About a week ago, after we painted our brick fireplace, our kitchen looked pretty rough and dated:
We then removed the desk and the upper cabinet that would block the future wide doorway to the dining room. After one coat of a primer that barely covered, the space still looked unfinished:
After fighting stubborn bleed-through and testing three different primers over a couple of days, we finally got the priming right. That intensive prep made a huge difference:
Now the room is painted and refreshed. The photos make it appear a touch more yellow than it is in real life—it’s actually a little greener in person.
The color is a warm golden-green, a sort of “grellow” tone—think artichoke heart rather than lemon.
There’s still more work to do, but finally crossing the primer-and-paint paneling task off the list feels great. We also put together a short time-lapse video that captures the whole process in a few minutes—definitely shorter than the real-life version, which took a few days. See the clip below or on YouTube.
As for the paint, after weighing several options and considering the sightlines into adjoining rooms, we settled on Sesame 381 by Benjamin Moore, color-matched to Olympic No-VOC paint in a semi-gloss finish.
We were inspired by a kitchen image we found on Pinterest and planned the color knowing our cabinets will eventually be painted white, and we might simplify the backsplash as well.
We chose this warm yellow-green because we wanted the kitchen to feel bright and cheerful—there are no exterior windows in the room, only a view into the sunroom, and the paneling made the space feel very dark. We also felt confident using a stronger color because:
- Once we cut the extra-wide doorway to the dining room, there won’t be any long uninterrupted walls in the kitchen, so the color won’t overwhelm the space.
- Painting the cabinets glossy white and simplifying the backsplash will temper the wall color and add contrast.
- We plan to add an island in place of the small table eventually, likely with a non-white base to layer in more interest.
- The kitchen sits between the dining room, hallway, and living room—each has soft gray walls—so a cheerful, slightly bolder kitchen color helps the middle space feel distinct.
To choose the shade, we taped up many swatches and observed them at different times of day before deciding. We liked this particular tone because it ties into chartreuse curtains in the dining room and the lively green in our living room rug without matching exactly. The warm yellow-green reads modern and crisp with the green undertones, and it works with our existing oak cabinetry for now. It also makes the white trim pop better than the paler green options we tested.
Here’s how the first coat looked around the fireplace after all that primer prep—coverage came out great. Again, the photos skew a bit more yellow than real life, but you can see how much brighter and fresher the room feels and how the white trim stands out.
We also replaced all the old bisque vents, outlets, and switches with crisp white ones. With the power off, swapping the covers and switches took about twenty minutes and made a surprising visual improvement.
Some people prefer to paint vent covers to blend them into the wall, but for now we like the clean look of new white hardware. They feel refreshingly finished compared to the old paint-dripped covers, though we might consider a thin, neat coat of paint later if we want them to blend in more.
It’s fun to look back at the progression. The fireplace originally housed an unused wood stove, which we removed before painting the brick. Seeing the transformation—from dark paneling and stained finishes to a bright, cohesive space—really highlights how much of a difference paint and a few small changes can make.
We added a few finishing touches like white frames, a round mirror above the fireplace, and fresh flowers to celebrate finishing the priming and painting phase. Little details like these help the new paint feel polished and intentional.
The future wide opening to the dining room will align with the dining room window for balance. We discovered that removing so much of that load-bearing wall will require a permit and professional help, so that project will take more time and planning, but we’re excited to tackle it when the timing is right.
Now for a few before-and-after shots—always my favorite part. The kitchen on moving day about six months ago felt much darker and more closed-in:
And here’s how it looks now. We’re still looking forward to adding an island, painting the cabinets, and eventually upgrading the floor and appliances, but this phase already makes the room feel lighter and more welcoming.
These photos were taken around the same time of day, so the difference in mood shows how effective removing the dark paneling and choosing the right color can be.
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 we’re at—the kitchen makeover is officially underway, and we’ll tackle it in phases to spread out costs. It should be a lot of fun, even if priming paneling felt like a small endless chore. Do you have long-term kitchen plans—painting cabinets, adding an island, or upgrading flooring or lighting? The possibilities are exciting.
Psst—We announced this week’s giveaway winner. Check the original post to see if it’s you.