How do I update this kitchen?
Hi, we’re purchasing a home and we wanted suggestions on how to update the kitchen. It looks very boring being all white, the door knobs dont make sense (the cabinets are original but there was some remodeling done already by the previous owners), the hood looks kind of odd?
What would be the most cost effective way to make the cabinetry more modern while adding a bit more color?
Thanks!
Comments (16)
8 months ago
8 months agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (6)Gray is definitely in! If you still want to stay a little traditional and still be modern, I thought these 12" x 24" porcelain (marble look-alike) tile looked pretty cool. Just installed these a few weeks ago. What kind of tub did you go with? Are you going tile with the surround?...See MoreWhere do I begin and how do I update the inside with all this OAK???
Comments (21)ok,,so lets start w/the kitchen. well, paint colors actually. it's ok to do different colors in other rooms,,,if you can see both rooms, slightly, then either do the same or do similar coordinating tones. The rest of the advice is if you plan on keeping what's there. If you're going to rip it out and get a new kitchen in a year, then live w/it if you can. If this is all you can do for many years, then see if the changes, below, are something you can do. if you plan on keeping all of that wood trim (if it was me, I'd prob paint every thing except the beams on the ceiling, and maybe the trim going up the staircase. In the kitchen you have so many dark and heavy elements, I feel you need to lighten it up. I can live w/the black tile, for now, but that brick? hell no. that has to get painted. You can paint the brick on the island, or, I'd cover it up w/panels/trim and paint it a soft charcoal to match the floor (or whatever color you like) Grab some thin wood or mdf panels from HD or lowes and cut to fit the 3 sides. Use construction adhesive to adhere to bricks (or get some masonry screws and screw them in) then get some 1x2 primed trim pieces and secure all around the borders..like so if you want a bit fancy, do the stiles along the back (above,,the vertical pieces) otherwise, just do it like pictured below. see how nice and clean looking it is? More ideas, search "trimming out kitchen island". you could try doing it in this color or if you feel like you want to have a painting party, do all of the cabinets in one, two or all four as they've outlined. This combo would look great w/your flooring. you kitchen ceiling needs to be skim coated and smooth out. or, have it retextured, primed and painted in a flat bright white. if you will be getting some retro fit recessed lights (Costco LED's,,,great price) then wait until the holes are done for those. Minimum of six 6" cans (8 would be better) , and two spots for pendants over the island. BTW, replacing the top on the island is a piece of cake. either check a granite fabricator yard for a remnant piece (you have a slender top so it should be easy to find) or look on craigslist for a remnant or even an entire island, or get an inexpensive butcher block and cut it yourself to fit. Whatever you get, leave an extra couple inches off the back end for an overhang. you could do a few more inches. The brick around your oven? paint it. white, black, gray, pick one. use a satin paint for that. clean and scrub that brick very well before you PRIME it (if using a dark paint, prime it with a gray primer. white for white,,,but don't skip the priming part) as for baseboards, if they're all small and short, pull them and replace w/these. Any questions? and yes, if you have the budget, call in a designer to help you out with what needs to be done, what should be done, etc....See MoreKitchen update... thought I knew what I was doing... I DON’T
Comments (110)Vastly better, although I think the hood and cabs should be the same height. The window looks 100% better without those two narrow cabs flanking it, too. BTW, I would swap the fridge and the tall pantry cabinet so that your fridge doesn't open into that wall (and so the pantry cabinet isn't between your fridge and your landing space for prep items)....See MoreHow do I update my kitchen table and window treatments?
Comments (13)Keep the bird pillow! Do you need window treatments at all? If not, take down your dark sheers. I thought if you do need curtains for privacy or lessen sunlight, then sheers the same color as your walls, mainly left open during daytime, would bring the outdoors indoors. Add deck boxes or planters and change seasonally to give yourself a view. I like jck's idea of moving art work to fireplace. If you put a big mirror where the art work is, you'll reflect outdoors! Then you don't need all the decor items that kind of date the room. It's a nice space, and you did well with wall paint coordinating with countertops. Save your budget for dining overhead light. Maybe keep current table but get blue upholstered chairs with brown legs and see how that looks--no need for a matchy, matchy dinette set. This blue, though, or something close so it harmonizes with your art work, which really belong over the fireplace so you can see it all the time....See MoreRelated Professionals
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- 8 months ago
- PRO8 months agolast modified: 8 months ago
You have several options depending on your style and taste. I'm giving you one to warm-up the space with natural fibre items (pendants, woven shade, mat), bringing in wood in the counter stools and accessories, pottery, plants & fresh flowers, etc. You can replace your knobs and pulls with brass along with the faucet.
Kato Avicenna thanked lisedv - 8 months ago
- 8 months ago
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- 8 months ago
You’ll have to get quotes to know for sure, about cabinet refacing. In the process they may be able to replace some of those boxes with drawers. What are your counters made of?
A soffit is this thing in red, and it’s the reason your glass cabinets look a little off.
My guess is there was a soffit here made of drywall at one point that the previous owners covered in wood and put crown molding on. In most kitchens you have plumbing, electrical electrical, and hvac in one of those from the floor above. You won’t know till you look which of those can come down and be replaced with cabinets, and which will be replaced with a cabinet front, but getting rid of the soffit will definitely improve the space.
If you know what your budget is, we can recommend changes you can actually perform. If it’s just paint and a few cabinet doors, that’s fine. 
8 months ago- 8 months ago
- 8 months ago
- PRO8 months ago
Kato Avicenna, I didn't change anything on the cabinets in the photo section, I simply showed below white cabinets with brass hardware for the style of hardware. If you plan on replacing all doors, you'll need to go to a kitchen cabinet store in your area to look at their models and have them come in to give you a quote. Doesn't sound like money is a problem so perhaps look into adding additional low cupboards above the existing one to fill in instead of the soffit. They could be glass or simply solid, I have them in my kitchen and they're solid.
PRO8 months ago
billyy brown