Gut job for sure ugliest cabinets for sure

You can gut out the whole kitchen and start from scratch or reface the cabinets paint the walls give new lighting include a small island

Or you can re stain the cabinets

You need to start with a kitchen designer and a budget. That is not going to be cheap to fix that.

I would not only get rid of the cabinets but that odd hole in the wall.

They do lot look worth the time,$ or trouble to paint or restrain, to me.

You can go to IKEA and for $199 they come to your place and design the kitchen for you and then you get a $199 gift card in return....but wait until the kitchens are 15- 20% off

Here's where I'd get my inspiration. That is, if you like a cottage look, which the beadboard leans into.

You don't necessarily have to go white though

Maybe do white and add a painted island; you certainly have room for one.

In addition, I'd close up the porthole between the two rooms, remove the beadboard paneling under it, update the lighting (including under cabinet LED lights,) add new countertops, a farm sink and a fridge and stove (wherever they go.) Post addidional pix and we'll try to help more.

Thank you so much everyone! This is so helpful! This kitchen has been so overwhelming you have no idea! I definitely want something white, and bright.. I guess when I bought my house I didn't think the kitchen would be as bad as it actually has been/will be.

Add several floor mats in lighter color to break up the sea of orange wood.

If this was my kitchen and I was on a tight budget, I would start by painting a light color - probably white to start with (have to prime it all anyway, so start with white primer) the beadboard soffit and backsplash. I would lighten up the wall - that gray doesn't work with the wood and even if you paint all the cabinets, it still is sort of a dreary gray. I would change out the countertop to something light. I don't mind stained cabinets and they might be OK after some of the wood is painted, but I might paint the cabinets to have them blend with the beadboard soffits. I like beadboard, but the backsplash won't work if you get a nice counter, so I agree to remove it, and if you like cottage, go with subway tile. If not, remove all the beadboard. If this kitchen was painted all white and a prettier wall color, it might be kind of cute in a vintage way.

Next IKEA kitchen sale in the US is October. Begin your design now and get it vetted. The $199 measurement and design service is a great value. As Melissa mentioned, the cost basically goes towards the cabinets. Then you have 60 days (I think) from then to actually purchase the cabinets... even if this is outside the sale period, sale pricing will apply. Details get changed all the time so pls do confirm for yourself.

I would start by painting the ceiling white and adding some more updated lighting. Then live with it for a few weeks and see where your inspiration (and budget) takes you.

Pick fixtures that throw light onto the ceiling. Run LED rope lights under the upper cabinets. Put a colourful rug and underpad along the whole sink/DW counter.

Are you looking for short term or long term ideas? Do you have a current budget range in mind?

Remove shelf above patio door. I don't think the rest is that bad. I'd install white countertops if/when budget allows.

I am probably in the minority here, but I can appreciate the pine cabinetry (as long as they are actually useable) for their rugged appeal. If you can see past that, then keep reading! Your white appliances stand out too starkly so stainless would be preferable, but you are already thinking about new appliances. A good flooring would be marmoleum. It would be soft yet have the same feel as the cabinets; lots of color options there too. The ceiling needs new paint, preferably lighter brighter. The only structural change that's mandatory is to close that awkward opening.

your natural light is compromised, a lighting plan is your only salvation. above cabinet lighting- which would mean ditching the top (useless?) cabinets and go with crown molding. of course paint. be aware that lighting comes in different spectrum's. LED- in natural yellow/red rather than blue green. wiring and switches will be involved. you have enough room for an island in a color, ample seating might be an issue, but serviceable space is not. the under cabinet shelving is unnecessary. I can't tell what that wall treatment may be, but tile is very cheap & easy to do. I think easy fixes (>$500) will solve a lot. good luck, there are good bone here, just add some imagination.

Although it’s hard to see the quality of the wood, assuming it is decent, I’d avoid the "gut" or "paint everything" temptation. There’s potentially some character there. And come on, the world doesn’t need another white kitchen.

I would plug up the porthole and invest in the ceiling (it looks quite patchy, although that might be just the photo), and improve the lighting. I’d also get stainless steel appliances (the white contrasts too strongly). An island, in a painted finish, would break things up, and the counter (black polished granite?) seems to not match with the rustic theme.

Then, live with it and see. Maybe some limited painting (lower cabinets in a dark grey?).

