Your cabinets look like they are in very good shape! They are oak?

All we can see from your taste is the previous remodel. Do you have inspiration pics that you can post?

Thanks for your reply.

I believe the cabinets are Oak & have a fairly dark stain. They are in good condition with really no repair required. Was considering possibly painting the cabinets in an off-white, and then restaining the center island in a darker type stain.

Maybe something like this?

I'm not ready to replace all the cabinets, but maybe updating the cabinet doors with a Shaker style front, maybe a set of glass doors or even some design 'extras' to the island to make it have more character?

BTW:The remodel pictures of the previous house weren't representative of my style. Actually, it was more representative of what my budget could afford at the time :)

From what I can see, you like stainless steel and granite and I would guess you're drawn to warmer colors.

Is that a breakfast area, on the other side of the kitchen cabinets? Do you want to open that space up (if possible) by taking down the wall...and maybe making the island bigger? It would bring a lot of light into your kitchen and make it easier to talk to people at the table.

You have those huge soffits. I've seen some nice inspiration pics with small upper cabinets above the existing upper cabinets...with glass doors. Very pretty. That might be one possibility.

What's on the wall opposite the sink? Is that more cabinets or maybe another room? It would also help to have dimensions and some idea what style you like. I'm guessing you like a little more sleek/contemporary style, but warm and welcoming. Am I close?

Here's some possible inspiration pictures. Do you like either of these?

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Lavender_Lass, thanks for your input.

QUESTION: Is that a breakfast area, on the other side of the kitchen cabinets

ANSWER: Yes, the area on the left of the Kitchen is an eating area. I really like the idea of possibly taking down the wall, or taking down the upper cabinets/soffits an opening up the space. Just, I'm a bit concerned that loosing the cabinets on the left may throw of the balance of the kitchen.

QUESTION: Do you want to open that space up (if possible) by taking down the wall...and maybe making the island bigger? It would bring a lot of light into your kitchen and make it easier to talk to people at the table.>>

ANSWER: Again, a great idea. If that wall came down, it would really allow for a bigger island.

QUESTION: You have those huge soffits. I've seen some nice inspiration pics with small upper cabinets above the existing upper cabinets...with glass doors. Very pretty. That might be one possibility.

ANSWER: Right now, I'm not quite sure if it would be economical/possible to ditch the soffits, yet retain the original cabinets. Need to figure out how to make that work.

QUESTION: What's on the wall opposite the sink? Is that more cabinets or maybe another room?

ANSWER: It is primarily a blank wall & the built in oven and microwave. The design of the kitchen is not very open. Very eighties styled.

QUESTION: It would also help to have dimensions and some idea what style you like. I'm guessing you like a little more sleek/contemporary style, but warm and welcoming. Am I close? >>

ANSWER: Exactly!!

Here are a few more photos of the kitchen several years ago before we purchased the home. Lots 'stuff' everywhere and even darker colors. But the basic cabinets 7 layout are still the same.

Also, here is the Dining room and Living room adjacent to the right side of the kitchen.

Thanks,

Dan

Beautiful home!

I love your fridge...it's very stylish. I put that first picture up because I thought that range would work so well with your fridge! Do you think you might put the range on the wall and the sink on the island...if it was expanded? I don't know how big your kitchen window is, or what kind of view you have, but if you opened up the kitchen to the eating area, I think you'd gain enough light to be worth losing the window. What a focal point :)

If you can afford it, I'd be tempted to take out the cabinets and start over. Even stock Ikea cabinets would make a big difference...and make it much easier to open up the kitchen. It's really up to you, what you want to accomplish and how much you want to spend. I really think you could transform your space, if that's what you decide you want to do.

I know pictures can be deceiving, but this does look like a very nice kitchen! Maybe it has signs of wear and tear that we can't see. IMHO if you are not ready for an entire re do, changing counters and backsplash would make a world of difference for not that much of an investment. I would leave the tile and do the floor when you are ready for a big renovation.

