Since you didn't say much about what you'd like other than white/cream cabinets, I'll just tell you what *I* would do if this were my kitchen. :o)

I'd paint the cabinets white, replace the appliances with mid-range SS ones (and nix the OTR micro unless there's absolutely nowhere else to put one), install DIY soapstone countertops, white subway tile backsplash, undermount sink, replace center light fixture, and add a couple new pendants over the bar area (can you lose the soffit-looking section or raise it up to where the angle starts on the other side of the wall?). I'd add pulls/knobs to the cabinetry, and put in wood (or is it laminate?) to match what you have in the eating area. I would also add beadboard and maybe some decorative brackets to the bar area.

You could easily do all of that with your budget, especially if you DIY a lot of it. I don't know what's on the other side of your sink wall, but if it's an exterior wall, I'd try to budget for a window. Otherwise, I'd try to budget for moving plumbing to the bar side so the sink & DW could be installed there. I would feel very claustrophobic working at the sink's current location, but that's just me. ;o) You could put some open shelving in the space under the cabinet above the sink. Or, if the width happens to be the same, I'd take down the shorter upper cabinet (the one under the soffit) and put it where the over-sink cabinet was. Then I'd put open shelving under the soffit, or just leave it bare. Another option would be to move the above-micro cabinet there, build a new box for a smaller micro underneath (painted to match) and put a new vent hood over the range (so no cabinets.)

I'll try to make some drawings to better illustrate what I'm talking about and then come back. :o)

Hi Steffie2. Have you thought about painting your cabinets cream or white and adding some hardware (since you like the look, but don't want the expense of new cabinets?) I saw a brochure at a big box store (the one with the orange sign!) for Rustoleums "Cabinet Transformations" products.They look interesting, and are specifically made for painting cabinets. I know I've seen lots of photos on this forum of cabinets that were painted by the homeowners and they turned out great. I think white cabinets would help make your kitchen look wider and airier. Then a medium-dark wood floor would help give you that warmth you like. (I wouldn't go too dark in a small space, though you'd have to consider what you already have in adjoining rooms.) Diagonals can help a narrow space feel wider, so if you can run the wood (or a floor tile) on the diagonal (or a herringbone type diagonal), it might help to visually widen the room. Again- you have to consider the adjoining rooms floor covering and either match or do a very definite contrast.
Maybe you could add glass doors to the cabinet over the penninsula (the one over the tv). You could have the flat panel cut out and glass added. Just some thoughts. Now if you could help ME figure out my backsplash.... (I just posted my design dilema right after yours!)Take a tip from me and make sure you can find a backsplash tile you like that goes with your granite and cabinets BEFORE you buy the granite and have it installed! Best wishes.

Here's a very rough mock-up of some of the things I suggested. You'll have to imagine your cabinets white. ;o)

You can do a ton with that budget if you are DIY'ers!!

Do you just want it to be prettier or does it need to function better for you? Are you interested in moving anything? IE changing the floorplan a bit?

One thing I prefer, is cabinets that go to the ceiling.. I saw a cool idea on DIY channels Sweat Equity. It was season 2 episode called "Concrete or Bust" (I looked it up but cant seem to get the link to work for ya)They raised their current cabinet to the ceiling and made simple cubbies underneath.

If you can sketch out your floorplan and show how it sits with adjoining rooms, I'm sure there will be some fantastic advice here for you!!

Steffie, this is a link to my recent blog post about our total DIY kitchen reno....I kept my oak cabinet base and painted and bought MDF doors to update the look...

You might be interested as we started with something quite similar to your in material and did the total reno, applicances included for under $12,000

Here is a link that might be useful: Oak kitchen to White Kitchen

I like your suggestions, Worldmom (you must have posted just minutes before I posted my earlier post- I hadn't seen yours before I also suggested "paint the cabinets!") I agree about removing the soffit- if possible. If it is needed for structure or ducting, see if its width can be reduced ( "Push" it toward the dining room side, to help widen the room visually.)
I love your kitchen redo crafterbeth- it is a wow. Great job.

