Condo cabinets - which colour would you choose?

[rfdrfd]

Help my friend pick a colour for his cabinets. Which one would you prefer? Its a 450 sq ft condo, for the kitchen cabinets, he has three choices:

1 - light wood

2 - darker brown

3 - white


It's a pretty bright condo, lots of windows letting the sun shine in.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7631/choice1.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/choice1.jpg/)
. (http://imageshack.us)

[lubmar]

we are planing to do our kitchen in white ...
but we hear over and over that "white does not sell" dark is the collor for "resale value" ...:?:

[[s2]]

dark wood is modern. white is so outdated and it gets dirty if not cared for properly.

[Mars2012]

Actually, white is classic. The only problem with white is that builders used cheap white cabinets to cut costs and wood cabinets were seen as an upgrade. It's really a matter of personal preference...some people like white and others don't. There isn't one white wall in my house.

I think that posted kitchen looks good in white, especially with the white subway tile. It's a small space, and white would make it look bigger. My preference would be for a medium wood colour...but if I had to choose between the three then I would go with the darker shade.

[lavar]

White ages a lot nicer in many cases. Dark cabinets may be trendy but they may also become outdated quickly as trends change. White may not be fancy but are often easier to live with. Better to have someone buy your house and not love the kithcen but not need to feel like they have to gut it because it is stuck in the 2010's in fifteen years rather than undercut the price to do just that. Of course this is highly hypothethical. If they are going to stay awhile they should get whichever they like.

[rfdrfd]

Thanks all, keep em coming.

Forgot to mention, this is going to be RENTED out.

[bargainista!]

Is he going to paint the walls?

If the walls are going to stay white/beige (can't tell from the pic), I would pick the dark brown for contrast.

I do like the look of the kitchen the way it is though (the white is nice). But because it's open concept it's hard to pick without knowing what other colours are in the room.

[bargainista!]

Is he going to paint the walls?

If the walls are going to stay white/beige (can't tell from the pic), I would pick the dark brown for contrast.

I do like the look of the kitchen the way it is though (the white is nice). But because it's open concept it's hard to pick without knowing what other colours are in the room.

[rfdrfd]

Walls are painters' white right now, but he can paint too.

Okay, I got my friend to do a Photoshop of the DARKER wood color. What do you think? I'm kinda leaning to Darker wood, because I think, what is the ONLY color that executive furniture?? From the 80's to 90's to now? Always dark wood color. So would that mean that's more luxurious and timeless?

Also, in this photo below, you'll see the THREE engineer hardwood color choices. Which one would you pick?

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/460/img9927copy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/img9927copy.jpg/)

[patrob]

Walls are painters' white right now, but he can paint too.

Okay, I got my friend to do a Photoshop of the DARKER wood color. What do you think? I'm kinda leaning to Darker wood, because I think, what is the ONLY color that executive furniture?? From the 80's to 90's to now? Always dark wood color. So would that mean that's more luxurious and timeless?

Also, in this photo below, you'll see the THREE engineer hardwood color choices. Which one would you pick?

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/460/img9927copy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/img9927copy.jpg/)



If the condo will be rented out, then def. go with dark cabinets, easier to keep clean!

And regarding the hardwood colour, def. not the middle one :D Go for the dramatic dark colour ;)

[rfdrfd]

If the condo will be rented out, then def. go with dark cabinets, easier to keep clean!

And regarding the hardwood colour, def. not the middle one :D Go for the dramatic dark colour ;)

Thnx... he's leaning towards dark as well. Dramatic. And I think, what colors do CEOs and executives have for their furniture? Dark, wood, always. No matter if it was 1930's or 2012. Dark wood seems to be ageless for luxury or prestige ?

[Qbit]

Also, in this photo below, you'll see the THREE engineer hardwood color choices. Which one would you pick?

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/460/img9927copy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/img9927copy.jpg/)



Is the hardwood floor going in the kitchen? If yes, do you trust the renter to be diligent enough to take care of it and not create a headache 5-6 years down the line?

[rfdrfd]

Is the hardwood floor going in the kitchen? If yes, do you trust the renter to be diligent enough to take care of it and not create a headache 5-6 years down the line?

Can you elaborate more on what type of headache and mis-use they can do?

Hardwood is a standard in this condo, so only the color is in question.

[Qbit]

Can you elaborate more on what type of headache and mis-use they can do?

Hardwood is a standard in this condo, so only the color is in question.

Hardwood does not like moisture and will buckle and warp if exposed to water and humidity for longer periods of time. This usually happens in the areas around the sink and dishwasher. Depending on type, it could also require a lot of cleaning to reduce the chance of scratching on the finish.

I have seen it with regular hardwood, no experience with engineered types but supposedly the higher quality engineered ones can reduce the effects but do not totally eliminate them.

[Mars2012]

A renter might not take as good care of the floor as an owner, so there is a valid point to not using hardwood in the kitchen. However, this is only a 450 sq ft condo, it might look choppy if there are more than one floor finishes.

OP,
How accurate is the cabinet colour in your second photo? It looks kind of greyish to me. If that is the case, I would eliminate the medium (last) sample because it clashes with the greyish finish. The darker(first) colour would give you a more unified effect, but it would make the place look darker.

[nalababe]

we are planing to do our kitchen in white ...
but we hear over and over that "white does not sell" dark is the collor for "resale value" ...:?:

Not correct.

Actually most of the higher end houses around here have white in the kitchen.

As others have said, cheap white is too common.

[nalababe]

we are planing to do our kitchen in white ...
but we hear over and over that "white does not sell" dark is the collor for "resale value" ...:?:

Not correct.

Actually most of the higher end houses around here have white in the kitchen.

As others have said, cheap white is too common.

Dark has been trendy...but being trendy can be difficult to sell....especially once the trend wains.

[rfdrfd]

A renter might not take as good care of the floor as an owner, so there is a valid point to not using hardwood in the kitchen. However, this is only a 450 sq ft condo, it might look choppy if there are more than one floor finishes.

OP,
How accurate is the cabinet colour in your second photo? It looks kind of greyish to me. If that is the case, I would eliminate the medium (last) sample because it clashes with the greyish finish. The darker(first) colour would give you a more unified effect, but it would make the place look darker.


Accuracy? So so... since it was photoshoped using another closer up pic of the darker brown. It shoudln't be greyish in person. Dark brown color is the one.

[CanadaMortgage]

I personally am a fan of the dark colour...my kitchen cabinets and floor are both dark. I accented it with light granite countertops and decor. At first I thought everything would be too dark but it looks great. Only thing is you definitely do see dust a lot easier :)

[yummie]

If your condo is the usual rectangle/box layout you must:D go with lighter colours for cabinets/ and or flooring...The problem with condos is lack of windows...Usually the kitchen gets the least amount of light/ sunshine in a condo...If you go dark, it will look like a cave....I would go with white cabinets if they are high gloss, which is modern, airy and open....if not, go for the lighter stuff.....