I looked, I thought, I could not see anyway to save it, I vote Demo! But keep the dog, he's adorable!

I would vote demo, but call your Habitat for Humanity Restore and see if they want any of your cabinets.

Removing the soffits really would be nice. And it seems stupid to not use that space with cabinets to the ceiling. And you'll need to cut the pantry down to accommodate a larger fridge.

Before swinging a hammer or ordering cabinets, consider:

1. Post your layout to see if people can suggest any improvements.

2. If you really need a new D/W or stove, you CAN buy one and use it in the old kitchen if absolutely needed. That is to say, don't rush into picking your layout or cabinets because the stove only has two working burners.

3. One design point I notice right off the bat is the lack of light in your kitchen. I notice that patio door with the flowers in the corner. Is your kitchen on an exterior wall? Could one of those upper cabinets be removed (maybe one double-door away from the stove) and a window put in from counter to ceiling? Would add soo much light. (Of course it could be just a cell phone camera that's making things a little too dark.)

HTH

Thanks colorfast! You are right the kitchen is dark after around 1 pm since it faces east. Off the sliding glass door is a wood deck where I keep my herbs and the barbecue. There is another room behind the cabinet wall which also has a sliding glass door that shares the wood deck. On the other side of the kitchen is the garage. So there are no places to add windows. Maybe a skylight but I think that would be difficult because there's an attic above.

Habitat is a great idea for the used cabinets but I wonder if they can be removed separately without ruining them since the faces are all connected. I have heard that Habitat will actually remove the cabinets for us so I guess I would leave it up to them.

I will post the plan in the next day or so.

You want to make sure there isn't a reason for the soffits, like duct work or plumbing...be a shame to rip them out only to have to add them back.

One alternative is, if the cabinets are good, look into face lifting. They will replace the "skin" of the cabinets but keep the boxes. If you do get rid of the soffit then you will have to get new uppers, but you may be able to get new uppers that match a face on the lowers.

The flooring looks fine to me.

If you get rid of the soffits, you will have to do something with lighting in the space...recessed cans, under cabinet lighting.

New counters would be good.

Not sure if Habitat will want your cabs since they are built on site...not as easily removed or reused as boxes.

Just some thoughts....

No, Habitat's not going to be able to use them.

Hi, Jerzeegirl. How nice to hear you really like your old workhorse, as she is after all these years of hard service. This simple room is a perfect illustration that a kitchen laid out to be a good place to work in will be a successful kitchen.

You know, building a new kitchen is not going to be green if it requires new materials and all that means to turn them into your kitchen. Even when someone does donate to Habitat hoping it'll stop at least some new purchasing by someone else, it doesn't change that. The only way to be green is to be green.

So, be green, or is it time to retire this one honorably and put in a new, modern kitchen with full-extension drawers (the only reason I'd do it--because I do love them)?

Since the layout doesn't need fixing, I'd say updating this one would be fairly simple and inexpensive: New sheet laminate for the counters--an excellent material that looks very good in there--and they're good for another quarter century. A finish carpenter could come in and reframe the fridge area. The pantry: A significant expense, but likely very worth it, would be to retrofit with pullouts, while the carpenter's there anyway.

Removing the soffits... That looks like a bigger, messier job than everything else put together, but it also sounds like you really want it done. Are the cabinets attached to them?

Thanks all for your replies!

The cabinets are not attached to the soffits; they are attached to wall studs. The last person who crawled up in the attic (the electrician) said there is nothing in them. However, I am not sure it would be easy to remove the soffits with the cabinets in place. Although I actually like soffits with recessed lighting as a design element, in this kitchen they seem oppressive.

It does bother me that "new" does not equate with "green" and I am trying my best to re-purpose and re-use whenever I can.

However I am also trying to think ahead to figure what would improve the kitchen as we age. For example, I would love to have a wall oven; I would like to get rid of the over the range microwave (we have a real vent and it would be nice to have a real hood.)

In thinking about what we want if we decide to remodel. I would really like to have good appliances. Our current appliances are coming to the end of the line and are too old to be Energy Star so it would be good to replace them.

The cabinets for me are almost secondary to the appliances. I am a minimalist at heart so nothing fancy - shaker or slab it will be. I am thinking maybe Ikea - I still remember the thread about the High-End Ikea Kitchen and another thread where someone took her Ikea doors to a auto paint shop to have them painted. I was very impressed.

I could reface the cabinets but we had a guy out who gave us an estimate that was ridiculous. It would be less expensive to buy new cabinets than to have them refaced at his prices.

I also need better lighting for sure. I have been reading about those CREE LED recessed lights and I think those are it.

