To get the most for your money I would only change the countertops and backsplash. Changing the doors would help the kitchen look modern, but just changing the doors by themselves without also changing the counters and backsplash will not look modern.

Cabinets may not be your choice, but, I agree with you, no reason right now to “gut”.

The floors and the counters are driving the bus, for sure. You need to paint the walls something that will negate both…I will say, blue, but not navy.

This blue is B.M. Water’s Edge.

The ceiling is expansive…have Water’s Edge cut way down and repaint the ceiling.

New chandelier is in order. Add wood…but, something “now”.

Please don't take offense, I am more generally curious. This is overall, a pretty traditional house from what I can see. The wood trim, window panes, etc. if traditional is not your style, why would you purchase a traditional house?

@ lhutch13 There are so many factors that go into the choice of a house -- total space, arrangement of rooms, style of property, condition of finishes, back yard, location, school district, distance from neighbors, landscaping, amount of work needed, and on and on. You never get all your boxes checked, so a "kitchen not quite my style" could be a totally minor concession on an otherwise great find.

Yeah, I get that, but to get a modern style in this house would be a whole house renovation. It's more than just painting beautiful cherry cabinets. The house should have some sort of cohesive style and flow. Not sure if the OP is taking that into consideration, painting all the trim, etc.

I don't see it -- light wood floors, no baseboards or crown molding... Seems like a pretty typical contemporary house that could date from anywhere 1980-2017. Window trim isn't much to go by.

Maybe it's just a manner of definition. If I hear contemporary/modern, this is what I picture in my head.

The carpenter in me noticed the island bead board look, I would add matching raised panels all around along with a furniture base.New backsplash and under cabinet lights if they do not exist.And also a matching light rail.

Judy, that chandelier is different. I have one I was givin on a job 25yrs ago that resembles it. It is a 1920s French ( hot air balloon) chandelier. It was in a home built for a member of the Studebaker family.I reassembled it this yr.

Nice chandelier which comes with a fun story. Nice job!

Thanks everyone for all your input! @ lhutch13 - I love the rest of the home and like @acm mentioned, the rest of the home can easily work with more of my style with the right paint and furnishings but with a kitchen, there’s so much already in there with cabinetry that it doesn’t really allow me as much creative freedom. But like mentioned above, I probably need to allow myself some time to live in the space. I love hearing everyone’s ideas though! Also, to clarify, when I mentioned navy, I meant pops of navy (like on an island not for walls).

Also, we are painting all the trim in the house, including the kitchen windows, white.

I am not a decorator, but my tastes run towards the contemporary style also and I’ve lived in a lot of houses (military, so you KNOW didn’t have big bucks...LOL!), so I’m going to jump right in here and make some suggestions. I love the openness and the windows give a fabulous view. Agree there’s a whole lot of “gold/warm” going on here. Keep the floors...that’s big $$. Paint the window trims white. Paint the cabinets a creamy white (Now, don’t all you wood lovers hate on me now...this is just MY personal opinion..LOL). Get new cabinet doors, plain as can be. The more traditional looking tops of the cabinets aren’t at eye level, so they will just fade into the background, especially if you keep the walls light. And some sleek handles/pulls. Costly, yes..but not as expensive as a total “gut” or new floors. Tear down that chunky brick-looking backsplash and just paint or find something plain and unobtrusive. The backsplash clashes with the counters. The counters can “speak” for themselves...they are quite pretty and can be the focal point. You might like them more if they don’t have to compete with all the warm wood and backsplash. Find a fun fabulous rug for the floors. A few modern prints on the walls (abstracts?) and Voila!

And a “killer” chandelier!

There is a lot of heavy, dark wood in there. What if you painted the floor to ceiling cupboards that are to the right of the window? Maybe the island too.

I didn't read through all posts so this could be a repeat suggestion. i would take the grills off the window to reduce the amount of horizontal lines and to make window over kitchen sink and picture window more cohesive. A narrow rug or floor cloth with a non-directional pattern to reduce the effect of the direction of the floor boards. Bring the eye up but don't have any good suggestions on how to do that. If you are going to replace the backsplash have the pattern go up - stacked.

Good luck - you have a very nice kitchen overall.

IMO, I️ would not paint window trim. The window is what makes the kitchen. Maybe jazz up island with legs which seems to be any easy fix. Changing to contemporary might be something unobtainable without doing a complete remodel.

