Updating a kitchen and cabinets without painting them.
In the era of Pinterest perfection, it seems we’re all striving more than ever for a picture perfect home. If painting cabinets white and updating countertops and a new backsplash aren’t in the budget or your husband refuses to paint perfectly good oak cabinets, you’re not alone. Behind many computer screens are hopes and dreams, even my own, but it’s not always a reality.
After a stressful summer of renovations, we decided to wait on our kitchen. Despite what you see on Pinterest, you can do a kitchen makeover without painting your orange oak cabinets. While it’s a quick fix, there are a lot of other simple and inexpensive things you can do. To embrace our kitchen until we’re ready to remodel, I made a few simple changes.
Our kitchen is like so many – it’s filled with 80’s oak cabinets, okay, veneer cabinets and soffits, which make the room appear smaller. It’s dark, with only one small window above the sink and the brown countertops leave a lot to be desired.
Rather than compete with it, last summer I took a cue from Martha Stewart’s Turkey Hill kitchens. I say kitchens because it evolved through the years.
Updating Oak Cabinets with New Hardware:
Upon moving into the house, we almost immediately removed the square nickel hardware and warmed it up by adding brass pulls and handles – the same we plan to use once we do a full kitchen remodel. In my opinion, nickel {a cool tone} tries too hard to compete with the warmer oak cabinets. Rather than competing with them, brass compliments the wood tone.
Martha’s Turkey Hill kitchen has been notoriously filled with copper, which reminds me of my Grandma’s basement kitchen. You had to have 2 to make all of the pies she knocked out! Much like Martha’s, the kitchen boasted a pot rack filled to the brim and pretty copper bundts hung on the walls, doubling as decor – even if unintentional.
When our chrome KitchenAid mixer met the end in spring, I replaced it with a copper KitchenAid stand mixer. I was torn between cream and copper, but I knew in the end copper would add a little decorative element in our humble kitchen.
The copper utensil holder was a birthday gift from my sister last year. I love versatile pieces – it makes a beautiful wine chiller and a vase as well!
I found the corner shelves to be a little awkward and susceptible to clutter, so I use them as storage. I fill the sweet little julep cups with a few blooms until their next use. It’s also a great place for overage of mugs, etc. Keeping them filled has seemed to deter other miscellaneous items being placed there {eh-um, toys we confiscate from the kids}.
I added a soft sisal runner, though I keep alternating it with a red and navy traditional rug. I just can’t decide! The sisal is plusher, which I prefer for washing dishes.
Updating a Kitchen with Lighting:
The kitchen used to have 3 tiny island lights that felt very 90’s and out of place. When I saw this pendant, I had to have it! It was an inexpensive quick fix. In 10 minutes it made a huge transformation. We have it up slightly higher since we have a narrow island and Chris tends to hit his head on light fixtures.
The previous owners used it as an eat-in kitchen, we decided to take advantage of the sunroom and make it a breakfast nook, eliminating the need to squeeze a kitchen table in the open area.
Instead, I found an antique table last summer that serves as my kitchen desk. It’s where I write a quick check or put a stamp on a letter, but doubles as a buffet for serving guests when needed. The copper canisters make the room cohesive while adding more storage space.
We also painted the walls in a soft cream to blend with the backsplash. It made the kitchen instantly appear larger and fresher. If we had used a cool tone paint color, it would have immediately made the cabinets feel out of place. Using a warm tone, it minimizes the orange undertones of the the oak cabinets.
Our kitchen makeover is simple – embracing what we have and making the most of it, rather than fighting it. Key elements like copper outshine the countertops and make it feel more classic. Soon I’ll share our kitchen plans! I’m bound to need a little advice as well. What do you think? Would these changes help you embrace a dated space a little longer?
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I too have oak cabints. Pintrest does make you fell your cabinets are not in style. This is how our society is on to the next new fad. I predict there will be a many make over shows that will be getting rid of the white painted cabinets. They will point out how dated they are etc. Then on to the next new cabinet fad. I’ve imbraced mine.
We moved into our 1945 house in 1982… Beautiful oak cabinets ????. We are 68 and really rather travel than mucho $$$$$ on new kitchen
But we can sure paint and are handy
Think we need to take down vent too ? Huge oak vent with pots on it
Thanks
I’d be happy to take a look if you want to send a photo, Sheila!
Julie, I agree 1,000% about the Pinterest Perfect home. I would love to redo our kitchen but have 4 children to put through college…so I use “band-aids”
I wondered if you thought about using Liming wax on the cabinets in the meantime? Maybe that would add some tone/texture that you would like. Could be a nightmare…not sure. Just a thought. I also LOVE the mudroom…That IS pinterest perfect 😉
I have absolutely considered it – so beautiful. Unfortunately ours feels a little plastic/veneerish and I’m not sure it would work, so I’ve just decided to enjoy it until we do a full remodel someday. Thank you SO much, Maurie! I hope you have a beautiful day.
Thank you so much for this blog post! I too have floor to ceiling oak cabinets that my husband refuses to paint. Also an eat in kitchen and horrible wall paper. I hate my kitchen and that is where I spend most of my time. Thank you for giving me some realistic inspiration!