Definitely call Habitat. I volunteer at our local HFH and we almost NEVER turn down a set of cabinets. It really depends on the local store and what they can turn over.

If you can't donate them, try CraigsList. They'd be awesome storage for a garage or something if nothing else.

Kudos for trying to re-purpose. I managed to find homes for my cabinets, tile, light fixtures, appliances - just about everything that came out of the house. It sure made me feel better about putting in new stuff.

We also just installed the CREE lights. LOVE THEM!

Good Luck!

Regarding the soffits: our whole kitchen ceiling was a soffit, what I mean is the ceiling was a whole foot lower than in the rest of the house, which has only 8 ft ceilings anyway. We knew that there were plumbing pipes and electrical wires everywhere, but decided to bite the bullet and have them all repositioned into the floor joists, so that the ceiling can be raised. The contractor just finished today, painting the new ceiling. It has already made a huge difference, opening up the space and creating an even flow. If you have nothing going on up there, it should be easy - very dirty and dusty though, be warned.

We had one of the tube style skylights in a previous kitchen and they are wonderful, I really recommend looking into that. In my opinion they provide more light than a regular skylight and there will be fewer structural changes needed to install as well.

I agree with the others, your kitchen has done its duty and it is time to retire...

Can you post larger images? I'm seeing thumbnails.

Your desire for style and your desire for "green" are going to conflict. Because the greenest kitchen is the one you renovate the least. Every new element has a "not-green" cost to it.

Why must the soffits go?
The floor is "dated" ... and does that make it not a floor?
From what I can see, it's got a good work flow. You say the cabinets are in good condition,

What would a new paint and new countertops do? Maybe paint the cabinets too?

Add pullouts to the pantry and some of the lower cabinets?

gardenpixie: How would you describe the light you get from the tube skylight (we have a tube skylight installer right really close by). Is it a diffused kind of light or is the light pinpointed to a certain location?

lazygardens: If you click on the thumbnails they should get larger.

I don't disagree with what you are saying.

However, if you remove stuff that wastes energy and replace it with stuff that is energy efficient, isn't that greener than sticking with the old stuff?

The cabinets are formica so I am not sure they can be painted successfully, especially the large expanses like under the overhang.

I am going to have to get a larger fridge - the current one is only 34" wide (apartment sized) and so that will require retrofitting the cabinet above the fridge and side panel, and I assume that will require trying to find matching formica.

In other words to add energy efficiency to the kitchen, some things will have to end up in a landfill. I guess you can call it a tradeoff.

Jerzeegirl - Habitat would have taken our cabinets - but we had difficulty with getting a pick-up.
Our GC helps others who can't afford kitchens and our cabinets were intalled in a lower income house. (including the range) (He also helped after the tornado ravaged our area)

So we only have the above range MW and a few light fixtures left and I am sure we will find homes for them.

Check with your electric company - ours pays us to pick up old fridges!!!

We also had soffits (just surf for Gardenweb A2gemini and you will see lots of pictures. I can post, but figure everyone is tired of seeing them. We had lights in the soffits (and electrical, plumbing, and HVAC)

it is all gone!

We put in Cooper 3000K lights. My DH likes the whiter light than the more traditional 2700K and Cooper offers a retrofit. All are in dimmers. So should be much more green than the old CFL lights!

We also put in LED UC (GMLighting LARC bars on dimmers)

We are 90% complete but the last 10% will be a bit until I find the right backsplash!

I have to agree with lazygardens that if you're really worried about 'being green' using as much of what you have as you can is the best option. Some remodeling options are 'greener' than others, but none are as good as using things til they die. Maybe updating the look is worth it to you, just be honest with yourself that you're compromising. I tossed ugly laminate counters because I couldn't handle the purple anymore, but painted my cabinets. Doing nothing would have been greener, but I'm happy with my compromise.

Laminate cabinets are paintable if you use the proper steps. I have particle board cabinets with the imitation wood grain (like a wood photo sticker on top). I cleaned, scuff-sanded, primed with BIN and painted with cabinet paint. They've held up great for a year now and I love my kitchen's new look. My bathroom cabinets are going on two-years. If the layout works, it's worth consideration.

Here is a link that might be useful: Treehugger: Trusty Old Robots vs. Energy Star Appliances

It is a tradeoff, but if you are buying a larger fridge you need to change out at least some cabinets.

One "green thing" we did is we saved all the 2x4s and the plywood from those soffits and used it in other framing in the kitchen.

I love the CREE lights from HDepot.

Before clicking: 50px � 75px
After clicking: 159px � 240px

It's bigger, but still very small.
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if you remove stuff that wastes energy and replace it with stuff that is energy efficient, isn't that greener than sticking with the old stuff?

