I'd rather change the floor tile than paint the cabinets. Is the floor ceramic tile or vinyl tile?

If you really want to paint for the meantime, this is your chance to go bold. What's your favorite color? The floor will go with anything. You could do white on top and bold (lime green?) on bottom.

Thanks Apple Pie Order and 747.2fra! The floor is ceramic tile, and it covers the whole first floor, so we'll leave it there. About living with it, or going with a bold color, I'm thinking about it, 747.2fra. I had never considered a bold color. My favorite color is red!

White cabinets always look fresh. When you do rehab the kitchen, consider the floor even though the tiles are newly installed. They are very hard on the feet and legs if you spend much time in the kitchen. But, hey, if you're young then maybe the tiles won't bother you.

Thanks for explaining about the new ceramic floor. What color is it? On my monitor it looks a bit greenish brown.

Try this search for red cabinets: https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-ideas-phbr0-bp~t_709"red-cabinets"-

Right now you'll get much bigger bang for the money if you replace the counter with new laminate. Leave everything else. If the floor bothers you, get an easily laundered rug.

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I think a glass tile backwash mixed with copper, pewter and clear or white on the wall and updated pewter hardware on the cabinets would tie it all together along with a cool colored rug of similar colors.

I would make the lower cabinets darker, upper lighter to match the laminate, and a much less expensive back splash, glass back painted with a color you like, you haven't spent much money, but changed it up. Maybe new handles also. Ikea has lots of handles that are inexpensive. Good luck

To me,counter top looks little dated, everything else looks fine ! Go with the darker color counter top and you'll see, what a nice looking kitchen will be.

i agree, that cabinets are fine, it's the counter that needs ipdating and the backsplash, i like dlhusar's idea of using the colour of the cabinets and floor and clear on the backsplash to bring it all together.

Thanks so much for the brainstorm! So many ideas! If the kitchen ends up looking great we might stay with it for much longer!

Changing the laminate countertop would be great, but it would mean staying with the same kitchen for longer. But... As we plan on making a new kitchen someday, i could find a cheap way to change the color.

I'm definitely going to change the hardware!

Some of you recommended changing the backsplash. The actual backsplash is black/gray and white. Why didn't I think about it before? It doesn't work with the cherry cabinets and gray/brown(?) floor. I'm putting a picture of the floor in the dining room (it's not my furniture, we'll have the keys next week) so that you can see the color better. By the way, I like the floor, so we wont change it. I know it's hard but as a busy mom I find it easy to clean.

By the way, what geographic area are you in?

I'd paint the uppers a soft white and lower cabinets greige.

http://houzz.com/photos/99285
http://houzz.com/photos/1875599
http://houzz.com/photos/165037
http://houzz.com/photos/350486

er612, I like the last one you shared. I think that the lighter ones wouldn't create enough contrast with the wood on the side of the cabinets, but a light grayish/taupe would work.

Apple pie order, I'm overseas, in France.

I think this kind of hardware would be great
http://houzz.com/photos/216044

And maybe a backsplash with this colors? Would it tie everything together?
http://houzz.com/photos/3592298

Maybe this is what some of you are sugesting? http://houzz.com/photos/1483828. If that's the case, I love the idea.

Can you paint the sides of the cabinets? Are the cabinets wood? Do you need window covering? If not, I'd leave them uncovered. I prefer the muted crocus hill tile. The shiny tile in the second picture will draw attention to the countertop, which I thought you were trying to avoid.

I would suggest painting the faces of the cabinets a medium grey. Something to pull the flooring in. That way the sides can stay the same. They look like they go with the counter. Then take out the backsplash and do a clean glass mosaic tile in its place, taking it up around the stainless hood to the edge of the cabinet. It's hard to see what exactly the backsplash is doing. Good luck! Can't wait to see what you do! :)

Thanks veru much Beverley!

We got the keys yesterday. The floor is gray, not brownish gray.

The kitchen is actually in good condition, except for the sink, the holders and the sink harware. I think we could start by putting a new backsplash. I guess I saw one in the hardware store that could magically connect the floor with the cabinets.

At first we wanted to paint the cabinets, but our renovation will be a DIY project, and I'm not very confident about painting the structure on the top, where the light is. Also, picking the good shade of gray is kind of difficult.

Right now we're attacking our bedroom, so the kitchen will have to wait, but as soon as we do something in it I'll post it for you guys! I loved having all your suggestions!
Here are two pics of my bedroom today:

Er612, the window treatment is not there anymore, much better this way! When we put a new backsplash we'll see how the counter "behaves". The cabinets are not wood, they have a wood finish (is my English understandable?).

Good for you. Any more plans or ideas for your house changes?

Hi, we suggest you to go for a white/black colour kitchen. You can then add your favourite colour red as a backsplash and you will have a perfect match with the grey tiles. Please see the picture. Good luck with the new house.

Hello,
Personnally i love Bordeaux and White Kitchen, and if your favorite color is red, its perfect ;)

Thanks a lot! We've decided to keep the cabinets and make some of the changes suggested, specially the countertop and the hardware. One day, when the cabinets get much older, then we might have a kitchen renovation, and all the ideas each one of you gave us will be helpful.
Right now I'm working slowly on our bedroom. But since it's still a little messy, I'm not posting any pics.