I'd probably just go for cabinet painting and new hardware, then re-assess a full remodel in 10 years if you are still there and when you can stomach it again and everything has had a little more wear and tear. I like butcher block on the island, but would certainly be easy to replace if you want something lighter. Overall it looks pretty good and functional, just hard to get excited about (except the DW location seems a little questionable!). I like the idea of leaving the hutch as is - it looks good. The two tone wood with wood floors and butcher block is an interesting aesthetic choice.

I second mamagoose. I like the dark hutch area. Move the upper up slightly, add molding, paint the tan wood cabs or replace the doors.

paint all white, change island for something that looks less boxy and add diff color granite that complements existing black. I think must paint hutch white also. Keep expense low until you get acquainted with kitchen. It may be that later on you might want to reconfigure or edit.

For the hutch- tempered glass shelves and puck lights.

How long are you going to live there? And how much money is your actual maximum for what you have available to spend on this?

I can't really tell if those uppers by the fridge are over it... or just next to it. how about a pic from the doorway we see in the pictures posted here?

I think mamag's ideas are good. the arch on the doors wouldn't bother me, but if they bother you is what is important. Will they still bother you once they're painted? I would also want them painted. (that'd be a want, in reality I'd probably just live with 'em). After they're painted I'd decide if to replace hardware - unless you already know you don't like what's there and have something in mind to use instead.

It's good you already have some lower drawers! the OTR would have to go for me - I'm too short. If you're tall enough raising up the upper cabs is a super idea with a shelf below them

If down the road you decide to change the counter top that'd be the time to switch the dw for the cabs to the R of the sink.

I'd check out the cost and pain (work wise) of removing the lower oven and lowering the top one to put the mw there. Don't know how that works since it looks like the control area is for both. Maybe they can clamp off any wiring that goes to the lower oven. I figure that out after having time to use them and see if they work decently.

what's the BS in there now? If you raise the uppers, you'd need to address that anyway.

What is the counter top on the hutch piece?

I'd live with it 6 mo. or so anyway just to see what bothered me the most and deal with those things first.

I would paint the island, move the uppers up and add a shelf underneath as someone else suggested and leave the rest for at least 6 months...see how you feel then.

Can you gel stain the light maple to look like the darker wood? That would hide the arched doors. White would accentuate the arch.

On the upper cabinet I wonder if a talented woodworker could cut out the arch thing, making it square and insert opaque glass in all of them instead. It seems like there would be plenty of frame left to do that with.

Replace the light colored upper doors to get rid of the arch and then paint the light cabinets white. Refacing will cost more but price that out too. Leave the hutch/island the darker color as is (including the arches). Replace butcher block with granite or quartz (maybe a remnant). Replace window coverings. New knobs/pulls. Paint. Might be under $5K depending upon where you live.

so many great ideas here. Sorry I don't have more pics, but we are not in the house yet (and sone got stretchy, I see). I like Mama_goose's idea of raising the cabs and adding a cup rail. I googled it and it can look nice and solve a lot of problems. I'm 5'1", however, and wonder if I'll be hard pressed to use the middle shelf in cabinets if they're raised. I'll have to test it out. I'm interested that a lot of you suggested keeping the hutch darker. I guess we could paint the rest white and then see. I see what you mean about moving the DW, but in fact, the cabinet to the left of the frig is 18" wide--too narrow, and the frig can't be moved further to the right, because it lines up with a sliding glass door. and the sink is aligned with the window, etc….I guess I will see how awkward it is there. Its not that its to the left, its that when its open it will block access to the cupboards, I suppose.

I'm going to start pricing different options. I thought about just replacing the arched doors, but not sure I can find something that matches the other panels, although maybe merrillat can ID the style and give me specs.

