More info, please. What is your budget? How long do you plan to stay in the house? Is the layout working well for you? What is the style of the house?

Very transitional in style, we've done simple white walls, brushed nickel hardware and refinished the existing wood floors throughout the rest of the home. We will only be here for 3 more years and then plan on selling the house. I would really like to stay under $5000 for the renovation, the current layout isn't my favorite but it's workable. I do plan on moving the microwave off the countertop, just not sure where yet.

Yes they are lovely cabinets! I can't tell if that is a foyer on the other side of the fridge, but you might consider closing that doorway with a pantry in that spot. That way you would not miss the storage lost when you remove the cabinets over the cooktop to open up the space.

That is the foyer! You cannot see it but there is a pantry tucked behind the fridge, the problem is the fridge is much deeper than the cabinets and cuts into the walkway.

Haha! I completely agree about the squiggly trim! I like the aesthetics of ikea cabinets, but I guess one of the things I worry about is potential buyers thinking the ikea cabinets are "cheap." Granted this isn't a mansion, it's a modest 3 bed 2 bath home. Do you think this would be an issue? Or am I just overthinking it?

If you search this site for discussions around IKEA kitchens.... you will be up all night! Lots of different opinions... we have them and lots of folks I know also do. We are happy with ours.

Awesome, thank you!

Am I the only person in the world who finds "little squiggly" scallops adorable?

No, lindsey, you're not alone. I appreciate the charm too. The only reason I'd consider a complete reno is to open the kitchen to the adjoining room. Since there's really no point to the current opening behind the stove, you could just close it off, replace the counter with stone, and add a new backsplash.

BTW - If you close off the stove side of the kitchen, you can install the microwave above the stovetop. Make sure you get a counter depth fridge when you replace the current one. Yes they are smaller but visually it will be much more appealing to buyers.

Three years is a short time. I would just paint them. Remove the wavy molding if you can.

why are you so attached to this kitchen. IMO. the layout is not good the cabinets have more than seen their day and I agree an Ikea kitchen could be the answer if you are willing to DIY and when getting appliances get a counter depth fridge.

Replacing your current cabinets with Ikea ones can only improve your potential profit when selling, unless the the install job is mucked up. I don't see the point of preservation, unless we are talking about original finishes that are super cool and retro, with a decent floor plan.

I'd go MCM look and refurbish the wood as is (remove the curly cues). Spend the cash on recessed lighting in the ceiling and have a carpenter/cabinet maker modify a lower cabinet to install under the counter or above the oven. You may need him/her to fill a possible gap where the curley cues are above Clean up the wood and hardware as is. A new kitchen table and chandelier, fresh paint and counter depth fridge. For your counter, a white quartz and be sure to get an undermount sink and awesome faucet. The faucet (jewelry) alone can make the kitchen a wow.

I love your cupboards! I'll bet they are well-made, too. You might want to check out RetroRenovation for wisdom on renovating your kitchen.

Btw, I'd not replace the hood with an over-the-range microwave if you are at all height-challenged. Do you really want to remove hot dishes from the microwave from over your head?

Keep the galley if you like it... here's a photo showing crazy casual blue and seemingly your chairs with metallic spray.

Or just the chairs a cream:

I like the squiggly too! It's a detail not overdone or underdone - is it a plate rail? Put plates up there if that's your look. I bought cheap turquoise Ikea plates, and they're ok.

I'm 5'4" and love having the microwave over the stove. Daughter-in-love is only 4'11" and she can use our microwave just fine. Are saves space.

Oh, and I vote for new IKEA kitchen. Your's reminds me of mine, and I HATE mine!

Your kitchen is such a charming place, but the cabinets are outdated. There are many modern and non-expensive options today and you wouldn't have to go through a lot of trouble if you replace them instead of painting them. If you wish to increase the value of your home, consider also upgrading your kitchen with a granite or quartz countertop.

Will your $5000 budget include the new stainless appliances: wall oven, exhaust hood, cooktop, microwave and fridge?

Are laminate countertops typical for your neighborhood?

Putting the microwave over the new wall oven would require altering only one cabinet and possibly adding one electrical circuit.

That's a tight budget. I'd start by taking down the wallpaper, painting the cabinets white, and removing or cutting back the scalloped trim. Then new cabinet hardware, a higher faucet, and catch your breath. You might find you don't need a new fridge once it's surrounded by white cabinets, and then you can see where you want to put more money into the space -- it might be better spent on improving the lighting, say, than on getting new cabinets, or on getting a really good fridge instead of stone counters (there are great stone-look laminates now with no edge seams that really look and wear great). Then let the next people tear the whole place apart.

Can you cut into the pantry to recess the frig? I think getting rid of the scalloped trim, wallpaper and new paint will do a lot! What about relocating the microwave over the oven?

I stand by my comment about No Microwave Over the Stove. I sure would not want that anyway. I'm at the age where I have to consider aging in place and I want to eliminate possible safety hazards and yes, I consider that a safety hazard for me at 4'11". YMMV.

If you do decide to replace your cupboards, please don't take a sledgehammer to them. Donate them to ReStore so someone else can get some use of of them.

Good cabinets are worth refinishing. Remove the wallpaper and the scalloped valances. Change all the pulls and knobs. If it's in your budget, change the counters. The floor looks good in the photo. Add some color: wall paint or cabinets, seat cushions on chairs, accessories, curtains, and some art or a mural "window with a view" wallpaper. I like having a rug or mat on the floor where I have my prep area or sink.

Here's an option if you don't want or can't mount the microwave over the cooktop:

For a very tight budget and yet get this kitchen closer to your dream.

Start with removing the uppers over the stove top.

Replace with your new stainless steel with just a over head vent or completely open look with a down vent. New hardware on all cabinets and maybe paint. White would give it some light and open feel. go ahead with getting your new stainless steel appliances, yes, get microwave installed as suggested by others...and if money still tight consider painting your counter top black. This could give you some time to save and allow you some time to consider your direction.

If you have a few dollars I would get a stainless steel undermount sink and new sink...agree with earlier post, it is the jewelry.

We have done all of these for a quick update and we loved so much we never went back and did the dream version.

I appreciate all the great advice and ideas! What if we took down all the uppers, painted the lowers and added open shelving on the sink side?

Great idea. Open shelving is so hot right now.

We just used this in a recent renovation and it gave a really small kitchen that open light modern look our client was wanting.

If no microwave over stove - another shelf?

My first thought was to remove the uppers above the stove but I think it will open up a can of worms and add $$$. There is a wall below the right cabinets by the oven and it will look odd having a wall jetty there. $5k isn't enough to do all you'd like. So it would be best to stick with just cosmetic and no demolition. Lighting, refreshing the wood cabinets, appliances, counter, backsplash, sink, faucet, etc and you're already over $5k. I do agree the laminate counter choices today are pretty darn good looking.