Oh! And new doorknobs can also make a big difference!

The only thing I'd seriously consider would be to loose the 2 cabinets flanking the hood, then get a nice hood and all new backsplash. It would open up the whole feeling of space by the windows. Under 3k and done.

Live with it at least 6 months before you make big changes.
New light fixture in dining area will update the space. Lighten the walls with a creamy white or even a pale sage green. Undercaninrt lights and make sure recessed lighting is not too yellow. I think the glass cabinet doors are dated too- even single glass pane would be nicer.
Congrats on the house!

I would pull the granite that is left of fridge in that wrap around spot. Put something white or very light there then I'd tile the wall above it . If you don't want to tile there because of later backsplash you might do, place a painting there . The two middle round ceiling fixtures need a dimmer....maybe change them. I'd leave all else as is ...maybe new hardware if you wish. As far as removing cabinets.....you can also consider some swapping for glass doors....kraft maid is easy to source style and color. I wouldn't take things away yet.

The tambour door on the appliance garage would need to go for me. I would see if I could get a different door or I would leave it open. I might even remove that whole cabinet.

I would remove the wall cabinets flanking the hood.

Remove the granite backsplash and side splash on the range wall and put in a tile backsplash. Since countertops are so expensive I could learn to love yours, sure they wouldn’t have been my choice but I am too frugal to chuck them. I would leave the granite backsplash on the other wall, it doesn’t bug me there. I would hang a fabulous painting on that wall that would draw the eye.

Other little things that that would irk me, are the little cupboard on the end of the peninsula and the wine rack, but I would be able to ignore them for a long time to decide.

It’s overall too dark. Buy some lighter tissue paper in counter colors you might consider and lay or tape them over your counters. Take a picture from far away to get an overall impression of what difference that would make. The cabinets look fine. It would not be cheap but cheaper than painting those cabinets properly. Think strongly about changing to single bowl sinks at that time.

I think it is a nice kitchen. If it were me, I would wait a bit before making any real decisions, but I would probably end up just replacing the glass on the cabinets for a simple glass design and remove the small backsplash and the the entire wall with a light colored backsplash.

The vertical lines on the peninsula/island are what bother me most.

I would think about removing the bulkheads. They seem to loom over the kitchen and weigh it down.

Thank you all so much! I have a lot of great ideas to consider and within reason. And the best part is they keep the feel of the space but better. Thank you!! This will make my hubby very happy. You are all right. When I first saw the home I was certain we had to do a major kitchen remodel but we do really like it and get tons of compliments. People cringed when I talk about painting all the cabinets and I did internally too.

Tartanmeup, the cabinets that are next to the hood and range are darker, like a cherry finish. It was intentionally done this way to accentuate the area. I am not sure what to make of this.

Hmm. Interesting design decision. I'm not sure what to make of it either. I think I'd call it quirky while I lived with it for a year. :)

It's dark. Change the two central light fixtures to semi-flush fixtures that EACH have three LED bulbs equivalent to 75-watt incandescent bulbs. Then check your recessed bulbs to see if they currently have the highest wattage LED bulbs that they are safety-rated for.

If I was only doing one thing, I'd change the counter tops to a lighter color. I think that would do wonders for the space.

Taj Mahal counters would look amazing. Very nice kitchen, all things considered.

Much lighter granite or other material and backsplash would be the most dramatic change. Add undercabinet lighting if you don't have it.

Charleston Light Kitchen Cabinets Home Design · More Info

I’ve been living in it for two weeks and I know that I am questioning the finish on the cabinets and the dark granite. For me, this is what is dating the kitchen the most. But I’m not sure what to do or to chose.

Two weeks is nothing. Like the others have said, live with it for 6 months to a year.

I have lived in many houses and in almost all of them (with 1 exception), I waited to do any updates and I'm glad I did because the things I thought I wanted to do when I moved in were not what I needed or wanted 1 year later.

