About a week ago, after we painted the brick fireplace, our kitchen looked like this:
Next we removed the desk and upper cabinet that will be in the way of the future wide doorway to the dining room. After one coat of primer that didn’t fully cover, the space looked like this:
We struggled with stubborn bleed-through for a while, trying multiple primers and several coats. After the right prep and primers, the coverage finally looked great:
Now the kitchen looks like this. The photos make the color read a bit more yellow than it is in person—it’s actually a touch greener in real life.
It’s a warm golden-green tone—what we affectionately call “grellow,” somewhere near the color of an artichoke heart.
There’s still more to do, but we’re thrilled to have the paneling primed and painted. We made a short video that condenses the whole process into three minutes—definitely faster than reality. See it below or on YouTube.
For paint we settled on our current favorite: Sesame 381 by Benjamin Moore, color-matched to Olympic No-VOC paint in semi-gloss. We were inspired by a kitchen we found on Pinterest and knew we wanted bright, happy walls since the kitchen doesn’t have direct exterior windows—only a window into the sunroom. The dark paneling made the room feel heavy, so color was an easy choice.
We also considered how the color would relate to adjacent rooms and future updates:
- The extra-wide doorway to the dining room will remove most long walls, so the color won’t overwhelm the space once the opening is in place.
- We plan to paint the cabinets glossy white and simplify the backsplash, which will balance and soften the wall color.
- An island will eventually replace the small table; it will likely have a different base color to add contrast and depth.
- The kitchen sits between the dining room, hallway, and living room—all painted soft gray—so we wanted a cheerful center that complements those neutrals.
To choose the shade we hung many swatches and observed them at different times of day. We picked this golden-green because:
- It ties into chartreuse tones in the dining room curtains and the cheerful green in our living room rug without being too matchy.
- It reads modern and crisp with green undertones while still looking warm with the existing oak cabinetry.
- It coordinates with an accent tone used elsewhere in the house, so it fits the overall palette.
- It makes the white trim and fireplace surround pop more than lighter, softer greens did.
This photo shows the first coat going up around the fireplace after all that primer prep—the coverage was excellent. Again, the images skew a bit more yellow than real life, but you can see how the white trim becomes crisp and the room transforms from dark and brown to sunny and bright.
We also replaced the old bisque vents, outlets, and light switches with crisp white ones. With the power off, the swap only took about twenty minutes and instantly freshened the room.
Some people paint vent covers to blend them into the walls, but for now we like the clean look of new white covers. We might paint them later if we decide they’d blend better.
It’s fun to look back at the fireplace’s progression. It began in its original state, then we removed the old unused wood stove and painted the brick, and the improvements have made a big difference.
Painted paneling truly refreshes a space:
We love how the white frames and the round mirror above the fireplace layer with the glossy trim and beams.
And yes—Burger approves.
The pink hydrangeas are store-bought, a small celebration after all the priming and painting. They added a soft, cheerful touch.
Here’s where the new opening to the dining room will be; it will line up with the dining room window for balance. We learned we’ll need a permit to remove so much of that load-bearing wall, so we’ll hire professionals and move forward once the permit process is complete.
Now for some before-and-after shots. Here’s the kitchen on moving day about six months ago:
And here it is now. We’re still looking forward to adding the island, painting the cabinets, and eventually upgrading the floor and appliances.
These shots were taken around the same time of day and show how much lighter and more cheerful the kitchen feels now that the dark paneling is gone. Budget breakdown:
- Olympic Premium No-VOC primer from Lowe’s: $12
- Behr 2-in-1 Primer + Paint (semi-gloss white): already owned
- Kilz Clean Start No-VOC Primer from Home Depot: $20
- Olympic No-VOC paint (Sesame by Benjamin Moore) from Lowe’s: $22
- New vent and outlet covers from Lowe’s: $43
- Brushes/rollers/tape/paint tray: already owned
- Total: $97
So that’s where the kitchen makeover stands. We’re doing this in phases to spread out costs, but it’s been rewarding to see the big difference paint and a few thoughtful updates can make. Do you have long-term kitchen plans like painting cabinets, adding an island, upgrading flooring, or improving lighting? The possibilities are exciting.
Psst—We announced this week’s giveaway winner. Check the original post to see if it’s you.