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Kitchens Design Dilemma Home Decorating

ideas for kitchen face lift

last year

Looking for ideas to freshen up a kitchen. Looking to either paint or reface the cabinets, replace countertops and backsplash. Interested in maybe antique white for cabinets. Would like to tie it all together with the black appliances.

Featured Answer

sheloveslayouts

last year

last modified: last year

The black appliances areprobably the most dating element of your kitchen and ainting your cabs lighter will only accentuate that.

Phase one of an update keeping the appliances might be painting the upper wall cabinets cream with a custom exhaust hood painted the same color (ditch the mw over cooktop)

Comments (10)

Lyn Nielson
last year
the cabinets look to be in good shape, and they style is good.

Yes to painting them... but a professional painter. High Adhesive primer for sure.

new pulls.

Have a counter professional come and measure for countertops, they'll give you measurements for shopping around, natural stone, composite, etc.

I'd knock the high bar off that counter end. if you need seating, get new counter height stools instead of bar height. to modernize the look.

Floor looks good. good luck.
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I agree that I wouldn't put a lot $$ in this because the return won't be there. Pulling the paper down and a nice paint job plus a new light bar and maybe a new ceiling light (can't remember if you showed that) would really do wonders. It is a nice size and arrangement. On the shower surround, if you want to go that far to get rid of the brassy gold, go with another framed one to save money. They are much cheaper and they don't have the yuck traps in the doors anymore. You might be able to tape the one you have off and repaint it while you have the walls bare. You could always scrape the glass to get any paint off of it. There are some really nice metal finish paints out there that could update it. An oil rubbed bronze would be great but then you would need to change out the faucets. You can also paint your cabinet hardware! Just attach the knobs to a large piece of cardboard and spray paint. I would not go to the expense of a frameless shower door. Many don't like them.
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joanie b, thanks for the link to the kitchen like ours. It really did look nice. After reading people's thoughts (THANK YOU SO MUCH), thinking about the work to be done (while taking care of mom,) and money to be saved for the *real* remodel, we think we will probably refinish the cabinets. I think striping them (Thanks for the info on soygel, mom2lilenj) will be easiest in some ways. It will be a bit of a challenge to find handles since the existing ones are 3 1/2 ctc. We tried to do it years ago before the internet but could only find 3" centers. I figure we can even get anything with holes 3 inches apart as long as it projects far enough to cover the hole. Didn't think of that years ago. If we remove the hinges and put on hidden ones, I guess we will just have to use wood filler as close as possible to the color. The exposed hinges in the link from joanie b looked good though, so maybe we will do that. Less holes to fill too. Anyone have a better idea? Does anyone have a non-toxic top coat to suggest? We will do a test door to see about the color change, but I am hoping to not have to strip the cabinet boxes in the house, if possible. They are in pretty good shape. Less work and time, unless there is too noticeable a difference. We aren't sure about the counter yet. It is in decent condition and I think I could stand it for another 2 years. I can't wait to take down the wallpaper border to update the room, but I will miss what it says...'In everything, give thanks.' I hadn't thought about getting rid of the rack for the dishes and cookbooks, but I will try. There is a heating register behind it, so I can't block it with a hutch. That may have to wait, but I can neaten up the rack a bit if it stays. The reason I got it was to make my cabinets more usable since I am just under 5' tall. I had to get a stool every time I needed baking things from the SECOND shelf. What my kitchen really needs is built in step stools... LOL. What really needs to go is the sink, so maybe we will put in an inexpensive ss one to try out a large single bowl. I've always had a double, so that way I would now which I like better. I want a silgranite when the time comes. Thanks again for your help! Terri
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To me, everything about your kitchen says "quality" and traditional -- all of it -- the cabinets, countertop, floors, and cabinet hardware. It's really quite charming. For me, the major problem is poor quality lighting. Invest in a skylight if the home is a single story. Install under cabinet led lights. Thank goodness there is no expensive backsplash so you would only have sheet rock repair to take care of after running the electrical. Add recessed cans in the ceiling. I agree about increasing the size of the crown molding and also add a light rail. These don't have to match. They could be a darker stain than the cabinets or black. The floor needs several beautiful bright traditional runners. I would spend the $$$ on a new backsplash since it will be awhile before you'll remodel and would make a huge difference in updating that space. To save your back, invest in some pull out trays. Quikdrawers.com and Barker cabinets are both good companies that can take care of that. Are your drawers full extension? If not, you'll be much happier in that kitchen having full extension drawer slides again. That hulking black fridge is probably dominating the space. A CD fridge in stainless would make a huge difference. Look for one on CL. That is where I found mine for my remodel after about a month of daily scanning. And congrats on your lovely new home.
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I like many of Yardvaark's suggestions, though I am not a fan of that particular entry since it looks undersized to my eye. Try widening the walk and adding a generous landing, making the front beds deeper, and limbing up the tree in front after consulting with a qualified and licensed arborist to see if it is healthy. I think that all three trees are assets to the home. I am not a fan of walkways lined with plants. They all too often crowd the walkway, interrupt the view to the house, are additional maintenance, and make mowing a bit more work as they divide the yard into two separate areas. Do this much and then live there for a year with the changes before you decide whether the tree needs to go or shutters need adding. I like the current clean look of the architecture, and that type of shallow hip roof doesn't need the shutters to look appropriate. I would rather see a slightly larger, more classic looking roofed entry than shutters if given the choice to dress up the front view, and it would be of more practical value as well.
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kandrewspa
last year
I agree with the other comment that the black appliances are the most dated element of the kitchen. I don't know what the counters look like exactly from your pictures, but they're pretty light - I don't think I would change them. What were you thinking of getting instead? I also am not enthused about painting the cabinets as they look pretty nice. Refacing is almost as expensive as total replacement because the doors and drawer fronts are the most expensive part of a cabinet. You could paint the uppers as @sheloveslayouts suggests, but I don't think antique white is a good choice. There is a lot of yellow in antique white. I suggest you read this blog post about colors for cabinets:

