abbycat9990 - Thanks. I like it, but I'm a darker floor person.

marinashapiro - I would change the paint to a brighter neutral before doing any demo just to see how the room looks.

NicoleHis first choice was the Gunstock finish, but we asked him to reconsider. :)

So after reading this thread, I think you should keep them overall, although some might need to be replaced because of your changes to the layout. They have the functionality that you need - including the drawers for pots and pans. Do the cosmetics. In my opinion, it costs a fortune to replicate the good quality of yesterday with the good quality of today and today's quality might not match yesterday's.

Take off a door and carry it to the room next door that you'll be opening the kitchen to. See how the door looks in the skylighted room with lots of windows that has so much more light than the kitchen. Take a photo or two.

You can paint the red walls with white primer now. It will change the appearance of the cabinet wood because there will no longer be red reflections.

keep, you can do a lot with that color/style.

I'd keep the cabinets, I'd rather replace the floor tiles than anything else in the kitchen. To what exactly-I'd have to think, and consider lots of things it'll entail

after I knew my flooring I'd think about counters, backsplash, and wall color

I agree with those who've noted that wood slab fronts are coming around again. However, they're coming around in a modern way, with integrated appliances, which you'd have to have panels made for. How are the interiors? Do they have good organizational tools, drawer dividers, pull outs? Do they suit your storage needs? If they've got all this, I'd work with them. If not or if you don't want to commission matching panels for your appliances, I'd donate them and start fresh.

Thank you so much for the comments. I am so glad that I found this community willing to provide advice. The interiors are fine. There is a lot of room for storage, shelves, multiple drawers for pots and spices and despite the small countertop space, I've cooked many meals and deserts so the space is functional.

Sophie Wheeler thank you for the inspiration photos. Wow.

If keeping the cabinets - how would you envision the countertop, backsplash and the floor (wood?)? I am more of a classic, simple, timeless look person. The house is a split level, 60s house. Wood floors throughout the house, except for bathrooms. I am also not sure if I would be able to match the wood cabinet for the peninsula once the wall comes off. Does the wood cabinets of the peninsula need to match the cabinets or could be different?

Thank you again for all your suggestions!

Are you sure a peninsula won't crowd the dining area too much. Compromising a dining room via a kitchen expansion is one of my personal pet peeves. I'm thinking that a small island is probably the better option and you won't have to try to perfectly match the existing cabs.

I'd just do a solid white. Probably glacier white corian. I'm not a quartz fan.

This is a kitchen from a design article from this year. Look at the cabinets :-)

Nice cabinets. Would keep the cabinets as is, myself, however, you could consider adding hardware -- knobs tand/or handles if you don't like them plain and want a change. Would focus on the countertop, backsplash and walls.

A solid color countertop to replace the solid color Formica would be a good idea. The red wall suggests you like bold colors so you might consider one for new countertop and use a much lighter shade of the same solid color for your backsplash -- or do the reverse.

As someone else suggested, unless you're left handed, would change the door hinge on the fridge to be on the left side.

Would not prefer wood floor in the kitchen to what you have as long as your flooring is in good shape.

Not sure of your intentions regarding opening up the area between kitchen and dining. Just some thoughts: You need not necessarily match the wood in the kitchen to add an island or create a new penninsula or bar/countertop between the two rooms.

If you want more storage space and/or countertop space and/or are considering opening up a wall between kitchen/dining, you could focus on making that new bar/countertop addition be more like furniture that goes well with your dining room set rather than try to match the kitchen cabinets.

Something with wood panneling not unlike this wood bar, but specifically matching the wood in your dining set (ignoring the wall in the back), with or without a curve; alternately, choosing the same wood you use for your bar to also wainscoat your dining room.

You could build your new bar between posts if you have a weight bearing wall), with a lower countertop on the kitchen side -- using the same countertop you choose for your kitchen renno on both.

Another (in my view less desirable) alternative, depending upon the style of your dining room set, might be to go all bold black and glass and metal modern for a bar between kitchen and diining.

benjesbride Thank you for the inspiration. I love this look and the white countertop. It makes the kitchen look clean and classic. I will need to have the seating space as I have two teenagers and groups of their friends who frequently crush my kitchen for a meal or a dessert - so a peninsula would be preferred but you are right, I need to check on the measurements vs the space in the dining room.

suezbell Thank you. Love you your suggestions. I don't like that burgundy wall paint. It came with the house. I will repaint the walls to a light neutral. I like your idea of matching the peninsula to the dining room. I was planning to have a dining table made from scratch and perhaps I can match the table to the peninsula. The fridge's hinge is already on the left. I ordered a special model and changed the direction of the fridge door so I can open the fridge properly. I also like the idea of adding hardware to the doors. I see most of the photos have these.

