Kitchen too dark, looking for ideas.

gibson123

I think that if you can lose some of the top cupboards especially round the windows remove a few of the higher tiles and paint or wallpaper in a bright colour that would open things out and make a lot of difference. You can replace your top cupboards with stainless steel open shelving, and even if you do not remove the black tiles because of the mess you can introduce bright tones be putting shelving up and cleverly accessorising.

http://rk.pbimgs.com/pbimgs/rk/images/dp/wcm/201211/0210/img59u.jpg

http://blogs.courant.com/connecticut-homes-gardening/kitchen-open-shelves_opt.jpg

http://uk.search-results.com/fr?q=kitchen+with+open+shelves&atb=sysid%3D406%3Aappid%3D287%3Auid%3D2d2f171fc6257d03%3Auc%3D1345229799%3Aqu%3Dblack+tiles+yellow+wallpaper%3Asrc%3Dcrt%3Ao%3D1921&locale=en_GB&desturi=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calfinder.com%2Fblog%2Fkitchen-remodel%2Fopen-kitchen-shelving%2F&initialURL=http%3A%2F%2Fuk.search-results.com%2Fpictures%3Fimgc%3Dboth%26imgs%3D1p%26l%3Ddis%26o%3D1921%26q%3Dkitchen%2520with%2520open%2520shelves%26qsrc%3D2417%26qid%3DE3806091AE12053FC60767D6688ABB97%26atb%3Dsysid%253D406%253Aappid%253D287%253Auid%253D2d2f171fc6257d03%253Auc%253D1345229799%253Aqu%253Dblack%2Btiles%2Byellow%2Bwallpaper%253Asrc%253Dcrt%253Ao%253D1921%26locale%3Den_GB%26page%3D2%26pstart%3D21&fm=i&ac=978&fsel=1&ftURI=http%3A%2F%2Fuk.search-results.com%2Ffr%3Fq%3Dkitchen%2Bwith%2Bopen%2Bshelves%26desturi%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.calfinder.com%252Fblog%252Fkitchen-remodel%252Fopen-kitchen-shelving%252F%26imagesrc%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.calfinder.com%252Fassets%252Fimages%252Fblog%252Fopen-shelving.jpg%26thumbsrc%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia3.picsearch.com%252Fis%253FkHHr4geI37jz0N8cc6SDEPVWHxtGedclzr-lCcdpP9M%26o%3D1921%26l%3Ddis%26thumbuselocalisedstatic%3Dfalse%26thumbwidth%3D112%26thumbheight%3D128%26fn%3Dopen-shelving.jpg%26imagewidth%3D349%26imageheight%3D400%26fs%3D34%26f%3D2%26fm%3Di%26fsel%3D1%26atb%3Dsysid%253D406%253Aappid%253D287%253Auid%253D2d2f171fc6257d03%253Auc%253D1345229799%253Aqu%253Dblack%2Btiles%2Byellow%2Bwallpaper%253Asrc%253Dcrt%253Ao%253D1921%26ftbURI%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fuk.search-results.com%252Fpictures%253Fimgc%253Dboth%2526q%253Dkitchen%252Bwith%252Bopen%252Bshelves%2526page%253D2%2526o%253D1921%2526l%253Ddis%2526pstart%253D21%2526atb%253Dsysid%25253D406%25253Aappid%25253D287%25253Auid%25253D2d2f171fc6257d03%25253Auc%25253D1345229799%25253Aqu%25253Dblack%252Btiles%252Byellow%252Bwallpaper%25253Asrc%25253Dcrt%25253Ao%25253D1921%26atb%3Dsysid%253D406%253Aappid%253D287%253Auid%253D2d2f171fc6257d03%253Auc%253D1345229799%253Aqu%253Dblack%2Btiles%2Byellow%2Bwallpaper%253Asrc%253Dcrt%253Ao%253D1921%26locale%3Den_GB&qt=0

Jonesya

It looks a really nice kitchen, I'd be loath to rip it out or start replacing bits of it.

If it were mine, I'd focus on the lighting, make sure all the fittings were low energy so I could leave them during the day if required and beef up the light output from some of the fittings if more light was required in certain areas.

Jaynne

I've just seen that there are more photos. Definitely have a look at those LED strip lights. Either side of the cabinet where your ipod dock is looks really dark.

I would really consider changing those tiles - its the only thing needed to brighten it up otherwise. The space isn't tiny and it looks like it should be able to cope with that colour of unit just fine but those tiles everywhere are simply killing all the light. The lack of under cabinet lighting is just adding to the whole problem.

Its relatively easy in your layout to add or swap the under cab lighting and it removes all the shadows on the worktops which makes a huge difference. The LEDs are so low powered that you can leave them on all the time. At 24W (5m of LEDs) you need to run them for 40 hours to use a kW which is about 12p!

Its hard to tell from the photos but you might be able to tile on top of the existing ones and I'd probably remove the tiles entirely from the wall between the two doorways.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Get a professional tiler to replace those black ones with good quality white, stone or even polished, travertine style, tiles. The expense of doing so will be worth every penny.

Once you have the significant portion of the kitchen lightened up, you can look again and see whether you still need/want to remove anything else.

faerie~spangles

The black pelmet has to go, either paint or replace it with a lighter colour.

Painting or lining with wallpaper the back of the glass cupboards will brighten those by introducing some colour.

The black tiles are sucking the light out of the room.

cyclonebri1

Just 2 or 3 added thoughts based on others ideas but my experience.

I agree about not tile painting, I've never seen it done effectively or acceptably yet.

Stainless splashbacks are a fair idea, but you go that way bond them rather than screw them to the wall, screw mounting distorts the reflections and looks hideous.

Personally I think travertine is wrong for this application, even in the right colour, remember by definition splashbacks get coloured food on them, so carefull prep and maintenance needed. Too troublesome even though I like natural finishes, a kitchen has to be the most practical room in the house,

shegirl

That is an unusual kitchen but it's lovely!

Replace the tiles with something light.

Paint thr back of the glass fronted cabinets.

Not sure about the blue lights-they're nice but dark.

A rule I live by is if you are using dark colours in a room you need something bright to make the room look great and stop it feeling dark and miserable.So,when you've tiled add a splash of colour in accessories (even a plant or vase would do) to add some freshness.

andygb

Lovely kitchen units, please don't try to paint them!
You could try replacing the very dark tiles with a light mosaic pattern in marble, and then get light matching marble floor tiles. We did this with our kitchen and the tiles (Cappucino marble) look great. We then painted the remaining wall space (Lemon, which looks bright and summery, but could be changed easily).

fudgecat

Would suggest going for light cream (VERY light) for tiles and qall colour as well as back of shelves, insides of glass fronted cupboards etc. This will then leave just the lovely doors and floor to be the statement wood in the kitchen. Consider using rectangular tiles (almost like a brick) horizontally, as this will also, make the kitchen seem bigger. Make sure that you do this for all tiled areas, not just the splashback. I think this will transform the kitchen. The doors are lovely and will prevent all the lighter colour from making the kitchen seem cold. Try more lining paper everywhere to see the effect, but bear in mind that the tiles glaze will be shiny and reflect even more light.

fudgecat

Oh, and you could always staple the dog to a door as a feature (not serious - massive dog lover...)