Thanks so much...we are renters in our primary apartment, so we want a retreat for our family we can invest in since we do not want to invest too much in our current primary apartment (because we would be enhancing the value to the landlord and we already give him plenty ).

That all sounds like a good plan. I like the idea of the open shelving on either side of the window. Am I correct in saying these are IKEA cabinets? If so, it would be simple to reface them, i.e. get new door/drawer fronts. There's a company called Semi-handmade that makes custom fronts for IKEA system cabinets. Super reasonable, and might actually be less expensive overall than hiring a painting contractor to do all those doors/drawers. Once you pick a style/color you like, you can paint the base cabinet boxes the same color.

Yup, what herbflavor said. Also, when you do move ahead with the kitchen reno, don't make lighting your last thought because it affects the colours you choose for all your elements. (LEDs can be tricky to get "right".)

These are listing pics so I think they've been "enhanced" somewhat so I say this with reservation: the cabinet wood does not look bad and I wouldn't be tempted to paint. It's such a big job to get right.

I like the hexagonal tile you found for the backsplash.

Make memories not stress at your weekend place.

I would NOT spend a lot of time/money on that kitchen, especially as a second property. I like the cabinets and flooring, and a new paint job would make a big difference.

I am not a fan of open shelving, so there is no way I would replace all the upper cabinets with shelves - especially if the place sits empty for weeks at a time (or just during the week). If you really can't stand the lack of symmetry around the window, move the upper cabinets to the fridge wall. If you need additional shelving after that, put it on the range wall, and put some nice artwork flanking the window.

Herbflavor has great advice - you see flaws in the kitchen because you're looking for them. Once you start living there, hopefully you'll be spending more time vacationing and less time thinking about how to make minor improvements.

I'll bet that cord is for the TV.

your primary residence is a rental apartment and a 2nd beach property is where you want to sink money? Is it freakish to say, SAVE your money and work on investing in a primary residence...like buy a fixer upper that will be your primary residence and spend the money THERE? Maybe I am missing something. I realize this is not a site on life planning and financial goal setting....so no answer is okay...I am just a bit bewildered .

My preference for your second home,is to get rid of the upper storage around the window. I just never need all that storage in a second home. Minimal open shelving (on the fridge wall) would be enough. I don't mind the asymmetry, but if it bugged me as much as it seems to bother you,I might just squeeze the budget elsewhere and have the window enlarged,making the remaining asymmetry of the lower kitchen look more purposeful. Tilewise, do you have pics of all your choices so far? Have you been fond of geo patterns for a long time or is this fascination kinda recent?

ps-- are you planning on renting this place for short term stays?

This house is a "vacation getaway"...use it as such. There's nothing awful about the current kitchen.

The farm sink is going to be difficult, though perhaps not impossible using the present counters. It takes someone who knows what they are doing to install an apron front sink with existing counters and it can be expensive. Kohler makes two apron front sinks that come in "short apron" styles (Whitehaven and Vault - Elkay makes one too) that can fit on a standard sink base cabinet, but I am not sure you have enough clearance before the sink hits the doors because they are full overlay cabinets. You can pay a carpenter to rework the cabinet and make new doors - easier if painting, and if doing that, you can do either the tall or short apron sink. Between buying the sink, reworking the cabinet, and installing the sink - could blow your budget. I would live with it for now and if the time comes you do change countertops, then do the sink. Keep in mind, backsplash comes after countertops, so if you think there is a possibility you may want new counters, wait on the backsplash.

I also would consider moving the cabinets or at least some of them to the fridge wall. I don't mind a small amount of open shelving, but agree that it works best in a kitchen that is used daily rather than just weekends.

Unless the floor needs refinishing I would also wait on that. Natural floors are returning in style and easier to maintain then darker floors, which show more dust and scratches. You don't want to spend your relaxation time Swiffering the floor:)

Hi guys,

Since all the advice seems to be financial (*ha*)- We live in the one of the most expensive neighborhoods in New York City (and thus, the country) as renters, but we've been here long enough that our rent is below market. Buying a place here is not an option and completely out of our league financially and we cannot move to the burbs or other places because of the nature of our work. Believe me, we would have loved to buy a primary residence but they are all well over a million dollars in our school district for the cramped equivalent of what we have now... this house ended up being a small fraction of that- super cheap in an up and coming beach town that we can drive to without too much trouble- and we put aside money to do renovations to make it a retreat for us. Family life in the city is stressful and we want a place we can use frequently to get away from the cramped apartment living of NYC and have something nice that reflects our family. Our apartment is fine, but we're racing around, working, kids in school, after school activities. We bought this house and want to fix it up a little as both an investment and a functional place that we like as an escape- we are still saving for retirement, kids college, etc on top of it. Now you're making me paranoid! *ha*

@Sabrina Alfin Interiors- I think they may be IKEA and I like your idea.

@Hollybar - Thanks for the idea on shelves... I do like geo patterns and we're going for inexpensive tile that looks nice but has a pattern. Examples:

Fireplace floor:

Upstairs Bathroom Floor:

Downstairs Bathroom Floor:

Downstairs Shower floor:

White subway with grey grout on bathtub/shower walls... All of this tile is super affordable. House colors are Distant Grey with bright white trim, bedrooms have different misty paint shades, etc. So, we're not doing "beach"

Congrats on the new place! I wouldn't do too much and thankfully you don't need to in order to liven the place up. Like you, the off-center sink would bother my eye too much as I tried to relax. However, I would play up the asymmetry in this space to distract your eye.

