I think it looks pretty darn nice as is. The only thing I would change is to add some crown molding to take it to the ceiling and change out the floors to something darker with some character like slate. That would tie in with the gray counters, which are very current. Remove the valance, change out the pendants, and you have a updated kitchen without much expense at all.

I think your kitchen looks great too. I do see a lower cabinet door that is either open or hanging crooked. Are you going for a different style cabinet, or just upgrading? Love your windows over the sink!

Thank you everyone, this kitchen is 20yrs old and believe me if you were here you would see all the imperfections. The only thing new in the kitchen is the window. I do want to change cabinets and redesign it a little differently. Need to figure out what to do with the back wall and definately would like to put in granite counters and new floor and of course new lighting.

Is the fridge on the back wall? Can you move the microwave to that area? It would make a nice snack center.

New pendant lights would look great and maybe add some glass uppers, for a little sparkle? Which stool do you plan to use?

Any idea what kind of granite you'd like to use? Do you plan to use a different countertop, on the island?

This is the site where my pics are http://www.flickr.com/photos/78448016@N08/?saved=1
not sure how to upload them to this site. You can see the fridge in the other pics and I have a lot of space to use. I was thinking of putting like a little entertainment area little fridge etc. on the side wall towards the back of the kitchen. I am not crazy where my fridge is now but I don't see anywhere else to put it. I want granite that has brown it it like the wall we just painted. Neither I am getting new barstools as well. Lets just say I want a new kitchen this has been up for almost 20 years time for a change. You can't see it but these are really worn we got them at a auction 20 yrs ago off the wall of a cabinet place they are rutt cabinets and held up well but they are showing a lot of wear.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen

You have a pretty large kitchen. Are you sure that the cabinets can't be tweaked a bit and kept? They look in pretty good shape. It's the difference between a 20K update and a 40K redo.

As far as advice, well, your question is a bit open ended. We need more of an idea of what you don't like about the present space and what doesn't work, as well as a diagram of the existing space. Then you'll get a lot more suggestions. Currently, your question is like asking a whole room of strangers which car they'd buy. Without narrowing it down to a domestic made family sedan under 40K, you're likely to get about as many responses as their are people!

Are you planning to use the same finish/color, on the new cabinets? If not...are you sure they'll work with your new wall color? I like the granite and the wall color...but unless you're replacing the cabinets with the same finish or maybe white...I think the wall and granite might not look as good.

Normally, paint and other finishes are chosen, after the cabinets...but not always. I'm building an entire kitchen around a backsplash (LOL) so anything is possible :)

The cabinets are in terrible shape and falling apart, I am amazed at how good the pictures look even my family couldn't believe it was the same kitchen. I don't really care for the refrigerator where it is, but I don't see where else I could put it. The back wall that has nothing on it, we use to have a buffet table their but like everything else they are starting to fall apart after 20 yrs.

@lavender I would like to have light cabinet with a dark glaze and on the entertainment piece on the side wall would be a darker color as well as the island. A lot of my ideas are coming from this site so I just need to put it all together and make sure it comes out right.

I'd pick the floor last and get the granite and cabs first. You could also choose the bs and then get the counters to match, but again, the floor would be last in that scenario.

what's with all the entrances on both sides...your space here must be in the middle of the home?? The area with the table and that far butterscotch wall looks a little neglected...is there actually too much traffic?? Maybe some uber zone creation is in order. Entertainment these days is basically a flat screen up on the wall-why don't you use that far butterscotch wall with nothing on it and then people in the kitchen can enjoy it too. On the side wall appears between 2 entrances, and kitchen folk couldn't see anything.

Echo herbflavor, I'd want to see a floor plan of that area of the house and try to make the kitchen proper work well.

Because of the size of the room, it seems like there are interesting opportunities - maybe change the island shape, perhaps unbury cleanup, experiment with a cooktop/oven in place of the range or perhaps move the ref so it isn't between you and the informal dining... It's a little hard to know because of all the nameless openings.

These are all the doorways in my kitchen I guess I do have a lot and the kitchen is in the middle of the house.

Here is a link that might be useful: kitchen door openings

that's more info...In this part of your home I did not see a livroom in the slide show-assume then,a lot happens in family room. Therefore,transform the sunroom into nice soft comfy den/reading/quiet room. Then use the entire length of kitchen/dinette and run an islandstyled kitchen more lengthwise[with substantial seating]and dinette table area part of this but not occupying such a lg amt of empty floorspace as it is now.For some reason I'm seeing moving the dinette to window end, island or multiple islands,or internal U shape through the middle section. Actual measurements would reveal possible options,do you have a sketch with numbers??