In fact the one I did change immediately, if I had it to do over, I would have moved the door to the dining room over to the other side so I could have gotten a better run of counter space. Plus I would have added lots more drawers. And that remodel was even after I had lived and remodeled 3 other places so even with prior experience, I still made mistakes since I didn't live with it for the recommended 6 months to a year.

In the meantime, collect images of what you like for kitchens and specifically for your kitchen. That will help you decide when the time comes.

Know that painting the cabinets professionally will cost you anywhere from $5,000 - $7,000 or more to do it right. Those cabinets are not a DIY job.

You may find that after you've been living with it for 6 months or so, the layout isn't all it could be and you may decide it will eventually need a complete overhaul. Or maybe not, but it's always best to just sit tight when you first move into a new place.

But I know it is out dated.

Actually it's not dated at all. It appears to work well with the house.

Remember one person's dated is another person's love.

When I first saw the home I was certain we had to do a major kitchen remodel but we do really like it and get tons of compliments. People cringed when I talk about painting all the cabinets and I did internally too.

Why think a kitchen needs a major remodel because it's 30 years old? You like it (the most important thing) and get compliments!? This mindset of 'dated' being the greatest shame for a homeowner needs to go, imo. It fuels consumption and does little to honour our natural resources. (It reverberates into other parts of our culture but I digress.) Show any kitchen to enough design-loving strangers on the Internet and you will get a long list of things to change. As I said, a house is continual maintenance with the occasional, "oops, never imagined that would go wrong". A lot of unknown sums over the years. There's no need to rush into remodelling one of its costliest rooms. :)

Congratulations on your new house! Your very lucky that the worst that can be said about your kitchen is that is is slightly dated. I think the cabinets look great. I'd hang some artwork on the blank wall around the corner from the fridge (opposite the peninsula), get some counter stools in a style I liked, and call it good.

Thank you everyone. Your feedback and suggestions are invaluable. I will take my time before making costly updates. Susan Murin and Housegal200, I do like those counters.

Yes! First lights! Then you would see if you need to do anything. Now your cabinets are balanced with countertop. You can not change one thing ( cabinets color or only countertop) , you have to change them both. And it is costly.

As for me I like your kitchen as it is now.

I totally agree with tartanmeup's comments on "dated". It is marketing 101 to make people feel like their stuff is "dated" so they will buy new stuff.

I am not a fan of the mixing cool grays and warm woods - neither does anything for the other. Many have painted their warm wood kitchen walls gray to update or because they like gray, but gray + warm wood + dark surfaces is drab to some - but not to others. I agree with waiting, but the one inexpensive thing I would do is lighten the wall color to a white or cream. Many of the newer kitchens I am seeing combine warm wood with white and cream and are using gray less.

My favorite changes I did make in my own warm wood kitchen: lighter quartz countertops, under cabinet lighting, and a Kohler "short apron" Whitehaven apron front sink - short apron to fit on a standard sink cabinet.

This is my wood kitchens idea book. It has both newer and older, refreshed kitchens:

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

First, even if you plan to live with it for a while, tackle the lighting. I presume those are florescent ceiling fixtures and they need to go, the cans need to be LEDs, and you need LEDs under the upper cabinets and inside the glass front ones flanking the range . It will make a huge difference and the right temperature of lighting will enable you to correctly judge any color you decide to add when the time comes. Updating the hardware would be a nice change as well. Figure out what functions well for you and what doesn't. Spend your time and money making sure you like working in the kitchen, then you can focus on the look if you're not happy with it. They look like pretty nice cabinets, and lighting will make a world of difference in the overall appearance of the kitchen. If you want to add color, try doing so under foot with some nice runners or rugs. I like the washable ones from ruggable.com. By this time next year you'll have a lot of things figured out.

Congrats on your new home! You have a great kitchen that has really good bones.

And after having read all comments I feel like you do love your kitchen and that's the most important thing.