We are in an expensive area (north shore/boston) so I feel like I might be in for sticker shock, labor wise. And neither my husband and I or handy, plus with work and little ones, we can barely get our laundry done. Part of my motivation in posting is to see what we can do before we move in--we are in a rental and can extend as necessary to do work. Our other house projects (bathrooms, a closet) we will do when living there, but i would love a functional kitchen upon moving in. and in some ways, having done it before, I'm tempted to just do it the way I really want, but without changing much about the layout to save labor costs.

anyway, keep the ideas coming and I will update my research and decisions!

i forgot to answer a couple questions/comments:

gel staining: i considered this, but we want a lighter feel, not darker. just our aesthetic.

the backsplash is large green marble squares with a decorative braid in marble below. again, not horrible, but not really what I would choose, and not completely innocuous either.

weirdly the counter on the hutch is UNFINISHED wood. and its missing toe kicks. Its like it was put together by the owner and just never finished. I thought about a matching light stone on both the counter of the hutch and island--maybe a white quartz or something marble-ish that might slightly pick up the green in the granite (suggestions?) .

"How long are you going to live there? And how much money is your actual maximum for what you have available to spend on this?"

we have no idea, could be forever home, but could also move in 8-10 years after kids out of school for new jobs, or relocation, etc. We have about 30k for various new home projects but that includes replacing some rotting trim; small amount of grading; removing a closet to build a small mudroom; replacing a fiberglass insert tub in the kids bath with a regular steel tub and tile wall; removing a non functioning jacuzzi and small fiberglass shower stall in the master bath to create a larger, walk in tile shower. I haven't gotten estimates for those either. But the kitchen is truly the center and heart of the first floor--its open to a lovely family room, the deck, the dining room ,etc, so its very visible and we will spend a lot of time in it.

I spent some time perusing the Barker cabinet websites, and could actually order new uppers and doors for lowers for an acceptable price, already painted, and then paint the rest (frames, etc) to match, and keep the hutch as is as a kind of separate piece. But I admit that I am nervous about doing it all like that, without someone helping to design the little things--fillers, crown moulding, boxing in the frig, etc. I wonder if I could find a contractor willing to work with me and with Barker

Here's a kitchen that was DIY'd to update; it started out looking like yours. It doesn't sound like you are looking to do a DIY but it at least has information on each step that was done which would make it easier for you to talk to and find the correct contractor.

http://www.remodelandolacasa.com/2012/01/kitchen-remodeling.html

Are you handy enough to DIY paint? If there's a chance that you'll be remodeling in the next few years, especially if that includes replacing the cabinets, I'd keep the current doors and counters, unless you can find a bargain-priced remnant.

The suggestions to move the DW were based on functional work flow. The DW is currently in the prep area between the sink and range--no one can load or unload while you are prepping. That might not be a problem now while you have little ones, and you're probably the main cook and clean up crew, but later you'll have help. If you're not replacing counters at this time, you have a while to consider a solution--making the window wider, off-setting the sink, adding a prep sink to the island.

I know how overwhelming any project can seem with little ones in tow. Good luck!

I like the dark hutch. Would probably look into General Finishes milk paint in a lighter color (not white) for the lighter cabinets or go for a darker blue paint. Someone recently painted cabinets in milk paint on this forum.

General Finishes Milk Paint

The issue with raising cabinets and putting shelves underneath is
that the OTR microwave will look weird, so either replace that with a
hood or look into beefing up the molding above the cabinets. Or just add

Mama_goose, I love that blue paint! Kiko, thank you for the link.

after all these comments I think I might try to find a finish carpenter to box/put mouldings in the space above the cabinets; paint the cabinets (tbd, probably white, but I love blue); create a more custom look around the frig as suggested, and maybe remove the OTR microwave (putting it on the hutch) and just putting in a regular vent. Scrounge for stone remnants to put a light stone on the island; possibly change the backsplash if there's $ left over. Change hardware and then live with it for a while (or forever, as these things go). I have a feeling that once all that is done, the arch thing wont bother me (or husband) any more, we probably wont even notice. Thank you all!

What jumps out at me, more than the arched doors (which I honestly didn't notice right away, they're not nearly as dated as other arched doors I've seen) is the 4" granite backsplash, topped with an accent tile and then another tile. Yeesh, that's busy! I'd remove all of it and replace it with tile that compliments the granite and also lightens the space. Repeat the tile for the hutch backsplash or opt for a complimentary tile.

