Cabinet Refinishing
Kitchen wood cabinets to white uppers with a dark peninsula
Kitchen wood cabinets to white uppers with a dark peninsula. These are before and after photos from the job. 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.
Wood Kitchen Cabinets Painted Cream White Uppers With Black Lowers and Peninsula
This kitchen started with medium wood raised panel cabinets, a peninsula with curved corbels, crown molding and black granite counters. The before photos show the room fully masked for the work. Brown paper and tape cover the walls, counters and floors, plastic wraps the window, and the cabinet doors are off with their openings outlined in green and blue tape. The peninsula still shows its wood tone, with paper over the countertop and tape along the floor. In the after photos, the upper cabinets, glass-front cabinets, tall pantry and crown molding are a soft cream white. The base cabinets, the peninsula and a wall-mounted buffet cabinet are a deep black with a smooth satin finish. The raised panels and corbels on the peninsula keep every curve and edge sharp under the dark paint. Black knobs, black granite, a tan tile floor and a cream diamond-pattern backsplash complete the look.
How We Masked and Painted This Two-Tone Kitchen
- We covered the walls, counters, floors and window in brown paper, plastic and tape. Masking the whole room keeps spray and sanding dust off everything we are not painting.
- Each door and drawer front was removed and tagged by its opening. We taped around each cabinet opening so the inside edges stayed clean while the face frames were sprayed.
- Every cabinet surface was degreased and sanded. Wood cabinets near the range and sink hold grease that has to come off for paint to bond.
- A bonding primer went on the cabinet boxes, doors, corbels and crown. Primer also helps the deep black cover evenly over the wood tone.
- We sprayed cream white on the uppers, pantry and crown, and black on the base cabinets, peninsula and buffet cabinet, building each color in thin coats.
- Once the finish cured, we rehung the doors and drawer fronts, installed the black knobs, pulled all the paper and plastic, and cleaned the kitchen top to bottom.
Paint Colors Similar to This Cream and Black Kitchen
These cream and black shades come close to the uppers and lowers in this kitchen, but they are similar picks and not the exact colors used.
Sherwin-Williams Creamy SW 7012
A warm cream close to these upper cabinets and crown molding. It softens the contrast with black lowers and works with a tan tile floor.
Sherwin-Williams Perle Noir SW 9154
A deep black with a hint of warmth, similar to the base cabinets and peninsula here. It pairs well with black granite.
Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron 2124-10
A soft charcoal black for a slightly lighter take on dark lowers. It shows raised panel detail a bit more than a true black.
Questions About Black Lower Cabinets and Cream Uppers
Why mask the entire kitchen for cabinet painting?
Spraying gives the smoothest finish, but fine overspray can drift onto walls, counters and floors. Sanding also makes dust. Covering the room in paper and plastic protects everything nearby and keeps the cleanup simple. It takes time up front, but it shows in the final result.
Will black base cabinets look good with black granite?
Yes, as long as there is some contrast nearby. In this kitchen, cream uppers, a light backsplash and a tan floor keep the black from feeling heavy. A satin finish on the cabinets also sets them apart from the shine of polished granite.
Can corbels and decorative trim be painted too?
Yes. Corbels, crown molding and other trim pieces get the same cleaning, sanding and priming as the cabinets. Painting them to match ties the look together. Curved pieces take a bit more care so paint does not pool in the carved areas.
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