Design Trend: Painted Kitchen Cabinets are Here to Stay

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a home for many buyers and can be a deciding factor on whether or not they make an offer. But, kitchen design trends have changed from 10-15 years ago. Then, dark, wood cabinetry—think cherry, mahogany—was the popular look. “Now, wood-stained cabinetry is dated. It has a negative connotation,” says Vian Abreu, Interior Design Director for luxury design firm, Interior Marketing Group . Homeowners are favoring, instead, painted kitchen cabinets. In fact, according to a Houzz Kitchen Trends study conducted in 20199, 43% of people chose white and 11% of people chose gray as their cabinetry color when remodeling their kitchen. Painting your kitchen cabinets is a relatively easy and cost effective design update that will go a long way with buyers. “Painted cabinetry is here to stay,” Abreu advises, “and neutrally painted cabinetry is timeless.” We asked Vian Abreu for her expert advice on painting kitchen cabinets for resale. Here are her top three tips. 1. Give your Space a New Look with Painted Cabinetry 404 11th Street, #2, Park Slope, Brooklyn © Travis Mark www.travismark.com Cabinets command the most square footage in a kitchen, so it’s certainly something sellers should address before listing a home. Countertops and appliances are very important to buyers, too, but they are costly for sellers to update. Painted cabinetry is such an easy and affordable way to give a space a brand new look and it’s much cheaper than staining. Prime them properly for maximum impact and ROI. 2. Pick the Right Color 102 Hendrie Avenue, Riverside Connecticut Contrast and tone are very important in kitchen design. Look at the color and tone of your floors and build from there. Floors, countertops, and cabinetry should have complementary contrast. If you’re lacking natural light, don’t go too dark with any of your color choices. Stick to white or a neutral gray for maximum resale value. If you have a kitchen that is open to another room, it’s important to consider the kitchen and living room as one space. You don’t necessarily want a bold color to command both rooms. We love Benjamin Moore Nimbus, a gray that’s not too warm nor too cool. Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White is a favorite as well. Both colors work very well with natural stone, marble, and stainless steel appliances. Benjamin Moore Nimbus Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White 3. Personalize with Hardware, Lighting, and Accessories 59 Middagh Street, Brooklyn Heights, New York Hardware, lighting, and accessories are great ways to make your kitchen feel a little more unique while still keeping resale value in mind. Add quirky handles to your cabinetry, install unique pendant light fixtures over the island, or display some antique glasses and bowls to bring in personality that’s not permanent. Stay away from overly-customized backsplashes and countertops. —by Jacqueline Kuron Ready to sell? Contact Douglas Elliman today to find the right buyer for your home.