I will add I’m open to painting my cabinets.

BUILT IN MICROWAVE
ENGINEERING FLOORING
NOT LAMINATE..

If I do wood flooring it will be 3/4” thick red oak as other floors.

SURE THAT WILL B THE RIGHT WAY. TO DO TO. KEEP THE SAME LEVEL...
HIRE A PROFESSIONAL INSTALLERS SO THEY WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO

Yes, I wasn’t sure about the microwave I thought maybe wouldn’t look as bad without the back on the stove. My plan was to carefully try to remove the 4” back and put up some sort of temporary backsplash until we can afford counter tops. I am considering painting cabinets grey or the peninsula grey or or navy. I need some quirk in here but not sure what. Any input is appreciated!

Food for thought . . . can you live without a microwave? Like you, I have very limited counter space. I didn't want a microwave on the counter but didn't like it over the range either. Decided to live without one for awhile. It's been four years and I rarely miss it. Turns out all I ever used it for was reheating coffee and defrosting chicken breasts. Something to consider.

Why not leave the 4" splash until you can get new counter tops? You can always add a piece of stainless steel behind the stove temporarily and then replace everything with a new backsplash when you do your counters. IMO, I would leave the cabinets white and add paint to the peninsula (is it a peninsula or an island?). Perhaps just a small counter top microwave?

It’s kinda both - it used to just be a 1/2 wall separating kitchen from family room. So you see it as you walk in front door from hallway.

In the right of the picture is that stack of drawers next to fridge.

Changing that cabinet hardware would make a big difference!

Thanks! Definitely changing hardware I just started looking. This one seems a little boring? I am also looking for hinges.

I would get the hinges changed to hidden hinges. We did ours, actually hired a handyman who did an excellent job, and what a difference for such a small amount of money.

Any more ideas I can do in here? I will have to repaint cabinets anyways since I want the hidden hinges so old holes need to be filled in. Now my husband is complaining he wants tile floor because dogs go in and out that kitchen door and it will be getting wet and snowy. He actually sees nothing wrong with one we have - hah! Does anyone think that would look okay? I originally had visions of gutting the whole place but that’s not gonna happen. I’ve been without a dishwasher and microwave since November. Another pic from entry that shows floor changes. Help

Shameless bumping here . What if I moved that tall rack of drawers over to the right to end of soffit and put a spacer piece to fill gap? This way I could get a 36” fridge counter depth for basically same price as 33” counter depth.

Pic for reference

As an alternative or accent border for your kitchen walls
and/or backsplash, you might want to consider an easy-to-install adhesive
approach for wall tiles that’s much less costly and time consuming, yet stylish
and enhanced with dimensional textures. Sometimes the small details can
really make a design. Check out a few ideas here https://www.houzz.com/projects/1262017/kitchen-backsplash

IMO, the bar pulls are so overdone. I don't like them on drawers either, because they're easy to catch pockets on. Look at Jeffrey Alexander hardware. It's reasonably priced and I used it in my kitchen and both bathrooms.

You'll want to look at manufacturers specs on the appliances before you decide to go larger. They need some breathing room, so you'll want to be sure you have what's needed.

Your tiles are pretty neutral and not terrible. If you want to keep them, consider having the grout dyed and sealed so it's closer to the tile color. It's amazing what a difference it make.

I'd keep the cabinets all in white and use accessories and wall color to brighten it up. If the peninsula were free standing, I would say go ahead and paint it but since its not, I think white is the better choice.

Thank you for the hardware tip I think you are right those handles are overdone I will look at ones you suggested. The tile has always looked pink to me. I scheduled a to get a quote for wood for Friday. The whole fridge thing I keep going back and forth because the smaller fridge is actually more money and less features.

Hardwood can be fine but you'll need a good rug to catch drips/dirt near the door.

Any size appliance out of the ordinary always costs more. As long as you have the room, why not get the larger size?

I have 36 1/8 open space for fridge if I take off the little counter and put on a piece that will sit flush with the edge of it. Whole kitchen was put together by a handyman I think for a quick flip.

I would remove the doors on the upper drawer column and leave open and fill with large baskets to store things, then remove the cabinet above the microwave and replace with a fun SS groovy hood, then remove some of the drawers to the right of the fridge and install a small, sleek SS microwave. Keep the tile for now and just add fun washable rugs for the dogs and paint the whole kitchen a warm white and live with it.....

this feel with SS pulls and lighting and some grey in island.....

Fun hood simple backspash, oven in wall to right of stove.

I had thought about removing those two top drawers for a microwave - they have stuff I really don’t need in them anyways. There is also a outlet already in there since it used to have a wall oven in it. Thanks - you are giving me hope!

It's a great idea to remove the top two drawers for the microwave! I think removing the doors might make it sit too high.

I'm not sure 1/8" is enough room for the fridge. The manufacturer's specs will tell you how much room you need on either side.

We are going to look at refrigerators again tonight. I did find the GE 36” actual measures 35.75 and the kitchenaid was 35.625. If I do the GE package deal I can order the bigger and if it doesn’t work I can send it back for the 33”. They keep telling me at the store it will fit.

Just get the model numbers of the ones that interest you and look up the manufacturer's specs. Don't take the sales people's word that it will fit.

Ok we looked again and the 33” wide counter depth is just crazy small inside and shelves are really not adjustable. I don’t see I living with this small. The bigger kitchenaid counter depth measured 35.625 and requires per manufacturer a 36” cut out which I have without that piece of counter top. So I’m gonna do it - the inside is also so much better made than the Ge 33”. They have the black stainless on display which is soooo tempting! I love contrast and it looks so much easier to keep clean but I know everyone says go stainless

Sounds like you found the perfect fridge. I know the black stainless is tempting but if that thing goes bad in 3-5 years and they no longer make the black stainless, you're going to be stuck with something that doesn't match your other appliances. I really think stainless is just safer.

Well, I’m back again. I finally took off the little counter top and reconsidering the bigger size. Is it gonna make the whole kitchen look even more crowded? It won’t stick out as far with the counter depth but that’s only a few inches anyways. Does it look like it would look really bad with the wider fridge? Maybe I should get a vending machine instead - lol!

Oops forgot photos looks like

Hey Janet! If you are thinking about changing up your hardware i would suggest checking out some of Century Hardware's collections. Changing up your hardware is an easy way to add a pop of color to your kitchen without being super labor intensive!