Painted Maple Cabinets & Granite Countertops: An Affordable Kitchen Update!
By Kylie
June 7, 2024
Before & After: A 2000s Kitchen Remodel
Nothing makes me happier than ‘after’ photos flowing into my inbox. Well, except for wine, wine makes me happy. Oh, and Ryan Reynolds, he makes me happy, too. Combine wine, Ryan, and some after photos, and it’s a good night in the Mawdsley house (maybe not for Tim – wink wink).
So, when my E-Design client sent photos of her painted maple cabinets, it was definitely time for celebration—what a transformation!
The kitchen had a nice layout and gorgeous granite countertops. While the maple cabinets were in good shape, they didn’t enhance the rest of the space and blended too much with their surroundings. Remember…
Just because it’s wood doesn’t mean it’s good!
And after, can I get an AAAAAMEN!
Another before…
And after – fresh, clean and simple…
The Best Off-White & Light Depth Cabinet Colors
THE CREAM CABINET COLOR
While cream cabinets are a hard no in some homes (and a pain in the butt to update in others), sometimes they’re the perfect choice.
Because this granite countertop and the backsplash don’t suit white cabinets, a soft shade of cream was the best choice for an updated, brighter look. We chose 
We went with Sherwin Williams Alabaster for the ceiling, which looked gorgeous with her existing paint color, Valspar Pawnee (similar to Benjamin Moore Putnam Ivory).
I love that backsplash and the orderly cabinet display. If you’re going to have glass cabinets, they’ve got to look pretty!
This older granite countertop isn’t easy to work with and pops up in many Tuscan-style kitchens from the 2000s. However, with some smart updates, it can have a new lease on life!
What do you think? Would YOU have done the same? Or, more to the point, would your HUBBY do the same? We know how weird those hubs are about their wood (no pun intended…okay, maybe a bit intended).
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READ MORE
Before & Afters: Painted Kitchen Cabinet Projects
Benjamin Moore White Dove Kitchen Makeover
The Best White Paint Colours for Cabinets
The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They ROCK!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2018, UPDATED FOR FRESH LINKS IN 2024
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Meet Kylie
Do you need help, but aren’t quite sure what ‘help’ looks like? Are you drowning in paint samples and decision fatigue?
Does every color you like at the paint store look terrible in your lighting or pick up a funky undertone? I’d love to help.
Hi, I’m Kylie
For over 24 years I’ve helped 12,000+ homeowners and renters make more confident decisions on paint colors and affordable home updates using real home examples and practical, experience-based advice. My goal is simple: help you love the home you have.
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Homeowner’s Guide: White Kitchen Cabinets
This isn’t another ’10 Best Cabinet Colors’ list, because there is no SINGLE best white for every home and every kitchen.
Learn how to choose a white cabinet paint color that works with your countertops, backsplash, flooring, trim, lighting, and home—so you can rule out the wrong whites, sample fewer colors, and choose with confidence.
158-page PDF – Instant Download
$34.95Accent Colors – And How to Use Them
This isn’t about plastering your home in the ‘Color of the Year’ or following the latest trends (unless you really want to).
It’s about finding accent colors that work with YOUR home, YOUR style, and YOUR comfort level.
Because the best accent color isn’t one you love on a paint chip, it’s one that makes everything around it look better.
118-Page PDF – Instant Download
$34.95
Homeowner’s Guide: Exterior Paint Colors
Painting your home’s exterior is a BIG investment and choosing a color based on a tiny paint chip, a trend or the house down the street can be an expensive mistake.
Learn how to look at YOUR roof, YOUR windows, YOUR brick (or stone) and YOUR home as a whole so you can understand what colors make sense.
The goal? Less guessing, fewer samples and a lot more confidence before gallons of paint go on your home.
206-page PDF – Digital Download
$44.95Exterior Trim Paint Colors
This isn’t a list of ‘the best trim colors’, although you’ll get a ton of links to great shades!
