seems only one photo uploaded... trying for more.

What a beautiful kitchen! I suggest that rather than painting anything, you explore improving the lighting in the room. It appears to me that your ceilings are quite low and that this would mean recessed lighting. I would first consult with a lighting expert, someone with experience lighting historic properties.

I think you are both right.... the more I ponder the more I convince myself that less is more! Most of the pots and pans will go.. maybe ill polish up a couple of the copper pieces I have. Anyway, that wall of windows will sell the place as long as the garden is in bloom!

I agree not to spend money on surfaces that the new buyer may not like. I do see some damage to the finish on some of your cabinets. If this is limited to a few cabinets, consider having a refinisher come in and see if the damaged areas can be made to look better. You want your home as clean and uncluttered as possible when you put it on the market. It looks like a lovely home.

Some buyers will love this kitchen, and some will plan to gut it and start from scratch. Putting new counters on old cabinets will please neither group. Price the house to reflect that it's not Brand Spankin' New and save your energies for a million other tasks!

Got it! No new counter tops! I will have to refinish the butcher block though. There is very little damage to the cabinets... nothing I can't fix with some furniture wax.

Stunning kitchen. Would you be willing to take down the pots for a few minutes, turn on those recessed lights, and upload a new photo?

You have high quality inset cabinetry. Painting it would require a pro who would sand and sand to keep the clearances necessary for graceful opening and closing. That'd cost several thousand dollars and would not necessarily make the person who wants to buy an 1825 house happy. So I agree with not painting the cabinets.

Here are some suggestions:

- improve lighting. Replace the lantern style fixture over the table with a semi-flush light. Although the lantern style is appropriate, the shade blocks the light. Change light bulbs to brightest that are safe in the recessed fixtures.

- remove the pots from the pot rack.

-remove every single decorative item on the walls, shelves and everywhere. Put only one or two large items back after painting. The blackboard would be good.

-remove the knife racks; they make it look like there's not enough storage.

-clear off the counters. Put three items back: toaster, coffeepot, vase of flowers or the big ceramic chicken, you choose.

- replace the windowsill plants with fresh, lush new ones.

-if you want to make a vignette for open house, take one of your best tea towels, your wood rolling pin, and a coffeetable-style colorful cookbook and place them on the marble side of the island countertop.

-I don't know if you can still get stove polish... the stove should be polished up (maybe Pledge?) after being cleaned off. No decorative doodads on it, just show it off with your nice bright light. Tell your agent about its history- she'll be asked.

- remove the rolling shades while the house is for sale, or keep them fully rolled up so that the green edges don't look faded. When the pro photographer takes photos, take them away.

-If the old telephone works and is staying, leave it there. If not, take it down to avoid arguments when someone wants to buy it!

I had a similar kitchen and here are my suggestions: (1) parge the brick (2) remove all the hanging pots (3) replace all the bulbs with LED's that cast off no color. They are about $30 a piece (4) See of you can add more pot lights.

Before and after photos of saltillo tiles when cleaned: http://www.tilesealing.com/portfolio/saltillo-tile/

And I am not talking about whitewashing the brick which will ruin it, parging involves washing it with mortar to make it look old.

It's very unique and someone will love it or not...just declutter and shine!

I love your kitchen! You've gotten some great advice.....I would only add, for consideration, that an extra wide runner or a couple of area rugs of the right proportions, might soften the tile floor a bit, and give the kitchen another layer of coziness.

To be honest, you will have a smaller pool of buyers for this style of kitchen to begin with so some changes are definitely needed to appeal to more buyers. Less is more when staging to sell so remove as much as possible from the counters, no towels hanging, no oven mitts, etc. Remove the hanging pots, remove the plates from over the doors and the window treatments, they bring the ceiling down more. I assume the beams have to stay but paint them to match the ceiling, they need to disappear because they highlight the low ceiling and bring it down more. There is already enough darkness with the cabinetry and floor so a dark beams are are really closing the space in. Change out the canned eyeball lights to a flush ones. I would change the island top to just one type instead of breaking it into two. Previous posts are right that someone will love your kitchen but the fewer potential buyers you have usually equals a smaller price. Would love to see some pictures with the changes made! Good luck!

Just one more comment about selling! When there is something that is rather obvious that needs to be done to a home but you would rather not tackle it, odds are most buyers won't want to take it on either. Plus when they are willing to do it themselves they usually estimate a higher cost to do it and their offers will reflect this. It's something to consider when deciding what you will do to make your home appeal to as many buyers as possible. As a general rule, the longer the home takes to sell the smaller the offers become.

Do not paint beams! The buyer for this home will want as much original aspects as possible. Decluttering is a must, but don't spend any money on much. This is a unique home and will require a creative, buyer who wants to keep what works historically, and update functions. Forget recessed lighting. You don't have above ceiling space to do it. Clean, clean. Decluttering. Fresh, bright welcoming fragrances when showing such as fresh bread smells. Pots down for showings. Too distracting. One shiny copper pan on cook stove. Done. Good luck.

I agree - do not paint the beams, paint the ceiling! Try Benjamin Moore, In Your Eyes as it will brighten the space.

Please post photos when you finish your changes to sell.

Nothing will brighten your kitchen except lighting the ceiling. A multi-directional pendant or even uplighting concealed in the pot rack will do it. The ceiling is low and without light on it the space will always feel heavy. The kitchen is a gem but make sure you stage it and clear off the counters of things like the microwave. Some people like cozy but everybody wants enough space.

Wow! Thank you everyone! All the nice comments have made me see my kitchen again for what it is. I loved it when we bought the house... I guess you take for granted the things you become accustomed to! I have been in there all day with the lights on and its not so bad... yes pots and pans will definitely go. I have a couple copper ones I will polish up and see how they look. We are not planning on listing until late winter and I'm not ready to stage the kitchen with holidays coming up, but I will absolutely post a photo of the staged kitchen. Thank you all again so much!

Happy Holidays and Best of Luck to you!!

I like the post about cleaning the tiles. The before and afters are impressive! Everyone's given you great advice. Someone will love this kitchen or have new ideas for it. Don't spend unnecessary money. Good luck selling your house!

DO NOT paint the beams. They are beautiful, as is the rest of the kitchen. Not all buyers want white cabinets, and what you have is unique. I have used restore-a-finish by minwax on antique cabinets and it really brightened them and gave them more depth. I agree to remove the pots and increase the lighting. I agree to clean off counters, and put down a light colorful rug. The most important thing I have found is to declutter and clean. The right buyer will come along and fall in love!

I wouldn't do anything except declutter. If they don't buy it because of the kitchen, this isn't the right house for them. Just list it based on the comps.