So, I would:

• Remove the double pendants. If you need the light I would either add one pendant or a flush mount (this is only enhancing the lack of balance in the room)
• Only do shelves on one side of the kitchen
• Counter balance shelves with a painting (the one shown is from Target, so a reasonable price point)
• Add black cabinet hardware to coordinate with your countertop

I like the tile and paint you've chosen. I really don't think I would paint the cabinets. Try to do the other updates first then reevaluate the "need" for painted cabinets. Also, if you do paint them I would not choose white, but maybe a deep navy since white paint is hard to keep looking nice on cabinets. I would also not do the farmhouse sink since that will only draw unwanted attention to the sink's offset placement. If anything, I would try and make the sink disappear with an under-mount sink.

Hope this helps!

Like your choices in tile very much. Strikes me as happy,softly modern, and easy to work with. And I, an anonymous stranger on the internet,approve your financial strategy,too ;-) Go forth and relax!

@Glo European Windows & Doors - Thank you! Undermount sink is SMART, I never thought of that.

Hi. What a cute house! Congratulations on a house by the water. How relaxing!

So though I do like open shelving, I find it actually quite expensive. Plus, in a relatively small kitchen it might not give you quite as much storage as you might like.

Totally understand the uncentered look of the window, so how about adding a narrow shelf on right hand cabinet? It doesn't even have to be top-to bottom on the cabinet, just something to visually even it out.

If you want the non-centeredness of the sink to visually disappear, consider dropping in a Franke Granite "Easy In" (I think) sink, which is a huge dark *single* bowl that takes the place of a double.

I love that the floors are different throughout the house. It provides charm... I think you're always supposed to add some older elements to a home to give it instant chic, so voila!

I like the color of the cabinets, but I can see where a white paint job would be good if they are too dark for your condition or in less than swell repair...

As to your hexagon tiles, I LOVE THEM. Where are they from? Can you provide a source?

I think repeating the pattern in another room is a great way to tie your decor together.

Nothing wrong with having your second home be your investment and "owned" home... good golly! I would much rather rent near work and have a peaceful weekend place that's all mine.

Congratulations again, and enjoy many wonderful years in your new home!

@Mimimomy - Thank you! Yes, the tile is this one:

https://www.flooranddecor.com/porcelain-ceramic-decoratives/white-double-hexagon-polished-porcelain-mosaic-100428465.html#q=white+hexagonal&start=8

If those are Ikea cabs, I would explore replacing/rearranging lower cab boxes to get the symmetry that you seem to want with that window. If the sink cab is centered in the window, is there room on at least one side for the dishwasher? If so, sinks like this MIGHT solve the counter cutout issue with the drainboard over the dw.. It will depend on measurements.

https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/hd0/crosstown-44-x-18-undermount-kitchen-sink-l628-k~elk4105.html?refid=GX99081622642-ELK4105&device=t&ptid=346812759807&network=s&targetid=pla-346812759807&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=48063954&gclid=Cj0KCQiAurjgBRCqARIsAD09sg8A2tmDaLCzjGqtuc-2-zw2ZiwKNbhnhD5X1Sj_VgyWLco41k8bOQIaAk_7EALw_wcB

https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/pdp/elkay-crosstown-47-l-x-19-w-double-basin-undermount-kitchen-sink-with-drainboard-elk3850.html

https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/pdx/ruvati-roma-workstation-ledge-45-l-x-19-w-undermount-kitchen-sink-ruvt1494.html

The only thing that bothers me about the kitchen is the backsplash, so if I were you that is all I would change. However, if you are interested in doing more, I like Glo's rendering.

You could move some or all of the upper glassed cabinets to the wall adjacent to the refrigerator.

I do quite like the kitchen as it is, especially the wood cabinets, but I hear you that you don't.

My only advice is to think twice about all the open shelves. I used to live 1/4 mile from the beach and the prevailing winds off the beach always carried a lot of dust/grit into the house.

I am a lover of open shelves, but I agree that I would reconsider them in this setup. I have them in my kitchen (and have had them in my previous home), but they are for our everyday dishes that get a lot of use, in and out almost daily (and I rotate the dishes for even wear) - so there's little time for dust to settle. With a second home, I would think that would not be the case and you would be looking at dusty dishes and shelves.

I would at least rehang the wall cabinets on the right side of the sink. Move them to the left an inch or so to mirror the right side.

I would remove the crown molding because it seems out of sync with the cabinet style. Cabinets are contemporary and that style of crown is traditional.

Then I would work on how to get the sink centered under the window.

Looks as though there is enough space to be able to center the sink and still have the dishwasher, though it would result in losing the lazy susan cabinet. Would have to use some fillers or a combo of fillers and an open cabinet, custom sized. Narrow open base cabs work nicely for stashing cutting boards (trays, cookie sheets, etc.) With a shelf in the open cabinet at drawer bottom height. (Great for a rolling pin and rolled up silicone mats.) A larger sink, stainless steel, because that one looks dinky.

Then, you would have to deal with the base cabinets on the refrigerator wall, the result of removing the lazy susan. Probably a combination of reconfiguring them and using fillers or another narrow open base cabinet. (Or cutting down the lazy susan cabinet...)

The open base cabinets are an easy build if you have any DIY skills. Don't have to worry about sourcing doors (that match). Trim out the front with solid hardwood which should be easy to get a good close match to the natural maple finish that is on the other cabinets. Possibly ripping the trim from the unused lazy susan doors?

I like the current backsplash OK but would think about replacing it with a more contemporary look or even just removing it and painting the splash area.

Beautiful ideas on tiles! Geometric pattern is easy to work with and looks great. I don't see why not "rhyme" geometric shapes in different rooms. It shows what you like. The most important thing is to rhyme well all the elements in one room. Just e careful with open shelving -- you will want to leave enough storage space.