Take down the vent down and spray paint it black with high temperature black paint. Try adding black cabinet pulls and knobs. I see your pulls are at an angle and so you might want to change out the doors. Heres a great website that might help with that: http://nakedkitchencabinetd.reachlocal.com/?scid=367099&kw=3419733
You can add LED under cabinet lighting and a terrific modern lighting fixture/fan. I can't see your floor but you can install a porcelain floor that mimics a true wood floor and it'll be really spot on stylish. Take down that curly edge above the sink, that costs nothing and it must be done. Is there a light. If no,t install a gorgeous semi flush mount fixture. Am I at $2,000 yet? I don't think so. Replace your countertop put in an undermount stainless steel one bowl sink with a new faucet with sprayer. I bet you can do granite countertop and subway tile backsplash. Good look!

I would paint the cabinets and replace the hardware as othere have suggested. In addition, I would remove the doors on all the very upper cabinets and display nice platters or glass items. Maybe even paint the inside of the cabintes an accent color. I too would remove the cabinet above the sink and add a really nice ceiling mounted light to add a focal point. Remove the metal strip from the countertop which screams 1950 as well as the backsplash piece. There are products at the big box stores where you can "paint" on the product to make the countertop look more updated. If you have the funds, an inexpensive white subway tile as a backsplash would look nice and not cost too much. Add an accent of one or two rows of a galss tile to add color and pizzaz. That will keep the cost down.

Wow! That's a lot of cabinets! Think about your black appliances, the dark color makes it hard to work with some colors and the black makes the room smaller. I would def. start the transition to stainless steel if you ave to do it slowly. We don't know your particular decorating tastes, or the theme you are are looking for. For the cabinetry you have, I would remove some cabinet doors completely to give an airier effect and also use those cabinets to showcase fine china and crystal. (Possibly the highest cabinets altogether)
It looks like you can start building your color scheme from the chrome counter top trim and the soon to be had dishwasher. You might consider a tiled back splash for POP. I would never paint a natural wood cabinet, but these are in need of a pick me up. Most urgent is to upgrade the hardware. Here are some painted cabinets and hardware. (Ikea has really nice looking hardware for cheap).

Wow thanks for all the suggestions guys! I am very strongly considering painting the cabinets (white) although I know some people hate painting nice wood. That hardware is so awful so once we do the wood filler on the diagonal holes I think painting will be necessary. We're also considering replacing the counter with ikea butcher block although that might be out of our current price range. If we don't replace the counter completely, how do we remove the metal strip?

And, we are definitely planning on mounting a microwave -- there's too little counter space if we don't!

I love white airy open kitchens and I want to turn this into one as much as possible!

Oh also I'm curious as to people's thoughts on the little cabinets at the top. Are they making the room look smaller? I don't think we can remove just the top row so we're probably stuck with them....

I would paint everything white, the way you want to. Before you replace the doors, just leave the doors off the upper cabinets and see how you like it. You can always put them on if you don't like how it looks. If you have something to display in the upper spaces, then leaving the doors off makes sense. If you need to use them for storage, then I'd keep the doors on. Even if you decide to leave the doors off, I would paint them and keep them in storage because...you never know.

If you're going to replace the counter, see if a larger sink is in your budget.

Also, I just noticed there isn't any ceiling light in the kitchen.

Paint the cabinets, new hardware, get rid of the valance over the window and stick with the black appliances for now. I think white paint might be to severe with the black appliances so consider another light paint like pictured above. Live in your space for awhile before making expensive changes. Don't replace the counter top at this time if you plan on changing the cabinets further down the line.

Glad you like some of our ideas! Here's a potential look for that counter top. By the way, laminate is the new inexpensive counter top, tons of choices and colors! Good Luck and keep us updated!

Agree....
Sand, paint cabinets white / contrast walls with darker grey, or...
Dark grey cabinets with white walls.
Contemporary pulls or knobs.
Stainless hood and dishwasher. Replace stove grates with aluminum/stainless color to make look more contemporary.

Another option for counter top color.

Oh yes,
Remove ceiling fan and replace with rectangular light going towards stove.

