I loved the darker stained floors posted today(?). They really added some "punch". I love the idea of mosaic backsplash and new counters. I would add some lighting, perhaps a few pendants above the island, and some undercabinet to bring some light back in when you darken up some of your finishes.

I really like your kitchen. I won't be trite and say it has potential. It is a good k with good bones. I will leave detailed input for others.
My two cents is about making the floor darker. Darker floors show every smidge of dust, every crumb-they are high maintenance. Unless you want to do your floors every day, I'd keep the pretty floors you have. They hide dirt. They also provide a color which matches your cabs.

From the posted pic, it doesn't look like a huge room, so you don't want too many tones to chop it up. If you want modern, you want the eye to keep sweeping and only stop at a few focal points. Keep it simple. Stash the stuff. Let the architecture be the decor, not the doodads. When you change your countertops, hardware, possible paint color
faucet, sink and/or appliances, and do those with a modern focus, you will attain your desired look. Best regards. Welcome. Bev

Where did you get that standing produce-basket-storage-thingy? I've been looking for one of those.

:-)

Francy

Francy, I'm not sure where the product basket came from. It was a gift from several years ago.

westsider40, you bring up a good point about dark floors and maintenance. Also, I definitely plan to declutter our countertops when all is said and done. Our kitchen is actually pretty decent sized, although it doesn't look like it in the picture. We have 38 cabinets and 21 drawers! I'm really mostly concerned about materials and finishes at this point. Although decluttering will help, I think the right materials/colors will be needed to achieve a more contemporary look. I'm concerned that Imperial Brown counters, maple cabs, light floors and stainless appliances will fall short of the mark.

Perhaps it depends on what you mean by "modernizing". If you want to nail "2008" to your kitchen, you can do so, but that doesn't necessarily make it "modern". Modernism is about light, space and utility of form. A dark floor may help anchor your kitchen but it will also make it seem smaller and darker. It will also be more demanding in upkeep, as noted above.

You have a very nice, neutral arrangement that lends itself to many stylistic directions, so I'd suggest that you make your uber-fashion statements in easily changeable accessories. Instead of country corbels under your island counter, you can probably go without any additional supports at all for a floating or cantilevered look, or you could do a rather industrial style bracket in stainless steel like those shown here: http://www.sugatsune.com/products/ProductDetails.cfm?CATID=9&SUBCATID=2&PRODUCTID=BY.

I'd also suggest that you replace your combo pull & knob hardware with all euro-style stainless tubing pulls. Replace the recessed panels in a few of your cabinet doors with either frosted glass or glass etched in a contemporary pattern, and add glass shelves and some xenon lighting at the top. Frosted/etched glass is more forgiving of cabinet disorder than clear glass, but still says "modern".

Instead of labor-intensive glass mosaic for your backsplashes, substitute stainless sheet in either a brushed or embossed pattern. Get the most modern window treatments ,bar stools, faucet and light fixtures that you can find. Finally, add some modern art glass in the way of fruit bowls or wall-hung platters and stand back. With all of this and your new stainless appliances, do you still need a dark floor?

PS: I think your idea of a lighter countertop material is great, especially a quartz product that has a recycled glass look. The wonderful thing about maple cabinets is that they go so well with rich colors; light, bright, dark, you name it. This gives you an opportunity to do fun things with neon, abstract area rugs, etc. One other suggestion: ditch the country tchotchkes above the cabinets and run some low-voltage lighting up there - a dramatic celebration of your great high ceilings!

Your cabinets are fine for "modern" and so is your floor. The stainless appliances will be very stylish. But the main lightness contrast in the room is the appliances. The part of modern that seems to be missing is drama.

Everything is a "medium" tone, and a white to beige color (except the paint and rugs). You need some darks and lights and more color. Lightening the floor is a bad idea ('80's shudders of bleach and pickles). Darkening it isn't really a maintenance issue, but as Westsider says, it can be a cleaning issue, as in you have to do it more often. It would give you contrast and drama.

