Help us update our kitchen and family room on a limited budget

14 years ago

last modified: 14 years ago

We are finally moving after 9 years of hoping! The house is far from perfect, but we want to work on it bit by bit since we have a limited budget. We are focusing on kitchen/family room first. The kitchen is connected to the family room--where our TV will have to go above the fireplace. We want to do away with the bookshelves on the adjacent wall and add built-in wall units on either side of the fireplace. Specifically, we want to work on the backsplash in the kitchen (maybe open shelving next to the window?) the fireplace in the family room, and window treatment and paint color--which would be the same in both. We would love your ideas. Thanks! (Sorry about the poor pictures.)

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Dytecture

14 years ago

last modified: 14 years ago

Hi suzninca, the basic layout of the kitchen looks fine to me, but the style of the cabinetry is dating the house. If possible I would reface them and have a more neutral backsplash since there are lots of light and looks like a bright space to live in. The hood fan could also be updated as well.

I would simply put bookshelves flanking the fireplace and leave the bricks untouched.

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Comments (6)

Colleen
12 years ago
I agree, the cabinet doors should be replaced, but I love white cabinets, so I would stick with that. But I would paint the brick white or just white-wash, but I know painting brick can be scandalous. :) . Once the cabinets and fireplace are updated, tackle the backsplash in a neutral gray tile. I would remove the cabinet above the cook-top and replace it with a stainless hood. Remove the vertical blinds on the sliding glass door and replace with floor to ceiling panels. Then you can add some color! And I agree, shelves on either side of the fireplace would be beautiful.
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Ku Interior Design
12 years ago
The doors aren't optimal but, just replacing the cabinet hardware will go a long way towards updating the kitchen.

Get rid of the backsplash and replace it with a classic subway tile in either white or cream, whatever looks best with your cabinets. Take the tile all the way from the counter to the wall cabinets. And I would go all the way to the ceiling to the right of the cooktop.

Please don't put your tv above the fireplace. That is a trend that should have never happened because that is a horrible angle for viewing tv. Put it to the right of the fireplace.
rocketjcat
12 years ago
Wow! What a terrific wall of windows! Unless you have a terrible view I wouldn't cover them. It may be my monitor but it looks like your wall color is fighting your countertop? I think I would go for a little more contrast. When you replace your backsplash I would suggest to take it all the way up to the bottom of your cabinets.
keenplanner
12 years ago
The worst offender (beside the TV over the FP. Booo!), is the textured plaster. Smooth out the plaster on the ceiling, get white LED cans, then start painting the bottom cabinets, getting glass doors for the uppers, and paint the insides.
I'd remove the "L" from the kitchen cabinets, b/c it looks like wasted space. Imagine a big, long work/task table that extended into the dinette? Much more fun, and a better heart to the kitchen, and would open up and unify the kitchen/fam room.
Just say no to the TV above the Fireplace, though. Always a mistake. Should be the 11th commandment!
rocketjcat
12 years ago
Holy crow, this was an old post.