Only after you account for the un-green factor of making the energy efficient replacement. In general, use it until it dies and then buy the most energy-efficient one you can find is the better plan.

If the frig is inadequate for your current family, definitely get another one. But consider a recent model used one. It's cheaper and you are recycling with a lot more effect on the environment than someone making wreathes out of plastic Walmart bags.

============
Tube skylights are pretty diffused. We have one 14" in the garage, and each bath has a 10" one. It's not blazingly bright, but it makes the difference in the baths between having to turn on the lights or not in the daytime.

It has an office break room vibe about it and I am sure it doesn't reflect your personality after seeing that sweet little doggie! I am not going to make "green" my new religion. I will do my part not to be wasteful and try always to give away, reuse, donate but I also believe in jobs for people. When you support the economy someone has a job. May not be a popular view to some on this board. Sorry in advance to those I may offend this is JMO.

Sarakat: Your comment about the office break room made me lol. I call the eat in area the "Internet Cafe". That's where I sit with my computer and cuppa tea.

I don't disagree with you about supporting the economy which is why we like the idea of buying local. There is a custom cabinetmaker about 2 miles from my house who I would love to use but they make framed cabinets and I am hoping to get frameless this time around. Bummer because they do nice work.

From a waste not want not perspective, I regret demo'ing part of my original-to-the-home kitchen cabinets. They were white, 1940's style. Wood. But I did not like the soffit they were attached to. And the access to the insides of the cabs was limited by the frames and lip on the bottom (I'm short).

But I don't regret taking down the wall, or replacing the appliances, which were not wasted - they went to good homes.

The original kitchen was tiny, and like a closet keeping me from being part of the rest of the house and activities.

I hear you about what is appropriately green. And I completely agree. The problem is that there are literally 100's of things I do every week which are harmful to the environment. Right now, I have the A/C on (it was 86 degrees inside & impossible to sleep). I drive my car to and from work, I let the sweet neighbor kid mow my lawn with a gas-powered mower. I don't grow my own food - I get it from a (organic/local) grocery store, which depends on big huge delivery trucks and to which I must drive; I work in a hospital (talk about waste!!) . . . It's endless. And awful. All of it bothers me - some days more than others.

Your current space reminds me of a sad tired laboratory in a forgotten building. It looks depressing! That said, surely you can live with it :) Really. It is functional and you know how to get what you need from it.

Were it mine, I'd cave. I'd take out the floor, cabinets, soffit, appliances.

If I had the money/time/skills/handy friends to do it, I'd haunt my local re-use stores/craigslist for solid used cabs, flooring, appliances, stone, even paint! Hire local craftspeople, dispose of as much of the old via recycling/upcycling, donating etc.

Aside from the ethics of demolition, it can cost a ton to buy completely green materials. Would love love love to be able to do it a la LEED Platinum - but my green splurge is organic and "ethically produced" local food.

But IKEA is pretty good. Working to be an ethical international corporation. Not at all "local," but mass purchasing has its benefits (lower $ and resource cost for transport, esp with flat packing). Lower VOC materials used. Reliable product.

It's past 1am and I am not typing clearly, and I don't mean for my reply to be all-about-me. But I get where you are coming from and respect it. It sounds like even though this is a functional enough kitchen, you'd really really like to be rid of it.

Do it!

Do it well and with care to minimize the impact the renovation has on the environment. Your minimalist stance will serve you well in that regard, I think.

And have FUN !!

It sounds as if you are leaning to redoing, and I certainly understand that. Since there's so much push that direction, though, I'll take the other side.

That the cabinets are faced in Formica instead of wood does mean more difficulty and maybe expense refurbishing (although the reface industry does not price for the luxury market); but of course it's very doable. What condition is the Formica in? Nothing else you're likely to get these days will be as durable and easy care, for sure. A thought for those older years, when you won't want to be worrying about wear on wood finishes.

Speaking of years, your cabinets are already vintage, in style anyway, and in years to come should gain a whole new appreciation. People enjoying visiting or wanting to buy homes of that era will find very, very few original unspoiled kitchens.

Another argument for keeping them is that over the next decade there may well be new technological developments in appliances, electronics, etc., that would require more changes to cabinetry than is currently the case. Do it then.

As for the old appliances, except for the fridge, that's just a matter of pulling one out and plugging another in. They do not require a remodel or discarding of anything but themselves. Somebody needing to replace old appliances also has the option of putting himself on the other side of the buying-new/discarding-old version of "going green" and picking up excellent quality and condition units secondhand.

I suppose you really would like a larger fridge like most people? Ironic that fridges went larger as a direct result of making them more energy efficient. People decided they were happy to settle for the same energy consumption if it meant more room for soft drinks, etc. Me among them. I just wish it was the vegetable bins that got bigger.

