Living and dining rooms off of kitchen

Pain’t won’t do the upgrade needed here. Start saving for when the Chinese flat pack cabinets fail. That’s a couple of years away.

Live_wire_oak, thanks for your input. I think we’ll start with paint. Any helpful suggestions?

If the thing you are after is some "coastal " feel, you will have, and ARE having a hard time getting that throughout the house. The cabinets are dark , would benefit from hardware. You have a single boob light in the ceiling ( replace that please ) ,........ you probably also need some under cabinet lighting, perhaps want a back splash ( in which case the four inch riser should come off.

As to the "coastal" you SEEM to want? The living space, with dark leather and a vast amount of it will not get you there. Plopping in white accent pieces .......points up the disparity yet more. So you have many LONG term questions to answer. And a budget to consider as well. I don't see "Gray Owl" ......so perhaps continue with beach glass, for now. Breakfast light makes no sense with the orb......right? Don't peck at the house in a little thing here, little thing there method. You won't see a result for your money. Start the piggy bank : ) with a lot of thought as to what you want for a feel when you finish.

Be careful with wipe ups to the counters. You appear to have no overhang at all on the lowers. The cabinet fronts........will get water ruined pretty quickly it would seem in your pics.

Jan, there are no boob lights in my kitchen. I guess the pic gives that illusion but there are pot lights in there. (I believe six of them). Under cabinet lighting, back splash and hardware are all in the plans, I figured picking a color first would help me figure all of that out. As for coastal, that is really not my goal. I have north facing windows in the living room and the Beach glass color is pretty no matter where the sun is, so that is the color I chose. The dark furniture I actually hate, but was my husbands pick and won’t be going anywhere anytime soon, but when it does...LOL

So your paint decision is last..................................and note the floor and counter seem warm. Skip the gray . It's not much wall . Put up some more beach glass. Go get stainless pulls. Hang a pretty print over the sink.

Jan do you have any other paint colors to suggest for the living room/kitchen? Paint is a relatively quick and easy fix imo.

This is the best picture I can find of my fourth wall in the living room. The front of the house has yet to be painted.

Hardware on the cabinets will help to get away from builder grade and give a more finished look.

Your kitchen is not bad at all and hardware will help. I know you don't want to hear this but these type of questions comes up over and over and I have done the same thing in my own life but for the look you want, major overalls are needed in the the living room and not the kitchen. I have been in a place where I wanted to transform my house fifty dollars at a time combined with a general frustration that I couldn't do more but I know now it doesn't work. TJMaxx, Homegoods and Hobby Lobby are not your friends although it is fun and relaxing to look at things and "score".

But the items that will give you long term satisfaction and the best look can't be found there and cost more. Those who have a great eye can do thrifty fabulous but not everyone and must go the other route.

All this said, remember that your family is the most important part of a home and your house is tidy and comfortable.

Whether you leave the cabinetry the color it is now or change it I would, like Jan Moyer, suggest adding pulls, knobs, etc. Also, if you can switch out at least a couple cabinet doors with doors with glass that would help open up you kitchen. Add interior lights.

If the walls have paint I'd leave it for now. Adding in things like window treatments , table runner , or placemats centerpiece , floor mats , area rug, piece of art, hardWare are all things that will make it more your space. Builders grade gets replaced at some point. The classic brown and wood flloor are a fine enough backdrop. The paint can be neutral w a benefit as you bring pattern color and texture into the space With objects you acquire and are given to you over time.

I have cabinets like that that had no pulls. I put some on a few months ago and it made such a huge difference! I wouldn’t have believed it if I had not experienced the change!

Irricca, I actually think it's a really nice kitchen. It's clean, bright, and completely non-offensive in every way.

It's a neutral backdrop and you can take it in all kinds of directions.

I think the biggest bang for the smallest buck is add some nice hardware and then bring in some color and texture with accessories - rugs, curtains, maybe just one or two nicely chosen prints, etc..

So yeah, I basically just said the exact same thing as herbflavor above. Ha! :)

Paint is a "last" choice in pecking order. You've not a scrap OF FABRIC, NOR A RUG anywhere........ but for curtains, so maybe get something going there, and pull a color out for pant.: )

Those walls have GOT to be repainted. A. They are a cheap flat paint that can’t be wiped down without removing paint from the wall. B. I hate the color. It’s yellowish now, but sometimes it throws pink and I can’t stand that. I’m fine with another neutral color, but something has to happen and quickly

Decorate in haste, REPENT at leisure. : ) That's a good way to waste money. What's the long term goal? You don't say. Go get a gallon of "beach Glass and have at it. : )

My heavens.......You already have seating you "hate".

Paint is just ONE element in any house, any room... it's one. A small miracle, often, but not always.

How many people live in your home? It looks like all the rooms are set up to maximize seating. Do you need all of that? If not, maybe one of those overstuffed leatherette pieces could find its way to Goodwill when your husband‘s not looking!

There are six of us. We need the seating

Well if the paint is diy ....I'd pick a Bone off white in satin .., maybe semi gloss for backsplash area. You can take your time as cutting in is a bear in a kitchen and w similar color you can do it in segments and the disruption of taking your time won't bug you. good paint , good rollers, and brushes...etc. I like nice paint on the walls so if it's matte and chalky and yellowish and you can't wipe it then get the painting project going because there isn't too much stuff to move out. Good luck and you'll be all ready for holiday use!!! Put some pretty red bowls or something out.....you can do all the other things when less pressured. Do some armchair searching on web sites for nice hardware.