For the countertops, you'll likely get pop out of color (blue, green, or red tones) than another light neutral. But that comes down to your taste. If you'd rather neutral, try a dark like brown, bronze or copper color. But if you do the Imperial Brown, I wouldn't do the dark floor. Whatever you choose, try for something that's really light or dark, and which reads as a different color than the cabinets. That'll give you pop and drama. :)

Mollyred,

hanks for your suggestions. I may be mis-using the term "modern." My house is an 8 year old home in the Denver suburbs, so it wouldn't really stand up to ultra-modern design. The term I've heard designers use that is probably more in line with my taste is "soft contemporary," whatever that means. One such example of "soft contemporary," to me, would be furniture found at Room & Board. For example, if I was going to replace my kitchen cabinets (dare to dream), my tastes would range from a very simple full face shaker style cabinet in a light cherry or simple dark walnut, all the way to a more modern style of, say, Feng Laccata cabinets that you'd see on european cabinet websites. However, the cabinets at the Laccata end of the spectrum would be way too modern for this house.

Regarding our island and the country corbels, we are planning to reduce the width of the island when we install granite (or quartz) to open up the space between it and a 36" built in Kitchenaid fridge that I purchased. Therefore, the corbels will go away completely (thank god!).

Can you show me an example of the types of stainless pulls that you you are describing? I assume the pulls should have some relation in form to the Kitchenaid Architect I and II door handles that I'll be using?

I definitely am considering replacing a few of my cabinet door inserts with glass. I was thinking about a reeded glass. Are there any good places on the web to shop glass styles? I assume I'll have to get the work done locally in Denver, though.

Plllog, thanks for your suggestions as well. Given that my cabinets are 8 years old and have started to yellow just a tad, what color counters do you think would bes neutralize the yellow and bring it back neutral?

your kitchen is very very nice...i think if you just get rid of the country blue and get your very light countertop, you will be well on your way. i agree that you need contrast....what about a smooth sheet of frosted glass for a backsplash?
short sleek pulls (but on a basic 4 inch center) would make it look modern without preventing you from changing to some other hardware stylein the future. you only have one more hole to drill in each door!

fwiw, the glass in upper cabinet style looks more old fashioned...sort of like a hutch to me. that would go with your fruit basket and the tile counters you have now very nicely though!!
kren

Given that my cabinets are 8 years old and have started to yellow just a tad, what color counters do you think would bes neutralize the yellow and bring it back neutral?

I don't think the eggshell is the answer, though the Imperial Brown might work. The best thing to do is get samples and see. But your wall/backsplash color(s) have a big effect on the choice too.

Monitors are notoriously inconsistent in the way they show color, but there seems to be a warm undertone to your cabinets. If so, you can tone down the yellow by playing up the warm with a red (also warm) or green (opposite of red). I think a dark green like Verde Butterfly or Uba Tuba would look great. The red granites are much more difficult colors. You can also play down the yellow by using more warm yellow tones like the Imperial Brown.

If you don't mind the yellowing you could also go with something like one of the lighter blue granites like Imperial Blue, though most of them are quite a bit more expensive. Blue and yellow do pushme-pullyous in your eyes (color receptors). It'll look more yellow than with other colors but look good.

So much depends on your personal taste. You have a nice neutral palette and can go in lots of different directions. With the current floor color, however, I'd choose a dark counter for the contrast.

I think I'd want a darker floor or counter too. The floor needn't be a LOT darker, just a bit. Of course refinishing floors is an unpleasant job, so if it can be avoided by going in a different direction that might be worth considering.

Try a hole-in-the-wall glass shop for different glass options. I got mine at the same place (and time) as my new windshield. :)

And keep the lilies. That's good clutter.

Plllog - spoken like a true artist! I'm chiming in late on this one - but I'll add my 50 cents anyway.

I honestly don't think you need to do much to this kitchen to update it. Stainless appliances - yes. Cutting back the island is a good idea. And so is ditching that blue paint (ha - we are doing the same thing in our kitchen - what were we thinking??)

Stay with that wonderful wood floor: it's as contemporary as and timeless as you can get. And don't stain it dark - aside from showing everything, your eye will go straight to the floor because it will be a large dark area.

I agree that you need sleeker handles that say "contemporary" without screaming "cutting edge!!". Something like these stainless pulls (which I am going to use in my new kitchen) would make an instant difference.

Dark countertop - yes. But I'd go with black, which is more neutral than brown. You can't even think about a backsplash till everything else is done.

Keep us posted!