Get rid of the valance over the kitchen window. Fussy and dated. If you want a fabric treatment (I love fabric and draperies), opt for something simpler and cleaner. Perhaps a padded valance like this but above the window (mounted near ceiling), not inset within window frame:

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Take the cabs to the ceiling with fascia and crown. As long as you keep the treatment simple, this should not be an expensive fix.

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Box the fridge in, pulling the existing cabs over the fridge forward (no one will know that they aren't full depth when they're closed).

I like your idea of replacing the island and hutch counters with a quartz or stone that compliments the perimeter counter. Could be tricky to find a remnant large enough to do both but you might get lucky, especially if you're patient. You'd need to do this before you add a tile backsplash to the hutch, obviously.

Update the existing hardware and add hardware to the hutch. Something simple and clean-lined.

Swap out OTR MW for an actual hood. Could you fit a counter top MW in one of the hutch's tall cabs?

IMO, removing some of your kitchen's busy, fussy details and replacing them with clean-lined, classic items will downplay the arched doors. These small fixes would certainly be easier on the budget than replacing doors and painting cabs. Save your money towards a more extensive remodel should you choose to stay put in this home for any length of time.

Thanks lisa-a; i agree. The valence is the current owner's choice, as is the rest! That will be going asap. I hadn't thought about the granite backsplash, will that be hard to remove while leaving the counters? I'm going to compare the price of replacing all the counters with just the island and see.

I was thinking a nice pale crackle subway tile or similar for backsplash would be good, along with cleaner lines everywhere. My last kitchen had carrara subway backsplash and I adored it.

and you know what, I just googled pics of "white cabinets with arch" and realized that the arches are not that bad--its just the combo of everything is fussy and dated. I am going to do the box/fascia/moulding to close the space, enclose the frig, paint cabs white, get clean hardware (but it will have to match the size of current hardware, no? otherwise I will have holes, unless I can patch them??); I experimented with what it would be like to have cabs 6" higher and decided it was too high for me. and I think I can fit a microwave on the hutch, doesn't need to be built in. Perhaps we can repurpose the island for a MW drawer, as there's electric in there.

now I'm excited folks!

good - glad you are excited! at 5'1" I do think raising cabs would be too much. it would be for me. Are there Amish in your area? they are good carpenters. If they can't do the minor things you need done, maybe they can recommend someone they know who does good work.

I do think changing out the OTR for regular hood will make a world of difference - along with the window treatment.

As you said, it isn't bad. Lot's of storage, and except for the DW between sink and stove, the layout is OK.

When you say you are too busy to do laundry (I know exactly how that feels!), and there are other projects to do in the house (and you'll no doubt find more once you move in), I would not mess with the kitchen much at the moment. For sure I'd replace the OTR micro with a hood, but after that I'd live with it as is for a year or two. You may find that cosmetic changes are all you need (plenty of good suggestions there); you might find that the existing layout doesn't suit your lifestyle at all, and you want to completely redo. Money spent now would then be wasted.

I hadn't thought about the granite backsplash, will that be hard to remove while leaving the counters?

That would be a question to ask the pros on this site, specifically trebuchet/Joseph Corlett. If the counter wasn't scribed well to the wall and there is a gap larger than would be covered by standard thickness tile, that would be a problem. Not sure if you'll know that before it's removed. As I wrote, best to ask Treb/Joseph and other pros on this site (start a new thread to get their attention). Another option would be to leave the 4" granite backsplash and just replace the rest of the backsplash. Your choice sounds lovely.

Glad my suggestions were helpful!

I would want to lighten the counters, change the back splash and paint the dark cabinetry. Perhaps gel stain the lighter cabinetry. Hard to say from photos. It's a very nice kitchen which I would not rip out.

