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Going Gray in the Kitchen

Happy Monday!  Yesterday it was so gray, wet and windy and I was soooooo worried I wouldn’t be able to get any good photos of our newly gray kitchen.  Guess what? I did! Phew!

I’m bursting at the seams to show you photos with our gray walls!

Our Gray Kitchen and view of Dining Room

You may remember that we were thinking of painting the kitchen gray.  Here’s the photo from Instagram:

Color Swatches of GraysI don’t know why it took me almost three years to paint the yellow walls.  Well, yes, I do know. At some point we want to do the kitchen over.  BUT we may want to bump it out a little and make it bigger. So I was waiting.

A year went by.

Then two years went by. I updated the light, I added a clock.  You may remember this photo from our two year home tour (click here for that post):

Before and After Kitchen

Then a bit more time went by and it’s nearly three years (well, it will be in May). I decided THIS year I would paint the walls because yellow is just not my color.

Thank you all so much for all your guesses on Facebook and all the color recommendations.

In the end we went with Benjamin Moore Gray Owl. It is the perfect gray for our space!

Gray Owl Benjamin Moore

I’ll tell you why we chose this color. I really wanted a cool (not blue gray).  The cabinets are an off white and the trim is white and since we’re going to be doing our kitchen over at some point, I just wanted something that would go with all of that rather than repainting everything now. I will say I painted the entire kitchen twice.  I painted it with what I thought was Gray Owl and then I said to Luke, “Hmm, I’m really not sure I picked the right color.” When he came home we looked at the two coats against the swatch and it wasn’t Gray Owl. I went back to my friends at Hingham Lumber and told them I didn’t think I had the right paint and they sorted it out.  I tested the color on a card at the shop (which I guess I should have done in the beginning but I always just want to get things done). So I painted two more coats on the wall and ta da!  The right gray.

Here’s the kitchen before the day I started painting.

Kitchen Before with Yellow Walls

The light makes it look like the yellow is glowing and here it is now:

Gray Owl by island

This color looks perfect with the white trim and the off white cabinets.  I decided to take down the clock (perhaps moving it to the office) and I’m keeping my eye out for something industrial to go on the wall behind the counter.

Our switches and plugs were cream and while we were at it we decided to replace them.  Luke replaced the counter backsplash sockets with GFCI compliant ones and white switches. They just look so much cleaner, don’t you think?

Newly Painted Kitchen with new light switches

Simple Decorating

If you look closely you can see our gray hutch in the dining room and I was also thinking about this when picking a color.

You probably want to see the other side of the kitchen too, huh?

Well, this got a little more of a makeover and a tidy up.  I really love the built ins in our home and our kitchen has a fabulous built in china cabinet.  The cabinet was actually in the dining room (its twin is in there still) but was moved by the previous owner to create space for a half bath off the kitchen.

Here’s the cabinet before:

China Cabinet Before

So messy filled with all our stuff!  I cleaned it out and thought about color.

China Cabinet with Yellow Before

I definitely wanted to cover the yellow for something more neutral and something that would make a statement.

You all know blue is my “go to” color but I wanted something different. I opted to paint it Soap Stone by Fusion Mineral Paint.  Luke took this while I was painting the cabinet and alcove next two it Friday night:

Painting the hutch

Here’s how it came out:

Coastal Kitchen

The color makes such a statement, especially with all the white.

White Pottery with Dark Background

Now all our plates and bowls are in easy reach and I put everything else in the yard sale pile or in closed cupboards.

Updating our Kitchen with Paint

The coffee maker is in the alcove and our collection of cookbooks with easy access on top.

Cook Books

See that little pestle and mortar? That is from Bristol, England. I gave that to Luke 16 years ago.  I loved marble even back then.  It is from Bristol Guild on Park Street if your familiar with that area.  These cookbooks we use ALL the time and I think you can even see some of Conor’s up there too.

I know I say this often, but a can of paint is like a can of magic.  You really get so much for your money if you’re on a tight budget.

Let me give you one last look at the entire space:

A View of Our Kitchen

Dramatic China Cabinet Makeover

Butterfly Art

White Kitchen

View of Door into our WC

Newly painted kitchen

We’re planning on taking out the stainless steel backsplash tiles and replacing them with more traditional subway tiles this spring.  Trying to decide between the peel and stick tiles and subway tiles. Hope to do this in the spring.

I thought I’d give you guys a detailed source list for this room even though it isn’t completely done. Here are some affiliate links for your convenience, please see my full disclosure policy here.

Source List

The perfect gray for a kitchen

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cassie @ primitive & proper

WOW! what a difference! it looks so light and fresh!