If you really want to modernize your kitchen, aside from the granite and stainless, then take some of the doors to your cabinets down, take out the middle section and replace it with glass your choice; ribbed is a nice look. I would then replace the shelves in those cabinets with glass and illuminate the cabinets.

http://www.nwrenovation.com/glassdoors.html shows how to do it yourself.
another site http://www.merillat.com/style/glassdoors/index.aspx shows many styles. Go to the bottom of the page and look at the textures glass samples.

I would also declutter the counters. You will probably do that once your gorgeous granite comes in. RockDr is the best granite polish.

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Samples of glass doors for your cabinets

This is a pretty good "before" kitchen! My best advice on color is to take off a drawer or cabinet door and bring that with you to shop for the counter. Then take a sample of the counter material home with you and recheck how you feel about it at the house. Believe me- the right match will be evident to you when you put the door next to the correct counter material. If you can get a sample of the floor, do that to, to see the whole match together. Barring that, something that looks the same as the floor.

I agree that contrast would be good in this case.

I would keep the light floor and go for contrast with the countertops.

I like the idea of a few glass doors also, but only if it looks cohesive- I'm not sure which ones you could change for it to look right.

A different spin: what about something like that amazing blue stripey granite (teresab, maybe?) and leaving the floor and even the blue walls (or perhaps taking them a tone lighter), with stainless appliances and bold, silvertone hardware (either bar pulls, or brushed stainless bungalow pulls or any of the other myriad choices out there).

Instant soft modern :)

Yes, here it is

With maybe a stainless, or perhaps even a glass backsplash with bold stainless or nickel hardware. Yummy. And I don't even like "modern"!

Raynag beat me to it on the cabinet pulls - those are the kinds that I was thinking of. Now that you say "soft contemporary" I understand why you are thinking of the brown counter or floor. But that brings me to a different question: do you mind the yellowing in your cabinets? Because if you do, you'll need to be careful with some of the dark brown shades. A lot of the dark, smoky or "java" browns that are so popular today have a blue or charcoal base to their color. This puts them on the cool side of the color wheel, and your maple cabinets will look warmer, i.e., yellower or more orange by contrast. If you're OK with that, then fine, but if you want the cabinets to look more neutral, you'll need something with some yellow tones to bleach the yellow in the maple by contrast.

A toy that you might want to try is the www.marble.com website. On the countertop selection page, http://www.marble.com/countertops/stone-selection.html, you can try out different stone colors against a variety of cabinet styles, including shaker style natural maple like yours. I think that the granites that have combos of black, white, gold and gray look especially good against the maple sample.

If you do go with a natural granite, I'd suggest you run it up the wall between your counter and cabinets. This combo looks so elegant, and nothing will ever harmonize as well with your counter material as well as more of the same.

As for glass inserts for your upper cabinet doors, the cabinetry site that Jonibook linked to shows the kind of glass I envisioned: either plain frosted glass, or "barnstead" for a swept or woven sort of look. I think reeded glass would be too antique-y for what you're trying to do.

If you must have some dark wood on your floor, why not consider having a small inlaid border installed, for a flash of dark on the floor, but not something that sucks light out of the room.

Good luck in your adventure: you've got a great kitchen to start with, and it will be even snazzier when you get finished with it.

Paint: Kren pa, I agree, the country blue will definitely go away. Paint will probably be the last thing I figure out, but it definitely won't be blue!

Backsplashes: Kren pa, I've been looking at backsplashes, and the frosted glass is a good idea, but I'm probably going to wait to decide on a backsplash later in the process. Although I do have to say, I can visualize more compatible backsplash ideas with lighter countertops than dark, not sure why.

Granite: Plllog, I have looked at Uba Tuba and Verde Butterfly and I do think they're nice materials, but they don't scream contemporary to me. I think more rustic or country when I see those. In fact, I seem to keep steering away from reds, greens, or blues for granite for this kitchen. I've seen beautiful kitchens with all of those colors (including Divamum's blue), but I don't think they will work in mine.

Glass Doors: Jonibook and Fori, I agree with you, I think glass will work in select doors. I am going to shop some local places. The local Merillat dealer indicated that I could use a router to remove my existing door panels, should be pretty easy.

Lighting: Mollyred, since you seem to be knowledgeable about color, what lighting would tone down yellow in the cabinets? I've tried incandescent and halogen can lights, and can't make myself try compact fluorescents...I hate fluorsecen light.

