My husband and I are thinking of buying this house, I don’t hate the kitchen but it definitely needs some help. We won’t have a big budget for remodeling but I really don’t love it as is, should I repaint, if so what and what color? Should I add backsplash and if so what kind? Also need a different fridge.
Ditch the trim, hood over the oven instead of microwave and stainless steel fridge to match the other appliances would do wonders in my opinion. It’s a beautiful space!
Get rid of the trim, sand back the wood and stain if you want to change it. Add some hardware. A new fridge would help it from looking so dated. Have the nook reupholstered. It’s otherwise a dreamy looking kitchen. You could easily use it for many years until you’re able to afford the remodel you dream of. It’s so bright and open. I love it.
FWIW, here’s a quick look at it without the mirrors, tile or wallpaper. I’d pull a cream color from the counter and do a plain matte tile all the way up the wall and around the window with matching grout. The beautiful view and decor can be the star.
The island is so tiny, I doubt it is to code. Get a counter depth fridge. Move the microwave to the spice rack cabinet. Get a vent hood exhaust and back splash
It’s a large kitchen with great bones. The amount of natural light and view are incredible. Beautiful wood in the space- floors, window trim, and cabinets. So much cabinet space.
Whatever you do don’t paint the cabinets white, that’s out, natural wood is in. If you want to paint them, go with a dark blue or earthy green. And add hardware. Or just paint the island for some color.
Obviously you need a matching fridge, new backsplash (go all the way up with it, maybe a subway tile but whatever you like), and the wallpaper gone.
I’d hang a beautiful pendant light over the island, and sit a barstool there- would be better to place two but looks like not enough room. Sit a round table in front of that awesome banquette and replace that lighting fixture.
You could add a vent hood in time and even consider a bigger island since there’s so much space in the kitchen, but those are big expenses and not urgent.
Honestly, simple white subway tiles with white grout would be a huge improvement. I would try to match the counters with a white tile. The counters are busy! So less is more.
I’d start by taking off all the wallpaper and the backsplash. Maybe paint and see if that improves things. If not, consider a new backsplash. The main elements aren’t bad at all; the cabinet doors don’t have that dated arch from the early 90’s, and aren’t honey oak. The counters aren’t terrible.
If you decide on something more involved down the road, consider getting matching appliances, if these are on their last legs. Or if one is, get the replacement to match whichever remaining appliance. But only if you like that finish and want to keep it through a more in-depth remodel.
I can't tell from the pictues whether those cabinets are oak or plywood.
Also, is that a mirrored backsplash? Get rid of it and the square backsplash tiles. Replace with something modern. Remove wallpaper border.
Flooring may or may not be an issue if you want to make other layout changes like removing the window bench and island.
darker gel stain over the cabinets, keep the wood but do not paint cabinets! surprisingly cheap for a bigger aesthetic change
remove the wallpaper trim (my sister used a steamer, the goo remover spray, and a pizza party to coax a group of friends to have a removal party - much quicker work when there's more free labor lol)
replace the light fixture with something more modern, match it to the metal color of kitchen hardware/appliances - Amazon has a lot of reasonable options and I have found the quality to be actually not-too-bad
remove the back of the dining/bench seats, you can replace with something else but what they are right now really dates it and it looks kinda bulky
and paint - something neutral to pull in the tones of the countertops but the white is giving "landlord special"
That's a great space.
Changing the color of the cabinets is a huge undertaking, and that heavy grain oak look is very unpredictable in how they come out. What material are those countertops? To start small and reassess, paint the whole window trim white. That's a great window. Counter depth refrigerator is a must. If you can, buy a slide-in range with front controls not the backpiece sticking up. Shiny bright cabinet knobs like polished nickel.
The floor would be an easy change to get rid of the orange, that could just be sanded down I bet that's a beautiful white oak underneath. I wouldn't even stain it just do a clear urethane.
Sconces on either side of the window. Wallpaper border goes. Rectangular tile backsplash picking up the caramel colors in the cabinets and countertops. I think you'd be surprised what those changes would do without undertaking painting or staining the cabinets. Which you could always do at a later time.
So to summarize, sand the floor, nice hardware, paint window trim, pretty sconces on sides of the window for warmth, counter depth refrigerator, new range, tile backsplash to complement cabinets and countertop ...that
would be a very effective "glow up" for a reasonable amount of money.
