Before you get to finishes....show the other side of the kitchen. Add a drawing with dimensions. Before ANY thing with regard to selections, is layout of appliances. Not the best in either. : ) show adjacent spaces as well...as they exist now.

Hi Jan. See below for a couple of other views And dimensions. Long wall before opening to family room. Designer did one layout with island, taped it out but not deep enough. this is a main traffic lane where we enter from garage.

cooneykathy's ideas · More Info

cooneykathy's ideas · More Info

I like your kitchen as it is! Maybe just change the light fixture in the kitchen.

My husband would like that option! But after 25 years we are getting a bit tired of it.

In lots of kitchens the 'action' happens outside the work area.... what about paint for dining table? idea...

@everdebz thanks for suggestion. Agree once we decide cabinet, counter, painiting dining table or base or an area rug could help break up some of the wood.

• I am so thankful my wife doesn't get bored with things after 25 years but doesn't know what would make her happy so has to ask strangers. There are homes that look the same today as they did 200 years ago and are just as charming today as when built. Properly finished high quility wood is timeless as blue skys and clear spring water.

On to counter stools and it's my opinion only- but changing to a color would be almost as interesting as changing uppers to white...

klem1, that's what I said when I picked out a warm gray for my Welborn Forest cabinets. Gray is a classic color, and was used in the 1700s and will forever be "in style" in my book. Your kitchen is lovely. I would just paint the cabinets, to break up the wood look, and lighten up the light fixture to a more modern look. Does the kitchen layout work well when cooking and serving?

@Ilove MyLife Yes layout works for us. Kitchen is a bit long, but too narrow for anything on the other side. 90% of time we eat at Penninsula. Thought about Long Island with no seating due to depth, it might look nice but don’t think I would like the functionality.

The only change that I see that you are making is to replace the OTR microwave with a hood and to get a microwave drawer.

The rendering isn't even showing swapping out for a lot more drawers in the base cabinets.

I'm left to ask--what is the point? You can achieve both of those goals without replacing the cabinets. Make those changes and replace the countertops and cabinet hardware.

My advice, keep the cabinets and counters. Change your wall color to a lighter less yellow neutral. Change the cabinet hardware and lighting. Change the stools. Look for contemporary, lighter options all the way around and it will feel like a whole new space.

@ci_lantro thanks. The cabinets to left of range we were changing to drawers in new rendering. We have been thinking that a reface and making the change to the drawer base, hood/micro but also need to fix refrigerator opening. Cant even fit new, cabinets too low and ideally will change to 36” wide. I really wanted cabinets to go to ceiling, but to your point, change not huge maybe reface with painted cabinets and new counters would do the trick. We will be at this home for the long term so just want to do it right when we do as it won’t get done again!

@housegal200 yes I am still drawn to the warmth and do think light counters and backsplash would make a big difference but feel like arched standard overlay doors really date it. Maybe I consider new doors along with the counter, backsplash, etc. vs going all new.

I like your idea of the hood. I do not mind your cabinets, because of the floors. I would change the hardware to match the hood. I even like your counter. Maybe add a glass backspash, new light over sink, new hardware, new barstools. You might miss that appliance garage when it is gone.

What is the impetus for this "update"? Did you start with a list of what's working for you and what's not working for you in this kitchen? Because seeing the designer's rendering, I thought the same as @ci_lantro. A lot of money for little. What's the point? If this kitchen redo is prompted by being "tired" of its looks, then a lot can be done with paint and decor. What's your budget? That determines the scope of changes.

Have you analyzed your inspo pics to see what it is you really love about them?

Did you notice the first one (Carlsbad) has a tile floor and the huge windows necessary to providing the light that makes a white kitchen "wow"?

The second kitchen (Cold Canyon) doesn't seem as thoughtfully done. At first glance, the island is a huge barrier to the fridge and the pendant lighting doesn't look centered over the dining table. The colours read dull on my screen.

The third kitchen (Classic Sherwood) you posted is livelier than the second, the white and wood balanced.

@tartanmeup thank you for the feedback. We do have budget for a redo that doesn’t involve taking down walls. We want to stay under 40K for new cabinets, counters, appliances and backsplash. Floors would stay and not looking for whole house refinish on them at this time. This is forever home and it’s been 25 years with curtain kitchen with updates to counters etc along the way. It will probably be another 25 so a redo at some point in future is inevitable. Function mostly good, but must have taller/wider opening for fridge as currently we could only fit an 18” ft which is downsizing in current opening. other than that I guess mostly cosmetic. What doesn’t make sense to me is spending 8K on new counters with current arched doors. I feel like it wouldn’t do enough.

We could reface with painted cabinets and address the refrigerator opening and hood as well as new counters etc. Just not sure all painted for us.

We can go new natural cherry or red birch, light counters and backsplash but is there any wow?

last thought was mixing with stained lowers, painted uppers and cabinet over fridge stained And wood trim on hood. thought that may have more wow but maybe trying to hard.

Can you reface to Shaker style fronts and drawers next to range + new hood (like in your rendering)? I agree that entirely new cabinets for same layout doesn't seem to make financial sense. Under cabinet lighting and maybe a soft white paint color for walls in that kitchen/hallway space. And light/white countertops without the 4" splash so you can find tiles instead. And tiles can stay neutral but textured (like Cloe) or perhaps bring in some color with the tiles (blue or greens).

"We want to stay under 40K for new cabinets, counters, appliances and backsplash."