https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/how-to-choose-the-best-white-for-your-kitchen-cabinets/

There is a lot of useful information on this site.
JP L
last year
Agree that your cabinets and countertops are pretty great already. The only thing I'd consider doing is replacing the microwave with an actual hood and potentially putting in trim/crown to cover the gaps between your uppers and the ceiling. Both of those could be tricky in terms of matching the existing cabinet finish. Do you have enough space between your island and the fridge/wall ovens? It looks like a tight squeeze.

Antique white will EMPHASIZE your black appliances, which may be the opposite of what you're trying to accomplish.
pricklypearcactus
last year
Your cabinets are so lovely. I would like to second (fourth?) the opinion that the black appliances are the most dated aspect of the kitchen and stainless would be a nice improvement. You could see about relocation the microwave so that you could put a range hood in its place as well. Painting the cabinets white will in no way tie together with black appliances.
ffpalms
last year
An open island that shows your beautiful flooring would give the room a more spacious feeling. If your flooring is intact beneath your current island, I would look for a piece that has the look of a stand alone piece of furniture. One with black metal legs would tie in with your black appliances. I think it would elevate the look of your kitchen quite a bit.
Mary Iverson
last year
last modified: last year
Black appliances are fine.

Please don't create yet another trendy cold gray/commercial stainless clone.

More White/Black inspiration here

https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-with-white-cabinets-and-black-appliances-ideas-phbr2-bp~t_709~a_17-100--22-81
darbuka
last year
Well, @Mary Iverson, there’s a big difference stylewise between the current, higher end black appliances in your photos, and those in the OP’s home. A big difference.
Kendrah
last year
I 100% agree with others that antique white is going to make the black appliances pop. Mary's pics are of extremely high end appliances - a $15k range is going to look beautiful in any color.

Can you show a close up of your counters and backsplash?

What year are your appliances from and what brand?
payberry
Original Author
last year
Thanks for all of the suggestions. We’re currently in the process of getting estimates. However, some contractors don’t provide much design guidance. The more we research, the more we learn and as a result, replacing appliances are options too. The house/appliances are about 16-years old and they’re Whirlpool.

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