These are the original plans when we built the house. The only difference is we didn't follow the diagram of the kitchen and changed it around.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen diagram

@herbflavor I do have a living room it is beside the foyer. On one side of the foyer is the living room and on the other is the dining room. Both rooms have doors into the kitchen which is in the middle of the house.

this all just depends on how much you want to push your design threshold comfort level. I'd probably leave liv room/dining room as they are-slightly smaller enclosed,formal spaces....Plumbing/electrics come into play,but I see a longer farmhouse wood table running parallel to sink wall, nice light from window, hardwood floor, with adjacent fireplace-much cosier feel for eating. The kitchen items flanking those 2 walls go into mid part of room and a bit of wall where frig is and wall where desk is. take your length-28 ft,subtract 12 ft for dining zone and 4 ft to walk through at other end to sunroom and beyond. You still have 12 ft in middle, but what makes many possibilities here is 14 ft! of depth. I would clock some serious time with pencil and graph paper in front of me.[can the pillars be redone if you want to change styles to transitional or contemporary?]

The pillars can be changed they are for decorative purposes.

OK, I gotta ask.
You anywhere near the Washington, DC area?
I love those tall cabs with the glass uppers.
I'll come and take them out for you.
Heck, I'll demo your kitchen and donate it for those! :)

I also have a hard time understanding your kitchen is in as bad shape as you insist. It really photos well.

You're getting some great ideas from the pros. I can't wait to see what you end up with. You have such a great space!

No I am in s Massachusetts. These cabinets are Rutt we actually bought them 20 yrs ago at a auction a cabinet place was going out of business and we took them off the wall. We actually paid 7800 for all the cabinets except for the island plus in that price we got a paneled refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave. They are showing wear and tear now and cabinets are starting to break. But your right it does photograph well my husband and kids couldn't believe it was our kitchen. lol

I swiped the honeycomb shade image from a Washington Post article which says it's from shadesoflight.com for $149. There are other color options and other shade options as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shades of Light

lindar2540, it is easy to embed images in a thread from a photosharing site. You can find the instructions in the Posting Pictures portion of the New To Kitchens? Posting Pics? Read Me! thread that is usually found on page 1 or page 2 of this forum (unfortunately, no way to "sticky" it to the top of the forum). I linked to the specific post for you below.

All I did to post an image from your Flickr site was to click on the image to bring only that image up, click on the "Share" button above the image to bring up a window, click on "Grab the HTML/BBCode" to open up that section of the window, made sure that the HTML box was still selected (just below the code) and then did as instructed, "Copy and paste the code below" into this thread (Ctrl A, Ctrl C & Ctrl V). Here's your plan as your home was designed (if I understand what you're saying, that is).

This is the photo size setting of Medium 500 (might be default setting).

And this is photo size of Medium 800 (click on the pull down area next to photo size to see your choices).

You'll get more responses if the images are in this thread instead of making us hunt through your whole list of images to find the one you're referring to.

One of the key things we need - and what is missing from the "as planned" images found at your Flickr site - are dimensions of the space. We need to know overall size of the room, size of windows and doorways and where they fall within the space. It's really hard to judge from images or plan whether the window is 48" in from the corner or 60" and those 12" will make a difference in proposed suggestions.

You don't need to have professionally drawn up plans. It doesn't even have to be pretty. But it does need to be legible. So grab a sheet of graph paper, assign a value (for example, 1 square = 6") and draw up your existing kitchen. Then scan it to upload to your Flickr site so that you can embed this image here. If you don't have a scanner, take a photo of your drawing (I've done this) instead.

Lastly, it would be helpful to know more about you, including size and ages of family, how you cook, what you like to cook, how many cooks there are, etc. You can find the info we need to know in the Layout Help post in the New To Kitchens? Posting Pics? Read Me! thread (you'll also find tips about drawing up a kitchen plan in this thread).

Here is a link that might be useful: Posting Pictures portion of New To Kitchens? Posting Pics? Read Me!

I worked on my floor plan hope this is what you what you were talking about. I am five children 3 older ones and two little ones 4 and 3. I cook all the time our kitchen is the center of our house and our island is in use all the time.

bump

I wish I could have gotten people to respond to my designs, knowing how helpful everyone is on here.

It does not strike me as a kitchen that will stand the test of time-it has a lot of floor space and with 4 kids-2 who are running around,fine, but when they are grown up, I see the space designed like this as wanting for another redo. If it is satisfying to you to have an island,kitchen table, sunroom and dining room all in close proximity for eating arrangements, then do it, and shift to looking at materials and surfaces. What are your colors/textures/woods: maybe that will help recreate this by getting your design theme solidified. Seeking out a kitchen designer,because you have so much space here, has benefits as well.

i have lived in this house for almost 20 yrs my oldest children are 25, 23, & 20 and this kitchen has been great to us all. Since then I have taken in two babies who I have permanent guardianship with and now going for adoption. I love my kitchen I just want to have a new updated kitchen and the cabinets are so worn needed something frest!

Lindar2540,

Don't give up.

I would start a new thread with a new title. Something specific. What exactly do you need? Help with layout, cabinets, etc. Post all images directly in your posts.

Sometimes its just timing and some threads get overlocked. Many ignore posts with links instead of imbedded photos. Or maybe the question is to vague.

So I look forward to a new thread from you with a new title. Include photos and the diagram with measurements. Be specific about what you like and don't. Such as there are traffic jams near the refrigerator and want to change that. You get the idea.