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Home Decorating Design Dilemma Kitchens

Need kitchen and great room advice

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

So I need advice..I have these nice cherry cabinets, with gray formica counters and the backsplash is also light gray formica thst vors behind the cabinets. We also have this room with wood paneling. I was going to paint that white, white wash or german spackle the FP and then get a rough wood style mantle. The DR wall color is painted summer sandcastle and we are switching from brown trim/doors to white.So now someone I know said do not paint the wood walls cuz it looks cozy. I am ok with that but I want everything to flow w/o spending a fortune. I thought about getting nice brownish roman shades for the great room windows if I leave the walls as is. So now the kitchen...any ideas? Update counters , floors, hardware and reposition and get new bigger island with different granite?? I'm a warm palette person. The floors are a yucky blueish gray.
Photos in comments.

Featured Answer

jhmarie

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I would leave the fireplace for last. It looks nice in the picture and what you feel about it may be changed by other changes you make. I understand the difficulty about painting the wood walls. My favorite place is the lake - which has similar cabin like walls - and they are cozy. However, I also love light rooms, and grown up me is a little less in love with pine walls then little kid me - though both little kid me and grown up me like cozy.

Not sure of your budget, but I did new counters, backsplash and apron front sink in my older and I am very happy with the results:

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/57579129/list/my-pics-work-in-progress

My sink is a "short apron" Kohler Whitehaven which can be installed on a standard sink base cabinet.

I would reposition the island and if possible, find a new place for the microwave - a microwave drawer in the island if affordable. Then put in a true range vent. Before you mess with the kitchen, evaluate your layout. It looks like at some point a wall may have been taken down leaving not enough wall space for appliances - thus the sink and range are too close together. Moving the island closer to the sink and range to provide prep space is a possibility. Do not put the range in the island - too hard to vent and not the safest way to cook. (The best place for the range is where the fridge is, but then where to place the fridge - unless you build a partial wall for fridge and micro.) Make sure you are satisfied wit your layout before investing in expensive surfaces.

This is my wood kitchens idea book - both newer and older, refreshed kitchens - it might inspire:

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75202366/list/wood-kitchens

Here are some inspiration pics if you paint the family room. I would probably lean that direction myself even though I do like wood:

A Sweet Little Laguna Beach Cottage · More Info

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Comments (9)

Lori Baker
Original Author
5 years ago

Kitchen and great room · More Info
Lori Baker
Original Author
5 years ago

Kitchen and great room · More Info
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I think the blue panels are way too high of a contrast in the room; would you consider softening the windows with a blue, white, beige geometric print, but with lined panels to add the darkness you requested for the room? ....another timeless look, is a bamboo styled room darkening or regular shades in the windows in a mid shade relates to the floor color?
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Lori Baker
Original Author
5 years ago

Kitchen and great room · More Info
Rachel Lee
5 years ago
I agree with Lori. I would paint out the walls, put down a new kitchen floor, and straighten the island. With the island squared in the space it can be wider, giving you more prep space. Leave the fireplace until you see the walls and floor done, then decide whether to paint it or not. Good luck!
PRO
Deb Bayless - Design for Keeps
5 years ago
I agree with straightening or squaring up the island and replacing the floor and countertop(s) in the kitchen. I'm a little hesitant about painting the pine paneling in white. I think it will always look like you were covering it up and will be an awful lot of white contrasting with your warm cherry cabinets. Would you consider choosing a color to paint the paneling? Something that would continue the color palette as you change the floor and countertop - even a color that plays off of the fireplace brick. Now, that would be cozy! Check out the use of color in these rooms:

Just be sure to prime your pine adequately so there is not bleed through. Good luck!
townlakecakes
5 years ago
For me, the type of paneling in Deb’s photos can be painted any color. But your typical vertical paneling like this only looks deliberate in shades of white, like an farm or beach house with whitewashed wood. However, as an inexpensive alternative to pulling it down and exposing goodness-know-what behind, painting is a quick and easy way to brighten up a room. I’ve done it myself...robins egg blue as a matter of fact.

I don’t for one second think you need to keep it pine because you have cherry cabinets. Lots and lots of houses have white (or any other non-wood color) walls in the great room attached to the kitchen with wood cabinets. It’s ridiculous to think you can’t paint for that reason.

Your very first photo shows a white steel door in wood casing, white shades on the window, and a white AC unit, all of which would look a million times better with light colored walls.

I do think the biggest help you could give this room is, if possible, continuing the wood floor into the kitchen, which would then allow you to move the island and really make the kitchen feel like a connected part of your home.
Lori Baker thanked townlakecakes
Lori Baker
Original Author
5 years ago
Omg you guys!!! Thank you so so much!!! Yes squaring the island is a something we've spoken about so we can make it bigger, place the micro in it and get a range hood....love these ideas...thinking an off whitish for the wood walls...thanks so much!!
Lori Baker
Original Author
5 years ago
I agree.....the shades have been there...but my idea of painting the walls for the sake of the ac unit alone to blend in would make it look so much

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