Cookie
8 years ago

How about some gray baskets or pottery? Check out http://www.longaberger.com/cookiesheldon
Love the new look because I am truly loving pewter…you have attained a beautiful look. One of our beautiful pewter baskets or a piece of pewter pottery could add another dimension. Gorgeous….

Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home

Oh, Danielle, what a difference! I love it!! That dark blue inside the cabinet is gorgeous too. I feel the same way about that dark yellow – just not my color. And I’ve been living with it in the mudroom for two years now. Soon… 🙂

Debra@shoppeno5
Debra@shoppeno5
8 years ago

It looks very nice and more like you. Does that make sense?

Jessica @ Petal + Ply
8 years ago

Looks great Danielle! We had Gray Owl in our last kitchen and it really is a beautiful gray. It’s perfect paired with Soap Stone.

Rose
8 years ago

I’m such a color blue person so that blue in the cabinets looks wonderful
I love how the grey looks with the blue and white.

SO pretty Danielle –

Looks like so many blog friends were painting this weekend.

Enjoy your new space.
Rose

Donna @ Modern on Monticello

What a difference a can of paint makes! This looks so good with the lighter walls and the dark inside the cabinets. I want to make some small changes in my kitchen this year as well and love seeing how paint can make a difference. It looks great!

Ellen
8 years ago

I was just showing your kitchen to the husband, and we both like your backsplash tiles. I was wondering if you would share the source?

Kate
Kate
8 years ago

Gray paint colors are my favorite—it’s such a versatile color that is both classic and modern at the same time. I think your kitchen looks fab! My own kitchen was ivory before I painted it BM Edgecomb Gray. Best decision ever!

darrielle Tennenbaum
8 years ago

I LOVE THE CHANGE TOO-IT LOOKS SO CHEERFUL AND BRIGHTER! PERFECT BACKGROUND COLOR IN YOUR CABINET TOO!

Tonya @ Rustic & Woven

So pretty!! And the soapstone paint color on the back of the cabinet? Swoon! Great choice! 🙂

Nancy
8 years ago

Wow! It looks great! What a way to freshen up your kitchen. It makes such a difference. You hit the ground running this year 🙂

Judy Clark
Judy Clark
8 years ago

Love Love Love!

Sarah
8 years ago

Hi, Danielle! Happy New Year! Oh wow, such an awesome change!!! It all looks so fresh and clean and bright…paint is amazing, isn’t it?! I’ve lived with the most hideous wall color in our guest bath for the 9 years we’ve lived here…kicking myself seeing this that I haven’t painted it before!! Love those sweet little butterfly prints and the new built in color with all that white is gorgeous!

jolena
8 years ago

Beautiful! I love the soap stone color in the cabinet.

sharon
sharon
8 years ago

What a difference a can of paint makes ?. Love all of your styling in here. It looks beautiful.

Ann
Ann
8 years ago

It looks beautiful Danielle! It’s amazing what a little paint can do, it looks like a new kitchen! I love how the darker blue inside the cabinet pairs with the Gray Owl. When we moved into our home the entire house was yellow, I’ve painted every room but two and most are in Gray Owl, love that color!

Marie
Marie
8 years ago

I am a yellow person, but I have to say I love your grey walls. They look great. I can’t imagine why you want to replace your backsplash however. it has such character and texture. Plain white boring subway tile is well,.. so boring. I hope you reconsider! Marie

Deborah Tolland
Deborah Tolland
8 years ago

The inside of the cupboards look amazing!! I think winter is a great time to paint.. I usually use low or no VOC paint so it’s not a problem if I have to keep the windows closed. You are inspiring me to head up to Factory Paint and pick up a gallon or 2 of some fabulous color!

Dianne G
Dianne G
8 years ago

Oh, it looks gorgeous! Love the new look.
So bright and clean.

FABBY
FABBY
8 years ago

Your kitchen is just perfect now, and I love your color choice. Yellow was not good. Everything is so bright and crispy now. Your accessories look so much lovelier now too.
We had a white kitchen before, but the cabinets got yellowish so we remodeled it four years ago in wood.
Thank you for hosting.
FABBY

Kaylor Little
8 years ago

I love it! You made some great color choices.

Laurel Stephens
8 years ago

Wow! I love your new look. You’ve inspired me to switch my cupboards around so our more used items are closer at hand, too. Thanks!

Karolina
8 years ago

Picking the right shade of gray can be tricky but we LOVE Benjamin Moore Gray Owl. It’s the perfect balance between a beige gray and ones that can look too blue. The inside of the cabinets really pop with a rich colour that sets off your tableware. Great job!