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Home Decorating Design Dilemma Kitchens

1980's kitchen has sage countertops. Can't renovate now, so.....

6 years ago

We have a 1980's kitchen, and are focusing money and time on other home renovations when we move in. The home has white wood with peach tone cabinets and teal/sage laminate counters, white appliances. I am stumped, after looking at flooring, what paint and flooring to pick to make the kitchen as nice as possible for now, since we can't focus on renovating it for a few years. Any suggestions are helpful, especially cheap ones!

Featured Answer

teeda

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I would replace the floor with vinyl wood look plank that blends as closely as possible to the cabinets. It's inexpensive,easy to install (I've used it twice) and easy to care for. This alone would really update the kitchen, I think. I would also remove the wallpaper, paint the walls a neutral and add a pretty rug on the floor. I think sage is a nice color for a kitchen, so until you are ready to make more expensive changes I think you tweak what you have into a really nice space. Here's one kitchen with wood floors/cabinets and sage accents.

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Comments (26)

aprilneverends
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
It's looking as if well-defined space, not too open to the rest of the house, is it?

If yes-I'd leave the flooring as is..unless you absolutely can't stand it. (I kinda like it, but it's not my house, so easy for me to say)

And wait until I know what and how I remodel

Another possibility-is to take into account flooring in the rest of the house(what is it? are you changing it? can we see it?) and either use the same thoughout the kitchen if makes functional sense, or pick flooring that'd complement the rest of current flooring, and use it as a basis for picking a paint, and to know you'll have to consider it in your future remodel plans.

If the flooring stays-any color that the pattern contains, would be an okay color for the walls. Again, needs to make sense with the adjacent room's color.

If it doesn't-can you show us/describe us the flooring/plans for it in the rest of the house, so we can be more helpful?

Paint comes last because much easier to match to the rest. First decision should always be flooring/other elements that are harder to match/change than paint
Jennifer K
6 years ago
I'd match the lightest colour in the floor (or maybe a shade or two lighter). It's fairly neutral and you know it matches the green. The vinyl isn't horrible and if you're intending on eventually replacing the cabinets or changing your kitchen layout, you'll want your new flooring to go under everything.

So strip the wallpaper and border and paint a neutral cream. Make sure to use a scrubbable paint. And if you like, have a piece of glass cut to fit behind your stove for a visually quiet splatter guard. Though if you do want a tile backsplash and you are comfortable with DIY, square or subway tiles in a cream matching the paint should be doable for about $1/sq ft.
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richfield95
6 years ago
I agree to leave the floor and to remove the wallpaper, that would really minimize the sage. Then, depending on your budget, you could look at replacing the counters with a different solid colored laminates.

if you really want to get rid of the vinyl, do you have any idea what is under it? It looks like it was put in after the cabinets.
sumac
6 years ago
the cheapest biggest transition/ bang for the buck I ever got was self stick square flooring and refacing the cabinets
Judy Mishkin
6 years ago
i remember that vinyl! i couldnt afford it in 1985 i think it was.

its in great shape. i'd leave it be and not spend a cent other than removing the wallpaper. call it 'vintage' and put the money in your war chest.
blfenton
6 years ago
I like the sage counters but I would definitely remove all the wallpaper including what is between the counter and cabinets and paint everywhere.

It would be nice to remove the floor and replace with laminate hardwood. The problem with putting something on top of the floor is that the flooring is curled up under the cabinet almost like a baseboard. I wouldn;t want to try to curl up anything on top of that.
tatts
6 years ago
I'd redo the floors and remove the wallpaper for sure. That would minimize the greenness that you don't like. Keep the colors light; a warm grayish tan (or tannish gray) would neutralize it. Just keep it very light.
kootenaycapable
6 years ago
If you really want to up the '80s factor, you could paint it dusty rose! LOL!
Lars
6 years ago
Why does the vinyl curl up under the cabinets? That's the only thing that might make changing the floor a bit difficult.

I pretty much agree with what Teeda has said, but I do like sage for a kitchen color - that's the color of my kitchen walls.

