Hopefully you have proper floor plan and permit(s) before the project started.

Having one contractor out tomorrow. Here are some pictures.

More pictures, please overlook the big pile of junk in the old dining room.

I'm wondering what tips anyone might have on choosing to the best people to do this job. I have talked to two so far...both very different to speak to. One guy is himself and a helper, the other seems to be contracting all the work. Any advice on which way would be better?

I am proceeding with the kitchen remodel. We have had 5 places out to look and give a proposal. The first one came back at about $50,000. The cabinets are half of that. How do people do economical kitchen remodels? Anyway I am now finding out that I must decide on flooring and cabinet styles????? I have waited so long and this will, I am sure be my first and final kitchen remodel, I greatly wish to have many comments to give me ideas. I already have all my appliances; they are Jenn Air...all white. I thought I wanted flat cabinets, but now I'm not sure. Also, wondered how to tie in the kitchen with the knotty pine paneling in the family room. I thought knotty pine cabinets would be overkill, but maybe not? And these dilemmas are just the tip of the iceberg, ha. I'm not sure I can do this....

Also, there are so many choices for beautiful kitchens is there a formula to narrow it down??

Sad to say fifty thousand is the low end of average for a kitchen remodel, and wouldn't begin to cover remodels that you see on houzz. You may be opposed, but paint or white wash the pine to tie it in to the rest of the house, and paint the trim elsewhere white to match. You need to make all the product decisions otherwise the bids are just guesses with no way to compare what you are getting.

Thank you so much for the input. I was researching return ratios for kitchen remodels. I thought a kitchen remodel was a good investment adding value, but I am not finding that. That makes it even harder to spend $$$$ a big amount. Unfortunately I live on an acreage and that makes for a lot of other expenses I wouldn't normally have living in the city, so I need to be very considerate of this project and the cost. Any ideas or suggestions are much appreciated!

Also, you are right I do not like to paint wood, but I do like whitewash. Although, with white appliances.. I will need to look to try to find pictures.

I wanted to ask some opinions on what kitchen cabinets might look the best with all white appliances.

I think any color cabinets except cream or light wood look nice with white appliances.
Do you have some samples from the cabinet company? Post some that you like so we can give some opinions.

I was looking at these cabinets that are very similar to the notty pine paneling in the family room addition.

And do you like the knotty pine in the family room?

If you do, that's great. If you don't, you don't have to match your cabinets to it.

I love the knotty pine in the family room, but initially though having the kitchen cabinets so similar wouldn't look good. I think my mind is changing somewhat on that now.

I suggest you get 1 1/4 overlay so you don't see as much of the frame as in the picture.