Accidentally left appliances out of the list of things we're (strongly) considering upgrading ... most likely stainless.

Would you also consider black for resale, or should we definitely spend the little bit extra for stainless?

Have you talked to a real estate agent? What does your area require for resale? I wouldn't go crazy if your area and the current housing market doesn't need stone and stainless appliances. I actually like white appliances so I am not a good judge. This kitchen looks great to me. You should have seen the kitchen I bought, LOL. A friend of mine just sold her house (in three days here in central New Jersey) and her agent recommended that she just declutter and not replace.

I definitely would not use black appliances. I think that very few people like them. (Otherwise, you'd see more black appliances in stores.)

It's not a TKO kitchen, but I don't see any "essential" upgrades for a mid-range home. The kitchen is neat and of ample size. Nothing appears to need fixing or repair.

Removing that wall paper would probably help, and removing that curtain rod if you don't use it. I would definitely not install butcherblock. Too many people don't like it or are afraid of it.

I completely agree with Maria that you need to consult with 2 or 3 local real estate professionals on the state of your local market.

I agree....talk to a real estate professional before you spend a lot of money. I think the kitchen already looks pretty good! But if you want to upgrade/update, here's my list:
The cabinets look pinkish though, so painting them might not be too bad of an idea.

Stainless appliances....NOT black.

Granite, even if it's a low-end common one will help a lot and not cost a bundle. If you like butcher block, consider it on the island only....not the rest of the counters. People are scared of it but for an island it would be fine.

I can't tell what color the faucet and cabinet pulls are. If stainless, leave them alone. If brass, change them out.

Remove the wall paper and repaint with a neutral color. All done!

You have a lovely kitchen. Why do anything? Would love to see pictures of it now. Particulary love the color washed cabinets. Please don't paint them. And think the white appliances are perfect in your kitchen. Read here recently that people have to pay an upcharge to get white!

I don't mine white appliances at all, but the shade of white is not the same as the window trim. It makes the appliances look dingy and yellow. Maybe a cheaper fix would be to repaint the window and door trim in a color that looks nice with the new wall color.

I would strip wallpaper, and repaint the walls something besides green - the floor looks very "pink" to me and the countertops look cold grey. A slightly warm cream color on the cabinets and something that has a color found in the laminate and the tile (peach? rust? warm beige?) on the walls would unify the colors.

Aside from that, clean it well, maybe install that other cabinet.

Both my BIL and my neighbor - experienced realtors - are advising people to skip improvements in favor of making houses clean and workable, because the chances of recovering what you paid is less than zero. The exceptions are getting rid of butt-ugly, busted and deteriorated stuff.

I agree that a good realtor can help with deciding what would be good choices for your neighborhood. Touring some open homes on your own could also help. I think painting the walls a neutral color and removing the wallpaper would be good choices. You might also consider shopping the remnant sections of the granite yards - you may be able to find a piece just for the island which could give you some impact for considerably less.

Painting laminate cabinets is a recipe for disaster down the road, and it might even not last long enough to get the house sold. If you're going to stay there, the better fix is to replace all of the doors and drawers. If you're going to move, just remove the wall paper, paint, and inexpensive stock laminate top and call it done.

I think your space looks fantastic already! Talking to a few good realtors in your area would be really helpful.

You may be able to do a nice, neutral granite inexpensively. Or you may want to keep the laminate and let the buyer do his/her thing. I don't think I'd go with butcher block. I personally love it, but I think many people are leery of it and wouldn't see it as an upgrade.

Definitely remove the wallpaper and border. It's an inexpensive way to update the space. I did it myself with a Wagner 905 power steamer (about $55 at Costco).

Good luck!

Thanks so much for all the feedback! It's very helpful.

We're planning to ask our real estate agent before starting any projects (other than minor cosmetic ones like paint and removing wallpaper) or making any big purchases but wanted to get a feel for opinions here on the board as well.

When we bought our house, it appraised for less than others in our neighborhood, specifically because of the laminate countertops and low end bisque (wish they were at least white) appliances compared to solid surface/stone countertops and stainless/black appliances in the other homes. It also stayed on the market for quite awhile relative to other properties even though it was priced VERY competitively (this was when the market was in quite a bit better shape than it is now). A realtor who lives in our neighborhood felt it was due to the kitchen and specifically mentioned buyers not liking the cabinet color.

If I am relocated for work, I'm afraid we may run into difficulty selling quickly with the current state of the kitchen.

