If you're an experienced woodworked, and have made a lot of stuff to where making your own cabinet doors wouldn't be an issue, go for it. If it's something you aren't experienced with, make one and see how it goes. My husband has taught himself woodworking over the last 17 years or so, and I'm amazed how time consuming even things like putting up trim can be as it's not something he does on a daily basis so he's constantly checking his measurements, trimming a bit more off, etc., etc. He does a great job, but it's been much slower than I anticipated. BTW, I should mention that we're doing our own renovation to save money as well.

If you have the time it takes to work out the kinks to make the cabinet doors, I'm sure you'd enjoy it as would your family.

Great windows, nice floor plan. Can you tell us a bit about the motivation to redo the kitchen now? Just want to finish or planning to sell?

Close up photos of the current cabinets would help so we can see the style and finish. Bright lighting for photos would be helpful.

I would add a lot more lighting.

Yes- please post closer photos. The tile counterops/backsplash really need to go. What is the flooring- looks like polished cement?

I don't think the cabinets are the problem. I would go ahead and make the changes to the floor, countertops, walls, and hardware and then see what you think.

Add more lighting. That's a primary deficiency that making the cabinets white won't fix. You're hacking at the symptoms, not the issues themselves. Layout is a big issue that could use improvement, and cosmetic tweaks in mterials won't address that. New cabinets with the same old layout and terrible lighting is likely to leave you just as dissatisfied. Save your money and efforts for a more subtantive change.

Paint on the walls, hardware on the cabinets and a new counter top. Otherwise, I think it's a pretty nice kitchen.

I agree with Darzy & Jen

Add me to the "cabinets are fine!" camp! I really like Darzy's suggestions about the hardware & countertops. Recently here on houzz there was a before & after where someone had simply added hardware to that knobless style of cabinet door, and I was amazed what a positive impact it had! Also, have you considered inserting glass into one or more of the upper cabinet doors? Doing that, combined with in-cabinet, AND under-cabinet lighting makes a huge difference for very little money and effort. If you did go with in-cabinet lights, glass shelves help the effect a lot.

Those square-back chairs are gorgeous, is there any way to get more, or ones that mesh with that style a little more closely?

With that wonderful window bank, and skylights, I doubt that the kitchen is too dark; I bet it just needs lights in strategic places.

To make new doors, you'd definitely want a full cabinet-making set of equipment - planers, jointers, the dohickeys that drill for pegs, forstner bits, the list goes on... and on... and on...

I modified the size of a couple of my doors with nothing more than a table saw and drill press and it was extremely challenging, not recommended. I also re-used some cabinets that had perfectly good drawers, just replacing the drawer fronts, and getting everything even was a royal, ROYAL pain, simply to do that.

On the other hand, replacing the center 1/4" panels with glass was quite easy.

My eye is usually caught by the "off" elements in photos. First, is the door - a classic one but somewhat out of kilter with the more contemporary feeling kitchen. Second was the picture above your sofa in the other room - lower it to 5" above the sofa back. Then the table and chairs look too country/rustic for this contemporary kitchen. Overall, for the money, I think I'd save up for one of the stylish new long islands with built-in table/seating and a prep sink close to the fridge. Lighting was the last item.

Hi---I agree with others, the dark cabs are not bad---but if white is what you want, then go for it. Here is a kitchen that is transitional and rustic (which seems to be your style-from the photos). I think a (ceramic or glass) subway tile installed in a herringbone pattern will add interest and look organic next to all the linear elements in your space. Splashes of light airy colors throughout. Hope this is helpful. Good Luck!

[houzz=]