You’ll learn how to look at your home and understand whether it needs contrast, repetition, connection, or a little visual peacekeeping to pull it all together.
Because trim might seem like a small detail…but spread it around all four sides of your home on multiple surfaces and it suddenly has a pretty big job.
118-page PDF – Instant Download
$24.95
Comments
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Beautiful! The colors are totally on point.
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Thank you Sam!
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I love it! And what is it about men and wood anyway ( also not intending it to be a pun). Can someone explain to me how to get past this obsession?
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I know! I mean I get it, there are SOME woods that are amazing, that it would be a shame to paint. However, there are some that aren’t doing any GOOD as WOOD. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, ‘Just because it’s wood, doesn’t mean it’s good!
I think they need to see before and afters like this, to see how it can look and how it can add VALUE to their home!-
I have 11 year old light cherry cabinets and would LOVE to paint them but hubby is adamant about it not happening. Ugh!
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Hi Karyn,
May I make a suggestion? Paint the hood and/or the island base cabinets… for a trending 2-tone effect. When your hubby sees how great it looks, he will be on board with painting the rest of the cabinets for the unified, 1-color look you really want. Baby steps!NYC Brat
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Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!
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Gorgeous! Is BM White Down on the walls too?
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Nope! It’s a colour that is similar to BM Putnam Ivory, a Valspar colour…and thank you!
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I totally love this kitchen make over. I am really tired of the microwave over the stove. Her new range hood really contributes to the beauty of this kitchen. I am currently waiting for my results of my own E Design and I can hardly wait ! We are gutting the entire kitchen but my the microwave is going back above stove due to lack of space ( sad face )
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Ooo yes Amy, I see you coming up on my to-do list – exciting! And yes, I’m TOTALLY feeling the ‘no microwave’ thing – they are never beautiful!
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Lovely. On another note, I hope the frazzled woman I met in Sherwin Williams took my advice and asked for your advice on paint colors. I think she was 2 paint chips shy of a full meltdown! Knowing she was on her third quest to find the right colors, I strongly urged her to contact you. She was very receptive to the idea so I hope she followed through. I knew she would not be disappointed.
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Well I hope so too Valerie and THANK you for telling her about me – that’s what makes my world go round!
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Love the re-do…but where are you now hiding your microwave?
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Beautiful transformation. How long did it take to complete the project and how labor intensive was it?
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Ooo, hopefully the homeowner will see this and reply! I would assume it’s a professional job, as i DEFINITELY don’t recommend doing maple cabinets DIY – a professional spray job is ALWAYS best (see one of my previous replies to a comment for some more info and a link to check out too…)
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I have had cabinet people tell me that laquered maple cabinets cannot be painted. Is this true in your experience? Were these cabinets professionally painted or did the homeowners tackle it themselves?
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Lacquered. Well, if they are heavily lacquered it would take some good prepwork to get them ready, but I’ve never heard of it not being possible. When ordering NEW cabinets, its better to order MDF, NOT maple, if you are having them painted, but when you have existing cabinets, that isn’t an option! So over time, wood DOES expand and contract and can create wee tiny hairline cracks where the frame meets the panel. We had our cabinets for 2 years and they look great, if you want to check this post out here… https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/our-painted-maple-cabinets-2-years-later/
And that’s a good question, but i’m SURE its professional, I would NOT advice doing it DIY as maple is so smooth, there is really no room for error – professional spraying is definitely best!-
Our paint and cabinet work took about 2 weeks. It took an additional week to create the hood cover, glass cabinet doors, led overhead and under cabinet lighting and ceiling painting. Our cabinets are about 20 years old so they are not perfect. Some of the cabinet doors are slightly warped but no one would ever notice. I only realized this myself right before we began the project when one of the bidding contractors pointed it out.
