Hi Lis86

To help advise you best can you tell me would your mother consider painting the wooden ceiling? What lighting is she thinking of putting into the room?

To really give your mother more choice of colour you could keep the tiles on the wall and paint over them. Would she consider this?

Thanks

Alfred

what is the worktop now?

unless she's dissatisfied with its condition/function-the current color goes well with the rest of the finishes..

so, if changing the countertop-I'd look into solid color again, since works better with the existing backsplash

dark ivory, or light tan for the cabinets sound good to me, theoretically speaking..of course one needs to sample first to make sure how it works with the rest in the space

changing hardware can give her big satisfaction..not that's something's wrong with what she has, it's just the simplest cheapest way to change the look thus the feel.

I wouldn't start with the ceiling..that's a big project and who knows how it relates to the rest of the house..is the kitchen open, semi-open? where else the ceiling is?maybe she likes the ceiling just fine?

I consulted our GC about painting tiles in an existing bath and he said he doesn't recommend since it's not something that holds really well for a long time.

Also sounds like your mother is not concerned about backsplash.

I have no idea how changing the countertop can affect the backsplash though. It shouldn't, but that's a question for people more experienced than me.

It's a nice kitchen. The prep space seems a little tight, from what I can see at least, but that's totally different level of change...

Painting cabinets is fine but it will be a big change - she will lose all the warmth of the wood. Also consider, especially if on a budget, just new light counters - quartz or solid surface with little movement if you keep the backsplash. Also decrease the decor by at least half so the items can be seen rather than lost in the crowd. If it is difficult to keep the glass door cabinets neat, consider shirring fabric behind to hide the inside or placing a film over the glass to give the appearance of frosted glass.

Be aware that sometimes changing counters damages the backsplash or created a gap between splash and countertop if the new counter is not the same thickness as the old. Find out if the old counter can be removed without issues first.

I also added a farm sink in my oak kitchen refresh:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~93784356

I would definitely paint all the wood, time for a new "feeling" to the kitchen. I would do the ceiling also. They still read like wood but have a fresh bright feeling. My friend did her ceiling in a soft soft blue and creamy cabs, soooo beautiful.

Hi all, thank you so much for your comments, which I passed onto her! She is now thinking it may be worth putting new kitchen in with a small island to have a bit more workspace which she does feel can be quite restrictive especially when we are all back home some weekends having dinner etc! Thanks for all your input, will take on board and put any after pics up here!