Colorful pots / pans and a dimmer switch go a long way :)

Ikea is having 20% off kitchens right now but you may have to spend $4k

This is intended for an overall visual.......... there are countertop paints, and obviously you can paint your cabinets whatever color you like. Just make sure you properly prime them first. Add accents you love, update faucet, and, lighting. If you intend to go all stainless over time, fine, if you don't, it would not look bad with the existing either.

I swear I have those exact same cabinets, without the artsy diagonal handles (mine have flaking fake copper knobs), and my upper cabinets have sliding doors. I actually like them--they are solid and well made, and with simple refinishing will look beautiful. What I'm planning for my kitchen is a new sink, new countertops, and a tile backsplash, and you could do the same for a quick, inexpensive facelift.

@ponitayl Do you happen to know what this color is? Or where this picture is from?

http://st.houzz.com/simgs/5be284c00171b836_7-7225/home-design.jpg

@Sheyna, It's sage green and I usually keep photos in a file that I download, but I cleaned my computer yesterday. If you google sage green kitchens, you will come across tons of pics.

$2000 dollars depends on what you can do yourself. If you were doing it all yourself:
Don't try to go too modern with additions or it will look like an old kitchen with out of place elements.
remove cabinets above window.
Paint cabinets cream or consider a colour.
Change door hardware.
put a panel between dishwasher and fridge.
bring out cabinet above fridge flush with front of fridge.
It's hard to tell with this picture if you have the space, but build a half wall with shelving to the left of the stove maybe a nice wood ledge on top
I like two rows of cabinets. but to open it up could you cut open the upper doors and put some glass in there? or as others have suggested leave off doors.
An old cast iron sink.
I think you could squeeze some wood countertops into that budget.

I think that could all be done for under 2k, then save up for appliances and back splash

$2000

Paint and hardware. $250
Consider painting lower cabinets different than creamy off-white uppers - in neutral green is my best advice - and taking off doors of small uppers on window wall - paint back wall there in same tone. Test sw koi pond. This will make black appliances and white hood look deliberate and harmonious. These neutral greens work with all accent colors except bright orange. If you love that, go gray or taupe for lowers. Your result will be more personal and charming and high end than all white. Paint walls same as adjacent living space - possibly open doorway or wall to adjacent space to 5' or greater.

Save $ by getting black dishwasher - wait to redo until you do whole thing. $600 Vinyl wood plank floor - home depot carries these for $1 / sf you can install yourself. $75 Match tone to the / Get the butcherblock top. $675
Ceramic tile backsplash - biscuit like upper cabinets - clean in cottage penny rounds or mod/retro subway - a classic profile clean and simple. $100 DIY - read bowerpower.com blog for how to
New undercabinet lights and trim to hide, wired to new switch off receptacle. 2 New semi-flush light fixture in same metal as new hardware - pay a pro to come and wire an extra overhead. Electrician $150 Fixtures $150
Start following / researching younghouselove.com - great concept and diy tips there.

I'm not a designer but the first thing I wold do is replace the handles on the cabinets and put up a nice backsplash.

@parke342. You got some really terrific ideas. I got excited reading about them. Did you?

Writing again--I'm the person with the same cabinets. I met yesterday with a guy who's going to spruce up my kitchen, and he suggested removing the upper cabinet doors, as have others here. Mine are sliders, and have metal tracks that are very visible and ugly, so it would be nice to have those gone. I don't have anything stored up there, so the space can be used for display. You could do the same.

Inspirational photos of similar cabinet styles can be found with search "double stack upper cabinets" or http://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen/double-stack-upper-cabinets-