The contractor we selected also painted my maple master bath cabinets white for my gray and white bathroom 3 years ago so I knew they did good work. I only wish I knew of Kylie then when I was struggling to find the right shades of white and gray paint! The procedure they followed included several steps of sanding and painting. They also applied a tiny line of caulking between the door moulding and panels to prevent cracking or gapping. I am thrilled with how it turned out and love the color Kylie recommended. My husband still can’t figure out why we needed to paint perfectly good maple cabinets, argh! At least he’s happy that I’m happy. I seriously thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown trying to figure out the right white. Thank goodness I found Kylie!
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Maureen, thank you for the awesome note 🙂 and I’m glad you found me too and were brave enough to move ahead with the painting, it is SO lovely…
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Wow, super clean, bright and very impressive! I love before and after pics.., Thanks for sharing.
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Lovely transformation! But just where IS the microwave?
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The microwave is on the counter near the refrigerator so it is no longer center stage.
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Yes…Sadly I am in the same position with the maple cabinets. Mine are very pretty, if one liked maple cabinets…and my husband does! But I am in the market for new counter tops and back splash. I am thinking that this back splash color would look pretty even if I have to stay with the maple cabinets. What do you think?
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Yes, I love the low contrast, simple look of it – it’s gorgeous!
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Thanks Kylie for sharing ALL the whites used in this makeover! So often a wall and/or trim is shared but not the ceiling and ceiling color (to my thinking!) can be the trickiest.
10 years ago I thought an over the range microwave was the best idea ever and invested in a combo vent hood/convection oven/microwave in our new build. After 8 years of living with highly inefficient venting, accumulation of cooking oil on microwave, the obtrusive box (visually & physically), we ditched that wretched appliance. I love how much more open and brighter (and cleaner!) the space is with the new vent hood! Happily, I found a out of sight solution for a great little microwave. -
Hi Kylie-
Does anyone else have maple cabinets and love them? I sure do. Mine are medium maple and have beautiful detail in the cabinet doors. Love your page Kylie but maybe for us that are happy with ours, you can do a video or give ideas on wall paint to go with natural wood tone cabinets. 😉 I am currently stressing about that as I type 🙁
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Hi Jane! If you find my search area (in the side bar) and type in wood cabinets, you should find several articles! Most of them focus on oak, but there are still some great ideas for wood tones!
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Hi Kylie
Great makeover! I am a bit confused on White Down, the BM website says it is a classic white with hint of gray. In these pics it looks warm and brighter!
Is this White Down (OC-131)used on the cabinets? https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/colour-overview/find-your-colour/colour/oc-131/white-down?color=OC-131
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Hi Geena! White Down is definitely an off-white, not a white, as it has more body to it. If you do a bit of research into LRV (I have some good posts on my blog) you’ll learn that the LRV of a paint colour can help you know what type of colour it is, ie: white/off-white/etc…
If you’re looking for a warm white that’s soft, Benjamin Moore White Dove would be much better. Grab that and a paper chip sample of Chantilly Lace and compare them with White Down and you’ll really see the shift between a TRUE white, a soft white and an off-white 🙂
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Awesome thanks a ton, Kylie. those are the exact colors I was thinking to compare, now it’s clear what to look for-true,soft and warm whites!
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Hi. This is beautiful! Great job! Since the cabinets are White Down, do you recommend that the trim be painted White Down too?
I really appreciate your work and the information you provide. Plus, you have a great sense of humor. Thanks!
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Well, thank you Jennifer! It totally depends on the room, but ‘generally speaking’, White Down is too creamy/dark for trim colour and something like Cloud White is often better 🙂
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This has been so helpful!! I have brought home so many samples looking for the perfect white and none worked for me! Too many undertones that looked awful with my counter top sample! I have decided on Wilsonart Winter Carnival counter top and there was no stark white in them ! Mostly earth tones so I am gonna get a sample of the White Down you suggested and if you think of a better one please please let me know!! Thanks a bunch!!
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