Hi Angela,

Fun project!

What is your budget?

The peninsula isn't odd, it's just awkward because of the poor fridge location and lack of an overhang. You can reface the cabinets, but refacing or repainting typically costs almost as much as new cabinets. Consider IKEA if you're looking for cost-effective cabinets.

Janie Gibbs, my budget is unlimited but obviously I'd like to keep the costs down as much as possible and not spend like I have unlimited funds. We've got a lot of projects all at once with the opening up of our great room wall.

Sina, where else can the fridge go? I'm cool with cost effective Ikea cabinets. That sounds like a good option.

Great view! What is in the room where the kids table is? The room where the couch is---is that an entry door?

If you're taking the wall down behind the sink, I would lose the peninsula, move the fridge to the end of the cabinet run so it's closest to the living room, or put in a cabinet pantry at the end. You might have room for a small island (depending on measurements) or if you want you can put a peninsula on the sink side.

Do you have enough storage that you could get rid of the peninsula? It doesn't look like you have enough room to turn it into an island (at least an island of a size anyone would want).

Sina's comment about the awkwardly placed refrigerator made me wonder whether the peninsula would make more sense on the other side, starting from near the sink and leaving the opening by the fridge. I'm not sure whether that could be pulled off with a rearrangement of the existing cabinetry, and might have implications for the flooring. But I think it would work better.

ETA: Hah! Sina and I cross-posted, but it seems we're thinking in the same direction.

A waterfall countertop is usually done with quartz countertops which are more expensive than granite. And the expensive waterfall feature does not go with the traditional arched cabinet door style you have. The layout is also backwards. If you are having a pennisula it should come from the sink end and so not drag everyone through the kitchen on the way to the refrigerator. This design and doorstyle are not really worth investing significant money into. New well made cabinetry in a better design could be under 10K so skipping that cost but spending on everything else and painting out of date cabinetry would be a poor investment.

I agree that the kitchen isn't that bad so I'd live with it as is until you can afford to do the project right and so get your investment back when you sell.

Main Line- The cabinets are out of here for sure. I'm going with flat faced modern cabinets. I wasn't going to just paint the old ones, but have new ones made to match the dimensions of the existing base. And of course this was all an idea and hypothetical because I have no idea if you can actually do that and if that is a thing so that's why I wanted to ask the good people of Houzz. But I think someone's suggestion with Ikea sounds economical. I would never spend a bunch of money on granite and leave those awful cabinets. I'm not blind! :)

I agree with Main. This is a HUGE project, floor repair, electrical, etc.

Personally, I'd swap out the track light with LED, update the faucet, add under cabinet lighting, maybe even update the backsplash just for now and wait until you can do the whole thing the way you want.

Do you have a collection of inspiration photos?

Once you are buying new cabinetry it makes no sense to keep a bad layout or any old cabinetry. Most places that sell cabinetry will help you design the kitchen free of charge. They may require a deposit but the deposit will be applied towards the cost of the cabinetry. So finding a reasonably priced location to buy cabinetry with an experienced designer would be the best move. Below are places we recommend around the US.

https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/recommended-kitchen-designers-cabinet-dealers-outside-service-area/

Since you like contemporary styling IKEA works, but they employ the least experienced designers and there are better values in cabinetry out there. I'd go to a Lowes or Home Depot if I couldn't find a better choice close to home.

Yes I think a trip to Lowe's, Home Depot or local cabinet place are in order for cabinet/layout/design etc...!

DO NOT let a cabinet salesperson design the kitchen though. HD, Lowes, their goal is to sell you more cabinets, not create a good kitchen design but you can always talk with them.

Sina -Ahhh Good call! Thanks I appreciate the tip.

My suggestion is to spend some time here creating an idea of what you like, then a trip to a few nicer kitchen shops and appliance stores. Stepping outside your norm will give you a chance to see options you might not have thought of. I often look on line at homes many beyond my budget to see options and ideas. Another good idea is to mentally walk though a day using the space you have what bothers you and can be changed, ie worth the cost and hassle.

Your kitchen is currently cleaner than mine...

First thing I'd want to do is remove that soffit above the peninsula. (Assuming you can... what's running up in there?) I'm not fond of tract lighting either. You do want to improve your layout (assuming you have the funds), and the best way is for you to take measurements, provide pictures and diagrams, and bring those to the Kitchen Forum. I'd avoid making cosmetic changes (other than the soffit and the lighting .. which should not be impacted by formats or layouts) until you can decide that you CAN make layout changes...

Anglophilia, I definitely think a true kitchen designer is in order here! Especially because this will be an expensive undertaking that calls for a professional.

Cool, Anglophilia. I didn't get a KD for my new kitchen because I (like you) didn't trust HD or other big boxes on doing it, and nor did I seem (as far as I know/knew) to have a KD in this area not associated with a line or so of products that I'd be forced into choosing from. Instead, I basically utilized the resources here at the Kitchen Forum to hone down some of my thought processes, and they helped me make a better kitchen than I would otherwise have created on my own. (Under counter drawers; ice, water, stone, fire; landing spot before fridge, induction range, a prep sink, even the brand of sink I went with... a few other things like the entry to the pantry...) Yes, I didn't take every bit of advice, but I certainly appreciated it all.

If I knew of a reliable KD in my area who I knew up front (this is hard to determine...) wasn't promoting his or her own line, I may have considered. And again, as long as I have the choice to do certain specific elements to my own needs, after fully considering suggestions I will usually take, a KD could be very useful.

EDIT: As of this date, are there things I wish I had done that I neglected? No. Well, discounting the things the GC didn't do that I requested, but I'm so done with 98% of the build (most right but ... ) that I no longer care about those little specific things... place for vertical pans... the amount of drawers vs cabs I originally specified... I gotta remain focused elsewhere.

Thinking that kitchen designers are trying to sell you more cabinetry at home centers is paranoid. Neither Lowes nor Home depot pays their kitchen designers commission. Most independent dealers do pay designers commission however being a successful kitchen designer requires creating great designs. Jamming too many cabinets into a small space is what good kitchen designs are usually trying to convince customers NOT to do.

Most customers want as much storage as possible. Often at the expense of good design which is why as kitchen designers we are usually trying to sell them less and not more cabinetry.

Avoiding getting professional design help and help determining how to effectively spend within your budget IE what cabinets, countertops, appliances, and other materials are the best fit for you is nearly always a mistake. Our blog and videos below try to help people understand this in a humorous way.

https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/ikea-effect-physiological-phenomenon-drives-kitchen-designers-crazy/

I DID have a "true kitchen designer". He just happened to also be the owner of the store. He was very much a "pro". Not all. "Pro" kitchen designers are freelance. This particular shop has 3-4 designers in staff. And yes, they do also sell the two cabibet lines the store reps. I think most cystomers go either them, but I'm sure done take their $1000 CAD plan and the cabinet specs and then buy elsewhere. They do own the plan and estimate.

Ok you guys, first thanks so much for your advice. I’ve lived with this kitchen for a couple years so it’s my normal, if you will. I now see the light. It’s a weird layout. That’s going to change. I’m going to move the refrigerator to the space to the left and build a wall out to the left side so you dont see the side of the fridge so like it’s built in. Then a flush wall of cabinets will go to the right of the fridge because right now, those countertops are wasted space. The peninsula will come out from the sink side and will have a waterfall overhang for a couple of stools.

See my inspiration photos for the vision

Ok let’s hear the feedback now

A reverse kitchen of my idea

A photo of my kitchen!