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cheryloja

Retro kitchen needs update

8 years ago
A limited kitchen reno is planned. Limited because our son starts college next year. We want to do a banquette where the table is, replace flooring with porcelain tile (have seen a gray slate with some warm tones mixed in that would be nice with the cabinets) new countertops and paint of course. Speaking of the cabinets, they are custom and in very good shape but I’m not fond of the dated round over edge. Could they possibly be changed to the profile in the enclosed picture. I would love quartz counters but they will have to wait a few years. Would Wilsonart oil-rubbed soapstone (formica like) work with cabinets and floor. There is a butler pantry between the kitchen and dining room that would be included. Under cabinet lights in both places.

Comments (29)

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Nice flooring. I would ask about epoxy grout for a kitchen. Could you include a pic closeup of your door drawer combo. Are they solid wood?

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Those cabinet doors are right on trend. In fact, there isn’t one thing that needs changing other than the lighting. You need a better lighting design. And new floors. No tile unless you want to trap your DW and not be able to replace it. LVT.

  • 8 years ago
    The cabinets are solid wood. Is it possible to change the edge profile, if not we will live with them.
  • 8 years ago
    They are solid wood. Is it possible to change the edge profile?
  • 8 years ago

    No, it is not possible to change a beveled edge to a flat profile. You can’t add wood back that has been removed.

  • 8 years ago
    Sophie, thanks for the reminder of trapping the dishwasher. What would you recommend for flooring. I recognize the need for a lighting scheme. The fan is there out of necessity due to very hot summers. Will eventually add another mini split for air.
  • 8 years ago

    LVT. Much thinner than tile. Easy to DIY if you have a mind to doing so.

  • 8 years ago

    Adding drawer pulls would be a nice update.

  • 8 years ago
    Mommyniki, I agree about the pulls
  • 8 years ago
    Sophie, what I was suggesting was existing rounded edge to a bevel.
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    You would have to completely refinish all of the cabinets 100%. Which is way more labor than painting even. An average professional paint job for a kitchen is 7-9K. I would expect the labor to remove a factory tough clear coat, modify the doors, restrain the doirs, and give them the equivalent factory tough finish, would be almost double that of painting them. Because it’s almost double the labor.

    Love ‘em, or gut the kitchen and start over with new cabinets.

  • 8 years ago
    Sophie, I’ll love them
  • 8 years ago

    I agree with getting your quartz counters now and waiting on a banquette.

  • 8 years ago

    Not sure what your style is but new flooring and quartz countertops with some hardware added to the cabinets could make this kitchen very sleek looking. i would also paint the adjoining room with a wall color other than white to give it some depth and feeling. Do you want to stick with dark green as your accent color? Do you want a country look or more urban? What is your desired look?



  • 8 years ago
    Thanks for your comment Brooke. Not country, more urban. Don’t want that green as an accent color. What you see in the foreground of the photo is the butler pantry leading to the dining room. Both the pantry and kitchen would be painted in a warmer tone. Suggestions for an accent color that would be good with the idea of the tile shown and maple cabinets. If I do quartz, I’m thinking of a darker shade for contrast with the cabinets
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I remembered a thread where the poster wanted to install rounded edge slab cabinets. She got a number of responses and photos of beautiful cabinets in that style. I couldn't really see your cabinets, but Here is the link to that thread

    I hope it is relevant to, and makes you feel better about, your rounded edge cabinets.


  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Just for fun, I just did a Houzz search for slate floor, maple cabinets and chose midcentury for the style, to get less rustic results. I smiled when I saw the very first photo with its dark green island and had to share.

    Dogwood Ct · More Info

    Here's a medium gray counter (on left) which seems pretty classic. I think you could go darker but you will have to see what you think in your light.


    Sculpted to the Land · More Info

  • 8 years ago
    Thanks barncatz. I’m starting to feel more comfortable with the cabinet profile. Got a chuckle out of the dark green. Interestingly, this house (1915) is in a historic neighborhood. It doesn’t qualify as such because it had a major remodel toward a mid century look. Love the house. Any other suggestions for an accent color?
  • 8 years ago
    Not ruling out green.
  • 8 years ago

    Adding pulls to the cabinets would make it feel much more modern immediately, IMHO, and would be far far simpler than trying to change the cabinet profiles.

  • 8 years ago
    I agree.
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    O, you have so many choices for your colors, depending on what's going on with the rest of your house. What about coppers, blues? The green in the first photo doesn't read rustic because of the other modern elements, and those elements will be important to highlight your neat cabinets no matter the accent color you choose.

    I looked at the Wilsonart and without seeing it in person, it looks like it would be pretty with the floor and cabinets. I think a counter whose tones match the cabinets will also be pretty with those floors.

    I'm wondering if you've considered a wood look tile that's just a bit darker than your cabinets. That to me opens up some possibilities for your counters and again, to me, seems to fit a midcentury look well.

    Have you looked at Houzz photos of midcentury style kitchens?

  • 8 years ago
    There is Large copper hood over fireplace in living room. Colors picked up from the rug are rust, green, gold, brown on a neutral beige background.
  • 8 years ago
    I think your suggestion of Copper would be good and would tie in with the living room. What about a more olivey green with it. How would you use the copper.
  • 8 years ago
    My father will weld this table base modified for a rectangular maple Butcher block top. It will be powder coated. I like these chairs and would have two pull up to the banquette. Not sure what to use for bench and back cushions.
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Right before I signed off, I was looking at this photo with green tile and medium toned slab cabinets and thinking it was a great look. So, yes, a more olive green or sage would be great.

    Worthington, OH Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Remodel · More Info

    I agree your chairs also will look great. I'm not crazy about the table base with them. I think it's might look way too leggy, like a pipe explosion, with those chairs. Would you consider a parsons style table? There's lots of reasonably priced ones out there and their simple lines show off that style of chairs.

    Don't worry about the fabric for the banquette just yet. You can pull in the copper (and green) in your fabric, in light fixtures, and certainly accessories.

  • 8 years ago
    My dad will appreciate your table idea. I like the idea of a parson table. Nice photo. I think we are getting somewhere.
  • 8 years ago
    My preference was a pedestal base to make access easier for the banquette.