I just wanted to share a couple of thoughts to Steffie2 (been thinking about your kitchen, since it was the last thing I saw before going to sleep!) I haven't seen your entire kitchen, but could you possibly turn the penninsula into an island by removing a few cabinets at the end of the penninsula next to the range? (Or would there be not enough left to create the island if you did that?)You could then relocate one of those removed cabinets next to the range. (And doors from any cabinets you remove could make great end and back panels for cabinets and islands, by the way.) After all, many of those gorgeous kitchens with long islands are often no wider than a galley kitchen--they just are so open on the island side that you don't realize it! (By the way, once you remove the countertop, cabinets are easy to move around--they are usually just screwed to the wall and to each other.)

I had another thought about how you could get new cabinets and stay in budget, besides painting: have you considered RTA (ready to assemble) cabinets? I was looking for bathroom vanities recently and found that there are now many places selling these RTA kitchen cabinets at FANTASTIC prices (even cheaper than IKEA!) They look just as gorgeous, at least online, as regular cabinets. I believe that some of them come from China- which may explain the low price. These RTA cabinets do have face- frame construction (unlike IKEA-which some contractors won't install due to the lake of face frames)and plywood sides (a good RTA cabinet has to have the plywood sides because of the way they are constructed--typical stock cabinets have particleboard sides unless you pay extra) I will post a link below for one RTA company below. (Even though I suggested painting the cabinets--I personally would never have the time or energy for such a large project myself!)

One other budget tip if you want to squeeze in money for new cabinets (forgive me if you know all this already): Get estimates from small contractors who specialize in things like cabinet installs, and be your own general contractor (hire each specialist yourself: hire your own cabinet installer,electrician, plumber, countertop fabricator, etc.)this saves quite a bit of money, and the contractors seem to be able to give much better prices if they are only responsible for their own work. (General contractors usually charge 20% for being the general, or so I've been told.) I found a HUGE difference in prices between estimates for the cabinet install between the big box store where I bought the cabinets, bigger construction companies, and the little guys. I was even told that I got a better price because I was having the work done in January, when things were slow--something to keep in mind. Also, find out who does the cabinet installs (usually called the "finish carpenters") for a local home developer. They may be willing to do your install job as an extra side job, and the price will be reflect the fact that it isn't their sole source of income! At least that is what I did recently, and the contractor gave me a fantastic price for a minor remodeling job (I needed a custom corner cabinet built and one relocated.)I was willing to be a little flexible with my timing and he told me that he was happy to have an odd job to send his guys to do if they had an a delay or whatever with the developer, and they would have had nothing else to do otherwise! Just some of my musings--I hope it helps.

Here is a link that might be useful: RTA kitchen cabinets

If you do decide to paint your cabinets and like the tuscany look, I have a cheap fun way to add lots of dimension to your cabinets. After painting the cabinets, get a marker from the hobby store (we went to Hobby Lobby). They have them in a multitude of colors, we used mocha. Outline the wherever there is an edge you can define by the routering. Many were reluctant when I mentioned the idea but loved the outcome. I wish I had pics to send you but they were in our previous home we just sold. We had the same oak styling just our were white washed.

I love that you want to keep the cabinets! I agree with all that Worldmom said. Plus, I would add crown molding above the cabinets. Cuteness is definitely in your kitchens future (says putting down magic 8 ball). Good luck and keep us posted!

Thank you everyone for the feedback...I love all the ideas and will explore all of them. So glad I found you and this forum!

I will note that both my hubby and I are defintely not DIY'ers....we are wanna be's! :-) We figured that out when we moved in and tried to do some jobs ourself and needed to call in the pro's to rescure us. PLus, with our full time jobs, long commutes and 4 children we are beat by the end of the day.

I should mention that on the other side of the ktichen wall is our living room so there is no room to move that wall or add a window. We were defintely thinking of making the counter an island but thought that would be too expensive and add to our limited budget, but we like that idea so we will explore that too.

We had a GC on to look at everything and they were not that promising. When I asked if we would get a contract if we proceeded he said, " if that is what you want, but those are usually the people we end up in court with"! Can you beleive that?

NOw, we are having individual tradesmens bid on their jobs and have become our own GC :-)

Has anyone heard of Riverrun Cabinets? I think they may be from China.

I will def. be back and will keep you posted! Thank you Thank you!!!!