Awe thanks so much!! Great ideas on how to do the kitchen too! :-).

So you think I should do kitchen first then do the floors the following year or vice versa? I wish I was able to afford both renos at once - both need it so much.

Yes I think that is your best plan...than you will have no issues deciding what to do in your formal Dinning room. I would hate to have you do dinning room first and feel you have to do your kitchen ( the most expensive part of your home ) to match what you just did in your dinning.

Whoa....

You probably need to make a priority list. List all the things you want to do, then prioritize them. List each room and what you would like to do in that room.

It can be very easy to get totally overwhelmed.

Probably would also help to make a story board for each room. That way, when you go look for colors, tiles, countertops, paint, flooring, etc; you will have an idea of what you want. It is very easy to make uncoordinated choices when relying on memory.

Again, I like Google Images. It can help you see what you do and do not like.

We just finished our kitchen. There are lots of details if you are the "designer" doing it yourself.

Having trouble downloading photos.....forget how!!!

One thing at a time is the key...once you select your first item all should coordinate for there! First should be backsplash and floor stain.
Good Luck
Here if you need me!

Zzmom40 - what are your kitchen countertops and backsplash?
Thanks again!!

Granite is Kashmir...every slab looks different so very important to take your backsplash with you. I have inexpensive gray tile laid in an herringbone pattern..OMGod I just love it! Used off white grout. Shoji white BM cabinets and Island is Dorian gray BM.....My walls are all Worldly gray BM.

That is one stunning kitchen!

Three baby peaches...you are such a sweetheart! I have to say I am really enjoying my new kitchen we just moved in...this past August from Michigan all the way to Texas...yeehaw
I would love to help you with your kitchen transformation...I am on here all the time...working on picking up my design service in my new town but until then..I am really enjoying helping on this Houzz blog.

New kitchen island and microwave stand
Drink station and refrigeratorStove area
Bar area and computer station

Pet station

Seems like the conversation is veering away from the OP's question. Kathi, it looks like a "before and after" might be a great place for your kitchen pictures.

Actually, Three Baby Peaches brought up that she wants to redo kitchen also and maybe she should start there. Just giving ideas. Sorry.

Kathi - what a great kitchen! Was your island always trimmed like that (the molding) or was that a part of the reno)? My island is flat on the side with this gross faux wood and I'd love to embellish mine like yours with all that pretty molding when I do my reno. Just beautiful and thanks for sharing!

You can have a finished carpenter add molding to the sides of your island and have your painter caulk before painting them...it really makes a Hugh difference. You can also order door fronts that match your cabinets and add them to the ends of island and ends of counter cabinets too! Looks to me like Kathi added door fronts.

Great to know! Thanks again! :-)

I'd love to know what you think about the gap in between my cabinets. I'm not sure why they were installed like that but they don't appear to be adjustable.

It seems that the installer did not order wide enough doors. Are they all that way?

Unfortunately YES! :-( I never noticed it until I've been looking at all the beautiful kitchens on Houzz.

Very interesting I have seen it before but not on every cabinet...it really is no big deal just different....nothing to really worry about....if you choose to reface instead of paint they could replace with a larger door and get rid of the gap.

I did not mean to hijack your thread!! Thank you very much for the compliments. I have waited for about 30 years to be able to get the kitchen I want. I agree that the kitchen is the heart of my home.

Yes, had cabinet maker add posts on the corners so I could inset the plugs on each end of the island. Also added door fronts and toe space to back of island and door fronts to each end to give it a more "finished" look. Our old cabinets had flat side and back with gross fake wood!!

Our old cabinet doors were like yours. Did not meet and post down the middle. Cheap way to keep doors small. Hard to get things in and out of the cabinet because the openings were small. You can get larger doors to hide the gap.

Used LeGrande Adorne to move the plugs up under the cabinets and added under cabinet lighting.

Added back plates to the drawer handles to minimize damage from hands opening the cabinet doors/drawers.

Countertops are Cambria Quartz. I am a very messy cook, and I did not want to have to worry about tomato stains etc on my counter tops.

Sometimes, I personally think a kitchen designer consultation can be the best $200 you ever spent. They can help you coordinate your projects so they flow. They can help you think of things you did not even know you had to think of. They can be a lifesaver and a project saver!!!

I subscribe to a blog by Maria Killam. Colour expert out of Canada. She has interesting ideas.

