marcolo, wow, I just showed dh and he loves that look. I am going to get a door front of the same material and practice on that technique in paint I think I might be able to simulate it myself. I'd paint the backs black and then two tone the fronts. I actually like the vertical as it would make the room appear taller. we have to move the RV which we have been living in for six months to our new home, so more later. I love that green counter top, wow that green and the black looks super together. man alive I am getting excited. desertstep, I was two houses ago and it was by armstrong, I don't have any photos cause i didn't have a digital camera then, I'll see if I can find a link to it. we had oak cabinets in that house and I brought samples home and got wilsonart counters and armstrong vinyl flooring and it looked like a million bucks. more later today, dh is chomping at the bit to move the rV and we have to put all the stuff in the cabinets so we can drive 1.5 hours to our new home now, thanks every so much to everyone for your support I am really getting excited, I think some paint and such is really going to do wonders and we can have something ultra modern - that we like.

I have viewed that blog before - can't remember where I linked to it from. Maybe Nesting Place. I LOVE the color of her cabinets, but that is just too much *stuff* on the countertops (and elsewhere in the room). IMO. Clutter. One thing she does and I have one too - but forgot to mention - is a lamp. I love a lamp somewhere on the kitchen counters. Oakley - re: utensils in drawers - I have different drawer organizers and dividers. It works GREAT. The knife block thingy (piece of wood with grooves for knives) is another great item. It lays in the drawer. I have a big crock with utensils on one counter, but most are antique pieces that I've collected and not so many pieces I actually use. The items are easy to get to, but they also get dusty. tina

I think your kitchen is honestly not as bad as you think. So my advice with projects like yours is to make your list of the things that bother you the most, and roughly how expensive and difficult they are to fix, and ONE BY ONE fix the things that bother you the MOST and are LEAST expensive and/or difficult to fix. There is no hard and fast formula. It's basically an approach that urges you to go slow and tackle the projects that give you the most impact per dollar. aka, prioritize. The idea is that most people think they have to fix, say 7 things to stop hating their kitchen. But in reality, after 3 or 4, the other things won't bother you. Then stop! And you won't have bought materials or committed to contractors or demoed those other projects. Once you do the work on the bathroom, and perhaps other unexpected things you may need to do around the house, you can go back and decide whether to finish your list. Or to save your money for retirement, kids education, your next home or a more extensive renovation. Me? I'd clean everything, paint the cabinets (I have gray cabinets and like them a lot) and wainscoting. I don't mind the floor, but you don't like it, so that's a priority for you. I took some of the doors off my cabinets for an open-shelving look -- it's nice for glasses and things you use a lot. You could replace a couple with glass doors for some variety -- if you find that appealing. Enjoy you new home!

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