I also agree that it is best to save your money for when you can renovate it to what you really want.
Snaggy
6 years ago
I would just paint the walls for now and ket some knobs for the doors and drawers it's not a bad looking kitchen ....oh and see what's under the curled up floor ..if its kickboard I would cut the the floor back ..than you can save up for the posh kitchen
deegw
6 years ago
The light in the space looks nice and your cabinets are in good shape

I agree with the other posters. I wouldn't do too much now. I'd get rid of the border and wallpaper, paint and cover the vinyl with sisal look indoor/out door rugs
PRO
GannonCo
6 years ago
If you go to HD or Lowes they have precut laminate counters. If you pic a granite look with an ogee edge they are very and i mean very convincing as being granite. You have a simple kitchen and it is a DIY and you could do that job for under $400.

We have it in our heads that it has to be real stone when in fact like it or not it is one of the worse products to use for a counter but I understand its a must have for most.

Laminate counters wear like iron and will outlast your kitchen. I guarantee if you buy textured laminate with an ogee edge and then put a nice backsplash not the 4" nobody would even know it isn't stone without really looking. Again some careful searching can net a backsplash for under $200 including the mastic. Do it once and do it right you will waste more on access trying to get an ugly counter to work.

For the about $300 more then the cost of these waste of money DIY paint kits you will have a job well done and no excuses needed.
teeda
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

Here's a rough mock up of your kitchen with a vinyl plank floor. This one is from Mannington. I had some trouble with the program I was using so wasn't able to get your existing window right. I stuck this one to show what the window treatment and a few simple accessories could add.
teresale2013
6 years ago
For me the flooring is uh, pretty bad. It bothers me and I would replace it with something neutral that could fit in with your overall plan as soon as possible. I would invest in something I could be happy with for years.

I like sage, but not sage on sage on sage. That is too much.

The best part of your kitchen is the window and I would highlight that feature.

Maybe put some pulls on the cabinets.
apple_pie_order
6 years ago
I'd leave the flooring and replace the countertops with new laminate instead. Then paint or add splashy, fantastic new wallpaper.
Betsy Cain
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I would do new laminate countertops! That would make a dramatic difference and wouldn’t be crazy expensive. You can check out options here:

https://www.houzz.com/pro/formica-group/formica-group
Betsy Cain
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Perhaps something like one of these laminate options for your countertops?

9310 White Marble Herringbone: Formica® Laminates · More Info

6698 Paloma Polar Formica® Laminate · More Info

9525 White Shalestone: Formica® Laminate · More Info

9477 Marfil Cream Formica® Laminate · More Info

6314 Neo Cloud: Formica® Laminates · More Info

9285 White Twill: Formica® Laminates · More Info

6696 Carrara Bianco Formica® Laminates · More Info
Betsy Cain
6 years ago
You could also change out the floor to a stone-look vinyl, and perhaps paint the walls white.
Betsy Cain
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
One possibility for floor:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/TrafficMASTER-Dark-Grey-Slate-12-in-x-12-in-Peel-and-Stick-Vinyl-Tile-30-sq-ft-case-A4260051/206495043
blondelle
6 years ago
That kind of flooring is kinda in now with all the retro tiles they are showing. Those counters have to go. You can pick up some inexpensive laminate counters at the next summer ikea sale. No seams showing and the look nice.lYour drop in sink can easily go into the new counters.
shari13
6 years ago
Counter is not that bad. Wallpaper and flooring are what I would tackle.
Betsy Cain
6 years ago
Overall, you could go for sort of a Scandinavian look with the wood cabinetry, white walls, and white laminate countertops.

Midcentury Modern Ranch & Addition · More Info

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This article has some more good options for peel-and-stick floor tile:

https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/best-affordable-vinyl-tile
grapefruit1_ar
6 years ago
I agree that the floor is the most offensive/overpowering feature. I would get LVP in a light color.. Then you can DIY the wallpaper and repaint the walls. It will look so much fresher.
Fori
6 years ago
The flooring curls up because that's how it was done. It gives a nice cornerless, cleanable edge. Probably has a metal strip along the top. It might leave cabinets a bit messed up if it's removed.

I really love how the sink and cooktop have recessed cabinets under them to make them even more accessible. This kitchen was nice. It's still nice. Looks like it's in great shape and has a decent layout.

I'd like a new faucet and MAYbe add some nice knobs. Remove the wallpaper and paint it something nice. Maybe the cream from the floor? You can replace the light fixture with something great, and reuse it when/if you remodel.
PRO
MDLN
6 years ago
DF used this
To turn this
Into this

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