So glad to hear that, Laura! We are a lot more fixated on perfect homes now than I image a society was 50 years ago.
I have the same problem with those corner shelves. Even when I use them for items I need frequently (from doggy medicine garlic cloves) it ends up looking cluttered. I was actually thinking about removing them…but now, maybe I’ll just think of clustering some similar items there.
They’re the worst! Have a great day, Glenda!
What color paint did you use? I can’t afford to replace my cabinets but I can afford paint!
These are my favorites – I used Zurich White in the kitchen https://julieblanner.com/favorite-cream-paint-colors/
I’m not a fan of oak cabinets. Thankfully the previous owner of our home already stained ours a dark (almost cherry) color and added granite.
Regarding what color of hardware to use, my parents added rubbed oil bronze to their honey oak cabinets and it looked great. They also added a mosaic backsplash to tie it all together. If you don’t have much to spend, a backsplash is my favorite way to instantly update your kitchen.
I have to say though, I love your mixer!
Beautiful! I truly believe in just a few short years…. Oak cabinets will be the new trend.. Again!
You never know! Thank you!
Where did the brown countertops go? I only see light color counters. Love your take on complimenting the things you couldn’t change. Working with what you have & staying in budget is a smart financial move until you an get to where you want to be.
They’re still there! Using a light paint in surrounding areas and removing the door that connected it to the mudroom added a lot of light, making the counters feel lighter as well!
Love the detail, but I always regret using brass or copper. Too much work to keep bright and polished! What is your secret?
Using aged brass/copper. It looks worn and doesn’t show fingerprints. No polishing necessary! You know me, I’m all about no fuss. Have a beautiful day, Nancy!
Thank you for responding and your suggestions!
I love reading your blog. Love everything..your style, tips, and how you explain in detail! Unfortunately, I have 90’s builder grade cabinets but mine are more orange(ish). I removed the cheap brassy hardware when we bought the house but can’t figure out what would work with the orange tone wood. I did paint the kitchen sharkey gray (Martha) Would love to paint the cabinets eventually. Any advice or recommendation?
Also, I know you recommend highest wattage bulb but do you have a favorite? I assume you don’t use led, right?
Ours definitely lean orange as well. While I love Sharkey Gray, grays are cool tones and your cabinets are warm tones, it will make your cabinets feel significantly more orange. If your cabinets aren’t plastic/veneer {which I’m assuming they aren’t} you may want to consider doing a lime wash. I think it offers a beautiful and subtle warm wood aesthetic. Otherwise I’d select a dark grey or a light white with grey undertones. I tend to purchase my lightbulbs from Ace Hardware…they offer the widest selection of non-LED bulbs. Most of the bulbs in our home are candle bulbs, but I use 100 watt otherwise.
I have oak cabinets and floor too. I also love copper and have copper touches in our kitchen. I agree the copper updates the kitchen and also doesn’t clash with the oak. They’re both warm, so it’s a good solution, and your copper touches are beautiful!
Thank you, Deb!
Very nice! I also have copper accents in my kitchen. It’s so good to see someone embracing the wood and not painting the cabinets white. I feel like everywhere you turn everyone’s kitchen is white now and I personally love the warmth of wood tones. I also like how clear your counters are, not a lot of things to clutter them up.
Great minds, right Giovanna? Wood provides a warmth that no other material does. I am anti-clutter – those who have seen me cook/bake know that I need all of the workspace I can get!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! I am just now preparing a similar post about my late 1980’s kitchen (I did use paint), but for the most part, I did just as you stated so well “embracing what we have and making the most of it.” Thanks for sharing this!
I used paint in our last kitchen, but that’s exactly it…there’s always a way to appreciate what you have. I can’t wait to see yours!
I love your kitchen. Beautiful job. I also have oak cabinets. Custom built, and though they are pretty. I sometimes think I should paint or gel stain due to Pinterest. But I hold off knowing that all styles come and go. I have chosen to embrace also. Your so right, I love your kitchen. The color of your cabinets are beautiful and I think very classic. Great job!
Very wise, Joy, if you like the cabinets themselves/functionality. There are so many other ways to update your kitchen. Have a great day!
I love what you are doing. How many of us can afford to update our kitchen and in a few years, the painted cabinets will be out of date as well? You are a voice for normal people.
Maybe we should start a movement to become more satisfied with what we have and less aware of what we do not have.
Thank you, Eva! I appreciate your support. I couldn’t agree more!
I agree with Eva 100%! It’s so easy to become dissatisfied when we compare our kitchens/lives to the beautiful posts we see. Making the most of what we have is key. Whether it’s a temporary fix or a forever mini upgrade, Julie has made the most of what she has right now. Who wouldn’t smile looking at the blooms in those julep cups! And your desk/buffet is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
You are so kind, Barbara! Flowers truly do instantly make a room feel prettier, don’t they?
These small touches make such o difference. could you tell me where you got your hardware/
Thanks,
Leslie
Home Depot. The pulls are Martha Stewart, but I can’t recall who makes the spindle pulls.
I love that kitchen! I need your set of eyes to make my home as beautiful as yours!
Love your kitchen, friend! The metallic accents make this space so special!! 🙂 You know they are MY favorite part.
xo Michael