You have a nice functional kitchen for now. Nice work triangle. I prefer a window over a sink, but it is what it is. And really with a dishwasher how much time does a person stand at a sink anymore. Personally I like your idea of putting a gray on the wall.
Dark brown and gray is handsome together. It occurs in nature all the time. I think owl gray would be too dark and green though. I would go with a very light neutral gray. Bring in your beach glass color in with accessories. I noticed you seem shy about pattern. IMO cover your kitchen chairs with a pattern that brings the sea glass and gray together. A sea glass rug in the kitchen and some accessories for the counter. A picture or feature incorporating a gray and sea glass above the sink. Of course as mentioned above handles on the cabinet. You certainly can upgrade your kitchen as is without dumping in a lot of money.

That kitchen looks great -- its not luxurious/ high-end, but so what??? It doesn't have to be. The paint looks fine from the pics you posted, but if you don’t like it, then re-paint. I’d suggest a light creamy beige (no gray, no blue) then add door pulls, a rug, some color/personality. What would drive me nuts is the blank space above the sink, maybe consider adding some simple shelves.

It drives me crazy too. I thought about tiling it and about adding shelves but not both. Wish I had, I love that!!

The Sea Glass is a beautiful color choice already. Paint a large foamcore board with some leftover Sea Glass paint. Prop it up in the kitchen to see if you like it there. It may be just the punch of color you are looking for. Add new handtowels and canisters (or vase, bowl, etc.) in the same color, deeper or lighter would be fine.

Add some framed artwork over the sink that picks up the Sea Glass color or use something you already have and love. A mirror there would be fine, too.

It really does help to look at the big picture. Right now almost any paint color that she chooses will work, it's just not that important. And, I believe it's A LOT easier to choose a color once textiles are in place, i.e. rugs, pillows, throws, etc. To start, I would drape natural colored cotton quilts over most of the brown furniture and add some textured and colored pillows. My personal paint choice might be a millennial pink that is in the pillows and rugs.

How about a soft light beige for your paint? Semi gloss for easy cleanup . Something that goes with your counter and floor.

When that is done, stop and evaluate what else you want. Personally, I would get new pulls for your cabinets (probably a little costly but worth it.). Then get some curtains for your breakfast area....either sheers or something more colorful, After that get a throw rug for in front of your sink. IOn the wall in front of your sink, I would get some art that mimics the colors in your rug/curtains or a mirror...if you don't mine seeing yourself. working....wouldn't bother me. Would lighten up that area. Then I would get under counter lighting and done. A few colorful pots, canisters, towels and a runner for your table and you will be pleased, I think.

Paint first and if you use a neutral, you can go many ways with decorating and you can spend more time on looking for just what you want..

For the record, I really like what you’ve done so far with your house. I think it’s hard for posters of a certain age to understand that trends, particularly among the younger generations, is much more fluid and can’t be contained to one genre. We are far less rigid, and for us, decorating is a process, not an event, resulting in a house that is uniquely OURS. (I’m posting this from my room with a leather sectional, rustic bench, scandi-inspired wet bar, and mcm bookcase.)

I agree with previous posters that hardware will make a world of difference in your cabinetry. I lean toward matte black (might be too dark, it’s hard to tell from photos) or an unlaquered brass or brushed gold, if you have that anywhere else. Switching the faucet out to something less generic of a style/finish would also help. I would look for some rugs (I tend to like a flat-weave) with a subtle pattern/texture and maybe some patterned throw pillows for the couch.

A cool backsplash would help, but I think you’ll want to replace your counter (and maybe sink?) when you do it, so I would hold off for now until you decide for sure what you want. There are some decent laminates out there, even prefab ones that don’t have the built-in 4” backsplash, which would go a long way toward making your kitchen look custom.

Where folks likely got confused was the OP said she wanted to “upgrade“ her “builder grade“ house. That involves money, for cabinets, countertops, backsplashes , etc. People rightly, in my view, urged her to put together a plan first, to avoid wasting money.

Painting, adding dish towels, colorful pieces, throw pillows, etc. can all bring her home to life and make it more attractive. But they aren’t upgrades in terms of higher quality materials or additional features.

To me the term upgrading is exactly what the OP describes. New cabinets, counter tops, flooring, etc is remodeling.

Lots of harsh comments on here that are totally unnecessary. This is a very pleasant looking kitchen. It is not ready to fall apart, and does not need to be replaced. Add some hardware, upgrade the lighting, add some color with rugs in both rooms, and you'll be half way there.

Your kitchen is nice, and your home looks cozy.

It is not 'coastal', and as others have pointed out that would take some major changes. For now go to your local paint dealer, pick out a nice off-white and take care of the paint that is bugging you. Hardware and new lighting will also brighten things up.

Then start an inspiration folder for looks you love, and work your way towards them over time.

What is it with guys and massive 'bachelor sofas' *grin*? You might get a kick out of Laurel Bern's take- and her blog has lots of helpful advice for decorating, even on a budget.

https://laurelberninteriors.com/2017/11/12/hate-big-black-sofa/

I would try the Sea Glass. I have Gray Owl in my bedrooms. I love the colour in daylight. It is a nice soft gray. But at night it has a greenish tone that I don't like so much. I think the greenish tone would not flow well with the fresher Sea Glass colour in your other rooms.