I think if you went with simpler drawer fronts, that would make it look less busy and more contemporary without having to re-do very much.
A lighter shade of hardware would also freshen the space.

I think a pretty light fixture over your island would be good unless you want a new vent hood instead. The current fan is just not adding any style or personality.

The floor is not very thrilling but also is not bad. You could get a nicer floor for aesthetics, but you do not need to.

Your kitchen is actually pretty nice. I think if you personalize it a little, you will be happy with it for a while.

Not sure you could open up your soffit since your have a vent in it at one end. That being said, I think if you put on new cab fronts and take off the molding on the soffit, take down the wood thingie (sorry can't think of the right term) over the sink and stain/paint the cabs & soffit, it will look like a completely new space. It would be nice to replace the lower cabs with drawers but probably not practical at this point. Bianco Antico granite would probably go nice with dark cabs. Good luck!

You have a large amount of darkish wooden surface -- the individual bits are elegant but the sheer mass of it seems to make the space a bit claustrophobic.

To modernize and brighten the kitchen without an enormous investment, I think you are quite right to start by painting your cabinets and the soffits as well. Unless you are really pleased with the window valence, you might also think about removing it for a more modern look. And I believe it is not a big deal to have a few of your upper cabinet doors glazed.

Finally, in the realm of cost-efficient changes, you might think about tweaking your lighting scheme. Certainly look at installing undercabinet lighting if you do not already have it. In its kitchen displays, HD now has UCL that is not harsh, does not heat the cabinets too much, and is of all things GE flourescents. It is not dimmable, but the cost is reasonable and the effect is nice. And think about changing the receptacles in your ceiling cans from convex to something with baffles, so that the light is more in pools and less diffuse.

If you like having the fan and do not feel the absence of a vent, I would leave the fan, perhaps either lowering it a bit or trying to find a light kit that gives you usable light at the cooktop. I would also leave the floor for now if you can. Cool tile is nice underfoot in a warm climate, and you would only have to worry about making sure that the colors of your cabinets and walls work with what looks to me to be pale gray.

I would keep the granite you have now. After the painting and light tweaking is done, you can consider such alterations as having it honed or changing the backsplash if you think something more is needed.

When you are ready to go the whole nine yards -- moving walls, changing the shapes of windows, and doing new cabinet layouts so as to create the handsome open spaces that so many people on this forum manage to create, then it will be worthwhile to look at new everything.

Cheers and good luck. I'm sure you know that a few of us would give our eye teeth to be starting with your "before."

I agree with honorbuiltkit. The cabinets are nice, but it feels heavy b/c of the amount of wood in the cabinets. The trim is stained too. I would start by removing the cabinet over the peninsula and/or putting glass in some of the uppers or take the doors off and have open storage.

If, after that, you still feel like it needs more change, I'd think abount changing the countertops and backsplash. Are the countertops & backsplash beige? If so, I would change the countertops to something white.

I'd think about hiring a mosaic artist, and use those frames on the hulking soffits to frame some light-colored interesting art. Also mosaic the backsplash area similarly. This will help make sense of the overbearing soffits, and will create horizontal lines of light and interest to create rhythm. The kitchen now is not just heavy, but it is very static.

Here's a link to a mosaic artist, just to give you an idea of what I mean.

As others have said (and as you already know), it's already a very good kitchen. It just needs some help--light and personalization. enjoy!

Here is a link that might be useful: mosaic artist

I truly appreciate all the wonderful feedback that has been shared on this topic. So many great ideas that I never would have thought about on my own.

Being a Computer IT kind of guy, I purchased a fairly basic, but usable program that has allowed me to import pictures of the kitchen , then dynamically model what the kitchen would look like with different design elements. For example, I can now model, what the cabinets would look like painted/stained in a different color. I can now model what the kitchen would look like with new counters, backsplash or floors.

I'm going to play with the software this weekend, and start modeling some of the suggestions shared on this thread. I'll be sure to post pictures of the results!

Thank You.