Fori, those flowers are the remains of what I gave my wife for Valentine's Day! Lilies last forever....

Thoughts on this combo?

Or this?

Though I think the darker floors would look nice, I agree it would darken the space. I would either paint (black) or stain (dark walnut) some type of border to add some interest to the floor, or add some funky striped rugs that will pop the color.

For the counters I could see going black or dark stone, and how about stainless for the island to mix it up?

I also like the more contemporary pulls. I would also wait on the backsplash but collect some ideas.

Taking down some of the uppers would really open up the space to me. Don't know if it's possible, but perhaps you can reuse some elsewhere and possibly add some open stainless steel shelving. Would make the kitchen feel less uniform too.

I like the tones in the last set of materials, and *adore* that last backsplash tile...what is it?

Also I fifth or sixth opening up the uppers with glass doors.

Flyleft,

Thanks for the feedback. The backsplash tile is from The Glass Mosaic Outlet. Link attached.

Here is a link that might be useful: GlassMosaicOutlet

I wouldn't bother to stain the floors. They are beautiful just as they are. If you want contrast, get a couple of oriental runners from Home Goods or on line to change the look. Yes to dark countertops and the backsplash can be whatever pleases you.

I think you have beautiful cabinets and the pulls and handles look good on them. Those long pulls look good on some cabinets but they don't seem to go with the style of yours, in my opinion.

They are very trendy and look good with more modern cabinets. On yours I think they will stand out too much. Once you drill the holes for them you can't go back. Yes, the holes can be filled but you will be able to see them.

Get the new appliances and countertop first and then decide on the cabinet hardware.

Your floor is also lovely. A dark floor will show everything, not something you want in a kitchen.

I think a darker toned granite (not black) would look really good in your kitchen with your cabinets, floor, and new stainless appliances. The contrast would really set them off.

O

I didn't read all the responses ... someone may have already mentioned this, but when I look at the picture what I notice first is that there are SO many upper cabinets and they are pretty much all the same. I like the idea someone offered of changing out some of the doors to glass.

Another idea for breaking up the long expense of uniform uppers would be to have something interrupt your eye before it reaches all those cabinets. I am thinking of one of those really attractive pot rack / pendant light combo units. I think Urban Archaeology makes one (which is probably mucho dinero, but you could try to find that look for less elsewhere if you like the idea).

Also, I would like to suggest taking out your island and replacing it with an open shelved stainless unit (you know the type with the locking castor wheels). I am thinking that with all of that cabinetry perhaps you could live without the island storage space and then you can get some nice baskets to store your potatoes, and other items on the shelving of the island.

In general I agree with others that you have a nice starting point, but I think reducing the overwhelming presence of all of that wood cabinetry would bring it forward.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sticker Shock!!... pot rack with lighting

Note to Bayareafancy: I saw something similar to that at Costco a couple of weeks ago.

---Boxie

Mamadadapaige,

I nearly fell over when I saw those prices. Did they put the decimal point in the wrong place? Are they made of solid gold and sprayed with diamond dust and Elvis' DNA? Yikes! :)

Wow, fourspin--they're *so* close to some Erin Adams tiles at Ann Sacks I was trying to emulate when I did my backsplash...hers are a *bit* more...if they'd been around in 2004 I'd have bought them and saved myself a LOT of trouble...

I know it sounds nutty, but I'm almost tempted to get them and redo my backsplash so I can save the Sicis glass I used for another project!

fourspin - what color are the floors in the first combo you put above??? I love them!

Flyleft,

LOL, A designer friend of ours is actually taking us to Ann Sacks here in Denver on Saturday. I've heard it is quite expensive, but I'm looking forward to seeing what they have anyway. The Mosaic Glass Outlet that I sent you looks pretty promising for a low cost alternative. I ordered samples of two of the tiles (including the one you asked about) and they seem pretty nice to me.

Greg

kbmas0n,

Regarding floor #1 color, I looked at minwax's site (not that I would necessarily use them for my floor stain) and selected a color called "Special Walnut 224." The sample on their site is small, so I Googled an image of "Special Walnut" to get a larger sample.

