WWYD - custom cabinets wrong color

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op, not sure it's a consolation but I think the subtle low-contrast look is less trendy and will look good longer. I love the subtle contrast in your link--I prefer it to any two-tone cabinet kitchens I've seen.

I agree but if it's not what she wanted she asks for it to be corrected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Specifying 25% lighter is kind of Loosey goosy.

Perhaps I'm just thirsty, but if I order a Jalapeno Margarita 25% less sweet from 3 different bartenders at the same restaurant they may all go about it in different ways -- Less simple syrup? More Tequila? Additional lime so the extra acidity can counteract the sweetness? Any may work. All may be repeatable from batch to batch, but none are prescribed standard deviations of a 25% less-sweet Jalapeno Margarita that would be known by all future bartenders. Your order will get different results from bartender to bartender unless you're specific.

When mixing an off-white paint 25% lighter, which tint are they supposed to dilute or enhance to brighten? By what ratio does that adjustment need to be made to equal an end result that is 25% lighter while still maintaining the expected color?

Method aside, 25% will be subjective to each person.

For next time, if I had a mix code (previously used custom color) that I tried, liked, and wanted to repeat, I would provide that code rather than starting with the name of the color I don't want and asking for a subjective adjustment. Whether the service provider is solo or part of a larger company YOU have the answer all along - the code on the can you like - which you didn't provide. Why rely on them to reinvent your wheel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. We picked an off-white color for the (new) uppers, and a sage-type color for the (new) lowers. BUT we worried that the contrast between the off-the-shelf colors might not be quite strong enough. So after testing a ton of different samples (on our old cabinets -- which had white), we requested that the upper (off white) color be mixed at 75% formula -- so it would be 25% lighter than the off-the-shelf off-white. Just to be sure, we painted all our old cabinets our "new" colors and lived with them for a while.

The contractor made beautiful cabinets, and he painted them off-white (uppers) and sage (lowers). The disconnect is simply that he somehow didn't see or remember that we'd requested a 75% (25% lighter than standard) formula. So the contrast is softer, more subtle than I'd hoped.

The cabinets I linked to (which should show off-white uppers and gray-blue lowers) are not my colors! I only put them in to show what a "soft-contrast" two-tone looks like.

Now I understand. From what your description it sounds like there is a contrast but not as much as you want. I'm sorry and I'm sure it's frustrating because you worked on getting the colors just so. When I painted my house I also toyed with 25% lighter for my gray walls. I painted a few shades to see which one I liked. NOBODY except for me and my husband could actually tell the difference between the full color and 25% less. So at the end of the day, it didn't matter. I'm sure your kitchen will look lovely.

Yes, less contrast than I expected.
But this observation helps. Thank you!
I was definitely getting a little...ah...shall we say, hyperfastidious...about details during the sample-painting process. I had been trying so hard not to make an extremely expensive mistake. But you're right that others probably wouldn't even notice. Really appreciate this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Specifying 25% lighter is kind of Loosey goosy.

Perhaps I'm just thirsty, but if I order a Jalapeno Margarita 25% less sweet from 3 different bartenders at the same restaurant they may all go about it in different ways -- Less simple syrup? More Tequila? Additional lime so the extra acidity can counteract the sweetness? Any may work. All may be repeatable from batch to batch, but none are prescribed standard deviations of a 25% less-sweet Jalapeno Margarita that would be known by all future bartenders. Your order will get different results from bartender to bartender unless you're specific.

When mixing an off-white paint 25% lighter, which tint are they supposed to dilute or enhance to brighten? By what ratio does that adjustment need to be made to equal an end result that is 25% lighter while still maintaining the expected color?

Method aside, 25% will be subjective to each person.

For next time, if I had a mix code (previously used custom color) that I tried, liked, and wanted to repeat, I would provide that code rather than starting with the name of the color I don't want and asking for a subjective adjustment. Whether the service provider is solo or part of a larger company YOU have the answer all along - the code on the can you like - which you didn't provide. Why rely on them to reinvent your wheel?

This - I can understand being frustrated but you requested a custom color without specifying the custom formula. Why wouldn’t you include a photo of the paint can you used to clarify the color? I had a custom color on my cabinets, and the builder wouldn’t finalize the order until they first had a sample of the color with number/formula to send, and then a sample door of the color that I had to sign off on. That seems pretty standard procedure, because asking a contractor to build you new cabinets seems unrealistic. Why do you not just want them repainted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op, not sure it's a consolation but I think the subtle low-contrast look is less trendy and will look good longer. I love the subtle contrast in your link--I prefer it to any two-tone cabinet kitchens I've seen.

Thank you! It IS a consolation, actually! Much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think “25% lighter” is a real thing. If you had a custom sample made, you should have used that color code. Sorry. I’m really surprised that they wouldn’t have explained that when they made the sample.

+1

[Anonymous]

OP again. I am happy to answer questions about how it happened, but the main thing is that I have decided to lean into softer-than-expected contrast.

