Advice on Painting Kitchen with Green Countertops

By Kathy from Chelsea, MA

Archives: Request: Advice on Painting Kitchen with Green Countertops Archived on 11/17/2009 I have Dark green Corian countertops with a white inlay and oak cabinets. A gray slate laminate floor with new stainless appliances. My walls are currently a white with dark green rag roll finish. I want to update walls with a more neutral color. I am tired of the green countertops but my hubby won't let me replace. Help! Donna from Toledo, OH Feedback: RE: Advice on Painting Kitchen with Green Countertops Paint the countertops. If it has a smooth finish then sand a little bit so the primer and paint will adhere easily. One coat of primer, then paint whatever color you want. Less to paint means less money out of your pocket. You can paint them, tile them, etc. If you want to find out how to do it yourself, I live on diynetwork.com. It's awesome. (02/10/2009) By Kellie M. Report Spam or Abuse Request: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops Archived on 02/10/2009 I have oak cabinets with a honey finish, tan color tile, hunter green counter tops with ultra silver steel appliances. What color should I paint the walls? Any help would be appreciated. The walls are yellow now and they are driving me nuts. Lance Answers: RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops I totally agree with the adobe color previously suggested. In addition, it will go really well with the color of your cabinets. (02/13/2008) By Sharon RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops Something in the peachy/terracotta family would go well. (02/13/2008) By perfume and powder RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops Dear Lance: I'd use a Light-med Silver/Sage Green or a med-golden-beige/tan. Basically, you'll want to match the "Honey Finished" oak cabinets, EXCEPT, go several shades lighter OR several shades darker than the cabinets. The basic rule of thumb is to go lighter if your room is smaller & darker if your room is larger. Or go for a Silvery/Sage green. You can use a light to med shade. But, be careful, Sage can look MANY different colors, depending on the time of day & the angle of the wall, so try a test area first & look at it through-out the day. You can also take your color choice form the Tan colored Tiles, but maybe go a bit lighter or darker. * But: Do yourself a favor, think about your climate! Use a Silvery/Sage Green if you live in a warmer climate (like Southern Calif., FL., Texas or Arizona), because the silvery-sage will be "cooling". If you live in a cooler climate or a place with very little sun (like Seattle), go with the golden-tan shade (to warm & brighten the place up). One more thing you'll have to keep in mind is this: Can you see in to the kitchen from another room? If so, you'll need to keep the other rooms' color scheme in mind. You can also bring in a THIRD color (or what I'd call a "second accent" color) of say for example: Golden Brown, a Terra-cotta like color (brick) or Black (or dark Charcoal Gray). This would be done, by using the 3rd accent in 3 - 4 different places spread around the kitchen. Like for example, on chair covers, or stools, picture frame(s), a vase, a utensil holder, cabinet knobs, place mats etc, etc... For a MUCH bolder look, you might be able to get by with the "complement" colors (to your green) of Red, Burgundy, or Tomato. But as I said earlier, it's all about the room(s) that are next to this one. The question you'll have to ask yourself: Can I see into this room from the one next to it. THAT will help decide your color choice for you. Don't forget to use an eggshell or better yet a Semi-gloss finish on Kitchen walls so they can be washed. In my business, I see a lot of kitchens, because I paint wall murals & tiles for installation. I need to go into peoples homes for exact measurements & consultations. I not only see a lot of beautiful kitchens & baths, but because I'm an artist I also consult on color choices for clients quite often... Feel free to contact me with any questions, here on ThriftyFun. PS. Most times, it looks really nice to also paint the ceiling the same shade as the walls. You don't HAVE to paint the ceiling a shade of white! You can also use the exact same color as the walls on the ceilings! (This looks GREAT!) OR, If the room is really small, you can go with the same color, but several shades lighter on the ceiling. But, beware of using to light a shade of golden/tan... because the ceiling will look like it's Nicotine stained! (I made this mistake once!) YIKES! <*grin*> Better go bright white, than a light dingy, nicotine golden-tan! Either way, Have fun! No worries, It's ONLY paint! You can always re-do it! But, I suspect, you'll probably love it the first time! Here's my favorite painting sites: How to Paint Just About Anything: http://www.hgtv.ca/articles/articledetails.aspx?ContentId=1915&cat=1&by=3 Decorative Painting Techniques: http://www.paintquality.com/diy/content/design_6.htm Choosing the Right Interior Paint: http://hometips.com/articles/paint/choose_intpaint.html Home tips: Paint Techniques, Wallpaper & Faux Finishes: http://www.hometips.com/home_improvement/paint.html Debbie Travis' painted house: http://www.painted-house.com/episodes/index.php?sort=technique&view=all How to paint just about anything: http://www.hgtv.ca/articles/articledetails.aspx?ContentId=1915&cat=1&by=3 Choosing the right interior paint: http://hometips.com/articles/paint/choose_intpaint.html Virtual painting (seeing your room on your computer before you paint): http://www.realtor.org/rmomag.NSF/pages/WebReview200602?OpenDocument Brown bag technique for walls: http://www.bozzle.com/bbwBonnyeManning.html Doing a cracked paint finish: http://ask.yahoo.com/20010427.html For more,questions, help and ideas: ttp://boards.hgtv.com/eve DIY forum: http://www.diyforums.net/ DIY chat room: http://www.diychatroom.com/ (02/14/2008) By Cyinda Report Spam or Abuse Request: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops Archived on 02/13/2008 I want to paint my kitchen walls, but do not know which color(s) to use. My counter tops are green and my floors have green Formica on them. Any suggestions on the wall color? Katrina from Chesapeake, VA Answers: RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops I think one problem you have is that you probably don't want anything too dark on your walls but if you go too neutral it could make the white look grubby. What about a very pale lemon? It's nice and warm and not too overpowering. Someone earlier said think of sunflowers - think of daisies instead! (01/24/2008) By wendy RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops My kitchen has green counter tops, light wood cabinets, tan and green flooring, white appliances, high gloss trim and doors. The color I picked for the walls, after years of a taupe brown, is "Dorset Gold" (HC-8)by Benjamin Moore Eggshell Enamel. It is latex, commercial grade. One gallon 274 - 3B mixed - YW 3x 9.00 RX Ox 9.00 GY 1x 23.00 WH 5x 14.00. It is beautiful. I have seen this same color used in bedrooms, restaurants, show homes. I use red and black accessories. (01/27/2008) By Carol RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops My counter tops are hunter green, and so it my carpet. I papered the walls in the same green, only it has tiny white flowers in it. ALL of my accessories are white and the contrast is beautiful. I have white vases and pitchers on top of my cupboards. I use white paper towel holders, cake plate, lamps, candles,etc. everything that sits out on counter tops is white. I get many compliments. Also white stuff is easy to find. (01/27/2008) By Ruth RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops I have used a daffodil or corn silk yellow with hunter green and it looks awesome. Small items with white or cornflower blue look outstanding with it also. They are really just pale yellows, makes your kitchen warm, inviting and easy on the eye. Periwinkle blue is a good accent color with this also. Yellows are expansive, light and airy and you won't tire of it quickly. Make sure you buy a paint that can stand up to kitchen tortures..grease, steam etc. Make it durable so that you can wipe it off with a clothe, warm soap and water or spray cleaners to keep it looking perky. Good luck! (01/27/2008) By tupelohoney17 RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops Yellow....think sunflowers. (01/27/2008) By Maryeileen RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops I like shades of peach and terra cotta. (01/28/2008) By Lynn Beth Report Spam or Abuse Request: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets Archived on 01/24/2008 I currently have white kitchen cabinets with hunter green countertops. My kitchen walls are all white. I would like to paint the walls, but I don't know what color to paint them. I like warm colors. The kitchen is open to my family room which is painted a warm golden color. What color walls would go with my cabinets and countertops? Diana from Martinsburg, WV Answers: RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets Maybe a medium taupe color? (08/14/2007) By Roger RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets How about Sage green? (08/14/2007) By Marta RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets How about peach or apricot? (08/14/2007) By perfumed fan RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets How about peach or apricot? (08/14/2007) By joan RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets I vote for the sage, but it would have to be just the right one to go with the dark green countertops. I would say a light to med. sage would be good. (08/16/2007) RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets Before I say a word, I love hunter green! I went to a meeting at a home where the homeowner had painted stripes on her kitchen walls using the little 3 or 4 inch foam rollers. The base coat was white and she used bright blue stripes ... It really made that all white kitchen look friendly and bright. I'm thinking a shade of green as close as possible to the shade of the counters would be nice for stripes. Another thing you might consider is to leave the walls white and go for a wallpaper border with shades of green. My daughter in law did an ivy leaf border which she folded lengthwise and put half on the ceiling and half on the wall. Looked very interesting. (08/16/2007) By MartyD RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets Hunter green is a very strong accent. Pick it up in other sections of your room (curtains, cabinet hardware, wall decor). In nature, green is paired very nicely with brown/beige hues - of course, brown would be too dark, but you could consider an almond tone. Avoid painting the walls a strong color, such as yellow or red, as there would then be too many strong colors. There is a formula for walls (any decorator magazine would have the formula) for percentage of strong color within a room. Another observation: Your eyes will be drawn to the darker countertops in a white room. Draw your gaze around the room using color accents and then keep the white. Use an off-white. Or not...I can't envision all the details of light and spaces in your kitchen, so these are only generalizations. I also have white cabinets and it is very hard to keep them clean. (08/16/2007) By mary RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets I would advise leaving what's white as white, then using lots of color on any easily-changed item. It hurts resale value especially in the kitchen to use other colors. I know you're not planning to move, but resale value is always worth keeping. Bright table cloths, curtains, triangles of fabric hanging diamond-shape from cabinet tops, florals over the cabinets, many things can be done to brighten up the kitchen in a big way. I'm thinking tropicals like oranges and yellows - the hunter green is dark and needs a powerful shot of hot colors. (08/16/2007) By kimhis RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets How about the same hunter green, in a much paler shade with soft pink accents? Maybe a border or some rub-ons? (08/16/2007) By U*u*U RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets How about yellow? (Think sunflowers.) (08/17/2007) By Maryeileen RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets I have a hunter green counter in my bathroom. We painted the walls the lightest color of mint green we could find. It looks awesome. (08/19/2007) By handicapped91 RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets I too have hunter green countertops and white cabinets - I painted my kitchen (and dining room, it's all one big room) a dark red (almost burgandy). It is gorgeous. I get lots of complements on it. It makes a very rich looking room. It would go great with the golden color of your family room. (08/22/2007) By Elizabeth RE: Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops & White Cabinets I have the same color scheme and painted the walls what is called "adobe" - it makes the white pop and goes nicely with the black and white 12" tiles... (09/03/2007) By susan Report Spam or Abuse