How would you 'refresh' this 90s style kitchen?

[Colourgreen]

I can't afford to properly renew or replace the kitchen, so I've been looking at cupboard and worktop paints (and wondering about tiles...).

Can anyone suggest some nice colourways to repaint in? And do you know where to get better, less dated door handles?

Thanks for any advice and thoughts!

Oh sorry just seen you've already done the tiles. Brilliant work!

Took grout haze off with Windolene and soft cloth this morning.

Yes you're right tinselvest. I was lucky to get a good wet saw tile cutter on Gumtree for £15, which made the tricky cuts around sockets easier. The grey tiles were marked down to £5 a box in b and q (called damaged, but they weren't) and the Unibond adhesive and grout were £5 in Poundland. I'm a skinflint when it comes to this stuff!

Well done on the tiling 😊

I painted my cabinets with Frenchic and they are fine. I used the Al fresco range with a top coat- let it cure for a few weeks before I put it all back together. Whatever paint you use, it would be wise to use a non yellowing top coat ( like a water based varnish)
I also wrapped my worktop in DC fix. It peels off when you don't want it on anymore and it does look good. The worktops were just cheap laminate, so the DC fix is just another fake product 😂

It was definitely a two person job to wrap them though. There are tons of kitchen tutorials on YouTube and Pinterest.

Wonderful work! What a nice colour you picked.

Thank you both! I'm happy with the tiles, but having primed and undercoated the cupboards, I've decided that white cabinets are too white! They just don't suit the rest of the house.

So I've returned the white cabinet paint and I'm looking for a sort of muted white (putty colour maybe?) which won't clash with the grey/taupe tiles. Does anyone have any colour/paint suggestions please? I'd read that ivory wouldn't work with grey.

Thanks for any advice

These are the cupboards after one coat of primer and two coats of white undercoat... It's startlingly bright when I walk into the kitchen!

Rustoleum do kitchen cupboard paint in 110 colours. We've just used the cotton white and after dinner dark green. There are a few shades of white and creams etc. rustoleumcolours.co.uk/

This is our incredibly messy kitchen! We painted the wall tiles white. Not sure if we will change the worktop, maybe use that sticky film.

Forgot to say, you can't buy the kitchen cupboard paint on rustoleum website 🤔 for some reason. If you click the link then view full colour range for all the colours. Paint is actually for sale on Very and Sprayster websites!

Ah that looks lovely! Like your posing dog. I just moved our mess to the other side of the kitchen for the photos!

Half and half is a good look. My dd said that our all white cupboards made it look like an isolation room. I saw Rustoleum is on The Range's website too. I might pop there tomorrow. Some nice colours. Just not certain which will be ok with the tiles...

@Colourgreen

I've heard read good things about frenchic. Will look at their colours. Maybe off white cupboards and pale green tiles? And do something with the worktop.

Thank you all for your thoughts.

I'd paint the cabinets and tiles and replace the handles. Then see how the worktop looked with the new colours. You can get laminate to place on top of the existing surface, you can even do marble paint effects. Loads of ideas on instagram and pinterest.

Thanks Palavah. I've replaced the tiles and primed and undercoated the cabinets, but need to decide on a colour to go on top as white isn't looking great. I was thinking dc fix on worktop but will look into worktop which goes over existing one.

We went for white for the top cupboards to try and bring more light into the room really. I think your grey tiles are lovely! We chose the dark green because the built in hob, oven etc are a dark brown (old neff ones) and we have a cream sink and floor. Thought green would tone better next to the brown and cream rather than dark grey. If your appliances are black any colour would go, but consider what will go with your floor/ wall, sink colours etc if you're not changing them?

Sage green would be lovely

Great work here OP and really inspiring. I have a similar project coming up soon. It's going to mean removing a central band of ugly tiles somehow and replacing them. The remaining floor to ceiling marble is fine but it could be tricky getting just the middle section off the wall. Can you keep posting before and after pics.

Thanks for all the cheering on. It really does help. I think you're right that sage green would be good. I'm nervous because there are just so many cupboards- it's a galley kitchen and about 80% of the space is cupboard front (unscientific estimate) so it makes a massive difference to the light in the room.

Floor to ceiling marble sounds incredibly opulent OneFoot! I'd love to see a pic. Maybe someone can give tips on the tile extraction from the middle.

My floor is a (not very nice) dark terracotta colour, Stressy. I considered making my debut as a flooring fitter but I have another hundred jobs to get done by the end of August.

Of course, your previous owners went for a dark terracotta floor to go with the wall tiles! 😀

@Colourgreen

Thanks Palavah. I've replaced the tiles and primed and undercoated the cabinets, but need to decide on a colour to go on top as white isn't looking great. I was thinking dc fix on worktop but will look into worktop which goes over existing one.

I don't know how i missed your updates!

There should be other shades of white with a bit of a grey tinge (or a hint of pink) which would make them less stark, but I'm afraid i don't have any specifics.

You can also paint floor tiles!

I know this is probably a bit late, but will post anyway for anyone reading in the future.

For cabinets, woodwork etc I always go for paint from Little Green paint company. Their primer and topcoat is fantastic. It’s oil-based, which is not so common now, and it’s really hard wearing. My cabinets were done 6 years ago and not a mark/scuff on them.

I’ve replaced lots of knobs/handles around the house from the site These Please.

Yes they loved rustic colours! And previous owners made all wood mahogany stained so I'm working my way around the house doing that!

I'd love to know tips on painting floor tiles if anyone has done it? I have to do all the jobs in short bursts as I'm on my own with the kids all the time, so that one might be a push to manage. The only loo is through the kitchen at the end of the house so I'd have to paint one side and then the other I suppose!

I like the idea of a white with pink or green (?) tinge. Will keep looking. I saw The Little Green Paint Company on JL's website when I was checking if they did paint. Bit out of my price range but good tip for someone else on the thread!

Another update... after visiting a few diy stores I went back to Wilko and chose their 'soft putty' chalk paint. I hadn't wanted chalk paint as it's not as cleanable or hard wearing as satin, but their off white satin colours were all yellowish. I'm happy with the colour white is more of a very light greige. Put a coat of Rustoleum chalky paint lacquer over the top and fitted the handles. Just the worktop to go now! Thanks for all of the support and advice!

Nearly done!

Looking great!!