Since you're keeping the cabinets and floors, I would suggest a low-cost countertop with some white, silver, and terra cotta colors to complement your cabinetry, new appliances, and floors. I would minimize the cost because you may eventually decide to upgrade your cabinetry and floors, and in the meantime you may also find that a high-end, new countertop may further highlight the quality and age of your current cabinetry and floors.

Thanks to both commenters. Your suggestions make sense to me. I had an estimate to reface the cabinets but due to our budget, I thought I could get away with just the counter tops and new hardware.

Do you have a source for the formica you mentioned? What other low-cost materials do you suggest? I looked at many of the quartz materials but we prefer a natural stone. There aren't many light natural stones (other than marble) hence the Taj Mahal.

If you're planning to eventually replace the cabinets and flooring, I would wait to do everything at once then (including the quartz). If you're not planning to eventually upgrade the cabinets and flooring, I would also suggest doing formica as the low-cost alernative.

Leave well enough alone until you accumulate the funds to do the gut remodel that this kitchen needs. Spending 15K on new appliances and counters with those cabinets is the cart before the horse.

I agree save the money until you can do a gut job.

Wow! I didn't think my cabinets looked that bad. A "gut job"? A designer recently told me that the cabinets are ok and to just replace the counter tops and hardware. I need new appliances now so guess I'll just do that and save my $$$$.

She's probably the one who wanted to sell you 10K worth of quartzite counters as a quick sale rather than tell you the truth and get the 40K sale later down the line. I'm in no danger of selling you anything, so I have no vested interest.

If you really have to change things, then, putting DIY laminate counters and DIY new knobs and an DIY inexpensive subway tile backsplash would only take 1-2K or so, and if you bought lower end appliances, then the kitchen would all be at the same design level. Putting 10K worth of quartzite and Thermador appliances into that level of cabinetry would be like putting 10K worth of spinner rims on an 80's Taurus. Sure, some people allocate their funds like that, but it's a big mismatch that only makes the old and tired look older and tireder.

Actually, she is the original kitchen designer from quite a few years ago, who was giving me suggestions on how to update without spending a lot. She has a very good reputation and been in the business a long time. She was not trying to sell me anything. Her suggestion for the counter tops was Cesarstone, or similar, not the quartzite.

I don't really see how buying lower end appliances has anything to do with the look. I happen to be buying Thermador because of their quality as well as looks. The cabinets may look lower end to you but they were built by a very reputable cabinet maker and they have held up very well. Perhaps a refacing is due.

Refacing doesn't do anything but put makeup on top of a bad complexion. It might last for a while, but doesn't address the underlying quality or layout issues.

At the end of the day, it's about what makes you happy. Spending a lot of money on expensive new countertops doesn't make sense if you're planning on getting new cabinets BUT if you like you're cabinets and have no plans on replacing them, I think the new hardware, counters, appliances (and maybe a great backsplash) will freshen your kitchen nicely. Another lower cost alternative for counters besides formica would be granite sheathing, you would still have the look without all the cost...the kitchen in the house I just moved out of would be considered a gut job by a lot of people but I loved the matte ceramic tile counters and little reddish cabinets; I even liked my (gasp) soffits ; )

Thanks for your kind words Amanda. Until yesterday I hadn't planned on replacing the cabinets, mainly due to cost, and that they still function well. Now I need to rethink the entire project.

If you like your cabinets and they are in good condition, go ahead and keep them and get the counters you want! I would change the hardware on the cabinets though, to either a nickel/chrome or a bronze finish, just to dress them up a bit. Are you changing the wall color?

Yes, I will change the wall color to coordinate with the counters, etc. The cabinets are in pretty good shape for their age except for a couple of areas near the sink. The cabinet maker agreed to try and repair those areas but it's not certain that they can match the old laminate. So, I may need to reface. I would not change the layout even if I get new cabinets.

This video has some great information about materials for kitchens. GOOD LUCK!!!

As designers our first interest should be for the client to feel happier, not more miserable.

There is nothing wrong with this cabinetry. I have often upgraded this type of kitchen cabinetry. It is simple!

But is my discreet opinion that you should probably lay out engineered wood laminate flooring over those terra-cotta tiles before you do anything else. The flooring is part of why the kitchen is feeling and looking so dated. If the cabinets are o.k. then just REVAMP!

Do spend $ on a natural stone counter top. Then get updated stainless steel pulls for all your cabinets to match your new stainless steel appliances and you should already see a BIG difference.

After this is done I would repaint the kitchen in a new more neutral color, like a light grey and I would certainly add a beautiful backsplash, maybe something like a glass subway tile in your favorite shade. The white is always a crisp classic, but you could try a taupe or maybe even a medium grey glass.

Also, I would consider dropping that single corner top cabinet on the window side for a newer look and replace with beautiful open shelving.

RE-COUNTER-TOP, REPAINT, RE-HARDWARE, RE-FLOOR……………..wheeeeew…………..and you'll be fine.

PS: If you wanted to spend about half the money of a one-piece stone counter top, you could lay down groutless stone tiles which look great for about 1/3 of the price of a one-piece custom slab of granite or marble.

You'll get the same effect without all that cost.

Also, there is a type of paint which adheres to formica and works very well. It is sold at your local Home Depot and called Cabinet Rescue and can be mixed to any color desired. This can be applied with a high- grade dense foam small roller and goes on flawlessly for a totally NEW cabinet look.

Hope this helps a bit……..

HOuse MOuse

Miriam Mainieri

Miami

I think that the disconnect between your vision and that of those telling you to save for a gut isn't that these need repair; it's that they're not making good use of the space to the degree that more current cabinetry does, and that that style of handles usually went with a particular vintage of uninspired cabinetry. However, I do see that you have some drawers where the vintage units only had cupboards, and after all, we're only seeing a tiny percentage of the space here, so it might be that what you'd gain by starting from scratch wouldn't justify the time and money.

Have a look at a modern kitchen store (or even a decent big box store) and see whether the options and quality excite you or just seem like overhyped versions of what you already have. You might be right that new doors would do the job, or even new hardware, but it's impossible to change cabinets after you get new counters on them, so it's certainly true that if you might want a greater change in layout or structure, now would be the time to do it.

It is possible to lift up and reinstall countertops after the fact. It can be risky, and you want a good fabricator if you do it, so don't feel totally stuck if you do counters first.

Thanks to all for these helpful comments. I live in the San Francisco bay area so open shelving is not a good idea. I do have a lot of large drawers and another cabinet on the other side of the sink. Here is another photo showing the island. I have maple cabinets on the family room side of the island. There is also a full wall pantry to the left of the wall on the left where we also have a maple table for casual meals.

The right sink, counter top, appliances and hardware will make a world of difference in your kitchen. Your cabinets, being 42" tall full overlay cabinets are what many people pay good money for today. They're very modern looking and if they are in good shape, there is no need to replace them. The Taj Mahal quartzite has mid toned streaks that look to coordinate nicely with your floor. Keep your backsplash clean and simple and maybe pull in one of the grays in the quartzite for your wall color for some contrast. Good luck with your project!

The cabinets look dated to me only because of the wood trim around the counter. There are many new kitchens using this cabinet style. IKEA's new line of cabinets are almost identical. Take a look at their catalog, may be some ideas for you to work from.