I think you need to make a list of priorities, to help you get organized...I'm a list person, can you tell? When I felt like my voice was not being heard at beginning of the project, I made of list of "must haves", "would like to have" and "if the budget allows". Really helped me with the picture in my head of how I wanted my project to end up and helped me find my voice so that I could communicate the picture in my head to our construction person and the cabinet person.

Sorry this is so long. I am excited for you!!!

zzmom40, love your kitchen. Don't you just love cooking in it??

Kathi - I'm so excited for you that you got your dream kitchen after all these years. I'm sure it makes cooking and just being in your kitchen that much better!

zzmom40 - wish you much success with your design biz in TX! Hope you don't miss the snow in MI too much - lol. I'm in Atlanta, originally from Chicago area, and can definitively say I don't miss the snow.

Now the next step is to convince hubby to do the kitchen next. He wanted to do hardwoods instead this year. Honestly I'd be happy with either choice but now really think the kitchen should be the next in line.

Oh Three baby peaches I sure hope your hubby will let you move forward!.....I love to cook and bake so my kitchen is everything to me so I like my environment to inspire me. I hope I am able to see you through your project in 2016....I am hopeful for you!

Yes Kathi I am loving my new kitchen...it is the largest one I have ever had...the island is over 17 feet long...Christmas cookie exchange was a breeze!!!

Talk to you soon Three baby peaches

Finally getting around to painting. Do you think the lighter or darker color of the 2 colors samples will work better?

My kitchen color

View into kitchen

Three, not sure how much paintin you do, but be sure to prime over that red paint before painting. Paints that claim to be "paint and primer in one" don't really cut it. Use Zinser or Kilz Primer.

Darker, personally. Better contrast with the trim. Be sure and prime. I like zinser better than kilz.

Done! Better huh?
What color curtains do you think?

More...

Wow! What a difference the paint makes! Instantly updated the room. Like the three pictures in black frames on the wall too. I would stay somewhat neutral in the curtains too and bring in seasonal color with accessories.

I was thinking a deeper neutral too but was thinking about a colored decorative tape on the edge. Not sure

It's looking great! Scott Kravet of Kravet fabrics told me recently that decorative tape is definitely a hot item and has taken over from tassels and brush edge fringe. If you select a tape with perhaps 3 different colors in it you won't be locked into one color as you were with your red paint.

Looks so fresh. Please get a small white extension cord for your China cabinet...the brown cord is killing the beautiful room.

Thank you! I wish I could add wood in there now but I still need to wait. I know the carpet is destroying the look but I'm just trying to work with what I can now. Good idea on the white cord too.

curtain question...

The window wall is 13 feet long. Each window is 31" wide. I know I need 4 panels (one on each side of the window). How wide do you think each panel should be since there is only 38" in between each window?

Looks great with new color, i would replace the centerpiece, light fixture and remove the photos with the red in them.

Do you think new pictures in lieu of the red ones or something different all together? I'm not sure what to put there lol.

I like the arrangement you have going on the wall with the china cabinet- a longer piece on one side, and two smaller pictures on the other side. But agree that the red pictures should be switched out with something else. Are you planning on replacing the chandelier? If so the items you put on that wall can pull in the finish of the chandelier perhaps? Or could be something in black to tie in with the black frames?Love the idea of darker neutral panels with decorative tape edging.

What color would you like? I like the red pictures, but I like a a bit of color in the room. Neutral drapes would be okay, but again I like color. You could pick up some colors in your entry rug??

Forgot....I love the new color!! Good job!

I've been following your post. this looks so nice! I like the red pics to give a little color. really amazing what a little paint can do. great room!

Thanks all for the kind words! Room actually feels larger! I'm still toying about with the window treatments. Now sure still
If I want to do a neutral with decorative tape or one of these patterns. Kind of like the darker print. Hmmmm. Thoughts?

One more...

Darker print - me too. Love your room so far ...

what a nice before and after! it looks SO much better now! that red was too much! :)

Gorgeous house, beautiful dining room. I think the dining set totally works with your home. It is usually easy to remove the upholstered seats on dining chairs to replace the fabric for a fresh new look. A screwdriver and a heavy duty stapler would probably be the only tools needed.

Nice choice to switch the host & hostess chairs. I like the darker print sample for the Windows.

I personally like the one on the right.

Thoughts....the darker one will make the drapes stand out. It will make them noticeable. The lighter one will help them blend into the background and not be an item upon which your eyes will stop. IMHO!!

Re do the seat cushions and chandelier

Get something new and fresh on the walls. I like the wall color it's fun!