You could white wash or "pickle" it to brighten it up and update the hardware. You would need to do some heavy duty sanding, but it would seem to me that that would be the most cost effective option and it would lighten the room up considerably. Houzz has some beautiful images of pickled knotty pine, but most of them are paneling. You get the idea, though: https://www.houzz.com/photos/pickled-knotty-pine-phbr0lbl-bl~l_40611

That is a lovely floor. Can I suggest that you paint the quarter round moulding at the bottom of the wall as well as the moulding at the top? The skinny white lines take away from the overall nicer look.

I'm afraid the only suggestion I have for your cabinetry is to paint as well. You could go a dark cream or white or do two different colours - green on top, grey on the bottom or blue and grey, white and any colour. If you chose to go white please choose a white that is as close to your sink and appliance white as possible. You could have some fun in here with colour.

Both these kitchens have painted cabinets - the back-splash and the countertop in the blue kitchen was all done with paint, a good quick fix until they can get to remodeling.

Thank you for the pictures Mary. I'm terrible at the vision part! The front part of the house has very tall baseboards that I'm thinking of continuing into the den. A different crown molding is also on the to do list.

Thank you for the link Paul!

Also, the stove is now stainless.

The back splash appears to be the same color paint as in the DR. I'd paint the kitchen ceiling with this paint and also the pine area that is on top of cabinets. I'd have window with no curtain and some cute, colorful pottery on the shelves flanking the window.

Refacing could be an option depending on your budget. This means you can keep the cabinets but change the doors and paint the pine area above the cabinets.

The pickled wash looks like a great idea. Also, invest in canned lights, undercabinet light and task and a great light for above the sink.

Celebrate it's uniqueness! I would sand and pickle wash. I think that's just lovely and would contrast well with the floor. I would set the curtain rod higher into the cornice area and buy red and white checked curtains or blue and cream toile curtains. Small topiary on each side of the sink not quite reaching the bottom of the cabinets to give a focal point; small rugs in front of the sink and stove areas with similar colors. Perhaps a couple of attractive tile trivets in blues and creams or prints or tin hot pads with some blues and greens. Maybe a cutting board with an attractive cutout. I don't know what your favorite color is, but with the pickle wash you could pretty much choose whatever color is currently your favorite and change colors and the entire appearance of the kitchen at little cost with just curtains, dish towels, and a few accessories.

I would paint those cabinets in a heartbeat, but for something a little different, paint the uppers light and the lowers dark. [houzz=]
[houzz=]

Look into purchasing rustoleum kit for cabinets no sanding involved. You can purchase it at home depot its awesome comes in different colors! Update the hardware for a personal touch.

I've used Rustoleum Transformations on my bedroom furniture. I found it to be a very good product..easy to use, etc. The smaller surface you have to work with the glaze the simpler it is. If you don't like the result of your glazing, you can just paint over it with the base color and try again. Working with glaze while it's wet is essential!

I used the rustoleum transformations and it is great stuff. Look at Dlawless.com for really affordable hardware. I also found a whole kichen pack of stainless rod pulls on overstock for $45

Thanks y'all!

I painted all my knotty pine cabinets out a creamy white. Makes it look instantly fresher. Be sure to label your cabinet doors when taking them down so you know where they go putting them back up. It's a big job but worth the sweat equity.

Have you considered removing the upper cabinet doors for a more airy feeling or take them down and do open shelving?

mary...you can do this cheaply and make a huge dent! I did it and I think I had a kitchen from about the same era. Nothing had been updated EVER! Paint those cabinets for sure.

Do you have some current photos that show the new floor and stove?

Will your budget run to replacing the countertops and hardware as well as painting?

NEVER paint knotty pine; do a wash and add some bold hardware. C-tops in a green,gray, or blue hue granite. Backsplash in a coordinating glass tile. Maybe do cut outs and put in glass inserts in upper cabinets each side of sink, this will reflect light and make the window and sink area seem larger.

You can definitely paint knotty pine. I PERSONALLY wouldn't recommend Rustoleum transformations for this project, but mainly because I think you need something heavy duty. Like earlier posters have said, prep work and "doing it right" will be key. You'll have to lightly sand and TSP clean all your cabinet surfaces and then use a really good quality primer like Kilz or Zinsser. I would probably do a least two coats of primer to prevent the resin from bleeding through. If you google, there are lots of super helpful articles on how to go about painting difficult surfaces like knotty pine.

Thank you Jess, I absolutely agree. Knotty pine is a very paintable wood...bobbi

Lisa Lucas is right, at least have the doors professionally sprayed. It will make a world of difference.

Paint them. can't go wrong with white. they seem in good shape. knotty pine is fine in a rustic setting such as a log home in the mountains. other than that they look awfully outdated. with dark wood floors, white cabinets you can go with a white countertop or a black one and have a great kitchen. also remove the paneling above the cabinets which will make the room look taller.

we recently bought a 50's house and had knotty pine in the basement family room, and office- we had it painted in a mid grey and it looks awesome! My painter is amazing (good primer and multiple coats)but well wow - what a change!

Part of the problem with 1950s knotty pine (indeed with MOST of the wood in these homes of this era) is the yellowish finish used. Not sure if it is the way the varnish aged or if it was intentional. If you like the knotty pine (and many people do, see http://knottyisnice.com/), and you have the time and inclination to put in some elbow grease, you could sand down the whole thing and put clear poly on them and embrace the knottiness. That said, our favorite family friends when I was a kid in the early 1960s had a farmhouse with knotty pine cabinets. They had painted them and put wrought-iron hardware on them and they looked great.

I LOVE your cabinets. I would keep them, change the window covering, light fixture for now. As budget permits change out counter and appliances and backsplash.. As suggested they would be beautiful sanded down but a LOT of work. You could take the doors off cabinets to right and left of window for display pieces.

I think painting the cabinets and new countertops would create a beautiful kitchen (see mpoulson's photos above). I think you need to take down the decorative wood above the sink to make it look simple and updated.

Have u considered changing the lighting from a fan to anything else?