This old old unfinished kitchen

2 years ago

Our kitchen is so old it hasn't been done in 30+ years or more. Part of the reason is due to costs. Living in NJ is extremely expensive so we have to take short cuts. We have all new appliances on order including a Range, Refrigerator, Over the range Microwave, and a Dishwasher. I am not good with measurements but will do my best. I will supply some pictures tomorrow and hopefully get some tips on finally get a few things done. I am not into very fancy looking items. I like more of the plain clean look. I also don't like dark colors including wood. Cherry wood or even close would be a huge no for me. I do like light pastels. Hope some of you can help. Thanks

Comments (874)

karemore55
last year
I'll do you a collage. Hang on....
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
karemore55
last year
Those are the aqua placemats from Target, right? They look a lot darker in your pic.
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
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First, it would help if we: Could see a sketch of the entire floor Could see a sketch of the entire Kitchen (actually, a measured layout would be better if you would like other ideas) Knew what can be changed (besides widening the doorway)? Remove walls? Modify windows, etc. Questions/Suggestions: What's between the refrigerator and the cabinet run? I'd move the DW to the other side of the sink. I agree with others, enlarge the doorway . "...I would like to keep the double stacked cabinets." Are you saying you're keeping the cabinets (upper and/or base)? Or, do you mean you will be getting new cabinets that are also double-stacked? If you intend to keep any of those cabinets... Why am I asking? Those cabinets appear to be original to the house and cabinets today are so much more functional. My mom's house also has her original cabinets (from 1960, so almost 60 years old) and the years have taken a toll on them. The drawers, for example, are wood-on-wood and are difficult to open/close (there are no hardware "runners" or "glides", they're wood boxes that slide in/out of an opening the same shape). The shelves are all stationary and not adjustable (uppers and base), so they're a pain to get things out of. Your cabinets look just like hers on the outside, and I suspect they're the same inside. [About all my parents did over the years was paint them periodically (I remember when they were turquoise!) and change the knobs/drawer pulls. They've been white now for many, many years -- long before it became the "in thing" to have a white kitchen. Yes, white kitchens have been around forever, but they were not always the current fad.] You may not be able to move the range if you keep the upper cabinets. Back then, they often built cabinets as one big box and then partitioned them to make them appear as separate cabinets. In addition, they often used the room's actual wall as the back "wall" of the cabinets. The cabinets were not actual cabinets that could be moved around. Talk to someone b/f you assume you can make any changes (other than paint and hardware) to the existing cabinets.
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Sorry for the spelling: chic*
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Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
The placemats are from Pier One.
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
They do look darker in the picture.
karemore55
last year
That's what I thought, but I didn't see them on the site. I'll look again. In the meantime, here are the two bouquets and I'm using aqua placemats from Target so the color might be identical but close enough, probably.
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
Now I don't think the table is looking so good all of a sudden. Not sure the mats are OK.
karemore55
last year
To me it looks beautiful! What is bothering you about it? Does it still look bare?
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
Maybe it's the placemats. Maybe they are a bit too dark. The ones you showed from Target look lighter.
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
You think the teal I picked is too dark. It's not blending with the vase like I thought it would.
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
karemore55
last year
They don't look too dark to me. But I know you don't love dark colors so.... Is it too late to return them? If so, I wouldn't worry about it because they do look OK.
karemore55
last year
For the life of me I can't find them on the pier one site though...I checked again.
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
You think teal seat cushions and teal napkins won;t be too much?
karemore55
last year
No, I don't think it will be too much - in fact, it will create a nice coordinated effect. But I feel your napkins should be some sort of pattern - a stripe or floral, maybe?
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
karemore55
last year
Sorry I thought you said teal seat cushions and placemats, not napkins. Well. Of the three - seat cushions, placemats and napkins - ideally one of those should be a pattern. You could do it with all solids too; there's nothing wrong with that. But I think you'd be happier with some pattern thrown in there?
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
karemore55
last year
I was back on World Market site and spotted these napkins which I thought were so pretty. This pattern also comes as a placemat. So, you could do solid teal for the chair pads and napkins, then the floral for your placemats? Or solid chair pads and placemats, but floral napkins? I think I lean more toward that one - floral for the napkins. Or some sort of pattern for the napkins.
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
karemore55
last year
What do you think of this combo? The chair pad and napkin are from World Market.
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
everdebz
last year
last modified: last year
if counter has specks of tan no reason to ignore it, you can repeat the warmth with a metal: copper? with flowers too. Teal and metal are good contrasts to set... yet not totally dark.
Laurel Urn Vase · More Info
Debra Zarkivach thanked everdebz
everdebz
last year
If you garden, this seems so nice for any flower at all. :)
Bottles in Metal Stand, Gray/Copper · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/bottles-in-metal-stand-gray-copper-prvw-vr~85450718
Debra Zarkivach thanked everdebz
everdebz
last year
7 W and 12 H - nice with teal probably, and crearmy yellow etc. flowers:
Apollo 3-Piece Glass Vase Set · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/apollo-3-piece-glass-vase-set-prvw-vr~73131046
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Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
Karemore I like that set up. You think it’s too many colors?
karemore55
last year
No, not at all, Debra. I know you're leary of pattern but that bit of pattern in the chair pads isn't loud or flashy, and the colors are very cheery and uplifting. I do think you need a bit of pattern, otherwise you're going to keep looking around and thinking its unfinished and like it's missing something. For some reason the colors in the chair pad remind me of you! I think if the pink trim on the outside of your house, and I believe that I've front room is painted a misty violet? And I remember the wreath in your front door (if it's still there), and all those co,ors are pastels and spring colors. So, the chair pad colors seem to be capturing all the colors of your house.
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karemore55
last year
And don't forget the chair pads won't be all that visible since the chairs are usually pushed into the table.
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
karemore55
last year
I am just now noticing that the X or diamond pattern in the chair pads is picking up on the X that is on the backs of the chairs. That's a design trick...where you repeat patterns but in different scales. It's very pleasing to the eye.
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Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
I like that whole set up except for that orange flower.
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
For some reason I have a very hard time adding/blending colors and designs into my lifestyle. Everything I pick is very solid, plain and square.
karemore55
last year
Well, after all that I thought I'd check the dimensions of the seat cushion and it's going to be too big. Not only that, I checked the dimensions of other World Market seat cushions as well as Pier One seat cushions, and they're ALL too big. I don't know why I didn't think to do that from the start. Anyway, all I could find was one IKEA seat cushion that would be the right size. There may be more out there but I have to stick to the sites that are familiar to me. I know there are online stores such as Hayneedle and Wayfair, and they offer lots of selection but I assume you don't want to go the online route?
Anyway, at this point there are two choices - this IKEA chair pad or no chair pad at all?
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
karemore55
last year
I understand about you shying away from pattern....solids are more calming and obviously patterns have more energy and can have the opposite effect. A lot has to do with the colors in the pattern, though, and I also find that a small scale pattern like the IKEA chair pad is quieter than a larger pattern. So I think you are just unconsciously gravitating toward soothing colors and minimal pattern as it helps with your stress?
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
karemore55
last year
I did notice that Ikea carries chair pads in white which in the moment seemed kind of blah, but in retrospect maybe white is a great color for your chair pads? But keep in mind you don't have to have chair pads at all....unless you prefer them for comfort?
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
karemore55
last year
A little quieter?
everdebz
last year
Same 'chalky' look as your saying piece... ? any resemblance to your counter?
Bassett Mirror Hand-Painted Canvas Copper Vase · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/bassett-mirror-hand-painted-canvas-copper-vase-prvw-vr~126488619
Debra Zarkivach thanked everdebz
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
Karemore I love the teal ones you posted above. I think they would work for me.
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
I just noticed that chair pad is outdoor use. So I am thinking that may be that rough material. Yes, I do want chair pads. Just not those real thick ones.
karemore55
last year
I'm pretty sure the material won't feel rough...and possibly the outdoor type might have that scotchguard type finish so that spills and spots are easy to wipe? But I'm not sure, how close is IKEA to you? I wi dear if it's too early in the season to go check them out? You might have to wait a month or so, unless they carry them year round.
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Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
Karemore, Would this work?
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
karemore55
last year
Oh, that's very pretty - do you mean as a bouquet for your vase? I think it would look great!
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
karemore55
last year
Not the greatest visual, but you can see how the bits of yellow in some of the flowers picks up in the wall color and also the yellow of the vase. And the flowers look very lovely with the placemats.
Debra Zarkivach thanked karemore55
everdebz
last year
last modified: last year
I happen to love the bouquet colors, soft as can be...not with taxicab yellow which is a shouting color.
Debra Zarkivach thanked everdebz
everdebz
last year
last modified: last year
In a kitchen ya have metal finish, so how about a subtle not shiny metal vase, or pale neutral glass vase... flowers alone have color. :)
Debra Zarkivach thanked everdebz
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
How does this look?
everdebz
last year
Inviting. In person if it's strong yellow-green might be almost 'hot' a color. If you like it, I'm ok!
Debra Zarkivach thanked everdebz
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
What do you think of these?
Debra Zarkivach
Original Author
last year
Or should I stick with Teal? I bought 6 teal ones today and they are too small.
everdebz
last year
Does your kitchen have any other colors - not sure if it'll be mostly teal?