Greg

Here is a link that might be useful: Minwax Color Samples

I have a few suggestions that I did not see mentioned yet. I think you need to panel the other side of the island. It looks unfinished. I also think a microhood does not really look modern. I think you can add a slide out hood or something really minimalistic to create a more modern look.

I don't think you need to do Stainless appliances if you don't want to. If you are planning to replace the appliances in the future, I would consider appliances that will take panel. I really like black appliances and I think they are more modern than white appliances.

I can't see the lighting from your picture but I would add some pendants on the island in a color (not brown tones but something that pops like red or blue).

I think a light colored countertop would blend in too much. I would go with a dark color with yellows and blues. You can also do a different color countertop on the island versus the perimeter. I agree with others when they suggest absolute black or a black granite with copper flecks. You could also do a white countertop with a lot of sparkle (although this may be a nightmare to clean).

I second the suggestion for glass inserts. Again, you can use this as an opportunity to introduce color or texture to the upper cabinets.

I would also replace the rugs with something more modern and with more color. Those are a cheap fix! Maybe a fire engine red trash can too could spice up the space.

Good luck!

homepro01,

All good suggestions. When you mention a microhood, are you saying to remove the microwave and the cabinets above and put in a hood? I like that look, and have considered buying a oven/micro combo so that I could ditch one over the stove, but my wife says she wants to keep double ovens (even though we really don't cook that much). Thoughts?

You're wanting more visual punch, but darkening the floors to "modernize" your kitchen would be overkill. Your cabinets have clean contemporary lines already, and actually, are very nice. The floors have a contemporary look too. I'd keep the light floors with the light cabinets & would even go with the light Caesarstone & a light backsplash. For visual punch, though, use:

1.oriental rugs/runners
2. Ditch the clunky island (it doesn't do your pretty kitchen justice) & use something like this stainless table on wheels. Or perhaps an amoeba shaped piece of granite on table legs. Either table would allow for visual "flow", which makes for a very contemporary feel. As it is now, one's field of view is stopped by that ugly island -- and you don't see your pretty contemporary cabinets or get a feeling of space (the hallmark of contemporary style).

Here is a link that might be useful: stainless table on wheels.

Fourspin,
I think you can do it either way. I think you can put in a slide out hood (several manufacturers makes these) that look very slick and would allow you to keep your upper cabinet for the look not necessary store though. If you can put in a real hood, I would put in a simple style chimney hood in that space. You would get rid of the microwave on top of the stove.

I personally don't like double wall ovens because the second oven is usually in an inconvenient spot. I have several friends who have double ovens and rarely if ever use the second lower oven. If you get a single oven with a Miele speedcook oven or Advantium on top of it, I think you will have a functional setup. The speedcook oven can act as a second oven when you need it. Can you post more pictures of the kitchen? I think we are missing some views of the rest of the space.

By the way, what is your budget for this little update?:-)

Good luck!

awm03,

I actually like the idea of getting rid of the island. My designer friend advised that it would be a pain to insert hardwood flooring under the island and get it to match, but I agree that it would be a good way to open the room. Not sure if I could convince the wife on that one, though :)

homepro01,

The budget seems to be ever increasing as you would imagine :) Believe it or not, this started as a basement finish project, and crept upstairs into the kitchen. Our basement work is starting next week and commands a lion's share of the budget. However, I bought a used 36" built in Kitchenaid fridge for $1K (far less than the current $5700 retail) and have a connection to get my other Kitchenaid appliances well below retail, got a reasonable deal on granite (70 sq feet), and, depending on backsplash and sink/fixtures, should be ok on budget.

I'll post some more pictures shortly.

Greg

"I actually like the idea of getting rid of the island. My designer friend advised that it would be a pain to insert hardwood flooring under the island and get it to match..."

Sounds like a good excuse for an oriental rug :) Or even a cool contemporary one, something with a little movement like this:

homepro01,

Here's some additional pictures of the kitchen...clutter, tchotchkes, and all. This remodel is definitely going to have a "clean the slate" angle to it. I can't wait to get rid of all the junk that has collected in these rooms over the last 8 years. Although I like pictures, my wife and I disagree about putting them on the fridge. This problem will go away once we install the built-in stainless fridge.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Can't this one to rotate correct, so you'll have to turn your head....

{{!gwi}}

One recommendation I haven't seen that you may want to consider is to add crown molding around the top of the upper cabinets to add a more finished look.