Sending down.

Shouldn't the post stay on top until someone can advise? Although the OP did get a lot of advice on the KD forum...it seems to me like the OP doesn't see much potential in their kitchen decor-wise.

This post was edited by melle_sacto on Tue, Dec 30, 14 at 17:19

Beverly - That was really inconsiderate. If you didn't feel like giving advice - move on.

Matdrew - Instead of linking - showing the photos directly here is helpful.

Here are the photos.
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I think your cabinets are nice. If you're looking to paint them I wouldn't order new doors. Seems like a waste of money to me. They're not oak they should paint nice.

Do you have a place to put a counter microwave? An OTH looks nicer and vents better than a microwave, but it depends on space.
Either way, it would be best to have it vented outside. Tell your hubby the money you saved not buying new doors can be spent to vent it outside. :) Looking at your pics, I'd keep a spacesaver mic.

Do you have inspiration photos? As for photoshopping with paint, you can load photos to both BM or SW site and color the walls. That's not much help with the current tile and counter that will change but....... I wouldn't pay attention to the paint names much doing the mock up though because it can look so vastly different with those color mock ups. I'd see what color looks appealing to you and try and find a similar paint chip before you buy samples.

The micro wave is fine as is..we have the same thing..the issue is the distance from stove to microwave. Venting not OUT has not been an issue. If it were SS it would blend better. I agree with the other thread. Your cabinets are beautiful. I would be trying to work with them, as is. The tile seems more out of sinc with the rest, to my eye. I wonder if you could find an option that brings the counters, SS and cabinets together? Not sure the counter top can jive with the cabinet color..but it would be worth a search.

Thank you for taking the time to link these photos for me . I am typing from my phone and I am terrible with computer stuff .

The doors have dings and stuff they show their age ( 8 years old )

My big question is do you guys like a light grey would match with the existing new by walls in the adjoining kitchen living room and hall that are painting BM Mesa verde tan . I was thinking ceasarston organic white counters a different backsplash ( with white gray ) and kitchen painted either a grey or a white ?

I do appreciate all the help I am getting . I read these posts to DH and we are planning to tackle this soon . I do cook everyday I have 5 kids so I am thinking a vented out hood would be best if he can figure it out . I told him we buy it and the self ventilating kit so he no pressed to figure it out immediately but hopefully eventually it will be venting out . We have fixed air heating and when I cook even the closets upstairs smell like the meat I made .

Oh, so this is a two story home and it appears that your range is not on an exterior wall. This complicates the vent hood installation.

I never posted on either of the forums, but read them all a lot.
I have followed your other thread.

I have few questions:
*Do you think you'll eventually replace cabinets & renovate the kitchen?
*If yes, when - few years from now? much longer than that?
*Is the existing layout satisfactory to you or is there anything that has to be changed soon?

Almost everyone suggested that you keep existing cabinets as they are. I personally like dark color too.
BUT you are and will live in that house. Looking at them every single day. On top of it you mentioned that they are pretty worn out.
So you should do it the way you like them.
If you are not planning major reno soon, I would think it would be best to invest some $$$ & have them painted professionally. It will cost you little more, but results would likely be much better. (My daughter paints & I wouldn't have her doing my kit cabinets - walls, trim yes, maybe laundry cabinets!). Just don't forget that the frames/boxes (hope that is correct term) need to be painted same color. That has to be done on site, but it is much smaller/narrower area so maybe your husband can do it. Same paint color as door.
The panel by the fridge should be as wide as the appliance - you mentioned that. Would you carry it to the top of cabinets? (I would). Then you need to make upper cab deeper - I am sure you know that & it can be done.
Definitely replace tiles. Bar could be just drywalled & painted same as walls (I had something similar & it looked great).
Is the counter appropriate depth?(looks just bit shallow, but that may be just because fridge seems to be sticking up too much-lack of proper width on that panel).
I had caesarstone organic white counter & loved it. My cabs were darker brown with greenish undertones. And my backsplash was white tile (white on white subtle design). Together it looked great. Sorry, don't have photos to post.
If you like gray cabinets (or any other color), I would suggest to go to paint store & p/u color chips that you like. I would take them to IKEA (or other kit showroom...) & look at all gray (whatever color) kitchens they have, comparing the color chips to cabs you like most . That way you'll see how the cabinets will look. You may be able to get ideas on backsplash & paint color too - usually, the showroom kitchens are set up to impress!