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE WONDERFUL COMMENTS. We actually got the home for a steal on a foreclosure sale and other structural issues required our attention and money so we did several easy and less costly fixes to make things habitable; like pulling up the floors and staining the concrete, throwing paint on the cabs, etc. We used Kemiko products to stain the floor and we continuously get comments about about how wonderful they look but it's time for real flooring. I think you all are right about the lighting, it's terrible even with the 16ft atrium window. My husband is into saving energy so we went with halogen lights throughout the house and they do bother me (dim, drap and yellow), but I think that we can easily go with some retro-fit LED recessed bright lighting in the kitchen. The bar-height table was a CL buy for $30. We sanded it, stained it and threw on a poly - again temporary. The rest of our home is really rustic, with Restoration Hardware type colors and accents. I never really thought of our kitchen as modern but I can agree that seeing it online as a separate unit from the rest of our home gives a contemporary feel. I HATE the countertops, more so cleaning the grout, so we are going with a hard stone of some sort - not sure what, but something. I can't resist the urge to grab the low hanging fruit first so I will try the suggested easy fixes immediately; lighting and fixtures and hope that brightens things up a bit. I would love the long prep island that was suggested but the Huz said that our open area is too small due to the dishwasher and double-oven. Eventually, that is when we get the 3 kiddos through college, we will completely remodel the kitchen to make it more functional and get a nano wall where the window is. That's a dream though. Thanks for all the suggestions - You have no idea how much I appreciate them and you ;-)

Thanks for additional info. If you post more photos taken in daylight, that'd be great.

I think the kitchen needs a semi-flush light fixture as well as the recessed cans about to be converted to LED. Try LED bulbs with a color temperature of 2700K, roughly, not the "daylight" kind. Or just bring a bunch home and try them out for a day and night.

Here are some suggestions that will not break the bank. Your modern home has good bones so stay with the good but remember you live on the floor not the ceiling (where the picture is focused) so bring the warmth by some small changes that do not cost much. The floor is amazing rustic contemporary look. If it is easy to maintain keep it. The cabinet and wall colours are trend dated. Since you like rustic: Paint and sand the cabinets you have. Try some colour here as I see little colour in the rest of your furnishings. White may be too stark and you get back to cold feel. What is your favourite wash or pastel colour? Use that and a final top coat and sand through gently. Push your fridge into the wall if you can so it is flush with the cabinets. Tile counter tops are challenging. Solid surface are nice but there are many laminates to choose from that will get you a practical old world look. Avoid the matching the floor. Soften the greenhouse window with ample sized pots of real fresh herbs. (and use them) Love the hood: please keep it. Since you have so much natural light use LED natural daylight so you have consistency during the day. Inconsistency from day to night is bothersome for most people performing tasks. Drop the height of the dining area light fixture. It should be closer to the table to feel homey. The ceiling is high so you could paint it same colour of walls. the white colonial style door bothers me because it pops out and the style does not work with house nor the cabinet style. Paint it the same colour as the wall for now to blend it in. If you replace your cabinets use eurostyle rather than face frame as it will blend the modern and rustic styles better and be easier to keep clean. It takes time to work in a new home and the best homes embrace your life. Best wishes.

A beautiful faucet will be like pretty jewelry...

Since you are doing it yourself, have fun with it. Here are suggestions I hope you will like:

1) Pick two paint colors: one for all the cabinets and one for the stovetop wall. You have Restoration Hardware styling, what about a very pale blue for the window wall cabinets and the oven/fridge wall (including the white pantry door) with black hardware.

2) Treat the stovetop cabinets and backsplash individually to look like a piece of cabinetry. I love red or orange. Take a look at the pics attached. It could be so exciting.

3) Elaborate on the stovetop wall besides a color, the backsplash could be an artistic tile and since you dont need too much this would be the place I would spend the money, that and the lighting fixture over the table. As I was looking for inspiration pics for you, I noticed large molding above the cabinets. To make sense of all those angles, add moldingsobove the overhead cabinets and continue over the oven/fridge. That should straighten out all of the highs/lows.

4) Of course you must change the countertop! A long time ago, I don't know where someone got the bright idea of tiles. Yuck. The countertop will have to be determined when you decide on the cabinet colors. Personally I would stick to a very classic carrara marble. White with grey veining and the least expensive stone. Don't go to a kitchen/bath place, find your local marble yard. They always have stone from large jobs available.

5) The window definitely needs to be softened up. The pic with the black cabinets has a very simple fabric valance across a large window. Keep the fabric simple and flat (not gathered).

6) Yes on the farmhouse sink. Grey has a tendency to suck out the color in a room. Keep the concrete floor for now and add a Chilwich runner.

Good luck and have fun!

All of those granite countertops are fabulous. But if you are on a budget and have a good DIY companion, you might want to look at Paperstone counter tops. There are quite a few pictures here on Houzz if you search. You can compliment these with maybe a wood topped island, maybe.

