Is that open space above the upper cabinets? You could run ductwork up there an vent to an outside wall of the house. Build a soffit to cover the ductwork.

A floorplan showing both the kitchen and the surrounding spaces would be very helpful (for example, to figure out which walls are exterior walls for venting purposes).

Am I correct in assuming that in the long run you want to do a full remodel? You mentioned drawers, which suggests a cabinet replacement at some point, and to my mind the layout is not optimal--but with a new house I'm sure you've got a lot of competing priorities. Just wondering what time frame you are looking at for the current kitchen.

Are there any existing roof vents (like attic vents)? Where are they venting relative to the solar panels and relative to the kitchen? Venting out a wall or through the roof is ideal, but maybe not if you are going to have 20 feet of duct to get there.

You left your house with the amazing kitchen and rainforest granite?

Maybe live in it for a while and figure out what you would like to do with it long-term? That might change your current plan and give you more of what you want. Things look pretty spread out. Can you put in an island to tighten up the workflow a bit?

Can you move the stove to the left just past the angle where it is now? Would you be able to vent a hood on that wall? It wouldn't be too far from the sink there. Can you move the fridge over to the wall by the pantry?

If you are going to paint the cabinets, you can probably have the lowers with doors converted to drawers. You would have to buy some drawer fronts, but we did it with the cabinets on both sides of our stove.

Yes annac54. We are leaving our rainforest green kitchen and total privacy in the gorgeous Hudson Valley. It's an awful decision, but we need to go warmer and less expensive. The cost of living deep in the woods with an 850 foot driveway to plow and huge heating costs and property tax is getting to be too much. We want to cut back. We love our current house, which is not sold yet, and we hope we will learn to love the new one.

As you can see the new kitchen is pretty ugly, but the rest of the house is really nice and there is a beautiful garden. It might be stupid to try and fix up the kitchen. Now I am thinking that we should get new appliances that can be used in a new kitchen and wait till we live there for a while and then redo.

Good idea to replace the appliances and live with layout for a while.

Diane

you could move the stove to the left. swap the upper cabs there for the ones now over the stove. Move the lower cabs on the left to where the stove is and top it with a piece of wood. The stove would be close to the fridge on the left of it, but you'd have a place to chop/prep to the right of the 'new stove' place.

Measure out the space 'cause you might have enough room for a small island.

I don't think you should change anything yet. Not even appliances if they are working correctly. Live in the kitchen and home for awhile to get a feel for traffic flow, how the lighting changes throughout the day and in different seasons, your storage needs, how the kitchen works for entertaining, yada yada. After awhile of living with a space, it is much easier to determine what works for you and what doesn't, and then start thinking about "what if this or that".

And if you get an induction range now, you might realize later that you would be better off with an induction cooktop and separate wall oven. Just as an example of money ill spent.

Sixty Oh No - I am sorry to hear you are leaving one of my favorite kitchens behind.

I agree with the others who say live there awhile before changing things.

Welcome back

I totally agree with Funkycamper. Start taking notes now, pull the trigger later.

I needed these responses to stop worrying about the messy new kitchen. I hate leaving my house. It is perfect and we have put a lot into it. But we need to leave for so many reasons and the new house is very doable. When we finally get there we will need to buy a fridge and then live in it for a while till we get used to it and figure it out. Thanks GW Friends

We bought a house last year and lived in it for 6 months before starting to plan a new kitchen. I am glad we did. I hope your sale and move go smoothly.

sixtyohno, your current kitchen is one of my favorites. It's among the few that really stand out in my mind.

However, home is where the heart is. It's just four walls. All the views and privacy can't make up for the hard work and expense to maintain it. I applaud you for being sensible and making this change under your own power, as it were. You guys will be fine.

I agree with others to live with it a bit, learn your new home's character and strengths and then decide what to do.

Know what? I don't think your new kitchen is ugly. Maybe boring, especially compared to your jaw-dropping green kitchen (I'm so sad for you that you have to leave it!), but there's lots of good space and good natural light, which to me is key. I'm so glad you're thinking you'll keep it as is for a while. Down the road you can work your magic on it, and it will be stunning, I'm sure!

OK, add me to the sad-you-are-leaving-that-kitchen crew...

How'd the Rainforest Green do, anyhow, from the "in between marble and granite" standpoint?

And: Yes, you can make your own pullouts for cabinets. At least, I did. I bought slides from Rockler, made the trays myself--melamine with 1x2 maple around the edges for better screw-gripping. Think I did this...oh, 10 years ago? They're doing fine. Heck, if I ever get to tear out the kitchen, I'll grab the slides & repurpose them eventually.