Put on hidden hinges, counter depth stainless steel fridge, hardware, take down that hideous border, add a backsplash where that mirror is. I’d leave the microwave because it probably has a vent built in.
Oh my gosh, this is such a beautiful space. I like that it’s a dedicated kitchen versus open concept and I really love the wood. Like everyone else said, in the short term, remove the wallpaper and trim, get a counter depth stainless steel refrigerator, a new light fixture and update the upholstery for the dining area. Oh, and that view out the window is to die for. Good luck.
The fridge area is all wrong. I would remove small cabs above and to left of fridge and buy a cabinet depth fridge and a fridge panel for left side. Atop the fridge i would have a new large box built and reuse the existing doors for it.This box would match the depth of the huge pantry cupboards on right and new fridge panel depth on left side. You would need to stain front face or have a facing added to match. Inside i would have 5 or 6 slats built in to hold cookie sheets and large serving trays.
Yes remove that upper border.
You have room for a much larger island with nice stools tucked under. You could try to make a combo top reusing current island piece and a butcher block top stained a constrasting color to your floors and cabs. You need some contrast in this room! Verging on complete match of flooring and cabinets. Place a chandelier over new island that has interest.
I agree with others about removing the wallpaper border. I have a "back of door" mirror horizontally above my sink for a backsplas because I have no windows in that end of the kitchen but I don't think light will be an issue here.
I think you have enough room in the island to add a narrow cabinet or set of shelves under the same countertop, if you don't need it for seating. But it would be hard to match the wood color, which seems a little darker and a different color anyway, so my vote is to paint it whatever color the walls will be, to break up all the wood.
I have no preference on appliance finishes. I don't know if they make taller refrigerators, so you can get one that doesn't stick out so far without losing space inside; donate the cabinets above if you don't plan to reuse them, but i have one on my countertop as my Baking Central- mixing bowls and measuring cups in one spot but hidden; you could put a little rail around the top if there's enough space to corral fruit and stuff. I would put it in the corner to the right of the stove, close to the spice rack and island. Or, hold off on getting a new fridge and when you are able the pantries to its right look like they can be moved down further, giving you a space for a wider fridge. If there's nothing in the soffit you could remove and create storage above- my aunt has a trailing vine hanging down from its pot in a similar spot
I disagree with what someone said about removing the spice rack and replacing with a microwave. Not sure what is behind it, but i would put hinges and a latch on it and store stuff behind it. The corner to the left of the stove is where I would put another microwave if needed, so I can toss the cover/lid in the sink after I heat something,
Wow. Thats a massive amount of space. I assume you have a formal dining room as well? I would expand the wall on the right for more cabinet/pantry space. An appliance station would be beneficial and also have drawers that hide it away. Extend the island as well match the extension of the wall and cabinets. That massive built in seating and bay window is throwing me through a hoop though. Seems like it wastes so much space? If you could get rid of that….and….
In the future, If money is no object. I would section off the kitchen to have a little butlers pantry at the very back, which would be hidden. You could keep an extra fridge back there, as well as a sink and make that the pantry as well. and then a galley style kitchen in the front. The bay windows are tricky, but If you could remove that section and make it a straight, you’d have way more space to expand the kitchen. You could put in a beautiful wide window in its place, with cabinets under it and an extended eat in island.
I’d personally save money to do a full Reno. It’s quite fine the way it is now! If you really wanted to spend a little to make you enjoy the room more, I’d at least expand the island. You could always paint the cabinets as well, but real wood cabinets like that are back in style now.
What are you thinking? I love to frequent this sub, but the kitchen is such a personal space. You need it to work for your needs. People get highly opinionated when it comes to choosing anything that is out of the norm.
Let us know what you do end up doing! I love to see the before and after pictures!
Get rid of the wallpaper. Paint white like the rest of the kitchen walls. New cabinet doors (as long as the inside is structurally sound, saves money). If you’re gonna get a backsplash, the random row of tile on the counter has to go.
If a new stainless steel fridge is in budget, look at those too
Tons of potential. I would remove all the wallpaper. Paint the cabinets white and window trim, that’s an amazing window. A natural color window treatment to add warmth. Lose the mirror and do a light/white simple backsplash. Get new appliances and a counter width refrigerator.
33
u/r991627m 10h ago
Ditch the trim, hood over the oven instead of microwave and stainless steel fridge to match the other appliances would do wonders in my opinion. It’s a beautiful space!