I Think it looks great. I would paint the cabinets white. Your floor space
Looks great. I would ditch the table and put a long narrow island with black shaker and lots of stools to make the kitchen more of an entertaining hangout!

SR

As a designer, I would paint the cabinets a lighter color. Benjamin Moore

marblehead goldHC-11walls
audubon russetHC-51accent wall if you have one
white doveOC-17 cabinets and trim and ceiling

Leave the floors as they are. Your cabinets need knobs or pulls in a satin nickel. Keep it simple. IKEA has cheap and nice knobs.

If you have any questions, would be happy to answer them and give you design ideas. Cheers!

Sorry I have no advice. I just wanted say what a great kitchen. Wish I had that to work with.

Remove or replace the two rounded back, spindle chairs. I definitely wouldn't spend time on new cabinet fronts unless you are changing the floor plan. If you want white cabinets, just paint the existing ones. Butcher block is an affordable choice for countertops. If you don't paint the cabinets, I would stick to a light stone countertop. How long have you been in your house? I'd hold out as long as you can on the floors, especially if you're still renovating. My floors are polished concrete and its the best choice I made. It held up perfectly during my kitchen remodel and other construction. I would have destroyed any other flooring. If you've been in your house over a year and you like the layout but don't like the floors, then I'd replace them. Just don't want you to rush into flooring and later have to change it.

First, paint is cheap, and it's easy to 're-do, so I always choose a paint color last. I start with the stuff that I'll be stuck with for a while, either because of labor or expense. Here, I'd start by choosing a backsplash tile that you absolutely love. You can get a lot of bang for your buck here, because you're not doing that much area. There are a lot more color option for backsplashes than for counters. Once you have the tile chosen, pick a counter that will coordinate (not match) the tile, and preferably go with the existing cabinet color. I think once you replace the backsplash and counter, add some nice hardware to the cabinets, and replace the lighting, you won't mind the cabinets. Then choose your paint color - because if you do a wall and hate it, it's easy to 're-do. I like Formica for counters. It's cheap enough that if I get tired of it in 5 years, it's no big deal. If you can find a pre-fab pattern you like in the store, you'll save a lot. It's a cinch to install, and frfranklyits way more environmentally conscious - granite mining is not a green process, and it is not an unlimited resource. Check eBay for deals on hardware - I once outfitted my entire kitchen with brushed nickel pulls and hinges for $35 total. Also check Restoration hardware for idea - they have amazing stuff.

As for the flooring, I'd wait on that for now. If you hate it that much, put down a big area rug in the middle and plop a rolling island on it. Make the island an accent color for a little pop.

And, yes, ditch the 2 Windsor chairs. The other 4 and the table are fine, but those 2 make the whole space seem dated. If you need 6 chairs, either go with 2 that are upholstered or that are a different color, but similar size and shape to the other 4.

So many great comments, we love Natalie's idea of brightening everything with glass backsplash and rustic wood. With light hues of blue and green. That look would contrast so well with our hammered copper farm sinks, and they are extremely easy to care for! And since you husband likes saving energy, copper is a heat conductor and will save you water and energy! It will also add pops of warmth and color while helping to keep your look contemporary yet rustic! You can shop our sinks here!

Best of luck!

I like your kitchen, the big windows & floor plan as others have mentioned. Nice big exhaust & oven too. I think 'dark wood floors' in a chocolaty color would look better than grey ones, and would really 'pop' that white of the cabinets when you change them. All wood 'Butcher block' counter tops are supposed to be an affordable option on a "tight budget" for counter tops, & they look really great with white shaker. I like either brushed nickle or oil rubbed bronze hardware on the cabinets. That's my opinion! Good luck with whatever you do!

What about a primitive paint finish on the cabs?it is fun to do and an easy DIY...usually requires a few sloppy coats of different color flat finish paints and some judicious sanding thru each coat step until you get a look you like..when happy just coat with a non shiny protective coat to preserve the finish.. Then the counter tops could include some butcher block sections which can be purchased quite reasonably..and fill in the other sections of counter with a nice stone ...from the look of the job you did on the floors you have the talent as well as the expertise to pull this off..maybe a visit to photos on house will give you some ideas ...try "primitive cabinets"

Incidentally I have the same type of floors ..mine were acid wash stained and they still..after 15 years get noticed and admired..also they require almost no upkeep...which you probably already know...

Dec 2014 post.