I am not good in suggesting colors, but having paint chips will help again. Check them against existing walls. If you think it looks good, buy a small sample of paint, get larger piece of hardboard or drywall, paint it & put next to adjoining walls. You will see if they 'go together' much better from the large sample (make it at least 2x2', even bigger).

Most important, I think, is not to rush. You will spend more $ than you think (it always works that way...), and you will have to live with result for a while if you don't like it. So rather take more time planning.
Your kit is in very good shape for a while longer (even if you are sick & tired of the red cabinets). Don't get pressured into something you don't like, and don't do it so-so/good enough...just my opinion...

Rina

It's a two story house but behind the stove is the garage . A neighbor has it vented from the hood they the garage and our the side if the house . I hope hubby can do it if not I use it recirculating until I can afford to get a professional to do it . I live in NJ. Someone had guessed Texas because of the colors . To the person who had the organic white Caesarstone. Was it easy to clean ? Did it show stains , red wine etc . It looks so beautiful. I would normally have went for grAnite but hubby says that Quartz is more modern and I starting to think it's beautiful as well .

If you feel your cabinets are "worn" and are only 8 years old--I would CAUTION on the painting. Paint will hold up by at least half what hard wood/stain does. It would be a short lived fix in your world, I fear. The question of future is a good one. If the paint is a short fix until a total gut--then it might make sense. And yes do not DIY them, have them professionally sprayed, or learn to embrace dings as kitchen cupboards get a lot of wear and tear, especially with children.

Seems to me there are 2 ways of doing a kitchen. One is to fix what is most egregious as quickly and easily and budget-friendly as possible...and then save money for a complete redo. The other is just to gut and redo now. Somehow, looking at the pics in your case, I don't see it as being so bad as to deserve the latter. It's already a nice kitchen and a few changes should keep it going for quite a few years.

GF had a stove on an interior wall but was able to vent outside due to how the rafters run in the ceiling, so it may be not a big deal. The issue will be how to hide the vent going up into the ceiling as your cabinets stop short of that. You'd either have to remove the cabinet above the stove and just get a decorative vent hood....or, if you are painting the cabs anyway, then you can box out the area above the range to hide the vent pipe and paint it to match the cabinetry.

8 years is nothing for cabinetry, so I wouldn't let a few dings stop you from painting them. I would replace if they are damaged like doors breaking, drawers not working...serious issues. I agree a pro paint job would let the paint last longer and look better.

On colors, though, I'd be concerned with the gray as it really doesn't work with the existing tile. The tile is clearly in the warm beige color way and there seems to be a lot of it...including the front of the bar area. Instead, I'd look at going more taupe as is in the tile.

matdrew

I had that organic white Caesarstone. I loved the look. I lived in that house for 2 yrs, didn't have small children. When GD (only 4 at the time) did coloring, the pencil & crayon marks were easy to clean - and there were many!
I found that it was easy to clean over all. My fabricator suggested using acetone to clean stubborn stains. He said not to use it daily, but even they did final clean-up after install with it (mainly to remove any possible drips from silicone caulking). He even left the bottle on hand with me. I have done it couple of times, since I found that some metals rubbed against & left black-like marks. Like a belt buckle...They were very small (the marks), but I noticed.
I would probably worry about red wine - but I would worry about that on many other surfaces. Didn't have problems with that, but used coasters just to be safe. Cooking with tomatoes (sauce splattering ...) didn't cause spots. Just wipe clean with soapy cloth. I never had any problems with anything acidic (vinegar, lemons...)

Maybe someone else has different experience?
Would Corian be 'more practical' with young children? - I don't have answer to that.

arcy
from what I understand, the doors are to be brand new (they want different style) & painted chosen color, so there shouldn't be a problem with dents & scratches.

AnnieD
the tile is to be replaced - again, that's what I understand from OP posts.

On your other thread, a link is posted to a DIY face lift that is somewhat similar to yours, done by browniepie.

click here again

Excellent to read as she posted what they did & how they did it, incl. some cost to them. They did spray paint cab doors. I think that with children (def. more possibility of scratches, dents, crayon drawings...you don't want to banish kids from the area!?) the paint job by professional spraying could be better-more durable. It is not only the look, but I would think that drying/curing of the paint is important - they probably have better set up than you would - dust free, available for time necessary to cure well.
Again, just my opinion.

Rina

Edited to add photo

I think her backsplash is really great - exactly to what I would do with the color choices (white or gray cabinets).

This post was edited by rina_ on Wed, Dec 31, 14 at 11:09