A trick I used for brick/tile was overlaying with non sanded tile grout. Then painted it. I didn't want the brick to show at all.

Am assuming here that your brick is thin. Even wall board paste would work, sealed and painted. The other is to just remove the brick, a big job, then recover with wall board. I just prefer no brick at all.

As for the doors, painting is a huge task. You may want to reface if money/time is there. Or paint the bottom doors only and cut opening in the top ones for glass or another material. You could also insert panels within the trim. One of my favorite kitchens is from the set of Two and a Half Men, they painted the doors two different colors (insert/outside trim).

Kitchen doors always take a lot of work, but many here have done some wonderful redos of existing cupboards with instructions on how they did so.

I'm not great on colors, they are a personal touch. My kitchen is terracotta, off the grid of most. One of the kitchens here was with black cupboards on the bottom and top ones a contrast. Loved that kitchen.

I like the color green best with brick. Have you considered painting over the brick? Here's a link to a blog where she shows the transformation of her kitchen. Scroll down a bit for a picture of her painted brick.

http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2008/01/red-cottage-farmhouse-style-kitchen.html

I'm not sure how easy or not it would be to remove the existing decorative trim from the front of your cabinets, but it's amazing the difference it can make. You can also add trim to the front, and moulding to the tops of the cabinets, and completely transform them.

I don't see a problem with having white cabinets and a white countertop. Here's a picture of a kitchen with white cabinets and white countertops:

{{!gwi}}

Congratulations on your new home! What fun it will be to make it all your own!

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Transformation

Well -- we painted our kitchen cabinets white -- and our countertops and backsplash and simple white tile. And -- just to top it off -- we have plain white appliances too! LOL!

But I do vote for simple fresh white on the cabinets and on the walls -- just paint over the brick. This step will give your a fresh start -- and you can add color with accessories! Or paint the cabinets black!

Here's another blog: The Lettered Cottage. Take a look at this kitchen with its black-painted cabinets and white countertop.

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

Here is a link that might be useful: The Lettered Cottage

Hi everyone,

I thought I replied already but I guess not...hmm.

Anyway, I LOVE black painted cabs (especially the Lettered Cottage) but the kitchen seems dark to me in this house so I'm not sure that would work. I guess the pictures above look nice and bright though, don't they? I do paint furniture black a lot and already have a painted black china cabinet like hers that would probably fit really well in the eat-in portion of the kitchen.

Maybe I could paint the cabs black, and the walls (including the brick) a warm taupe or yellow? Or would black and yellow be too bumblebee? :)

We will be getting a new stainless fridge upon moving in thank GOD, since the fridge that is there is original to the house (1965)! It's an antique! So at some point the appliances will be all stainless but we hope to not have to replace the cooktop and wall oven until we rip out the whole thing and start over.

You could paint the base cabinets black and then do white or a lighter color for the backsplash and upper cabinets.

I think the brick is kinda interesting in that midcentury kinda way, but particularly with that bald patch on the backsplash it might be best to paint it out.

I painted my fake brick, so thought I'd include my pics in case they help.

Here's a pic before my cabs were gel stained:

And here's a pic after cabs were gel stained:

Just for good measure, this is what we started with!

Good luck and congrats on the new house!

I have to say i admire that original push button electric stove that is surely from the 1960's! Looks like your new older home in really good condition and great bones!

Purrus,
Normally I say not to paint, but this kitchen's cabinets are calling out to be painted.
You've got some really good ideas here. I like emagineers idea of cutting out the middle, but I'd only do the two doors above the cooktop with clear glass. Replace the shelf (if there is one) with glass and display your pretties up there. You might even want to add a couple puck lights if it's not too difficult to hard wire them. Unless you have all matching/coordinating dishes or use frosted/textured glass I wouldn't recommend doing them all. Besides that could run into money and you're on a budget.
I love the inspiration picture valzone shared. I was already thinking of adding beadboard (the paintable wallpaper kind) inside the trim on your cabs to update them. You can see that all white looks beautiful and really lightens up a room.
With the missing section of brick, if you don't have more to fill it in with, I'd remove the rest in the kitchen. The brick wall in the dining area would look great painted or white washed in my opinion.