Cabinet Refinishing · Jun 2025
Kitchen open-shelf wood cabinets painted gray
Kitchen open-shelf wood cabinets painted gray. These are before and after photos from the job, taken Jun 2025. This cabinet refinishing project was done by Larry Gaytos and the My Personal Painter crew. We are based in Florence, Kentucky, and our work is covered by a 2-year touch-up warranty.
Before and After Photos
Open-Shelf Oak Kitchen Cabinets Painted Light Gray With a Slate Blue Peninsula
This long galley kitchen had honey oak upper cabinets with open shelves and no doors, plus a peninsula with a new raw wood frame and reddish wood panels. The before photo shows the warm orange tone of the oak against white subway tile and new marble-look counters. A folding step stool sat ready by the range. In the after photo the outside of the upper cabinets is painted a soft light gray, while the shelf interiors stay natural wood. That two-tone look keeps glassware and dishes framed in warm wood. The peninsula base and its framed panels are now a deep slate blue-gray, which anchors the room under the light countertop. A side cabinet near the refrigerator was painted to match the light gray uppers. The oak hardwood floor, white subway tile and black fixtures stayed in place, and the cooler cabinet colors make the room look brighter and more current.
Our Process for Painting Open-Shelf Cabinets and a Peninsula
- We covered the new counters, the sink, the appliances and the hardwood floor so sanding dust and paint could not reach finished surfaces.
- Tape lines were set along the inside edges of the open shelves so the cabinet faces could be painted while the natural wood interiors stayed untouched.
- We cleaned the oak to remove kitchen grease, then scuff sanded the faces and the new peninsula frame so primer could grip both old finish and bare wood.
- A bonding primer went on next. On the raw peninsula frame and panels, it also helped seal the grain so the color would dry even.
- We caulked seams where the new peninsula trim met the panels and filled small gaps, which gives painted cabinet frames a clean, built-in look.
- Two finish coats were applied: light gray on the upper cabinet faces and side cabinet, and slate blue-gray on the peninsula base.
- After the paint dried, we pulled the tape, checked the edges along each shelf and touched up any spots before the kitchen went back into use.
Paint Colors Similar to This Gray and Slate Blue Kitchen
Here are similar colors to consider if you like this light gray and slate blue pairing, but none is the exact color on these cabinets.
Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray SW 7015
A light, soft gray close to the upper cabinet faces, and it pairs well with the natural wood showing inside the open shelves.
Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue HC-158
A deep blue with gray in it, near the slate tone on this peninsula, and strong enough to ground a light marble-look countertop.
Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace SW 7076
A dark blue-charcoal that would give a peninsula or island a moodier version of this look while still working with light gray uppers.
Questions About Painting Open-Shelf Kitchen Cabinets
Should the inside of open shelves be painted too?
It depends on the look you want. Leaving the interiors natural wood, as in this kitchen, adds warmth and hides wear from sliding dishes. Painting the inside gives a cleaner, all-one-color look. Shelf surfaces take more abrasion, so a hard, durable cabinet enamel matters if you paint them.
Can new raw wood and old finished oak be painted the same?
Yes, but they need different prep. Old finished oak needs cleaning and scuff sanding so primer can bond. Raw wood needs primer to seal it so the paint does not soak in unevenly. Once both are primed, the finish coats go on the same way and look matched.
Is a two-tone kitchen hard to get right?
The key is contrast that feels planned. A light color up high and a deeper color on the island or peninsula is a common, balanced approach. Look at both colors next to your countertop and floor in daylight. Sample boards are cheaper and easier to change than cabinets.
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