I love the colour of the kitchen cabinets! I don't think that they match the flooring though. Try sanding down the flooring and staining it either a darker espresso stain for a very light colour.

Thank you for your quick responses. I will leave the cabinets as they are, like you suggested and work on the walls and flooring.

Don't paint!

They could use some hardware...

mousemaker, you're not the only one. :) I also prefer the natural beautiful look of the wood instead of painting. But, Mrs Friday, it depends on the condition of your cabinets, too. :)

I think mousemaker has given you some excellent suggestions. If you sand your flooring, I'd go lighter, not darker. Adding cabinet hardware will make a world of difference as will wall color and a new splash which could be as simple and classic as white subway tile. You could also choose to add a rug to the kitchen floor instead of sanding it.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

I think the kitchen is beautiful. The counter and backsplash: an excellent job and choice of materials. I too see many posts where people paint cabinets "color of the year".

Memory Lane: 80's oak, 90's white, 2000 dark, today---all over the board.

So, here is a design tip: if the bones are good and you are okay with them, leave them alone. To update your style, do small things that don't take a ton of time and money.

Here is where I would spend the money:

Get electric cover plates that match and will blend in with your backsplash. Lutron is just one brand that sells them.

Add some hardware to the cabinets if you like that look. You could add some really nice brushed nickel ones on just some of the cabinets, if you would like.

Add undermount lighting if you don't already have it.

I cannot see the lighting over the sink or otherwise. You can make a big splash with lighting.

Paint: it look yellowish in the photo. Paint a more taupe color would blend all together well.

I love natural wood when the cupboards are in good shape and are a good quality. Now, I can't tell about these but from here they look amazing and I love em. I would add hardware (as stated above...) Little jewelry does a cabinet good. :)

I'd love to see a photograph showing what is above the cabinets. Is there wall you could paint in this kitchen to give it some color maybe?

Maybe you would like the look of a runner to bring some lighter color down to the floor. I'd love to see an accent color or colors introduced to this very brown, beige/ neutral space.

If you want more suggestions ...post what your "style" is....are you a modern kinda person, traditional, worldly, ....what style draws you in? I'll gladly surf the net for some cool hardware and color suggestions.

I really love the warmth of your cabinets so I'd say if they are in good shape...keep me au natural. :)

I love the post above. I am a HUGE fan of under counter lighting. Could make a huge huge difference. :)

WOW, thank you all for your input. The cabinets are brand new.

You have very high quality cabinets and there's nothing wrong with them aesthetically . I wouldn't paint them! You could add knobs to make them more user friendly. I'd choose something simple and go for knobs on doors and drawers for a less busy look. Darker knobs will blend better with your cabinets. Try something like this in black iron...

Your home is brand new! That sounds pretty fresh to me....I think you might want to pick another room and leave the poor cabinets be.

What else are you thinking of doing in your other rooms?

okay, so my other concern is the living room. I am looking at the fire place that is there and can't decide whether it is really nice and unique or on contrary - ugly and heavy looking. Make it a central place or try to hide somehow?

I'll try to post better pics. one sec.

Here it is.

Mrs.....this room has great potential!!!

A few thing I am noticing:

1) Paint color: again that yellow paint that seems to match nothing.
2) The ceiling should be painted the same color as the walls also, so that the timbers stand out. You are missing out on accenting a great architectural feature.
3) Fireplace: I personally don't care for it, but that is a personal decision. Either way, why does the brick suddenly end half way up the wall? It look cut off.


My personal opinion would be to replace the entire fireplace with something much more contemporary and useful.

So, functionally, what type of fireplace would you like? What is your style? Or no fp at all?

Just a couple of ideas

[houzz=]

[houzz=]

Again, you're just moving in so take your time and get a real feel for the place before making any major decisions. Once your furniture is in place many of the things you notice now won't stand out at all. The fireplace will be a challange but I don't think you can hide or ignore it. Instead, try to embrace it and make it inviting. You might have mantel made that would fit on the top of the brick ledge and if it was in two pieces it could go around the chimmney. Just make sure it won't get too hot. Others may have good ideas for enhancing the FP.

Looks like your room gets plenty of natural light so use that to your advantage.

I couldn't agree more - the color on the walls is awful. What colors would you suggest? I would go with either all white or robin's egg blue-ish. But I am open to suggestions as it is my first house and simply don't have any experience with painting/decorating ideas.

You might be able to find a half circle bench in wood or wrought iron that would fit the curve of your fireplace. Then add a cushion to make it friendly to sit and warm up by the fire.

Lucky you with a brand new home and all sorts of possibilities. Do you have any furniture so far? You really need to give some thought and look through magazines to find rooms you like. Then work toward that style. Colors are endless. One of the most stunning homes I've seen had all white walls and white slipcovered furniture and dark wood floors with just a few large pieces in very dark wood furniture like an oversized armoire. I wish I had a picture. I would think of keeping the wall and major pieces neutral and add pops of color that can be changed later.

No furniture neither, we are just starting. I will be moving to this house straight from Europe where I've lived for the last six years, so I will be buying and chosing everything now. Quite a responsibility and I have no experience with decorating/styling my own house. I see so many great photos and ideas here on Houzz but then I look at my walls and still know nothing, lol.