I think the microwave in stainless with built-in fan over range is a must. I'd take down every single upper cabinet. Maybe you can repurpose them in the garage or something? I did this in my current kitchen and replaced with 3 rows of bright white open shelving. I used small iron scroll brackets and trimmed out 1 x 6 boards with molding from Lowe's to make shelves. Brackets and wood were all painted a high gloss white. Maybe you could do something a little more hip/industrial for a portion of the shelving? Galvanized or stainless shelves maybe? You can find these in restaurant supply or salvage stores. For your kitchen, I'd also take doors off under sink and add a sink skirt. This could be your POP of color or you could use burlap for something neutral with the butcher block counter. Save that pediment over the sink, cut it to fit into top of doorless cabinet below sink and attach the fabric to the backside. Any piece of wood or metal will working you don't like the curvy one you have. If you don't sew, use iron on hem stuff for the skirt bottom and Velcro gathered top of fabric to back of pediment so you can remove it for washing. I actually used thumbtacks the last time i did this and it works surprisingly well. It will look much cleaner and professional if mounted from behind. I'd use my budget on the butcher block counter, microwave, new sink sprayer and the open shelving. Sanding, patching holes, priming, painting and new hardware may take more time and money on those upper cabinets than all new upper shelves. The good thing is you can reuse the shelves and brackets elsewhere if your budget allows new cabinets in the kitchen down the road. Depending on how much budget you have left. add a fun roman shade, maybe a pot rack with light to replace ceiling fan, subway tiles for backsplash or have a mirror cut to fit and glue it to the wall (surprisingly affordable). I like the divider idea between fridge and dishwasher. This might be a neat place to do a restaurant styled chalkboard wall.

Hi everyone!

OP here. I'm starting my hoepfully-mostly-DIY kitchen renovation slowly - I want to remove the set of cabinets above our sink, so I can install a Roman shade mounted above the window (to make it appear taller) and then a pendant light hanging down from the ceiling above the sink. I assume I can remove just that set of cabinets since you can see a crease betwen it and the cabinets on either side. But -- how will I now the wall behind it won't be totally jacked up?? Will we have to hang drywall on the newly exposed wall? Does anyone have experience with this?

I think that the cabinets will most likely be attached to the cabinets next to them in the row with screws. This will be one of your first problems to overcome. Of course they are attached to the wall and that will be cause for patching the drywall where the screws were installed. Another thing you might find is a ledger board which runs behind all of the wall cabinets and on which the cabinets "rest" as well as also being affixed to the wall. But that is not always done. So I'd first thing get up there and see if they're attached with the neighboring cabinet. If yes, then back that screw out and go on with the project. I think a "real" cabinet installer will be much more helpful than I and no doubt will be checking in soon. Good luck!

We recently remodeled our entire kitchen area and demolished all the old cabinetry, but here's what to expect...
Remove molding or decorative accents (Removing the doors will allow you better access) that are attached to the cabinet. Locate the nailing or screwing strip along the inside edges of the cabinet. (Cabinets are usually attached in the back to a strip of sturdy wood that has been secured to the wall, usually by a heavy duty nail gun). Your cabinet will probably have screws through the back securing it to the wood slat. You might also find that the cabinet is screwed to the side butting cabinets too. Use the claw of a hammer or screw driver to remove nails and/or screws from the wall. You will need at least two people to remove the cabinet. Someone will need to hold the cabinet while the other person unscrews or pries out the nails from the cabinet and the wall.
http://fixmycabinet.com/2010/06/19/remove-cabinets/

No Madeline, this is helpful, thanks! I realized that probably the bigger concern than the wall will be the state of the top sides of the cabinets on either side, which will end up being exposed. At the very least there will be screw holes to hide, if not damage done by the removal. I'm wondering if I should just accept now I will have to restain ALL of the cabinets to match as a result of just removing those over the sink cabinets...

Are the cabinets built as boxes with wood backs or without wood backs? If the latter, chances are good you have regular old wall behind them. These look old enough to have lathe and plaster, not wallboard.

Take a look or take a few photos after removing the doors above the sink. Use a lot of light for the photos.

Right on what orangeca said. I overpaid for hardware @knobsandpulls.com and found the EXACT same hardware @Lowe's. Keep counters open w/microwave over the stove. BE CAREFUL buying stainless appliances on a budget. There are "fake" stainless finishes out there (sears) and if you update them over time you want them to match. Take your time &do it slowly if you need to.

