What would you do to this kitchen

8 years ago

Twenty-one year old kitchen, fully functional, everything is in great shape, and it is a true farm kitchen (during 5 weeks of harvest there are 10 meals prepared for carryout each night). But I know it's dated. Things I've considered:

Paint some or all of the cabinets or replace some w/ glass (which ones paint or replace)?

Replace the lighting - with what?

Paint some of the woodwork (start w/ crown moulding & window trim)?

Replace hardware- with what

Replace island countertop (with what)?

Get rid of the decor stuff on top?

Gut it? (but that seems silly because it's all in great shape & fully functional)

Current paint is Divine white. Countertop Tumbleweed corian.

Featured Answer

jhmarie

8 years ago

You do not have to do anything - as you mentioned, it is a well functioning kitchen. I also have an oak kitchen and refreshed with new countertops, backsplash and short apron farm sink. I also added some under cabinet lighting. The lighting and the sink are the two features that increased the functionality of the kitchen. The counters and backsplash are just pretty:)

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

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~93784291

I also have an idea book called "wood kitchens" and you might get some idea looking through that.

I wish I could suggest a new light fixture, but I am looking for one myself - and can't figure it out either:)

I do have white trim. My trim was never oak, so I never had to make the decision to paint over good wood. I have friends and relatives with similar kitchens - none has painted their trim. I live in the midwest and having a fashionable kitchen is not as big a deal. I do love having white trim. It brightens the space while the wood gives warmth. It also has made it easier to add beadboard in places and pick paint colors

Is the island a granite and the perimeter Corian? I do love my sink. It is the cast iron Kohler Whitehaven "short apron" style farm sink and can be installed on a standard sink base cabinet. It could be retrofitted into Corian, but that can get expensive. If you change countertops, that would be the best time to do a farm sink. There is also a "tall apron style", so be sure to look at the right one if interested. The tall apron would require a farm sink base cabinet. Both sinks are the same depth inside.

I have no opinion on top of the cabinet decor. It is your kitchen, so do as you please.

I did retrofit a cabinet to a plate rail cabinet. You could do that too - there are kits available. If you don't need all the storage, you could remove some upper cabinets - replace with shelves or just leave it open, but as I said before, you don't need to do anything:)

If watching HGTV is making you feel bad about your kitchen, turn it off. It is a marketing tool to get you to dislike what you have and buy new stuff. It is fun to get ideas, but don't let words like "dated" drive your decisions.

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Comments (8)

User
8 years ago
Those windows are to die for!! First impressions: consider replacing the upper cabinet doors to mirror the design of the lower cabinet doors; replace dated backsplash and countertops. Add pendant lights in place of the single light over the island. The spindles could be replaced with more modern options. Having the same trim in adjoining portions of the house makes me a bit leery of jumping on a paint the trim wagon. I would be inclined to change out the hardware as well. Again....lovely kitchen, great storage, beautiful windows, ahhhhh!
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tatts
8 years ago
The arch-top upper cabinet doors give away the age. Look into replacing the doors and drawer fronts. I got mine 16 years ago when I bought this house (white oak, Shaker, custom sized) from Lowe's. I bought them unfinished and did that myself to match the cabinet frames. And yes, patterned glass door panels would be good. I bought the patterned glass from a glass supplier.
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flopsycat1
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Two variables: budget and taste. Very first thing I'd do- clear off countertops and stuff on top of cabinets. I would paint crown molding, window and door trim to match wall color, but only if that was also done in the adjoining rooms. I'd remove decorative items from the soffits and replace the spindles with something simple. The arched pattern upper cabinet doors are dated. Replacing them with the same color match might be difficult. Update cabinet hardware. New lighting. Repainting the cabinets, new countertops and backsplash, all possible but costly. Depends on how far you want to go. Good luck with your project.
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apple_pie_order
8 years ago
Lovely kitchen. I suggest removing the decor over the cabinets for a month or two. Shop for a new light fixture that will be just as bright over the island. You could add over-cabinet and undercabinet lighting.

New paint will give you the most impact. Do you have another photo with all the lights on, including undercabinet lighting?
picturebug thanked apple_pie_order
User
8 years ago
picturebug I hope you will let us know what you decided.
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
8 years ago
I would do the lighting first and you need a lot more than a center fixture , I think I see some pot lights . Remove the stuff from on top of the cabinets and new counters will make a huge difference. I would also paint all that trim next to the ceiling in the ceiling color . I can’t tell if the island could be made a bit larger but if possible it would be a bit better proportioned to the space and I would paint the island a color like a sage green
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Lisa Lenaway
8 years ago
Inn by b