I would go with a light maple floor especially if you are going dark on the counters. I think it will make the kitchen feel more open than a dark floor.

I would not paint the countertops. They are fine the way they are. Brown counters with a wood look floor could overdo the brown. Painted counters is a short term solution to truly bad looking counters - a solution that often does not last.

You really have a nice, functioning kitchen. Put aside some money when possible for new counters. Black laminate can be very inexpensive if you want dark counters. Do look into under cabinet lighting if you do dark counter - though I love my under cabinet lighting and my counters are light.

I have a wood kitchens idea book that might give you some ideas:

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75202366/thumbs/wood-kitchens

I’d go with a light multicolored vinyl wood plank. Something with a gray, white and light brown mixture to tie together the white countertops and maple colored cabinets. I do NOT recommend dark colored wood vinyl. I put it in my house and it shows every speck of everything. I sweep multiple times a day. I have a lighter color wood vinyl plank in my bedroom and it doesn’t show dirt

NO NO NO to painting the counters , as for the floors what is in the rest of the living area vinyl plank next to real wood is a bad choice.

Please, don't paint the counters, especially not in a dark color. You have decent granite slabs that are not expensive and I think you can find them at your local granite fabricator. They also almost always have some specials so you may even find a nice quartz. But whatever you do, I would not go for a dark countertop color. Regarding the floor, your wooden cabinets deserve better than a vinyl plank. Hardwood or porcelain tile (there are some nice wood-look porcelain tile patterns available) would look and perform much better in the long run.

so it sounds like the consensus is to leave the countertops White. I don't like the countertops but I guess that will have to be for now. Unless someone can think of a nice color that I could put on there. Somebody else had asked about other flooring if you look at the one picture there's tile gray carpet and linoleum then the living room has a cream carpet. So none of it is uniform and linoleum gray carpet tile would all be replaced with the vinyl plank. Next year or the year after we would replace the carpet in the living room. If anybody has any other suggestions on how I can update the kitchen to make it more modern and not 1990s please let me know

replace the maroon paint with something neutral, or even white!

I could paint it the same color as the other wall (a light tan).

If that is a flooring sample in your above pic, consider something more like the pics posted by nancy in first post - unless it is too late. Your vinyl planks look "barn wood" which is a passing trend and not quite right color wise. One that particular floor is down, you will find you need to paint your cabinets - and I am not a big pusher of painting wood cabinets.

Take your time. Looking at countertops can be fun - start a little fund and put some money away each month. I did that to eventually get my quartz and apron front sink. When my husband and I first moved into out home, we did inexpensive fixes like vinyl flooring - most of which had to be redone in 5 to 10 years. We learned to save up and do more timeless, less trendy surfaces in good materials. My house is neither on trend nor hopelessly dated - but in a style I like.

I had gray carpet for years - it is a neutral that goes with many things and even worked in my warm toned home, but it was not busy like vinyl plank can be. We eventually replaced all the carpet and vinyl with hardwood and where appropriate, tile.

We already bought the floor. We went around to 4 different places in town (not much to choose from unless we wanted to drive 4 hours one way) and this was the best we could find. Of course unless we wanted dark floors, which I didn't. The samples that we were given were 4"x4". Hardly big enough to see lay down and look at. I think we will just need to concede to the fact that the cabinets will need to be replaced. Eventually. We painted our dark stained cabinets in our first home white. They looked great, but man it was a PITA and I don't want to go through that again!

Paint the cabinets and not the counter. And really don't paint the counter speckled brown ; (

following ...

I would suggest painting the red wall a shade of white and continue throughout the kitchen. Since you already purchased the new flooring I would wait to paint the cabinets (Hard NO on painting the countertop). Live with the new lighter walls and new flooring and then make your next move.

some more pictures from the kitchen and dining area into the laundry room as you can see the floors are mismatched so that's the biggest upgrade if you will this year. The closet that you see we bought white bi-fold doors and we'll put white trim around that to match the windows that we replaced a few years ago that are all white trim. Each year we try doing something so it's always a work in progress if you will.

Paint the red/burgundy walls. Update the light fixture over the kitchen window,. Update the red/burgundy garbage can to a stainless. Update the dish towels, by changing the color from red. Put in a backsplash. These things will help bring it out of the 90's.

I don't mean to sound harsh saying this, but I don't think the floor is the problem.

There's a lot going on here. You have a giant red and black locker and a bluish/greyish rug under your kitchen/dining room table. And stuff kind of everywhere.

I would declutter first. Take everything off the refrigerator and take down the 7 papers that are on the wall next to that. Can you get something better for storage than the red and black locker? I really think that is the eyesore.

Paint the red/maroon wall the same color as the lighter color above the chair rail in your eating area. Replace the light fixture above your window and your pendants with more modern pieces. Replace the pleated shade above your window with either a roman shade or a roller shade, or if you don't need the privacy leave the window open. Replace the curtains with something more decorative. Get a nice, stainless garbage can, or if you have space under the sink, put it there instead. Your barstools and table look a bit dated so if it's in the budget, I would replace those as well.

Do not paint the countertops. I think you will hate the result.

