so excited to see what she picks. Her kitchen is a lot like mine.I have original 1954 aqua boomerang countertops. I am planning on repainting my cabinets white, although now I am kind of wondering if I should just leave them. Right now I have Sherwin Williams aquatint on the walls. Its a lighter aqua color and looks cool with the countertops. It was actually really close to the original color on the walls. We will probably be doing a gray floor. I vote for you to paint the cabinets white. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
PAT COFFEY says
Rebecca I think your kitchen is going to turn out awesome but putting a piece of the boomerang laminate on the front of your dishwasher maybe a little over the top. IMHO I think it might look better if you had the door panel and the motor compartment cover of the dishwasher sprayed plain turquoise to match the front of you stove which would not only make it blend in with the stove better but it will also compliment the white control panel on the dishwasher itself. Also it would blend in better if you chose to paint you cabinet door turquoise as well. Just my 2 pennies worth……..
blissing says
I love the natural cabinets. It’s a lot of work but they can be filled in with different colors of filler and made to look natural again. Although I painted the cabinets in the house I just sold, I never liked the sticky feeling I get from them. It never goes away.
In the apartment I’m temporarily living in now, every single surface in the kitchen is painted, even the countertops. Ew! I hate even setting down a spoon on them.
Jim DeAngelis says
I’m guessing you used latex paint of the cabinets? There is a hardener available, that can be added to latex paints to remove alot of that “stickyness”. Its similar to Japan dryer for shellac.
blissing says
Thanks!
Jim DeAngelis says
I did nearly the same thing in my kitchen. I have the origianl “contractor grade” plywood cabinets with cherry venier, and they were stained, chipped and discolored. I stripped off the shellac and hit them with with 4 coats of white alkyd primer, then 3 coats of Sherwin-Williams latex epoxy industrial paint, sanding between coats. It comes as a white base, and can be tinted to nearly any color. I went with “Daffodill” yellow. I used a cheapo Campbell-Hausfield HVLP sprayer, and cleaned up with mineral spirits (for the primer) and water and denatured alcohol (for the color coats). Everyone thinks I now have steel cabines! It took awhile, but I have a near-indestructable finish that washes easy and resists sctratches. I can send some pics if wanted.
pam kueber says
Wow, sounds like a terrific process!
Rebecca - Madison, WI says
Hi Jim,
Thank you for the detailed information. When we decide the what then the next step is to decide the how and I am very interested in your process. Could you please send me pics? rreeves4414@charter.net Thanks!
scb says
I love the white cabinets, but not with that floor. I’d rather see some of the linoleum you can get now in bright colors on the floor — either a solid or perhaps a border around a large rectangular area. The trim on the window really sticks out to me, too. I think it needs to be painted white also.
Diane in CO says
Yes, definitely paint that window. 🙂
Denise B says
“Blonde” wood was the rage at that time. Either the wood or the finish or both on your cabinets have probably darkened quite a bit. They would have originally been almost that light Ikea wood color. I would stay light and natural – it goes with everything and once you paint the wood, going back is very hard. Once all the other finishes are in, the wood will make sense.