If you can't gut everything right now, paint walls, ceilings & odd wall wood areas white and replace the lights with something current. That alone will do wonders.

Oooh, negative Houzzers. She only asked about making the kitchen brighter!
Yes to a light paint color, yes to new appliances. You have a nice slider, but is there a chance you could add a skylight to your kitchen? I have a skylight over my island in what would otherwise be a dark space. There are recessed lights spaced around the rest of the ceiling, but I don't use any electric lighting on a sunny say because the skylight gives me plenty of light. The skylight measures about 3'x5' and has a frosted dome.

I don't think we are being negative, at all.

Adding a skylight is not cheap, I did it in a bath with no windows, several thousand dollars. If she can put in a skylight, she still has an ugly kitchen so that makes no sense.

Painting cabinets is not easy, and those look like they would need a ton of prep work and still be old inside and having someone paint them for you? Again....thousands of dollars.

Just painting the ceiling and adding a new light? Still old, ugly cabinets....

So, if this was my house and I'm spending thousands of dollars, the best bang for the buck is new cabinets....

I really appreciate all of your help! I just got a bid for all new cabinets and it looks like that's the plan! I am super excited and grateful for all of your help and inspiration. Not going to lie, some of you were a little harsh, but what's wrong with tough love (I think my husband took it harder than I did) :) I am also going to put in a skylight which is going to be super cheap because when I bought my house it had a swamp cooler.. and I was NOT going to live with that so I had AC put in, so we're going to remove the swamp cooler and then just put a skylight where it was. I am super excited to have a nice, bright kitchen! Thank you everyone!

We want to see pix here when you're done!!! Please !!!

Your enthusiasm is wonderful. Will carry you a long way. Keep us posted!

Hi Karley

I'm sorry I like what you said but where is the vent that is in your ceiling how high is the roof above your kitchen is it pitched or a flat top

It's oddly charming! If you're not ready to completely remodel, start with new lighting and paint the ceiling. Either change the sink & dishwasher to something that goes with the counter better or change the counter to go with the sink and dishwasher. I think you could work with the rustic look of the cabinets (knotty maple?) and create something beautiful without a full remodel. Look at [rustic kitchens in the photo section[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/rustic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2111), many are stunning.

Check this out for instance - the cabinets & hardware look similar to yours and it's beautiful : [https://www.houzz.com/photos/rustic-reclaimed-chestnut-rustic-kitchen-burlington-phvw-vp~5983420[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/rustic-reclaimed-chestnut-rustic-kitchen-burlington-phvw-vp~5983420)

What a unique kitchen. You are lucky to have such a spacious area with lots of cabinets. From the picture I cannot tell if the bead board above the cabinets is the wall or part of the cabinets. If it is part of the cabinets I would do a bubble glass or waterfall glass insert. The area to the left of the octagon opening...is that designated for the refrigerator? If not it could easily accommodate a narrow island. I am in agreement with the others concerning the window opening... it needs to be closed. You might consider a wood panel to cover the dishwasher. With current furnishings it seems to be a bit stark. A pretty brass faucet would look stunning in your space. It is difficult to tell, but are those hardwood floors? I know you will think it is weird but I think they would look pretty in a light grey or large white/grey check pattern. We all have different perspectives and this is just as I see it. You really do have a lovely space.

Some white counters and backsplash, new hardware, new lights, (wall & ceiling) paint... you could have a gorgeous kitchen and save a yourself a lot of money.

Out of curiosity, what condition are the cabinets in? Looks like you have a lot of lower drawers, which is really nice. The typical knee-jerk reaction to real wood cabinets here on Houzz is "paint them white". I think that advice is usually safe to ignore. Replacing cabinets is generally the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel and unless they are falling apart or you absolutely hate them beyond redemption, I really do think you could work with what you've got.

I would think about covering the little opening because it helps with light and air flow. I believe with SW Highly Reflective White on the ceiling and some good additional new lighting you then can reassess changes. I also think replacing the upper cabinet panels with glass and interior lighting of those would be really helpful. This is interesting kitchen and taking it a step at a time would be wise.

I actually really like where you guys are going with taking out the dead space and putting in glass and then doing the countertops white with a white backsplash. The cabinets now are in really great shape and were just done before we bought the house. Our house is "a lot a bit country" which has some cute elements to it, but all in all isn't our style.