I would get rid of the divided glass doors and make them solid glass. maybe add a couple glass fronts in the kitchen side. get new counters and backsplash in a off white family (not stark white). add your navy "pops" in a window treatment and a rug, maybe stools and art? it's great, don't paint the cabinets. good luck, great house!

you could change hardware to something cleaner looking too.

If you paint a more neutral color (the walls are quite warm) and change the handles and especially the backsplash (that trim strip in particular) you’d have much more of a blank slate to work with. It’s still not going to be super modern with those lines (no matter what color you paint it) but I think it’d be enough to not clash horribly with more modern accessories. (Like toaster, other small stuff like appliances and canisters that end up out in kitchens.)

You could potentially also paint JUST the bank of cabinets at the end by the table space, and treat them as sort of a focal point - once you did that and have a table all set up in there and some artwork on the walls, the cabinets in the kitchen proper would likely kind of fade into the background because they aren’t that visually interesting, really.

Thank you all for all your feedback! A lot of great suggestions here and it’s much appreciated

Just start slow, paint one wall one of your favorite colors and do a little change at a time and it will slowly change into what you enjoy.

It's a very nice traditional kitchen, and fairly new, so it really would be a waste of time and money to change it piecemeal. I'd live with it until I could afford a total gut job. Then have the cabinets removed very carefully and donate them to Habitat for Humanity or another type of organization. Many homeowners would kill for those cabinets, and painting that beautiful cherry is frankly a crime. I was in a similar situation a few years ago--my cherry kitchen was 27 years old, and the cabinets still looked new. I was ready for a change so I donated the cabinets. I never would have painted them, or just thrown them in a landfill. If I couldn't afford to totally change out the entire kitchen I would have left it all the way it was.

Diana - you don’t think the backsplash could be changed fairly easily? To my eye that backsplash is fairly visually distinct and roots the whole kitchen in a certain style. If it was plainer - boring subway tile for example - it’d compete much less with more modern elements.

You’re not going to get fully modern with that kitchen, but one thing you see a lot of in Europe is very traditional and very modern playing nicely together, and it’s usually done by choosing which is going to be the focus and then keeping the other type plainer - so you don’t see very complicated modern stuff juxtaposed against extremely ornate old buildings, but you do see simple clean modern lines juxtaposed with ornate older stuff, and vice versa. That’s the kind of thing I’d be going for here - simplify the traditional elements but don’t try to hide them, then pick more modern items that are unashamedly modern to contrast. Like this would be the excuse to get that really stylish looking modern toaster even though it doesn’t technically toast any better.

Do you need all the wall cabinets in L shaped main kitchen area? A more modern look could happen without them and then paint lower cabinets something out of the yellow- red tone. If you do need cabinets could you put them on floor and extend the island? ( depending on their height)

I agree that cherry is the prettiest wood and you should be able to work around it. Especially for a year or two! To me the biggest problem is the backsplash and th DULL paint color on the wall!!! And too much flooring showing I guess. So if you want blue accents, I would try to add more contrast by painting walls bright white and also white portions in some colorful rugs. There are really cool modern backsplash mosaic options these days so more white there but also accent colors or even white and black? and don’t be afraid of some accent colors around that are unusual. yes to under counter lighting to brighten it all up. I would say go as modern as you dare without changing the cabinets just yet and see if it can get a nice eclectic mix feel to it.

Put in modern hardware on those doors and it will alter the look of the entire kitchen!

And paint the woodwork - its not matching the cherry cabinets

To answer Piratefoxy's question of whether or not to change out the backsplash, it really is up to the homeowner. I faced the same challenge with my kitchen a few years ago--my husband asked do we change out the white laminate countertops, backsplash and hardware to "update" the kitchen? My answer was yes if we weren't ever going to redo it completely. However, due to layout and lighting issues we decided to renovate, and save the money we would have spent on a partial fix for a total reno. It isn't only the money, changing out anything other than paint requires an investment of time, effort and inconvenience as well. We decided to wait, and I'm so glad we did. After opening up the walls, ceiling, and floor, my contractor found structural, plumbing and electrical issues that would have gone unnoticed had we not renovated.

I can't see a 'modern' feel without spending some $$$. I would change the oounter tops and back splash. Perhaps a waterfall top on the island. Happy to see you plan to paint the woodwork. Remove the grids in bow window if possible, do a great chandler, and definitely change the 'yellow' walls. I would not go too blue....bring it in with some art and several accessories, but please don't clutter the counter tops with 'stuff'. Enjoy your home in good health, it is lovely.