Maybe this is the universe reminding me to release attachment and expectations that anything can be perfect. I'll probably stop noticing very soon.

The first couple of cabinets are now in place. He really did build some very nice cabinets, and there's no question this will be a huge improvement over What Was.

I appreciate you all reading and advising. It does help to talk it through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I am happy to answer questions about how it happened, but the main thing is that I have decided to lean into softer-than-expected contrast.

Maybe this is the universe reminding me to release attachment and expectations that anything can be perfect. I'll probably stop noticing very soon.

The first couple of cabinets are now in place. He really did build some very nice cabinets, and there's no question this will be a huge improvement over What Was.

I appreciate you all reading and advising. It does help to talk it through.

Wonderful. May you enjoy God's blessing for showing a spirit of kindness, gentleness, peace, and self control.

[Anonymous]

I think it is going to be lovely, and no one will ever know. Truly a 25% reduction is hard to tell, even 50% can be very minimally different!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Specifying 25% lighter is kind of Loosey goosy.

Perhaps I'm just thirsty, but if I order a Jalapeno Margarita 25% less sweet from 3 different bartenders at the same restaurant they may all go about it in different ways -- Less simple syrup? More Tequila? Additional lime so the extra acidity can counteract the sweetness? Any may work. All may be repeatable from batch to batch, but none are prescribed standard deviations of a 25% less-sweet Jalapeno Margarita that would be known by all future bartenders. Your order will get different results from bartender to bartender unless you're specific.

When mixing an off-white paint 25% lighter, which tint are they supposed to dilute or enhance to brighten? By what ratio does that adjustment need to be made to equal an end result that is 25% lighter while still maintaining the expected color?

Method aside, 25% will be subjective to each person.

For next time, if I had a mix code (previously used custom color) that I tried, liked, and wanted to repeat, I would provide that code rather than starting with the name of the color I don't want and asking for a subjective adjustment. Whether the service provider is solo or part of a larger company YOU have the answer all along - the code on the can you like - which you didn't provide. Why rely on them to reinvent your wheel?

This - I can understand being frustrated but you requested a custom color without specifying the custom formula. Why wouldn’t you include a photo of the paint can you used to clarify the color? I had a custom color on my cabinets, and the builder wouldn’t finalize the order until they first had a sample of the color with number/formula to send, and then a sample door of the color that I had to sign off on. That seems pretty standard procedure, because asking a contractor to build you new cabinets seems unrealistic. Why do you not just want them repainted?

Why did I not just want the old cabinets repainted, you mean? They were thin slab 45-year-old frameless cabinets installed by the homeowner (who wasn't a professional). During the decades, they settled in weird ways (house is old!), chunks of veneer have pulled off several fronts, and some places had been patchworked with mismatched cabinets. There were also almost no uppers -- only open shelves, which turned everything we stored dusty and grimy. Oh, and the drawers were too shallow to hold a ladle or potato masher or larger bag of sandwich baggies! We are pretty frugal, and we made 'em work for more than a decade, but it was finally time.

(We salute you, 45-year-old cabinets, and we thank you for your service!)

Lesson learned about the paint code. I do wish if my builder had seen something that wasn't clear, he'd proactively reached out, as you say yours would have. But he didn't, and also I didn't provide the code or a photo of the paint can, or insist that he come and take a sample, and by the time I knew it was a concern, the cabinets were walking through the door.

Live and learn, live and learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I am happy to answer questions about how it happened, but the main thing is that I have decided to lean into softer-than-expected contrast.

Maybe this is the universe reminding me to release attachment and expectations that anything can be perfect. I'll probably stop noticing very soon.

The first couple of cabinets are now in place. He really did build some very nice cabinets, and there's no question this will be a huge improvement over What Was.

I appreciate you all reading and advising. It does help to talk it through.

Wonderful. May you enjoy God's blessing for showing a spirit of kindness, gentleness, peace, and self control.

Right back atcha', PP.

[Anonymous]

I think OP just doesn't like the color, LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again.

I have been looking at a lot of kitchens online. These are NOT my colors, but fyi the LRV contrast is probably similar to to the contrast in this image: https://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=88035

It's not bad, I just think it would look sharper if the uppers were a bit brighter.

I think this looks beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again.

I have been looking at a lot of kitchens online. These are NOT my colors, but fyi the LRV contrast is probably similar to to the contrast in this image: https://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=88035

It's not bad, I just think it would look sharper if the uppers were a bit brighter.

I think this looks beautiful.

I also like this look. Glad you're feeling better about it, OP.

[Anonymous]

Based on the example, If your issue is that they are too similar/not enough of a contrast, I get it. But over time, the colours may darken differently giving you more contrast especially if oll-based.

But I don't like contrast cabinets so I consider this a win/I do think this choice will age better.

What did the maker say? I hope you at least TOLD him as he can't improve/catch errors in the future if you don't help him by being honest. He may even have an easy suggestion.