Have you priced any of these items yet? That would help you with budget allocation. I see 40K mentioned here often for new cabinets alone. Some affordable RTA (ready to assemble) options frequently discussed in this forum are Ikea, Barker cabinets and Scherr's. I recall a thread that compared the quality between these 3 brands. (Ikea is experiencing production delays right now so if your timeline is tight, probably not the best current option.) Worth a forum search. New cabinets make sense when they increase storage and functionality. For example, what I appreciate the most about my 15 yr old frameless cabinets are the 2 huge banks of drawers for lowers and the pantry pullout with quality hardware. Their ease of use is appreciated multiple times a day.

If all new cabinets aren't in the budget, new doors might make sense. I know companies do offer these online but I don't know if cabinet sides can be refaced as well.

But before you focus too much on the look of your kitchen (the options can quickly become dizzying), I suggest you figure out how best to spend your budget.

I think the kitchen looks great as is. It reminds me of our previous kitchen. What we did was replace the counters with Black Galaxy granite with full granite backsplash. We replaced outlet covers in black. Also changed the hardware. This completely transformed the kitchen and made the beautiful wood cabinets the star of the show. Then you could switch out the bar stools and possibly change wall color. I personally think black sets off wood much better than white which washes it out. Our kitchen was not dark because it had good lighting.

Ok, you want new, please get new! I also had the 90's oak cabinets, their narrow drawers and upper cabinets that had the support piece in the middle, the arches etc. Yes, yes...all solid etc...but I hated the partial overlay! New cabinets offer a lot more than just the style. I painted my old cabinets to "make them new"...no. Getting actual new cabinets felt amazing! Since you've lived with this for a long time, and plan on living there for another couple of decades...go for the new, and fresh! You will regret putting new counters on these cabinets ;) I have painted (conversion varnish) cabinets now and my 4 kids haven't been able to damage them at all. Donate or sell those cabinets to someone who needs them.

Thanks everyone. @tartanmeup i have priced Cabico and Omega Dynasty as well as rough estimates on install, quartz etc. $40K is in the zone.

I agree with everyone transformation not huge. I may check with my original cabinet place who quoted me on Omega Dynasty which is what I have now to see if new doors in my same stain is an option.

What about only replacing the uppers, maybe in white? I agree that going all the way to the ceiling is important, both for looks and storage. Some sleek white or matte black counters and a bright glass tile backsplash to round it out.

Thanks for mentioning two-tone cabinets, ElleN. Here's an example where lowers and flooring harmonize and white uppers lighten the kitchen. Not everyone's cup of tea, though.

I see several comments about getting new doors but I priced that out a few years ago and it wasn’t so budget friendly. If you really love the wood and all else is o.k. then I’d consider it. My kitchen is partially demolished (replaced tile floor with wood) but the gross old oak uppers with cathedral style arched doors are still there. Don’t paint because it will still look dated. I’ve had charcoal cabinets sitting boxed in my house and garage for a year now (COVID delay) with a shaker style door that has a single cove inside. The factory paint finishes are so much better than home paint jobs, don’t be afraid of them. Although my layout can’t change (too much structural work and the adjacent open laundry room is also getting redone along with the nearby powder room) I did myself a huge favor and now have all drawers below countertops! It will make my life so much easier. We ended up going with Thomasville cabinets that we purchased on sale at Home Depot. They are a quality product outside of the custom realm. I could easily spend 75K on the kitchen alone but it wouldn’t pay since we will probably move in the next 5 to 10 yrs. Again, don’t be afraid of painted cabinets and shop around. My sister did a budget friendly remodel using Cabinets To Go, her navy is gorgeous. Lighter counters and backsplash will do wonders too. Good luck!

"I see several comments about getting new doors but I priced that out a few years ago and it wasn’t so budget friendly."

Good to know, @eaw 513! Btw, do you have a thread for your kitchen? Hope you'll share befores and afters. And best of luck with your remodel. :)

Well scratch new doors, as @eaw 513 said, pricey, not worth investment better to put towards new or leave doors as is. Taking my time to decide if we do new now or wait a bit and just paint walls, new hardware, new light over sink. Thanks for the suggestions!

Would definitely keep the current kitchen cabinets since they look really good as does your floor; however, you could update the kitchen in other ways.

The white (or other solid light colored) countertop you're considering could be a good idea.

Also consider changing the knobs and handles to some you especially like -- white or a color or light colored metal such as stainless steel or even some of the white enameled ones -- using the same holes though.

You likely should change the wall paint color to be a more cheerful color and one you especially like -- one that goes with your new choice of countertop.

Add more bright colors in the form of colorful cast iron trivets hung on the wall beneath the overhead cabinets.

Bright colored cushions for the bar stools would also be worth considering.

fun kitchen with neutral cabinet lowers, white uppers, and mid grey tone backsplash and dark grey counter tops.......modern fabric......inspiration for you! Kitchen facelift with everything staying in same place.....island is new.

Candice Olson does it better! Kitchen facelift with existing cabinets, etc.

@suezbell and @Susan Davis thanks for the suggestions. Maybe new counters, paint and accessories would be enough. Just have to make sure it will satisfy for awhile as the counters are$7K+!

I actually like your kitchen as is.

On a budget, would definitely consider wall paint color change first -- for the kitchen and adjoining rooms. Next, consider a cheerful color for your bar seating. A cheerful color may well be all you need. If your countertops are in good condition, as they appear to be, live with the new colors a while before you invest in new countertops.

If new cheerful colors do not brighten your kitchen vibe enough to suit you, then check out Corian countertops -- wide selection and more affordable than natural stone such as marble and granite. My brother and his family have had Corian for several years and don't regret the decision.

Totally agree with @suezbell above!! Change more affordable elements before counters. Your current counters aren’t ugly and harmonize with cabinets. 7k counters on older cabinets - not sure it makes as much sense as let’s say 2 or 3k on paint, lighting, hardware, stools, art...each of which can be changed one by one allowing you to gauge their impact.