IMO this kitchen is so small for what appears to be a huge house . I am sorry but there is no way this space will be modern without a gut job and I for one would not be spending money on this . I would continue to save until you had enough to make this right. The only 2 things I would do is change the light fixture to something less traditional and take the grids out of the window if they are removable.I think once you start working in the space you will understand what works and what doesn’t and then begin planning a new kitchen. Those cabinets might be able to be saved and either sold or donated but really they don’t work at all with your style.BTW neither of those lights will help at all.

Sorry to disagree, Patricia, but this kitchen is in no way small. It's not huge, but a very nice size and layout.

Is it in your budget to just change the backsplash? That (travertine?) stone backsplash with the accent wall over the stove is really what kills it for me. Glass subway tile would be an easy update for now, and you could do a more extensive remodel down the road.

Part of your problem might be that it is currently empty, and doesn't have much personality. All cosmetic changes that might help - 1) change out the cabinet hardware; 2) change the chandelier; 3) take the grids out of the windows and the cabinet glass; 4) get some great bar stools in a style you love; 5) get a nice round table and chairs to complement the bar stools; 6) put in a colorful rug (large to cover a lot of the wood!) under the table; 7) use the rug colors to add accent pieces on top of the counters; 8) use the rug colors to find a great, large piece of artwork on the wall opposite the bay window; 9) paint the room a color you love, and; 10) add a roman shade on the window above the sink. Good luck - I think with a few personal touches you'll grow to like the room.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting, it's a fairly spacious kitchen. I'm not worried about a lack of space, just trying to make it feel a little more "me" rather. @sue j- I agree, this space has no personality yet because the pcitures were taken when there we no occupants in the space. I need to find a nice kitchen table, light fixture and rug for sure! @gm_tx- I completely agree, I think I'll leave the cabinets for now but change up the backsplash. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all eyes! Maybe something like the below?

Thanks again to everyone for all the feedback and great ideas!

and some bar stools?

Just one last thing from me:). Years ago....many..... I was putting in new cabinets and getting rid of builders grade which were still in great condition. I put an ad in 2 local papers. I sold them the next day to a man who had apartments in a large home. They would be two kitchens!!!! We were both smiling .

No mosaic backsplash, please! Pick simple subway tile in a light color that would coordinate with the countertop.

Paint the kitchen a different color - maybe a grayish sage.

The stools you want are nice looking but may be too bulky for the space. Make sure you have enough room there to access the fridge comfortably.

No mosaic tile with that busy countertop. No grey paint. This will clash. Love the second barstools.

There are companies that specialize in doors and drawer fronts - definitely worth investigating.

I would paint the cabinets and trim white and update the hardware. That would lighten and modernize it without spending too much. And I really like the last set of bar stools.

You might want to consider a backsplash other than brown to give it a less traditional feel without fighting with the cabinets.

I’d go much plainer with the backsplash - modern materials but a traditional shape like a subway (for example) wouldn’t fight too much with the elements that you aren’t changing and provides a backdrop for your personal touches.

Busy backsplash designs work best where the cabinets are very very plain (like solid color slab doors plain) and the countertop is equally plain, so the backsplash can be the Star. You don’t have that environment here. Plus, you don’t really want the kitchen (as in the cabinets/counter/backsplash) was to be thr focal point in the room because most of it is so far off what you like. Treat your backsplash like a back drop that exists to frame more interesting things that you put on the counter, like interesting looking containers and small appliances or a decorative vase...

All good points about the backsplash, maybe something more simple like this would be best

Anyone have suggestions for a kitchen table/chairs in this room? I think we'll paint the walls and trim off white.

Have you looked into replacing the doors and drawer fronts? This would mean you could pick the style you would want but save money by keeping the cabinets that look brand new? If you did this you might be able to find a way to incorporate the existing counter tops. You would still need to replace the backsplash in my opinion. If replacing the doors is too expensive then just replacing the backsplash and lights would make a big difference. It really is beautiful as is, just not your style (or mine!)

Assuming you go neutral but change the backsplash, I’d pick something more your style for the table and chairs and light over the table. Make that more of the focal point in the room?

I agree with the comment above to go simple with the backsplash. Cream or warm gray subway tile in glass would be perfect.

I wish my kitchen cabinets were of that quality. I would move in, get your things in there. Get colorful rugs and nice new bar stools. Address the window and update your light fixture, then see where you are. The MOST I would do would be to change backsplash. Once your beautiful things are there you may find yourself quite content.

The BIG thing that stands out for me is the flooring. I'd stain it. Here's a room done by "The Property Brothers". Pay attention to the flooring...

Change out the backsplash and light fixture. Paint the walls and the island.