Kitchen Darkness Vanquished: Neutral Colors Save the Day

Pamela Stewart's kitchen was a dark and dated space, despite its high ceilings and large windows overlooking the Arizona landscape. The original color palette, featuring walls that were white but floors, cabinets, and countertops in shades of brown, made the room feel darker than it actually was.

The kitchen's open layout, separated from the living area only by a peninsula bar, exacerbated the issue as the large windows created shadows and changed the light throughout the day. Stewart wanted to create a brighter, more contemporary space that felt high-end and elegant, but she had to work within a tight budget and with the constraints of not being able to replace the flooring and countertops.

She chose neutral colors to achieve her goal, painting the cabinets and walls Sherwin-Williams' 'Alabaster.' However, selecting a paint color that would blend well with the existing features proved challenging. Initially, Stewart had chosen 'Taupe of the Morning' for the cabinets, but it changed significantly once painted due to the light reflecting from the windows.

To address this issue, Stewart opted for a white high-gloss tile backsplash, which helped to blend the colors on the cabinets and countertops. This decision allowed her to maintain a neutral color scheme while avoiding the need for expensive cabinet repainting.