What I would do is remove the upper cabinets and appliances garage on the vent wall and perhaps paint the windowtrim white. It will lighten up your kitchen.

Two years ago I moved, too. I knew I would gut the kitchen ( nothing was nice or functional). I spent a full year planning, “working” in the several plans I thought would give us the function and look we wanted. When we finally gutted it, the plan was perfect for this house. I urge you to not spend a dime on anything new until you have a full plan. Change the light bulbs, not the fixtures and cook, entertain, and live for a year. Once you spend $1000 on minor things, you will feel locked in to that direction. I would never tell you to change out the countertops immediately. Put that money into a savings account marked “kitchen.” It’s very expensive, then it directs your next choices. This is real life time and money.

Taking in all the knowledge from the wise and experienced. You have no idea how grateful I am. jhmarie thank you for sharing your inspirations. They are so helpful.

One thing I would do is check to see if your cabinets (the browner tone that most of them are) are still available. You probably still want to live with them awhile but it might be good to know if you have options to replace those cherry ones with ones that match the rest of the kitchen if you do love the layout.

Start with some good under cabinet lighting. That may change everything. Then go from there.

Hours ago I read this post, now I’m reading again and I still think if I did alter one thing it‘s th lighting. Otherwise, lovely.

dont worry about it looking dated. wood is coming back, its hard to say what will be trendy for how long. how do you like it otherwise? the only thing i dont like is the counter. id pick something lighter

It’s a beautiful kitchen, and I’m not a huge fan of brown. You could make this look more up to date by altering just your upper cabinets. Instead of painting them, see if you can get new doors and decorative panels in lighter wood, cream or white.

I too like detail on the peninsula or counter..just not the paneled look I guess.

That kitchen doesn't look like it was built in the 80's! Maybe 90's or early 2000.

Anyhow, the easiest, most inexpensive update while you decide what you want to do is change the hardware! Instant facelift without spending much money. You can get at Lowes, Home Depot or Hobby Lobby!

Congratulations on your new home! Overall kitchen looks nice, but I would also want a more updated look. Change countertops to something nice n bright and add a beautiful tile backsplash. Another idea is removing the glass cabinets from next to the hood and replacing hood with a chimney style hood. then I would paint the window trims white. The kitchen would feel less heavy that way

lighter countertops.

Do you have two sinks -- one by the windows and another in the peninsula by the appliance garage?

If so, change is easily done. You could cut the peninsula away from the countertop with the appliance garage and create an island (without the sink rather than a peninsula and, space permitting, include an overhang to create a bar. Make island your own using your own choices of countertop and color of base cabinet -- materials that need not "match" your other cabinets. .

You could use the countertop you eventually want all of your countertops to be, eventually changing one section of countertop at a time as your budget permits or, since you actually seem to have plenty of countertop space, then at least for now, just invest in a quality island/cart/table/bar that you could roll out onto the porch/patio while entertaining.

I like the idea of an appliance garage but see it's empty -- and it may be part of the dated look you want gone -- so, if you'll not be using it, remove it. You could even replace that section of countertop/cabinet with a tall pantry cabinet or whatever kind of storage you specifically need but don't have and, being on the end, access to the cabinet could be from either direction or even both directions.

If you need privacy or light control at your kitchen window, mini-blinds now come without those awful strings you don't want dangling in your sink.

You all have opened so many possibilities.

Daschouten, the previous owner‘s daughter said the kitchen was done in the eighties along with the family room addition. So maybe late eighties?

Suezbell, unfortunately i have only one sink and it’s in the peninsula.

I would take the doors off the ranges two dark cabinets or remove them all together and swap for open shelves, paint the two lowers and the back of the pennisula a complimentary color for your style, change the flush mount lights to semi flush and match your hardware for cabinets to match the light style.

