Kitchen too dark, looking for ideas.

Blackpool_Saver

can you change the doors?

sparklefrog

Another option is painting the tiles with tile paints. If you liked the look you could then go in for the more expensive option of re tiling.

Blackpool_Saver

I feel if you lighten the tiles it will make the doors look even darker, I would change the doors and tile over myself, but then it's the cost.....hmmmm

cyclonebri1

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

can you change the doors?

NNNNNoooooooooooooo

WestonDave

Its a nice kitchen but I agree there is just a touch too much black. The difficulty is making changes without knocking it about too much. I wonder whether stainless steel splashbacks could be screwed on via drilling the tiles - that would extend the light colour of the worktops upwards say 3 tiles.

It might be possible to do something to the backs of the glass fronted cupboards so they aren't also big areas of black - either white or chrome effect. Maybe similar to the top boards that hold the down lights. I know you can get some good quality self adhesive films which if applied carefully to avoid bubbles give a good effect. Some of that on the cupboard backs (the glass fronted ones) and the tops either in white or a shiny chrome effect could lighten it up significantly. (You could have a play with some cheap tin foil to see what effect you get before shelling out for the film!).

Artytarty

Cool, some great ideas, thank you. I agree the black tiles must go but in addition to other ideas here.
I am currently sticking up a roll of lining wallpaper on some black areas to see how it may help if they were cream.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/83997722@N03/
I think you can see here what I mean, but is it ever going to be enough? Dog helped me as you can see!

keystone

I think white tiles too - confirmed by the [STRIKE]canine[/STRIKE] lining paper experiment. Very light brown or cream would be an alternative.

Really don't think about painting the tiles. They will look total pants and will wreck the look of your kitchen.

Cheers

Artytarty

No, I'm not going to paint the tiles, plenty of other options available, I feelI'm getting close but am not quite there yet!
I've just lined the back of one of the glass cabinets with the paper too, it really does help.

keystone

Yes it will.

Cheers

aliasojo

I think your kitchen looks really good quality and I'd certainly not be putting paint anywhere near it or the tiles.

Re-tiling would give the place an instant lift.

What colour is the worktop? Some pics make it look dark, others light.