In addition, our oven is broken (as of last week). I'm guessing it will be at least a couple of hundred dollars to have it repaired, assuming it can be. This is where we start wondering if it makes sense to repair a 10 year old low end range rather than buy new and upgrade. The rest of the appliances (frig, microwave, and dishwasher) would then need to be replaced. We've already repaired the frig twice, and it does not have an ice maker or water dispenser.

Thanks again! Any additional feedback appreciated.

Honestly, I agree with you about the pickled cabinets. They scream dated to me. I don't know anything about painting laminate and one poster above said it's a recipe for disaster. She probably has experience with it so I wouldn't jump into it without heavy research. Paint would be such a cheap and great looking fix for the cabinets if it's possible. I think it's unanimous about the wallpaper. I also agree with ccoombs that the white trim paint clashes with the bisque appliances. Maybe you can tone it down. I would do only the minimum to make the kitchen look more updated if relocation is likely. There is a fine line between not doing enough and doing way too much to recoup.

The cabinets are reading pinkish because there is a pink undertone and the green walls are emphasizing it (since red is the complement of pink). Find a neutral wall paint color in the taupes or beiges that has a slightly pink undertone too but is definitely more "brown" , and that could reduce the pinkyness--by reducing the contrast.

becca, are you saying the cabinets themselves are made of (plastic) laminate or just that you have a laminate countertop on them?

I've never seen raised panel cabinets covered with laminate material. If they are, are the doors under the laminate made with pressed wood?

Sorry, since red is the complement of green.

I think if you used a quality paint you can do the laminate. Or peel it off. Someone else on this forum did it and painted the remaining MDF cream and it looked amazing! Wished I could remember back to who it was.

I would definitely do a low cost perimeter counters in granite or some solid surface and then save and use the wood on the island.

I am not a fan of black appliances. Sometimes you can buy a set for a steal if you get them all at one time. Also, sell yours and make some money.

I think painting and the orb is a good idea too. You can get great buys on hardware.

Keep us posted!

marti8a - Regarding cabinets themselves ... not sure they're exactly laminate, but they're definitely not solid wood (even though at first glance they appear to be). On close inspection, they look as if they are pressed board with a very thin, tightly adherent faux wood grain surface. Surface layer looks as though it would be VERY difficult to remove ... not typical plastic laminate that chips easily.

Anyone know the correct terminology for this type of cabinet? Possibly a veneer (doesn't really look like furniture veneer that I'm familiar with)?

They are most likely Thermofoil which is a bonded plastic layer over a substrate like MDF.

Perhaps the house could be priced accordingly considering the kitchen. That would attract a certain type of buyer as well. There have been discussions regarding this on other threads. For my money, I would probably want the thermofoil cabinets in good condition versus a paint job that is not that great. If you get a pro, maybe it will turn out ok, but I have seen a number of paint jobs that at first glance...say from the doorway, look ok, but when you look at them up close. eh...and you wonder how it is going to hold up.

Since you mentioned you could get relocated at any time, I would first concentrate on wall color and removing wallpaper. Next I would concentrate on granite countertops. Stage three would be to buy unfinished paint grade maple doors without arched top (match with bottom) for the wall cabinets and paint a creamy white as well as reface cabs. If you are still living there after all that, you can have the island refaced with your choice of wood or paint and replace doors in base cabinets, plus reface. Throughout your time there keep your eye out on craigslist or sales on some stainless appliances. I think if you make some corrections gradually and in an order of stages it will not be such an immediate drain on the pocket book and with each stage your kitchen will look nicer...also ready for a sale if it comes to it.

I was going to say the same thing - those aren't laminate cabinets. Some sort of veneer over particle board or MDF or some substrate maybe. Laminate can't be bent enough to make those indented panels.

If you replace the fridge, go with counter-depth. The current one sticks out annoyingly IMO. Especially since your kitchen is blessed with a (rare) 24" deep cabinet that would become more reachable with a shallower fridge. (Most kitchens have 12" deep cabinets over the fridge which are useless, especially since people often stash stuff on top of the fridge thus blocking the cabinet doors from opening).

The dishwasher looks kind of old - not a modern "tall tub" machine without the fixed service panel below the door. The new ones tend to be roomier and quieter too.

If you go with new countertops, consider a slide-in range so the countertop backsplash is undisturbed. You can find high-end stoves that are only a few years old at moderate prices on Craigslist and such, a much better investment than a lower-end new stove. The buyers won't care that it isn't brand new; they'll just see a luxury-grade appliance.

I'd consider tiling the backsplash area near the sink and cooking, or using some other nice material here. Undercounter xenon or LED lights are nice too, and inexpensive.

I don't think the cabinet color is bad - not my favorite, but I don't think white would improve resale value. Just as many people prefer light wood over white. I think a non-green wall would fit the cabinet color much better though.