Is there room on the dining room side of the peninsula with the sink to add a second countertop just above or below the existing one to be used as a bar?

http://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/d7019c860ba52a0f_2054-w500-h400-b0-p0--mediterranean-kitchen.jpg

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=2D132D5F53BD00A2D10ADD19056641DA3E3FA69A&thid=OIP.s8C0UD2GuOaXf3roE6ZPPgHaF7&mediaurl=http%3A%2F%2Fst.hzcdn.com%2Ffimgs%2F1981555905413107_6696-w500-h400-b0-p0--transitional-kitchen.jpg&exph=400&expw=500&q=image+upscale+bar+added+to+kitchen+peninsula&selectedindex=141&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=1,2,6

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/05/95/53/0595532740df263d41f3c4da5129b379.jpg

Would not choose open shelves -- not more than one or one pair anyway -- waaaaay too much effort to keep neat and clean, especially if you ever fry anything..

You might consider pendant lights over the peninsula -- or a stained glass rectangle light fixture such as might be over a billiard table.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=2D132D5F53BD00A2D10ADD19056641DA3E3FA69A&thid=OIP.s8C0UD2GuOaXf3roE6ZPPgHaF7&mediaurl=http%3A%2F%2Fst.hzcdn.com%2Ffimgs%2F1981555905413107_6696-w500-h400-b0-p0--transitional-kitchen.jpg&exph=400&expw=500&q=image+upscale+bar+added+to+kitchen+peninsula&selectedindex=141&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=1,2,6

I agree with bringing in more lighting for the space, remove the 2 cabinets flanking the vent/hood, and change out the vent/hood. If possible, remove the granite backsplash and replace with wall tile. I think if you were to find white (or a light colour) bar stools, it will break up the wood on the peninsula. If it still bothers you after you've lived there for a year, replace the wood (on the peninsula) with drywall, and paint that in a light colour.

Another thing would be to remove the bulk heads (if it's possible), I think it makes the room darker and smaller.

I agree that granite makes it outdated. The cabinets are of a darker shade, so I would recommend you to pick a lighter and brighter looking countertop, like white or light gray marble -looking quartz or some of the white granites, like River White. That would create a very nice contrast and open up the space considerably. Also, I would get rid of the granite on the walls. White marble tile (like Carrara marble) backsplash would add a touch of glamour and lighten up the space even more. Staining or painting cabinets may be pricey, so I would invest in painting only the island. By changing the hardware you can give the cabinets a totally new vibe.

Thanks again everyone! So I will be changing the counters, add lighting and change hardware for now. I love the idea of getting rid of the two cabinets flanking the vent but I will think this one over as I do like displaying my glasses and they have lights inside. What I am stump on is what hardware and semi- flush lights to use with this style of cabinets? My home is a Chicago brick Georgian built in the 1930s. So I’m thinking maybe transitional? Here is the foyer light which I love

I look forward to your finished pics of this project. I don't see a lot of follow up pics. This might be due to the unending desire of some to critique and change. Nonetheless, I hope you will post pics. Good luck on your project- happy hardware to you!

I suspect the cabinet manufacturer no longer carries this style/color but it's worth the ask to see if you can get matching cabinets for either side of the hood.

Happy Holidays everyone! It’s been three months since my original post and the one thing I have done to the kitchen is painted the trim white (BM Simply White). I gutted my master bathroom and it has taken three months to complete. So I would like to start with

1. changing the two light fixtures in the ceiling
2. handles and knobs.
3. a backsplash that goes with this granite (tropic brown or brown granite). If I like the combination, I will keep the granite.

Do you have recommendations for these three items? Light fixture, door handles and backsplash. Thank you!!

Here are close ups

For the backsplash I would bring home soft white tile samples and try to find one that matches your existing wall color

I like a subway marble. So pretty but the colors in this granite are difficult to match.

Marble is pretty, but it doesn't work in this kitchen. Get a solid colored tile. Since your wall color works nicely with everything else in the kitchen, I would stick to that color.