But I do agree with the others: That isn't a bad kitchen at all, for me, what I'd want to add would be color, and that's the simplest thing of all--not necessarily even paint, pictures on those long blank walls or whatever. Then reno it to perfection, once you know what perfection would be for you!

Very pretty! Love that lanai and the gardens are beautiful :)

Are those roses around the birdbath? Sounds like you moving to a different garden zone than you lived in, before. There are so many wonderful members over on the Antique Rose forum, if you have any questions.

You're going to have so much fun with (and in) this house! Enjoy the holidays and start collecting photos and ideas for your new spaces. Don't rush the fun part! LOL

Here's one photo, to get you started...

The new garden is lovely. I would love to have that much privacy (currently neighbors can look into our 2nd story windows). I'm sure you will be able to transform it into a lovely space.

Lavender- I love the blue and creamy color. Thank you. I will save the photo.

Fouramblues has it. The new kitchen is not perfect like you're old but there is nothing fundamentally wrong with it...it is a bit on the boring side. But hey it's empty of course so it's boring because you're not there yet.

I'm glad you like it! I thought the darker blue was a good balance to the slider. Similar/dark tone, but not exactly the same. And IMHO, blue is ALWAYS a good idea :)

First I thought that when we had the money to redo the kitchen I would do maple and rainforest because we love it. Now I know it's a new space and it will get a look that is special to the house.

Congratulations on your new home. Florida will certainly be a big change from upstate NY, but I know you are up to the task.

I agree with the others who have said to wait with the kitchen. A renovation is very stressful and that is the last thing you need right now.

Take your time, start researching kitchen showrooms, inspiration pictures, contractors. As you begin to meet people, you can get referrals.

Even though this home is not in the woods, it still looks like you have plenty of privacy all around you.

Meganmca- Rainforest held up perfectly. I have one tiny nick near the sink. I can feel it but I can't see it.

thanks!

The rainforest kitchen has always been one of my favs. No doubt, your new kitchen, when done, will be nothing short of spectacular. Best wishes for a smooth transition

Phooey. I've been avoiding this thread because I didn't want to have to face losing your beautiful kitchen. (Sniff.) Forget the wait for a year, I say: Do not go gentle into that good night... Rage, Rage! Post your layout and let's transform this space into the best possible ever for you!

RIP - It was/is a beauty -

Oh oldbat2be. I will miss it so much, but I won't miss the cold and the driveway plowing and the car on the dirt road. We need a less expensive lifestyle. I never thought I could leave NY. I am a Bronx girl. It was the hardest decision ever. NYC to St Augustine is 2 1/4 hours and cost $210 non stop.

The new kitchen is in FL and we can't leave until this house is sold. Today is the 32 day on the market. We have an offer, but it is not good enough yet. As soon as we get to FL I will be here on GW with measurements, photos questions and working with my GW friends to get it right.

I do like the new house. All my stuff will fit including the big monster 7 foot piano. I am trying hard to see it as an adventure.

Laura

sixtyohno, I'm a NY girl through and through and must say I don't miss the winters one bit. (We do the snow bird route but only because I still need NY health insurance. I wouldn't trust FL health insurance.)

We just closed on the FL house. We camped out in the house on blow up beds for 4 days. Now we are back in NY awaiting news of a closing on this house. Contracts are signed. Whew.

I like the space in the FL kitchen. We bought a fridge, the same one as we have here in NY. Then we will get an induction stove and a new dishwasher and then stop and see how it goes. We might spray the cabinets a color, install pull outs and new knobs and get new counters. We can't do a whole new kitchen. The pantry is big so I am going to keep my dishes and pots and pans in one side of the pantry and food in the other. That will be easy access. No bending. No stretching. I would also like a new sink. This is a double and I prefer a large single.

Thanks for all the encouragement. Incidentally. The realtor said that the rainforest green sold the house.

So happy for you! Of course the kitchen sold your house :)

re - the sink. My advice is change the sink now if you can. We lived in this house a year before starting the kitchen rehab. The worse part was the sink. We could function with half the cooktop burners, dog chewed cabinets, poor flow, and ugg granite. But the sink -- I wish we had pulled that sink and faucet and put in something we could use later while we let the kitchen tell us what it wanted to be when it grew up.

Include me in the "stages of grief" therapy group as I will also miss photos of your lovely Rainforest granite kitchen. It was one of my all time favs, too. However, I have faith that the new kitchen will someday be just as lovely.

Sixtyohno, did you read the post about 8 above entitled, Cabinet Paint Rave, about the amazing result with General Finishes Milk Paint & a microfiber roller? Who knows, that may come in handy in the future for your kitchen.

I'm wondering if you could rig something up on the cheap for a temporary island to fill in that huge space in the middle? Agree with the others, though. Live with it for a year before making major changes. That's what I did, and it really helped.

Looking forward to hearing about your move!