I think I've shot my wad for the moment. BTW, how do you feel about cork as a floor? I actually ask, not because it is relatively green (although that brought it to mind), but because I really like it. Cork'd look really nice in there and be appropriate to that era and this. What I like most, though, is walking barefoot on it.

BTW, I have Ikea and am very happy with my cabinets, even not considering the wonderful lack of sacrifice or debt choosing them meant; but wonderful as they are for the price, and fast and easy, they are just not the same as custom wood. Two significantly different products for two different markets. Also, green as Ikea is supposed to be, I think you're supposed to discard and replace parts and in whole as needed. Especially in countries where you take your kitchens with you.

Hi Jerzeegirl,
Do you have an inspiration photo to show us the vibe you'd like for your renovated kitchen? That would help us steer you in the direction you want to go.

I think that removing the soffits and running new cabinets to the ceiling
would make a huge transformation.

To be green, have you considered keeping your base cabinets
(since you like your basic floor plan),
and just replacing the uppers and the fridge wall?

What are the floors like in the rest of your first floor?
To warm up your kitchen you might consider a wood, bamboo or cork floor.
(I like tile, but your tile may be one contributing factor to the institutional/1980s look of your kitchen.)

jerzeegirl -
happened across this photo. Can't imbed for some reason, but link is below. The cabinets are a lot like yours.
What do you think??

Here is a link that might be useful: updated version of 80s cabinets

"I have particle board cabinets with the imitation wood 'grain (like a wood photo sticker on top)."

I think mine are like this and will attempt to 'refinish' them as you did. The insides are great - except maybe the sink cab.

"And the access to the insides of the cabs was limited by the frames and lip on the bottom (I'm short)."

I have the 'lip' thing also - I plan to put in a false bottom to do away with it.

I do think a lot could be done w/your kitchen w/o a gut job. could you do away with the part of the soffits that hangs out over the cabs and just keep what's above them? (would need reframed/drywalled tho). or totally removed and put cabs above them?

you could have a wall oven/mw built in at the end of the stove run. maybe put in a cook top unless you want 2 ovens.

change cab doors (base) to drawers.

the 'pantry' - I'd make it a real step in pantry w/ a door on it. back shelves about 8" deep w/ side shelves maybe 12-15" deep (depending on the width of that area). put a light in it. Build that area (over fridge/pantry) up to the ceiling. I think it looks strange stopping where it does. Would be great storage for things seldom used / bulk storage of paper products (and good place to hide presents).

there are really neat ceiling fans now - change that out. I've seen some rather small ones w/ a light - maybe 2 of those since your kitchen is rather long? It would balance out the light and air movement.

the tube skylights are great. several people here have put them in.

update the sink, and cabinet hardware

while the floor looks in great shape, I'd 0change it. Maybe there's something you could just put down over it? probably would be better to remove it - but a lot of work. If you like tile maybe larger tiles on the diagonal? Tile is harder on the feet, legs, back which is more important to think about as one gets older. I'm not a fan of the look of cork (but it isn't my kitchen either, maybe you are a fan) but it would cut back the 'all white' look. And be easier on the body.
Or how about a wood floor in kit and adjacent room? That would warm the space up.

paint the cabinets

build in trash pull out(s)

one of the new formica counters would look great in there - and really add color and pattern into the room.

does you corner cab open into the other room?

love your tour guide. He/she needs a raise and /or promotion!

Also, I think it's great that so many try to find new, needed homes for their no longer needed items. There are many people out there who are trying to put together a place w/o any money to spend on 'parts'. Free to someone is better than the landfill (wasteful). I have numerous items that I'll no longer need or want and will be putting a sign at the road/drive that says 'FREE'. I'll just be so pleased if it's something someone can use (needs) or repurpose. And I've been very grateful to those who have given me things or sold at a very reasonable price. Even some items that probably can't be used I'm checking with my neighbor to see if it's something he can take to one of those places that pays $s for the weight of the item (usually metal I think). At least he'll get some $s for taking it and it'll be recycled.

The youngest cabinets I ever tore out were built in 1936.
I'm just not a tearer-outer.

I have been called a holy terror on occasion.

Looks fine to me.

Dishwasher looks like a Hobart-era Kitchenaid - usually they are pretty good and easy to repair.

lee676. It's a great DW if you don't mind the sounds of jet airplanes taking off in your kitchen! lol.

I just wanted to thank everyone for your feedback which was very very helpful. We have decided to take out the old cabinet and soffits and replace with new frameless one and also get new appliances. We will most likely extend the hardwood floor from the rest of the house into the kitchen.

I will be posting my plans soon and would like to get advice on the layout.

Looking forward to it!