I don't care for the flowery stuff above the wainscotting, although the paneling itself is nice.

Thanks, everyone! I will update once we've made some decisions or have something to show.

just a voice on the other side...since you are on a budget...

Since this house was built ten years ago and since it lingered on the market unsold, all kinds of things have changed in the house market. Buyer gripes from that period may not be the same as buyer tastes today and that same real estate agent may be looking at properties like yours with new eyes in this economy.

New lists of what pays off and what does not pay off in house renovation indicate that in this economy, kitchen renovation might offer less payback than attention to curb appeal, decks, structural soundness, energy efficiency, and bathrooms. First thing you are now supposed to look into is whether front door is as great as you can make it! Articles from the last year indicate that kitchens are sometimes only a 60% payback item, although this can vary dramatically, depending on the kitchen.

I would suggest that you do a lot of looking at actual places for sale in the community and discuss patterns of sales with a couple agents. The previous agent opinion has a lot of sway in your mind, perhaps too much. Find out if others agree. If you are indeed in a community of more higher-end houses than yours, your kitchen could be changed to make it a better companion to the others, but as-is it may be more affordable and accessible for buyers compared to expensive ones current buyers cannot afford.

They say that paint is your single best investment.
___

I like the kitchen. I can imagine a lot of great adventures in it. You seem bothered by the "midrange" aspects of it, but there is a lot of higher stuff here, especially the layout and the spaciousness and the good taste of the features. It is not horrible and deserves respect.
____

Your kitchen is close enough to the fashionable light-colored kitchen style that you could play this up further. You need more contrast and less pastel on the walls. A stern mauve-gray? A teal blue? steel gray? Coral? Attention to that great wall beyond the table would probably be very useful, once you lose the wainscot effect and put forth a single paint color. A work of art? A distinctive display?

You also have some great features in the woodwork--the grids in the window and the doors. These carry on the traditional theme we glimpse in the room (dining room?) beyond the kitchen. And in the outdoors room we see beyond the sliding doors.

Once you get into the appliance replacement/upgrade trap, money just evaporates. Is it possible to locate a suitable used "bisque" range? Try posting a want-ad on bulletin boards, etc. Also contact appliance dealers as to whether they know of any used ones.

What color is the ceiling? Could it be whitened?

Is there a full eating area by the sliding doors? If so, is it possible to put a distinctive light over it? And could the table or chairs make a strong contrast to the lighter colored items?

Backsplashes are fashionable and a choice that connects to the new paint color and which introduces a texture that is a counterpoint to the textures of the oak grain and the countertops and the floor might make the room seem very different. Backsplash could run under all upper cupboards--it would become significant enough to be a counterpoint to the strong presence of the cupboards and the new paint color paint color as a force in the room. It could also create too much tension and too much variation, so restraint might be in order.

In the photos the floor does not seem to match the rest of the scheme. If this is true, it can be downplayed. Even a couple modestly priced rugs that draw out some of the new color(s) would help.

A more flamboyant light fixture over the sink would add personality. Place mats, flower pots, similar items could repeat textures and colors of this room.

About the Ikea double Domsjo sink: while it is a great sink it needs its own special cabinet. Ikea cabinets are frameless cabinets while yours appear to be framed (sorry, I am european, not used to framed cabs and therefore not sure I am able to correctly discriminate between framed/frameless). In short, I do think it will not be possible to fit the Domsjo in your existing sink cupboard.

I like your cabinets, I think they just need a different wall colour.

Florantha - thanks for the excellent feedback ... definitely gives me some additional things to think about!

pettra66 - I hadn't considered that the IKEA sink might not fit my cabinet. Thanks for letting me know there may be an issue!

Where do you plan to get a tall cabinet to match your existing cabinets?

Do you know who makes your cabinets? (Look on the inside of a door or on a drawer box somewhere.)

Have you priced out what it would cost to professionally paint your cabinets?

Ditto for replacing doors (in case the doors cannot be easily painted)?

Have you also priced out what it would cost to replace the cabinets with IKEA cabinets?

You may be surprised at how expensive it will be to professionally paint and/or replace doors...it may turn out to be almost as much as replacing with IKEA cabinets - which are actually pretty nice. Consumer Reports rates them pretty highly as do many GWers.

I had cabinets that color in my old kitchen and white appliances look good with it; I wonder why the previous owner chose bisque instead. If you stay with those cabs & color, I would probably stick with white appliances. I also had a gray laminate counter top...but I think you have a nicer laminate than I had. (Our cabinets were falling apart, though, so they had to be replaced w/our remodel.)