I would add box and crown, change the OTR micro to a hood. Paint the stained cabs a white or creamy white. I would likely leave the dark hutch and finish it with a nice baseboard instead of toe kick. I would also try to beef up the island with molding to make it look more substancial. you might need to restain it or paint it to make it look cohesive with the hutch. I might go for a dark paint color. My kitchen is white with a dark brown/green/gray island. I have a hutch that is a deep stained brown and I love it all together.

You could change the bs and add a different counter to the island. I might also look into different pendants. Something more interesting than what is there now.

I am not a fan of arched cabs but if you found a photo and you actually like them, that would save you some $$ and labor costs.

Keep us posted!

I spent some time perusing the Barker cabinet websites, and could actually order new uppers and doors for lowers for an acceptable price, already painted, and then paint the rest (frames, etc) to match, and keep the hutch as is as a kind of separate piece. But I admit that I am nervous about doing it all like that, without someone helping to design the little things--fillers, crown moulding, boxing in the frig, etc. I wonder if I could find a contractor willing to work with me and with Barker.

That's what I would do. Someone here used Scherr's and got a lot of hand-holding.

Even if you got all new cabinets, your upper layout wouldn't change much unless you removed the double oven, widened the window, or moved the fridge. Since you can't do any of those things, I'd replace the uppers now and fix their issues instead of throwing good money after bad with new doors. Bring the cabs to the ceiling. Use a chimney hood or a panel over a vent hood so you're not spending $400-500 on a useless over-hood cabinet. Replace the diagonal cabinet with a straight cabinet. I guarantee you that you will sometimes prep between sink and stove despite the DW, but at least eliminate the in-your-face cabinet. Add side panels to the fridge. I'd do what Lisa suggested and use a standard 12" cabinet but leave it open for cookbook and decorative display, just to lighten the look there by the window.

I would use the three drawers in the island for dish storage to make unloading the DW and plating food on the island easier. I would also want to make the island look less like a plain box plunked down in the middle. Is there any way you can build out the back and dining room side of the island with shelves or shallow cabinets and put a furniture base molding on three sides? Or at lease add Shaker panels to the back and sides? That means new countertop and I'd use a light colored granite or quartz for everything.

I vote for adding molding, of a very simple design, to the tops. I don't mind the light cabinets, think they would be fine with a stronger color on the walls (pick up the color from the backsplash, unless you really don't like the green) and a little color on the ceiling even if you paint the cabinets white ('Transparent' from Valspar is what I used, very neutral in reality), better window treatment, and I like the hutch as is (but it does need a better counter). You could add some simple trim to the island to coordinate with the new molding, and paint it in a pleasant color (there are several blues that would look good with the existing counter and splash, I think)

I really think the pendants need to be switched out to something with more presence and more attractive. The current ones actually detract from the space, to my eye. They were the first thing I noticed.

So much wonderful experience here. This is where I am now.

1) create box/moulding to connect cabinets to ceiling

2) paint cabinets white (a soft, neutral white) and update hardware

3) open up 12" cab next to stove for cookbooks, etc. or possibly put in glass insert

4) remove OTR microwave and cabinets, install simple hood. put microwave on hutch for now.

5) remove fussy backsplash and if possible 4" granite overhang. put in simple, lighter backsplash (crackle subway tile in pale blue/green or plain white, etc, depending on how it goes with granite)

6) put in light granite or quartz on island and hutch counters

7) add moulding or beadboard or something to make island a little less blocky (will beadboard clash with the cab? maybe something else).

8) box in the frig, pull the OTF cabs forward, panel on the side

9) replace pendants with something bigger (glass globes? )

10) HERE"S THE NEW INSPIRATION: Paint the hutch a dark blue with slight green undertones! Like BM's Hale Navy, similar to below

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11) question: if I paint the hutch blue, and the cabinets white, and the top of the island is a light/white granite marble or quartz, should I paint the island blue as well, or keep it white?

When I was reading through your list and then you mentioned painting the island blue I automatically saw your island being blue as well. I wouldn't do beadboard but I would consider the same type of moulding as your blue island inspiration photo for the back and sides. Instead of 3 panels as the photo perhaps just frame out 2 for the back. Tie the island into the hutch rather than into the cabinets.