If you paint, check out this tutorial. ATOH recently aired this episode & their website will have lots of good advice for you: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/overview/0,,20209705,00.html

@apple_pie_order Yes they do have wood backs. I'm more concerned about the cabinets on either side if we remove the cabinet above the sink though....will the newly exposed sides look terrible and have to be refinished? If we refinish those will we have to refinish all the cabinets?

With a tiny window and black appliances your choices are limited. I'd look at maximising reflective surfaces and opt for new white or light gloss worktops and cupboard doors. Add under cupboard lighting and yes change the cooker hood its nasty. Depending on your door choices think of getting a mid tone lino floor covering again to keep light at maximum.

@parke342: Cabinets with wood backs were usually built as separate boxes. Try removing the scalloped trim and boxes carefully, so you can put them back if necessary. Chances are good the sides will be unfiinished wood of the same type as the fronts. Finishing a small area like those would be a piece of cake, comparatively speaking. If you choose to add a small piece of wood trim along the edge where the cabinets were, you can paint above it as if that area were part of the ceiling. The wood trim signals a change in surfaces. Add your Roman shade and pendant light.

A backup plan would be to (literally) put the cabinet back up if the cabinet sides are too tough to deal with. Then add a simple 3" wide wood valence covered in fabric with a miniblind or bamboo slat shade or simple roller shade that can be cleaned when it gets splashed. You can add a simple pendant with a very short drop. Simple solutions are often very good solutions.

"Simple solutions are often very good solutions."

Agreed!

range hood replaced with microwave, take down cab over sink, take off upper cab doors and sub in one door that covers both cabs, paint cabs, new hardware, new wall paint, ceiling lights.

@apple_pie_order thank you for the ideas and the reassurance! I will update this thread once we've made some more progress.

Just replace knobs with modern matt black ones

I see two option, keep the original cabinets and update the countertops and use wallpaper to create a new look. Get new handles. Get your dishwasher in stainless and gradually change the rest. Or paint the cabinets white and do a new vinyl floor and get a new counter top.

Easy/cheap = rustoleumtransformations.com

@parke342. Have you had any luck with bringing down the cabinet and installing your Roman shade? Did you learn anything new about your cabinets in the process? I see that you mentioned re-staining the cabinets, if necessary, in response to one of my posts. The problem I see is filling the holes for the handles in the current locations with wood filler would then make it very hard to stain the cabinet fronts. Your only choice at that point would probably be to paint. But that's certainly NOT a bad thing! Or you could also look into buying new "raw" doors that are ready for any color stain. These doors are a step up in quality than paint-grade doors and so would cost a bit more. But the finish would be new and beautiful and any color stain you chose. Just something to think about. Hope your project in coming along fine!
P.S. You know you could easily take down the hood above your range and spray paint it with black high heat paint for a bit more cohesive look in that corner.

Stain cabinets a dark expresso, do not angle hardware. Ad nickel knobs. Paint. A pale gray

Add black bamboo blind to window. Home Depot has tem.

Get a stainless steel hood or put a stainless microwave over stove.

New dark more modern ceiling fan.

I would repaint the cabinets using white for the upper and black on the lower, using paint made for cabinets. Replace the ceiling fan with a track light, which can be aimed where light is needed. Also replace the hinges and handles.... When you are looking at dishwashers ask about panels...some have interchangable panels; use a black one for now and a stainless when you can afford a new stove and fridge :-)

I like the idea of black lower cabs or dark gray and white uppers! Take all the doors off of the top cabinets all the way across and leave them open for now. You can replace them with frosted glass doors later if you don't like the open look. New stainless hardware, replace all hinges with european hidden hinges. You can find cheap hardware and hidden hinges on ebay for one place. I also bought my backsplash tile on ebay for a great price. Doesn't look like you have a lot of countertop space....check out making your own concrete countertops. It's cheap cheap cheap and looks good! We did ours and had never tried it before.

Please don't mix the appliance colors that's a killer. Change hood color add awesome backsplash paint cabinets change hardware andthat fan and wala!

O honey, just have someone do it for you. I did it that way (but with whole house) and it looks gorgeous!

This is really after the fact I'm sure.I would have seeded glass inserts put in upper cabinet doors and add interior lighting in each.Would keep storage space but it would be not so heavy looking.