Sounds good! Maybe too much white if you paint brick and cabinets...I don't know how much whitewash you want to use and the red brick might be fine.I think the bamboo floor will go well with all you describe. Are cement counters very expensive?

It certainly can be, but in my small research, a lot of the cost comes from labor. Luckily, I've got a family full of DIY enthusiast. I'm just over granite, but don't want to spend as much as marble would cost. Thank you for your input, I could see the white overload!

Since this is not your forever home, the first thing to do is consult a real estate agent. Find out what will and what will not sell in your area. Find out what buyers are looking for. This will help you make your countertop, cabinet, etc. choices.

That being said, it looks like that is fake brick. Remove it if you do not like it. It is a foolish waste of money to leave something that you do not like and try to decorate around that.

I like the brick! But, I have no idea how to design around it!

How long do you intend to live here? It's silly to spend $ on something you intend to sell in a few years. Everyone's taste is different. Btw.... there's no such thing as a "forever home".

Probably for another two years, I just feel like the kitchen is an eye sore. We entertain often, and would love for the kitchen to be our favorite room in the house. We would like to keep the updates relatively cheap hoping for a return on our investment when we sell.

Just don't expect a "return on your investment " , do it for yourselves but don't count on getting your money back. It MIGHT happen but it more likely won't. Went house hunting yesterday (looking for a single story, which is difficult to find in my area because land is very expensive), toured a single story which was priced beyond the market value due to the fact that the owners has upgraded with some very expensive materials , none of which I liked. I passed on buying even though I loved the location & floor plan since I would have to redo everything, inside & out.

for two years, i'd buy stainless appliances for those that need to be replaced. the matte finished ones '2017 trend' could well not be to everyone's taste.

Again, for the best "return on investment" especially if you are looking at 2 years, I would consult a real estate agent. They can help you. They can tell you what buyers are looking for. What they will not. Look at Baily's experience. She passed on buying something that is in the perfect location because of the finishes that were used.

I did not understand correctly, from your initial statement that when you said you were struggling with the brick, that you meant for it to stay! If you are going to white wash it, then it would be best to remove it. Especially if you are selling in 2 years. It is kinda specific and not most peoples cup of tea. But, before you do anything, consult a real estate agent. Maybe in your area, people are looking for that type of design. In which case, it would be best to design around it.

What I'm saying is: I would like an updated kitchen. I am not looking to put a ton of money into this space because I don't plan on staying here long enough to enjoy it. Also, I don't want the space too custom to my liking because it may deter buyers. By removing the brink I am adding unnecessary costs given I'll have to replace it with something else.

So, I weigh my options:

Oak has to go, what color do I paint it.

whatever color the cabinets become have to compliment the brick whether it's white washed or original coloring.

I posted this this because ideally I would design around the brick, which is where I hit a creative block.

The brick appears to have a pink undertone. Could be my monitor. White will look good, but it cannot be a white with a yellow undertone. According to Maria Killam, there are 9 basic undertones. Which is why some all whites do not look well together.

If you remove the brick, you can replace it with drywall and paint and subway tile as a backsplash.

Here are some links that may help.....

http://www.networx.com/article/how-to-remove-z-brick

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/good-questions-31-68319

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/rid-old-brick-backsplash-30470.html

Here is some google ideas for decorating around the brick...

https://www.google.com/search?q=decorating+a+kitchen+around+faux+brick&biw=1506&bih=1093&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj44p3xza7SAhWDbiYKHW8EDqAQsAQIGQ