How about a simple shaker cabinet in an espresso finish.

Right now in all of the pictures you show I see a lot of brown and gold. Not a lot of contrast when it comes to finishes. That way the kitchen will stand out from all of the trim and beige walls.

Its a very one dimensional house. Pretty much the same two colors all over. Beige and light/medium wood. Even the tile floor and counter tops are almost the same color as the cabinets...

@Filipe Custom Woodwork: We are thinking about a grey based tile floor (maybe a light slate), and a funky granite counter top that will be medium to dark. The backslash will probably compliment the floor and counters. Do you think an espresso cabinets would be too dark and make the already smallish kitchen look even smaller? How about adding a 4th kind of wood to the house? Is that not an issue?

the tile floor replacement would be the first thing I'd sort out. You don't have to pick the actual one but look at that area...all one selection? , or 2 differing ones between living and kitchen zones? With the light streaming and playing off floor I'd spend time on that choice ,maybe get up to 3 serious selections. the kitchen is set back, away from windows and light ..even tho the plan is open generally....the kitchen isn't so much on display. Quartersawn oak....knotty cherry with glass doored uppers. Budget does matter with wood selections but you can go different ways ........I can see some glass doored wall cabs..maybe a little modern with seeded or frosted or reeded glass.....

@herbflavor, great idea. I have been thinking of useing this as our Inspiration picture. We like the floor tile colors and it has light cabinets. What do you think? would this fit into our house?

Our Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Here is my wood kitchens idea book with both new and older refreshed kitchens:

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

Some of the newer kitchens have oak cabinets - usually white oak in an newer look - similar to your inspiration picture. Although I am not an expert, your wood floors look like white oak - so already white oak ties to something. Maple turns yellow over time - not just the finish, which can happen with any wood with an oil based finish, but it is just the nature of maple, so since yellow wood is not something you like, stay away from maple. Alder can be difficult to stain and each board can take the stain a little different. My sister had alder and it is OK, but not my favorite.

Watch the grays with warm wood - they can look drab together. "Warm grays" which often read green / gray or greige can work. Some gray in a tile can work but gray wood look floors are no longer as popular as they were as the style is moving away from the gray / white /black cool colors back to warmer tones. According to the pros on this site, expresso is off trend. That doesn't matter if you love it since trends change too quickly to keep up, but not my favorite look with warm wood trim.

olmama - that is really pretty! That alder looks great. My sister's is stained dark - and the stain came out uneven, so I like seeing this other example.

I'm partial to wood cabinets, too. I've seen some really nice alder shaker cabinets, but would avoid the knotty alder. I don't think you need any more details like that, with so much wood already. My friends recently had a knotty alder cabinet that took the stain very weirdly, too.

What about birch cabinets? They have a wonderful, warm look with some movement in the wood grain without looking busy. They age to a beautiful color, as well.

the hex shape or olmama"s floor are great looking for the kitchen area. you might see how dark you can take the floor depending on what is offered. are you thinking this selection just back in the kitchen? you could take it a little darker I think …..and then some wood out further near the windows: that's where I'd spend more on the flooring budget.

I have a similar home to yours- an 80s contemporary with lots of stained wood trim, ceilings and beams. We also gutted the original 80s honey oak cabinets - well donated them to a friend for a garage workshop as they were still in solid shape, just an inefficient layout. We went with shaker style in a medium quartersawn oak stain, which was a great match to our existing wood trim. Removed a horrible off-white vinyl floor and went with a pale grey slate look porcelain. I also went with a “funky” granite, Volga Blue and matched backsplash to the blue inclusions in the counter. Very happy how it all turned out, and receive many comments that the style flows well with the rest of the house.

@Filipe Custom Woodwork: We are thinking about a grey based tile floor (maybe a light slate), and a funky granite counter top that will be medium to dark. The backslash will probably compliment the floor and counters. Do you think an espresso cabinets would be too dark and make the already smallish kitchen look even smaller? How about adding a 4th kind of wood to the house? Is that not an issue?

There is your contrast. That is what I was referring to contrast, not all the colors be the same. Your options and inspiration pictures are great. Since this was not mentioned in your original post I assumed you were looking for ideas but you have one already and its great for the space. Good luck!

Is this too modern?

https://www.koakdesign.com/en/kitchen-style/

I was thinking flat panel for cabinets too, glad I'm not the only one

OK...what I'm seeing is a wood kitchen that has faded over time. The fade is a direct response to the amount of UV coming through the original 80's windows.

