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Cabinet Refinishing · Jan 2021
Kitchen with arched window: cabinets refinished, white uppers and blue-gray lowers
Kitchen with arched window: cabinets refinished, white uppers and blue-gray lowers. These are in-progress and after photos from the job, taken Jan 2021. 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.
Kitchen Cabinets Refinished with White Uppers and Blue-Gray Lowers
This kitchen sits beside a living room with tall arched windows, and it has its own arched window over the sink. The photos were taken in Jan 2021, during a larger remodel. In the in-progress photos, the countertops and backsplash were removed, red rosin paper and tape covered the floors, and the cabinet boxes were already coated in a creamy white primer. The original doors, a light pickled oak with raised panels and a glass mullion door, stood stacked in a side room with white primer showing in spots. In the after photos, the upper cabinets are white with crown molding on top, and the lower cabinets and peninsula are a soft blue-gray. The cabinets work with new white quartz counters, white subway tile, stainless appliances and dark stained wood floors. Satin nickel bar pulls and cup pulls finish the doors and drawers, and the glass cabinet beside the window has white muntins.
How We Refinished These Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinets
- We covered the floors with rosin paper and taped the edges, then removed doors and drawer fronts and moved them to a separate work room.
- The pickled oak finish was cleaned and scuff sanded, and every door, drawer and box was primed so the new colors would bond and stay smooth.
- Doors were set up on a covered floor and prepped together, including the glass mullion door, which was carefully masked around the glass.
- With the counters out, we could reach the top edges of the base cabinets and the wall behind them for clean, full coverage.
- Uppers got two coats of white, and the lowers and peninsula got two coats of blue-gray, with light sanding between coats for a smooth feel.
- Once the finish was ready to handle, we rehung the doors, installed new pulls and adjusted the hinges so the gaps were straight and even.
Paint Colors Similar to These White Upper and Blue-Gray Lower Cabinets
These are similar colors to consider for a two-tone kitchen like this one, not the exact cabinet paint used on these uppers and lowers.
Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17
A soft, warm white close to the upper cabinets. It looks clean beside white subway tile without feeling stark or cold.
Sherwin-Williams Morning Fog SW 6255
A blue-gray similar to the lower cabinets. It adds color to the base of the kitchen while staying calm and neutral.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray HC-170
A cool gray with a hint of blue for anyone who wants lowers a little lighter than these, still paired with white uppers.
Questions About Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinets
Should upper or lower cabinets be the darker color?
Most two-tone kitchens put the darker color on the lowers. Darker bases hide scuffs from feet and hands, and lighter uppers keep the room feeling open and bright. It also grounds the kitchen visually. Some designs flip the idea, but light uppers with darker lowers is the safer, classic choice.
Is it better to paint cabinets during a remodel?
It can be a good time. With counters and backsplash off, painters can reach edges and wall areas that are normally hidden. The key is planning the order with other trades, so heavy installation work does not scratch the fresh finish. New counters often go in after the paint has cured.
Can pickled oak cabinets be painted?
Yes. Pickled oak has a white-tinted stain and a clear topcoat, so it needs cleaning, scuff sanding and a good bonding primer before paint. The open oak grain may show slightly through the finish. With proper prep, painted pickled oak cabinets can look fresh and hold up well.
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