It would be helpful to see the floor plan and room measurements.

How tight is your tight budget? Lower cost cabinet replacement or just new countertops, etc.?

Is that the entire kitchen? You have one upper cabinet and little counter space! Where will you put food? Dishes? Pots and pans? Hope you have a generous budget!

Took me a long time to understand the space but I think I got it finally..still, a plan would help

cabinet color clashes-you mean the bar part of cabinets and the part with the stove are actually different cabinets, in terms of finish? Or are these pics that throw me off? One side seem more yelllow-ish than the other...did they add it at a later point? Or what do you mean by "cabinet color clashes"?

and yes, tight budget-everybody understands differently. we poured enormous amount of money(if you ask me) in our gut remodel yet our GC called it "tight budget" since most of his other customers were in a very different league

The thing with the metal (?) front is a free standing cabinet from a discontinued IKEA line. I have one of its relatives. It's a great functional piece of furniture and it can be moved if the storage isn't needed.

Mine was once a pre-remodel pantry but is now an art cabinet/laundry table.

I think it is there just t0 block the doorway and provide additional storage.

if you fill that opening(which I agree about)..add new base cabinet..you need to change countertop I believe..unless you're in love with this one and can get exactly the same which I doubt?

So, here's possible spending that tries to keep it in some boundaries..as it seems to me now:

-fill in the opening, put the drywall, get new lower cabinets same design

-new countertop

-get two shelves instead of the uppers that will go next to that lonely cabinet at the bar side..to save money yet add storage.

-see whether the space between the moldings(on the stove part of the kitchen) and the ceiling can be filled..it's uneven and makes little sense. but it's not like it's first priority too. aesthetics..

-paint the cabinets in the color of your choosing, since you seem to strongly dislike their color?..considering other finishes and current appliances and whether they work well and you like them..in short considering whether they stay or not, and if changed-whether they'll still be white

mdln..wow that's cool ..saving on the countertop, adding pantry

but-less space next to that dishwasher..

and will feel pieced together still..maybe more..

but great money saving solution..tons of storage added too I believe.

it's a question of what's more important..

Thank you everybody for your help. I have not been in the unit itself and do not have measurements or a floor plan. The stove, other counter space and refrigerator are on the other side and you can slightly see it in the picture showing the stools at the counter.

I apologize for not having more information, I am trying to decide if it could be improved enough to purchase it. I have no experience or ability to visualize these things, but I am trying and with the genuine help you are offering, I hope to be able to make a decision.

I appreciate each of you taking the time to help me. These pictures are all that I have and maybe can shed more light on what is going on there. You can slightly see the rest of the kitchen in the photos from the dining room and the one showing the backside of the unit with the metal front (to the left of the coffeemaker in the other picture).

I wish I could help you help me better, but that is all I know until I can get in there and look. It is way under market and I don't know the costs at all, but I am thinking I could put $10,000 into improvements, but am somewhat flexible.

I am excited for some different perspectives and professional input, because I just don't have a knack for this. Thanks again.

One more thing, it is driving me crazy how much of the wall space cut up. The open floor plan seems way too open in my view.

the more I see the space..no, I'd leave dining as is..protrude that wall

whether all can be done for 10K? ummm...it might..depending on where are you at, and whether you up to DIY, say the painting part?..

(if you need the painting part of course..because last couple pics show cabinetry being the same color..? in short am a bit confused about the colors..one thing I can say it's for sure not horrible..looks okay from what I see..go there first to get a feel of it..some photos are very deceptive)

Thank you, Aprilneverends, for all of your input. I want more storage and you gave several suggestions, cabinet color is off putting because it clashes, but extending the counter may help as I could pick something more complimentary. As mdln suggested, adding cabinetry in the dining is an excellent idea because there would not be a buffet or anything other than the table/chairs. I never would have thought of that - that is exactly why I am reaching out to those of your who know what you are doing!

Regarding budget, I am flexible, and as stated, I really don't know the costs of certain projects. I realize cabinetry and counters are a big chunk of change, and the existing cabinets are OK, I just really don't like how they stand out so much compared to the rest of the kitchen. Again, the counter replacement could help that. It just seems really odd to me to have that big cutout where the metal-front piece is placed in front of. It really cut down the counter and storage space and makes the area to the right look out of place, in my opinion.

The area where mdln suggested putting cabinetry by your table would be a good place for you to put a pantry. I don't see that there is one there anywhere. You could put a free standing pantry or frame it in with drywall and install shelves with doors or a sliding barn door look.

If it's in the budget and you don't mind the DIY aspect, IKEA is a great way to go and less expensive. They have soft-closing drawers and great interior organizers.

If it were me and in the budget, I would close up the space where the metal IKEA island cabinet is and put new IKEA cabinets in everywhere. Also, there are some nice laminate countertop options out there now.

I haven't priced IKEA cabinets since the new line came out, but I'm sure someone here who has installed one can give you some idea of cost.

I love that because I am used to having a pantry and that would be a great way to fit one in. ALso, that space really seems wasted where the IKEA thing is, I agree. Great ideas, thank you.

I had hoped for some other opinions and ideas, and what I have received are such great ideas. Those of you that can do this naturally, don't know how frustrating it is to know it can be much improved, but not knowing how to do it. I am really flexible in my thinking, although, I am pretty picky with not wanting a cheap look.

It looks like you won't be able to open the DW while standing at the sink. You also can't unload the DW into the cabinet above. You'll have to carry pots of boiling water across the room to drain them in the sink. I'd pass on buying it.

Mayflower's brings up a valid point.

Utilize a Realtor working as a buyers agent to see if this is a good buy. If not, let him/her help you find a place that is.

It is possible the free standing piece was used as an island. If you don't care for it or it isn't the style you want, there are other possibilities - if there is room. Also, before you make any changes, you will want to take a good look at the cabinets to be sure they are in good shape and worth the updates.

I have an oak kitchen and recently refreshed with new counters, backsplash and farm sink. The cost was around $6000 - it went up a $1000 because I just put the quartz on my island that had previously been butcher block. The island is an Amish made piece that just happened to be a good match with my cabinets. You will want to have 42" clearance around any island if possible and not less than 36", though I admit my kitchen cheats on that by the pie safe as it is not an area people walk through much. If it would fit, a small island might give you the extra storage and counter space you want.

My kitchen - a little bit vintage style:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~93784356

Wow! Thank you for the information! Mayflowers, excellent point about the sink versus stove location. As stated, I have not had the opportunity to get in there and see exactly what is there yet. Unfortunately, there are only partial photos of the other side of the kitchen (the most important) and several of the one side. Maybe there is a good reason, who knows.

jkmarie, Great kitchen! Thanks for the photos. It looks like it should be in a magazine. Really nice looking.