This is my personal opinion. I'm no expert about this. I think if the house is a blank slate style-wise, you can take it in almost any direction you prefer. Although you need to have a vision for the entire home to make this work. You don't want to end up with a country kitchen, super-modern baths, and a Craftsman living room. I guess I would start by asking myself if the lines of the home are more horizontal or vertical. Again, my personal opinion, but I think horizontal lines lend themselves better to more sleek styles like modern, MCM, or whatever. Just something more streamlined. While horizontal lines lean more toward traditional, transitional, and country-ish/cottagey styles. What do YOU like? What do you envision for the rest of the home? I'm sure you'll get better, more concrete advice from others. And it may be helpful to post this question in the Home Decorating forum, too. And probably time to start finding inspiration photos.

I would post in this forum. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/kitchbath There are people there who know their stuff.

We are planning to reside the house--cedar siding in need of repair; woodpeckers, fading--perhaps new look. Have remodeler lined up for Spring. What way is best to update? Keep style? Update? Arts/Crafts possible??? Various horizontal siding/newer colors? Planning to replace siding with manufactured wood that can be painted. House is quite plain. Would like to enhance look to have more curb appeal--will likely sell in about 6 years. Thinking about adding on a porch to the front; perhaps wrap around to bring down height of plain, tall look. Roof is new, so want to keep with earth tones--perhaps newer colors? Perhaps add some shake-type siding to bring down height; maybe more windows on the side. Siding/painting estimate is around $50,000. Also need to redo small, outdated kitchen and bathrooms; add a deck on back, etc. Also need to redo landscaping--less trees, more sunlight now to grow grass. Landscaping needed around house. Would like to cap project at $200,000. Thank you.

I had cabinets over a peninsula and removed them - what an amazing difference it made to the space. Once I did it and one or two neighbors came over I started getting neighbor after neighbor coming over and wanting to see. Within two year I don't think a single kitchen on the cul-de-sac still had cabinets over the peninsula. I didn't recommend changing to a single height counter at the sink for 3 reasons You currently have the bi-level that hides the sink and any mess in the kitchen, Having a single level doesn't add a lot of useful space because it is dominated by the sink on the kitchen side and Tall furnishings in a small space gives the illusion of more space. I didn't ask last night if there is an access door on the living room side for the cabinet in the corner. If not - that is another inexpensive change that is worth its weight in gold. I really don't recommend over spending, changing what doesn't need to be changed because you will most likely upgrade from your small condo to something larger. These are generally not forever homes. The more you spend on this home the less you have to spend on the next one and kitchens generally have an ROI about 60% of what you spend. The other 40% is joy factor. It brings you joy and you pay for that happiness. Always balance the cost vs the joy factor and if the same dollars could bring you greater joy by spending it differently. A new kitchen / my next home or a new kitchen / a trip to Europe.