My kids were little once and I always felt better when my house was in order. I know it's hard when they're really little, but even little things like taking the mess of papers of the refrigerator made a big difference to me. It will make you look at your kitchen and say it's not as bad as you thought it was.

Not harsh at all. The table and chairs are staying. Those were my husbands grandparents before he was born, then his parents and now ours. In style or not. The stools are the ONLY things we found that fit under that counter and it barely fits my kids. The red and black locker is where they keep boots, snowpants, backpacks etc. Unless I want them in a tub or on the floor. The 7 things on the wall I could update but it's used as a chore chart from one day to the next and also to keep our sanity with meal prep, sports, dr appt. So on. Yes, I will declutter the fridge some. I would love to update the lights. I think that would do wonders. Especially if I could get rid of that stupid florescent one. Garbage can has gotta go from what i hear. Paint the wall. Don't paint the counters.

If we did SOME backsplash what would look nice?

agree w/what cholebud stated. can you paint the stools a glossy enamel? maybe black, white or whatever color you're going to accent with?

while you're at it, spray the lockers. that red is so bad,,,i'm sorry. paint it all black, white, green,,anything but that red. invest in a few cans of rust oleum, take it outside, tape it off and spray.

The chart. how about you and the kids make a project with some cork board? make a big chore chart, frame it w/spare wood, or even cheap molding from HD. paint it and hang it on the wall in that hall next to the locker. Or, turn it longways and hang where it is now. if you did it in one cohesive color, it's less chaotic.

much nicer. or, get a spare piece of wood or an old picture, spray w/chalkboard paint

take everything off the fridge and make a station for it somewhere else.

maybe try something like this on that long hallway wall

You're asking how to make things better. painting your countertop w/speckles is only going to add to the commotion. so, that's a no.

backsplash. maybe. you said you have no money. do you know how to tile? even DIY could cost a few hundred.

a cheaper way is to get vinyl bead board, paint it and use that. about $50

wall color...red has to go

over the sink. you can buy a cheap metal light similar to this shape at home depot.

try these first, take more pics and lets see.

If you want a more contemporary look, I would paint the cabinets, with darker lowers and white uppers. If you did a medium gray or dark blue lower cabinet, the white countertops won’t look too bad and it could tide you over until you can afford better countertops. A darker vinyl plank or grayish wood plank would compliment it well.

The backsplash is going to depend upon what else you will do in the kitchen.

Backsplash comes after counters unless it is a temp backsplash like wallpaper, stencil, peel and stick or similar - something easy to remove. I don't generally like faux products, but the paintable textured beadboard wallpaper beth mentioned is a nice product ($20 Lowes). It can tear if hit hard enough - but unlikely in a backsplash. I've repaired tears with spackle, but it is so easy to put up that you could replace a piece if needed. It also comes in a tin tile look. There are a lot of temporary backsplash out there - just don't do a small tile mosaic - way too busy for most kitchens - especially one already busy with a family:)

I've seen online peel and stick subway, hex, and arabesque tile. I don't know what they look like close up - and there is noting wrong with a painted backsplash.

We do think you should replace the floors, however we do agree with the comments saying not to paint the countertops.

we still need to put up the moulding, but it's amazing how this brightens this up!

what did you think about the advice for the project center/ chore chart pictures?

I like the idea of changing it. Not sure to what yet. One thing at a time lol

I love your maple cabinets! They're in good shape. If keep the lockers paint them to match walls. Or to basement. Go with a light floor u picked. I'm thinking of vinyl kitchen floor too.

well people I took your advice and changed out that red wall. I also moved the microwave and the coffee pot. Hopefully we can start on the floors in a week and a half when vacation starts

That looks good :) Hey for safety, please put paper towels at the sink.

We do move them when we cook. :-)

I was going to say, you need black and white squares for that kitchen floor? But you have the floor. The white wall, counter, and other is so pretty. You don't need barstools for a dropped down surface, you just need chairs. Maybe when you children grow in a few years you will find some cute black chairs to put there? I wish wish I had dropped my bar (counter height) now...a nice chair is way less expensive than a counter height bar stool. You can get some 'milking stools' to make them work better ? LOL Go for some black and white gingham check curtain valance and towels and such. Really nice kitchen!! You won't need to paint the cabinets at all, just bring in some holstein cow decor? LOL and the barnwood will be right at home. The nicest kitchens for a family have that barnwood theme going strong. If you like red, you could even do some burlap color window tiers with that red bandana valance? and follow that thru with your chair cushions or table accents, especially at Christmas time? That barnwood will give you license to use reds, blacks, whites and burlap/linen for fun ways for many years.

Liz K, what a great improvement the paint job did!! Looks so much better, looking forward to additional pics as your project moves forward-

We have started!!! Please excuse the mess. I'm thinking turquoise shear curtains on the patio door? Paint the glass on the light fixtures a turquoise also? I would like to get an area rug to put under the table to help with some noise in the room but I'm not sure? What very cheap design ideas could I do? We spent a lot of money on the floor so I don't have much left over to play with.

Brylanehome.com has sheers on sale. Turq. is pretty. I know white with sun glares! Get a 7 or 8 ft rug,so chairs stay on. Get it with blues/gray or blues/ off white in it.