Boring Kitchen Remodel

10 years ago

I'm trying to select a design to update my 1990s builder's grade, oak, L-shaped kitchen. I don't want to move the sink or range. I posted the current proposed design, but it is not inspiring me. It's boring. I was aiming for something "transitional" (perhaps even modern). I don't want it to look dated a year after we remodel. Any design suggestions would be appreciated. Should we move the refrigerator to the far left? Add a small appliance cabinet on the far right?

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Comments (5)

barista9
10 years ago
Doesn't look bad to me. Going more modern would make it dated quicker I think. What I would do different is the microwave oven, I'd move it in the island (maybe get the island a bit bigger?) and put a chimney hood and subway tiles. You'll have a 'class'ic kitchen from my point of view.
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annkh_nd
10 years ago
What's the story with the window? Will you replace it? If so, I'd consider moving the window to the left, to give you more prep space between fridge and range. Run the uppers to the ceiling, or at least keep them all the same height.

I think a bigger island, with seating on two sides, would make a big difference. You certainly seem to have room for it.

This is almost exactly the plan greenhaven has (she's been posting regularly about her facelift). She moved the fridge to the opposite end of the L, to greatly improve the prep space around the range.
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I think it's nice when a dh shows some interest, and I think there are often ways to meet both needs. Bmorepanic's Rustic-Whimsy kitchen comes to mind, in which she is trying to incorporate her favorite style in combination with her dh's 'Ralph Lauren Rustic.' What fun to create a space in which both people see exactly what they wanted! My dh is one of the ones who loves wood and prefers not to paint it, but he didn't mind that I incorporated painted cabinets in the kitchen along with our natural fir ones. I found myself drawn to the feel of white kitchens, but knew white wasn't right for me, so looked for other elements that made those kitchens feel like what I was wanting...The use of butcherblock, some unfitted things, some stainless, etc. You said that he likes granite...How about one of the light granites that might resemble marble enough for you but still be granite to him? How about a combination of white and some of whatever he likes, whether it be painted color or wood cabinets? Could you compromise and have the white-kitchen look, but in a color, so it's the style you like, but so he won't see 'boring, old-people white?' Will light gray, butterscotch, or even a good cream color be enough different to make him feel better? All that said, will he really care after its in, or never really think twice about it, while you'll notice and appreciate or hate it every day? Or is he someone who will really take ownership of the kitchen with you, and really will care after it's all said and done? I think that should be taken into consideration when deciding whose preference carries the most weight. Anyway, I wanted to give some other suggestions to consider, in case the photos of white kitchens don't lead where you hope. Best wishes!
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Tile, Here's a suggestion for a layout. What I've tried to accomplish: * an open, airy feeling created by storage mostly below the waist and avoiding bulky items around windows/doors/openings * sink and island prep areas allow window views * friendly seating area provided by 15" countertop overhang * min. 36" clearances (OK according to Sarah Richardson kitchen designer) * use mostly drawers - the IKEA ones are super practical for almost everything * replace the corner unit with the 37x37 one, which is generally considered more functional, especially if you put in 32" super susans (mine holds all my pots *and* small appliances) * suggest a smaller, cuter fridge that is more appropriate to the scale of your kitchen - the layout below shows the 28" wide IKEA one, or you could use this adorable model: e.g. Northstar Model 1950 in buttercup (29.5" wide) * put microwave on a shelf below the counter in the island * I would not clutter up your walls with upper cabinets - minimal open shelving for decorative and frequently used items cabinets below are: 1=37" corner, 2=18" drawers, 3=30" sink, 4=edited-dishwasher, 5=24" wide+12" deep, 6=18" wide+12" deep, 7=24" drawers, 8=36" wide - put microwave here, 9=18" drawers This post was edited by feisty68 on Thu, Apr 10, 14 at 14:41
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can you refinish the floor yourself? you will need the orbital sander refinisher, not the one that goes in straight line. I'd save those wood floors as they will go w/the look you want. with a dark walnut stain on them, they'll look great w/the blacks/whites, wood, industrial lighting how do you want to change the closet door? can you do something w/glass? like the Ikea pax doors or something? You could do that for the doors and just paint the other on the left side. look on craigslist for a new bedroom door, or check a salvage yard for a solid slab or panel door. if you did the wall behind the bed, you'd have your own headboard. look into making your own platform bed. it's easy enough if you have some basic tools that inset area on your wall, you could do some reclaimed wood and then paint this blue or the dark charcoal paint color .you could also cut holes for industrial style sconces on your wall/headboard check craigslist for leftover wood flooring or reclaimed wood that inset spot you have is cool to do different things. for instance, look how they've done the wood across the wall, halfway, and then prob laid a LED strip light across for some cool uplighting.you could do this in grays/white, your dark floor, white curtains, white walls, and some cool art. take out that baseboard if redoing the flooring. replace w/a more modern, taller style.
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you could choose to go lighter w/a creamy white quartz pre-fab A 9' piece in a similar color like this, should cost less than $500. (they also have 3x5 and 4x6 island pieces) Then, hire a fabricator to cut it to fit to your kitchen dimensions. Total should be under 2K. this is a granite called Jet Mist or Virginia Mist. it can be polished, honed (shown) or leathered. I like this black one Celerygirl mocked up for you. the black looks great w/the wood and the floors. Woven wood blind is nice too You could bring in a creamy white wall color, some new hardware for the cabinets (a very soft brushed gold or maybe an ORB or venetian bronze) And a creamier white backsplash tile. since you have a solid countertop, you can easily do any type of design or mosaic. Check on Blinds.com for the woven wood blinds, or something like this Classic Roman shade. they have tons of colors and patterns they also have these other blinds (a bit cheaper) that come in many colors. I used these in a soft green over the kitchen sink for a house we flipped. Oh look, another Pre-fab. Galaxy White by Stone Contact this is a creamier white granite and would actually be a nice choice w/your cabinets Find out if you have any fabricators warehouse or shops in your area, or check your local stone yards, and see what kind of remnants they have. You may luck out and find a 1/4 slab left over from another job that you can use. Maybe you could do something solid for the perimeter, but bring in something more dramatic for your island. Remnants will give you that option. (offer to pay in cash for a discount on pricing)
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crl_
10 years ago
For me, I would switch the appliances to white to blend better with the white cabinets. And I would run all the cabinets to the ceiling. I'm not a huge fan of the staggered height cabinets and I think they are likely to look dated.

And since you feel like the space is boring as designed, I would look for a WOW backsplash.
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nosoccermom
10 years ago
How about IKEA Abstrakt glossy white?

or maybe a two-tone kitchen with semihandmade doors

Here is a link that might be useful: White IKEA and Semihandmade
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User
10 years ago
If it were me (and it kinda was), I would definitely consider moving the fridge to the far left as you suggest. I had a very, very similar layout in my old kitchen and really found that counter area outside of the work triangle to be a serious no manÃ¢ÂÂs land/junk collector. I see you have seating at your island--will you also have a table over where you propose moving the fridge? Our new kitchen will and I felt that in addition to eliminating that no manÃ¢ÂÂs land (and improving the prep area as annkh notes) it would be nice to have the fridge close by to get drinks etc.
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Boring Kitchen Remodel

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barista9

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