You would benefit from hiring an interior designer to help you, and how you could help that designer and yourself too is to start some ideabooks on houzz. In these ideabooks you can save photos of the kitchens you like in one, and in another the living rooms or family rooms, then the master bedrooms and the bathrooms, and kids' rooms, if applicable. When you select each photo, make notes on the photo in the space that houzz provides you, explaining what you like about the photo.

If you could tell us what city or area you're moving to, we might be able to recommend some designers for you to talk to or email before your arrival here in the US. Are you originally from the states?

@leelee. "One of the most stunning homes I've seen had all white walls and white slipcovered furniture and dark wood floors with just a few large pieces in very dark wood furniture like an oversized armoire." I carried that photo around with me for two decades and was never able to achieve the dream. Well, I did get the dark hardwood floors before severe medical problems took my husband from his successful business. But leelee, do you realize that you began that by stating: "Colors are endless." Such a dichotomy. But it is certainly true. There has never been access to such color in so many things before. But also the problem is sort of like the fifty shades of gray period we're going through. Everyone needs to add "life" into a room. Of course they do because the gray walls have robbed the room of that life! But that's a lesson people will learn. Just as when everyone gets tired of the same pops of color: yellow, turquoise and orange. It'll happen. Probably sooner rather than later because of the drabness of the gray surrounding. But that's my opinion, not as a designer but as a people person who has travelled the world. @mrsfrida. I think you made the right decision about your beautiful cabinets. When I moved into my house with honey oak cabinets I painted the walls a deep yellow-orange, a very French look, and it looks fabulous and I've never felt the urge to change it. Of course I can't say that about the laminate countertops but we all have our crosses to bear.

I agree with Carolyn that your best bet right now is to start an ideabook on Houzz. Whether you hire an interior designer or not, you will need to focus on what you like. One mistake that people often make is concentrating on one room singularly.

When making design decisions, especially paint, the whole house should be considered, as there needs to be cohesiveness from room to room.

If you are not sure right now and want to paint the walls, you are best to use a neutral tone. It is hard to go wrong there. Just to get you started thinking about it, here is just one shade, Benjamin Moore Rockport Gray, that you might consider for the kitchen.

houzz=]

@Madeline, I couldn't agree more re your "Fifty Shades of Gray" comment. I've lived all over the world and never have I come across such passion for what, in my personal opinion, is the most life and light sucking colour in existence .... "ashes to ashes" and all that sad stuff ! :-( As a paint colour, it's definitely not a 'safe' neutral and, I believe, is best used only by the most skilled of decorators and those who know exactly how much is too much.

In this particular case, I also agree with Carolyn's suggestion with regard to at least speaking with a pro and considering the benefits of hiring one to help with as little or as much of the project as desired. I think there's a huge misconception about both the cost and the extent of involvement a pro decorator would need to have. ... And when a homeowner, as in this case, is starting absolutely from scratch, the benefits are multiplied; So many costly mistakes can be avoided that the 'expense' of something as simple as a colour and/or space planning consultation is negligible, in comparison to the wasted time, effort and expense (not to mention discomfort) of living in a half started / finished space, surrounded by colours you wish you'd never chosen and furnishings that looked great in other people's spaces but just don't work for you.

Find a pro with whom you're compatible and one who understands the exact extent of the advice you're seeking and you will only benefit from the help they are able to offer, particularly in keeping you on track for the realization of a project that involves as many options as a brand new, totally unfurnished space does.

Different strokes for different folks....some people like a neutral palette, some like color all around. Some follow the latest trend and as Cozy said about paint and I mentioned about cabinet color, trends come and go. You, mrsfrida, will decide yourself what you like.

Having an intererior designer to guide you in your choices is an excellent idea.

One thing to keep in mind is resale. Neutral shades sell. But, if you are not moving again soon, it doesn't matter so much.

Gray is certainly the "it" color of the moment. We always want something different....a change to keep us involved. I've seen homes on Design Dilemma where they were getting ready to rip out huge granite counters to replace them with a slightly different color. I try to talk sense to people and try to get them to focus on the real problem areas instead of just change for change sake. It's amazing to me what people's eyes will lock onto as the main issue when all around is a major area that is overlooked.

Madeline, I think you learned that the room of your dreams isn't so important after all. Your health, as the old saying goes, is everything and everything else is nothing if you don't have your health.

Do find a good interior designer that you can work with. Someone that can help you and guide you and so you won't make expensive mistakes. It will be worth every penny you spend.

such good advice leelee!! may I just add that it's not only people's eyes that lock on to something :) it's their minds too..:) I think it happens to all of us, especially if a home is new to us, we want to make it our own and that feeling can cloud our judgement (oh, I wouldn't be talking about myself or anything :)) and then you hear the voice of reason (YOU) :)

You're right mm, it's easy to give advice...when I'm trying to make decisions for myself that's much harder.

Omg. I Vote to rid our lives of most grays myself. On the kitchen I would think about adding glass fronts to some of the top cabinets. A goof handyman can cut out the inner rectangle of the door and inset glass. Great way to add dome color and light. I'm no professional but that's what I'd do