Usually the oak of that time has turned a strong orange (what people think is 'honey oak' is nothing more than natural oak with an oil based polyurethane over it = turned orange = what happens with oil based poly). This kitchen has gone from 'orange' to weird blonde gold because of the UV.

The next wood kitchen will do exactly the same thing. It will fade. No matter what you put into that kitchen (with the original windows) will turn a very different colour inside of 3-5 years.

I understand your want to update. This kitchen has the brown blahs. There is no contrast to make things interesting. I agree that is the case here.

For me, the most important thing (to keep a wood kitchen looking it's EXPENSIVE BEST) is to replace the windows FIRST. And then renovate the kitchen second. Sigh. I know. That extra $$$$ wasn't what you wanted to spend, but it would be in the best interest of the HOME and the kitchen.

Because you like plants, the highest UV block you would look at is about 50%. Which happens to be the 'entry level' for UV block on modern windows. The next level is 75% UV block...which prevents plants from thriving. The highest level is roughly 97% = no plant will survive in that room.

Once the windows are changed out, and the walls are PRIMED WHITE I would then reassess what I have. Right now the painted walls are preventing the kitchen from being 'seen'.

So much fabulous feedback - THANK YOU!!

@jhmarie - I think you are right about the white oak floors - they are very hard and don't really scratch. I'm going to consider quartersawn oak now... and you are definitely correct about a drab grey/brown combo. We are leaning towards the greige colors for the floors and backsplash. A cold hard grey won't really fit in with the rest of the house.

@olmama - your kitchen looks fabulous and it really does remind me of ours. The ceilings are almost identical.

@nosoccermom - I like the colors, but the shape is too modern. I think something between rustic and farm fits us better. I went to the website and saw those cabinets are oak... wow I had no idea oak could looks that good. lol. :)

@Olychick - yeah I'm starting to have second thoughts about the knotty alder. with so many knots already, it might be too much "clutter" for such a small space. Out kitchen is not really that big - it just feels like it because of the open ceiling and the sun room with the windows makes it feel huge.

@herbflavor - Thanks for the input on the flooring - I'm to the tile store this weekend to look at tiles like the ones mentioned above.

@OneRidgeOff - Holy smokes!! I love your granite and backsplash. My partner also loves blues like that. He is going to flip when he sees your kitchen pictures. I'm so excited to pick our granite. :)

@SJ McCarthy - you are 100% correct that we are going to struggle until we update the windows. the rest of the house was updated since building, but they did not update the sunroom, probably because of the cost. Those windows are HUGE.

@Filipe Custom Woodwork - I see what you are saying about contract - I'm going to focus on making sure there is contrast between the floors/backsplash/countertop and cabinets. This is a huge help.

Ok, so to recap - definitely going to focus on greige floors, and will look at quartersawn oak, since it will match the trim in the rest of the house, and modern shaped cabinets will still update it, without having to update the rest of the house. You all are awesome. Thank you so much. :)

Our home has the same issues. Just too much of all the same. Floor, counters and cabinets too much of the same color. Must of been an 80’s thing. Yes, start with flooring that will look good in the sun room and then flow to the kitchen.
Like others have said watch out for woods that turn orange and yellow over time.
Keep the cabinets simple. Maybe shaker or a slab front with horizontal wood grain. Then choose a counter that compliments, but that is not the same color as the cabinets. Need a little contrast. Good luck!

If your windows are in good shape, there’s no need to replace them. You can get UV protection by having them tinted, which’ll save you thousands.

In the dreary rain drenched Pacific Northwest, I would NOT tint windows. It would take all the 'brightness' out of the house. And believe me, you need all the sunshine you can get (we get so much rain out here they call it 'Liquid Sunshine'). And not all tints are UV blocking.

And not all windows can handle UV film. Some can...most cannot. But I do agree a film would be a GREAT idea...so long as the windows can handle it. There are new, high-end window films that are CLEAR and COLOURLESS. The UV blocking is mediocre which is exactly what you want! It could be a win-win situation. I would definitely look into it!

OneRidgeOff, we had remodeled the kitchen in our previous house. We used that same granite! Loved it!!

Nice thing about that granite is/was that because of its density, it does not need sealer!

Love the tile you found to bring out the beautiful blue areas!!

Might consider alder wood with style of choice.

Sometimes you need a little color among the wood to bring it out to its full potential. You might consider a highlight look like this.