update late 80s kitchen on budget
This kitchen has greenish ceramic floor tiles, beige cheap counter, and oak cabinets. I'm thinking of staining all of these cabinets with a whiteish/light grey stain that would show the grain, adding some stick on backsplash tile sheets, and perhaps replacing the counter top with something dark or white. What do you think? Would solid white or grey paint look better than a wood wash or stain that shows the grain? Should the backsplash tiles try to pick up a bit of green from the floor? Should I remove the green floor tiles? What other colors work work for the backspash? Would a dark counter work better than the white? I will buy new stainless steel appliances over time. I would like to remove the drop ceiling light as well, but don't know what fixtures would work well. Under cabinet lighting would help. Any ideas much appreciated. Would love to blow out the entire wall of the kitchen to open it up, but there is a stairway, air handler, and water heater on the other side of that wall. My budget is 2-3 thousand.
possible? would darker countertop work better?
good backsplash if I keep green floor?
Comments (11)
unser
4 years agoB Berry
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Need Help Updating 80's Oak Kitchen
Comments (19)My kitchen has similar colors only my countertops are BRIGHT blue! I am going with Uba Tuba granite for countertops, while keeping my oak cabinets. I know they aren't stylish any more, but I still like them & like yours they are solid & custom made. The uba tuba is a lower priced granite & looks stunning with oak! I am adding dentil & crown moulding to the tops of the cabninets for a more finished look which is quite reasonably priced. I will have stainless appliances so the polished brass pulls are going in favor of brushed nickel. I see that you have exposed hinges as well, but cannot tell the color. Mine are exposed too, but didn't hold the polish as the pulls did, so the brushed nickel looks fine with them. It seems to have a bit of a gold sheen to it. If new countertops are not in your budget right now a friend of mine found a paint by Rustoleum that you can use to paint countertops. She had to tell me she painted her countertops - I would have never guessed! So that may be an option to look into. Lastly, your cabinets over your penninsula - I don't have those now, but did in my old house. I really didn't care for them, but they were necessary for storage. So, I think if you could give them up that might be something to consider. If not, I have seen glass doors put in on both sides which lets the light shine through to the kitchen and also updates the look. Best of luck! I've been working on my remodel ideas for months. New appliances arrive next week & the whole process begins. I think I may take sledge hammer to the bright blue laminate as soon as I hear the granite is on its way!...See MoreUpdating 80's Kitchen--vent ???
Comments (2)In my remodel I have removed the GE Profile electric glass downdraft cooktop. It did a poor job, and it didn't eliminate any smells at all. The next day you could walk into my house and know what I'd cooked the night before. Mine ran down through the basement to an outside wall. It is possible that the newer retractable downdrafts do a better job, especially since yours will have a short run, but I have read that downdrafts in general are a second best choice to an overhead fume hood. If the asthetic is more important than functionality though, I don't see why you couldn't do it. Would the vent be located directly in the patio or next to the patio? Noise will be a consideration. Check with the tech support for the downdraft manufacturer you like before you purchase anything. Broan was extremely helpful in answering all my questions and helping me select the most appropriate unit for my situation....See MoreLate 80's home: interior paint color and design help sought
Comments (30)Thanks for your kind words about the house. :) awm03, I believe you're correct that this house is post-MCM. It was listed as such on Zillow. "Just noting, though, that both the dining and front rooms seem to be visible from the family room, so I'm wondering about visual...symmetry with one very dark and the other very light. Also, painting the dining room dark will make that one set of windows especially dominant during the day." hamamelis, good points! "Curtains aside, they also seem to be asking me for a console or some such thing under the single panes..." I guess that would be possible if the console or some such sat far enough from the wall so that the drapes could move behind it. "Regarding the glass and mirrors, it occurs to me that the front room would change light and character dramatically with all of it gone. And that it can be beautiful when well done and lit." Excellent point. I think I'm not liking it now because there are so many things on it. I was looking at the listing photos and I much prefer it with a few select pieces of art. "Why is there what looks like a little wall sticking out in the middle, though, with the glass continuing on?" It does have a little wall that divides the glass area into two sections. It's just decorative and has been there since the house was designed - no doorway removal. justerrilynn, I like those styles of rugs. I've been eyeing them up on Overstock. I'm going to mull over the light-colored leather sofa idea. My set is getting older, but it's still in good condition, so it might be a hard sell to the BF. Lighter colors and a more MCM design would fit better in this house. I think after digesting all of the advice given, that I'll stick with light, neutral colors and hold off on the deep blue dining room. I suspect that a new coat of paint is going to go a long ways towards making things seem fresh and inviting. Thank you!...See MoreFloating 80’s Staircase Update
Comments (7)Houzz its being really glitchy lately, but especially today. Sara, you have to let the photos fully load till they're no longer grayed. You also may have better luck making an ideabook and uploading them there. That's the only way I've been able to post photos lately....See More
Kaylie
4 years agoB Berry
4 years ago
cat_ky
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
eam44
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoB Berry
4 years ago
just_terrilynn
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoYou would be surprised at what a difference just changing out the appliances makes. In your case you would need to also change the cabinet handles. I think I might also put in modern looking stick down vinyl flooring tiles in the color of the countertop.
This is my sons place that he rents out. The frig and stove were floor samples he got cheap .The sink and faucet came as a combo from Costco. We took out the plastic ceiling and put a twisty track lighting type fixture up there from Home Depot. Countertop is also HD, premade, cheap with 4” backsplash already attached. The island was $75 from Craigs list. Stools- Craigslist. Wall shelf IKEA.
First photo is BEFORE.
You could neutralize and stage.
My3dogs ME zone 5A
4 years agoB Berry
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoHi everyone. Here are some clearer photos of the kitchen, and approach to kitchen from the living room (red living room will be repainted white). Click to enlarge.
just_terrilynn