Comedy of errors (only after we had a few drinks was it comedic) 1. We greatly underestimated the effort to paint textured walls, especially on the ceiling. That and we're 15 years older than many of the projects we've done the past. 2. Turns out we got the wrong color paint. I'm not sure why I had a different color paint stuck in my head and even though I checked color swatches I still got it wrong. And now that we're going to pay someone to do it I definitely want to make sure the color is right. Only after I came back to this post did I realize I gave the store the wrong color. We're going to suck it up and pay someone to do it which is good because that also includes trim and doors. Although now I have to take a week off of work. Good news: we can donate the paint to Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

I don’t know where to start…why have you chosen Loggia ( a darker taupe) when you want to cut it by 40%? That is almost half the strength. Why not find a lighter taupe that you like and stay with its true formula? For instance: Choosing one paint color for the entire house? You know that each room, depending on natural and artificial light, will present differently? I would suggest you choose the first paint color for the room in which you will spend most of your daylight hours. Work off that with coordinates which will work in each specific room. Is one color built into your contract for a new house? I am not as familiar with SW as I am B.M. If you were my client asking for one color to work throughout the entire house, I would recommend Collingwood with White Dove for trim and ceilings. FYI: https://kellybernierdesigns.com/color-crush-benjamin-moore-collingwood/

Janice, don't even think about gel staining these cabinets. If you don't want it to look like a cheap DIY project, it will take you days of tedious prep work. And for what? espresso color, dated cabinets? For the amount of work that takes, you'd be better off painting them. You said you're selling. Why go through the expense of taking up all of your flooring to lay down a vinyl plank? it's not exactly a high upgrade, and certainly not high enough to warrant extra money in your pocket you'd get after selling. Do you plan on doing the entire area (living room, kitchen, bedrooms?) What is the complete price for demo of current flooring, PLUS buying the new products and install? The one thing that will definitely give you bank for your buck is to scrape those ceilings and get a smooth, painted finish. (check for asbestos first) No one wants a popcorn ceiling. Start there. look at this link. her kitchen cabs are very similar to yours. Minus the appliances, she spent approx $1600 to completely make-over her kitchen. She actually did a pretty good job. (the flooring was already there and makes a huge diff compared to yours. ) https://inmyownstyle.com/kitchen-makeover-plans.html also, if you paint, you can fill in the middle handle holes and put in new ones where they should be. Instead of removing the upper doors, you could remove the middle panels and replace them with glass. (seeded, frosted, clear, etc...) https://inmyownstyle.com/diy-kitchen-makeover-completion-cost-breakdown.html (she bought new appliances, but if you need to replace anything, check Craigslist for slightly used items for a killer deal)

Also - I agree with you - I think changing out the lighting will make a big difference. Maybe you could start with that, and then if you want more of a change, evaluate then? Perhaps something with a slight greenish hue could work well with the granite + provide a nice contrast with all of your wood. Also -- I love the contrast in your bookshelves with the wood + white, plus the way you've organized them. It really looks beautiful and warm/inviting.