I like karemore's Ikea cushion which lessens strength of teal with pattern including a light color. From here anyway, I don't really like the vase with pale romantic colors. No flowers have to match, but if it's permanent I just don't see the mix with vase and teal.... maybe identical shapes/ simpler of tulips of idk medium yellow? and cushions patterned with teal, yellows, etc... and not hard to find either.
everdebz
last year
I looked above at your post without flowers - maybe this one?

https://www.pier1.com/2-pack-chevron-multi-dining-contour-cushion-/3931931.html#q=chair%2520cushions&origin=gridswatch
everdebz
last year
To be honest, if you wanted pattern or interest to be seen near printed wall piece, you could add placemats in a soft sort of look/pattern. And more solid or karemore's bit of patterned teal on chairs below.
everdebz
last year
https://www.pier1.com/tufted-standard-contour-chair-cushion-in-tacori-leaf/3158620.html#q=chair%2520cushions&origin=gridswatch
everdebz
last year
Says chunky texture - for simple florals on top - some "forbid" grasses or eucalyptus [a blue-green much like placemats] but option.

https://www.pier1.com/tufted-standard-contour-chair-cushion-in-tacori-leaf/3158620.html#q=chair%2520cushions&origin=gridswatch
everdebz
last year
Pattern clearanced at $7.50 and good reviews. Might have the wall paint color, a cue from them about good blending.

https://www.pier1.com/dining-chair-cushion-in-paisley-cobalt/3260127.html#q=chair%2520cushions&origin=gridswatch

This old old unfinished kitchen

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