What kind of floor is preferred? I definitely have traffic in the kitchen and a dog but would like to balance the quality with the functionality.

I would keep them. Likely much better quality than what you're willing to pay to replace them with.

I do like these cabinets; if that was my kitchen, I would embrace mid century modern. The appliance garage would go as well as the table and chairs. Since you plan to remove the wall into the dining room, you'll have a lot opportunities to reinforce a MCM look with artwork, wall finishes, lighting fixtures, furniture, etc.

What might look cool is, if possible, is to remove the integral pulls and replace them with a horizontal strip of walnut. Repeat the walnut on the 'shelf' (cabinet top) but a wider band than what is there now.

I really like the cabinets and think you should keep them. Look into different styles of hardware. Since you have stainless steel appliance you could get a really nice metal design. That would definitely give it some bling and an updated modern look.

I wouldn’t add hardware since you have integrated hand grips.

I also think adding hardware to cabinet fronts that already have integrated pulls is a mistake.

I agree with benjesbride. Just a clean white countertop. I would carry the hardwood flooring into the kitchen for one cohesive space. My sister has hardwood in her kitchen and loves it. I do too. It's so comfortable to stand on and it holds up well.

I would keep them as is and carry your hardwood through the kitchen. That with opening the wall will be an immediate transformation.

Will you keep a stub wall to the left of the fridge? What’s the distance from the edge of the sink counter to the fridge? What’s your DR dimensions?

..another vote for clean white/off-white/some sort of white countertop-indeed. Corian would be a great choice..also Quartz can be considered as it can be very clean-looking and unassuming as well. Basically, a twist on what you have now, maybe with more options for backsplash (even though I might forego backsplash, at all do just three inch one. I love tiles though, if you love tiles too, clean counter gives you lots of possibilities to introduce colors/patterns if so inclined)

I, personally, prefer partial openness to completely open floor plan but that depends on how your family lives, of course.

The more open it is the more it suggests trying to continue the hardwood into the kitchen. (which would be pretty in any case..and easier to stand on.)

If different tiles..or solid surface..I need to think. For some reason I see light grayish/greenish/or blue-ish-black(like in slate) color, if it's not hardwood.

a hint on your house's style? how you'd define it?

In the minority, but I would not hesitate a second to get rid of them

I would think the saturated burgundy paint is closing in on you.

oh then I'm a bit proud of myself-I was thinking between ranch and split-level

(I'm stuck on a book on architectural styles in USA..don't ask..))

subway... if we talking 3 by 6..not sure..smaller squares come to mind-but then with your layout you're looking at too many cuts..so, something narrower and longer maybe? elongated hexagon? two by eights? two by fours?

I googled some images ..for inspiration..I guess these are more recent takes on mcm backsplashes style

https://www.google.com/search?q=mid+century+modern+backsplashes&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiRpvDr8M_dAhUjxoMKHb3MC9UQsAR6BAgGEAE&biw=1366&bih=626#imgrc=_

(some I love more, some less..usual thing. not everything that comes up in a search is worth repeating)

I love both blues and greens and their variations for your kitchen.

It can be white too, but wouldn't make it 3 by 6..would follow the same idea of smaller tiles, either longer maybe, or introducing a pattern because of their shape.

Usually, the more I like the tile the more expensive it is. It's not a big space. But again, one should allow for cuts..it adds cost, and can have great influence on how the backsplash will look. And you need to try and picture ahead of a time how it'll look. In your space. Try to simulate it, while you're choosing. Ask for samples, and all. Trace the tiles and repeat on a piece of paper if needed. Some tiles that look amazing in larger kitchens won't have same effect in smaller ones..they need more space to shine.

So after you narrow your inspiration-you'll need to decide whether it'll work for your kitchen.

obviously flooring will play a role..has to be picked before anything else.

Also it'll depend on how much you like geometrical shapes in general. I think straighter lines for your kitchen, more "hard" shapes, less fluid lines..say, if we take a flower and a star-your kitchen, it'll choose a star. Or so I think.

Sorry for probably not making much sense right now.

I do love your cabinets. They were just paired with wrong flooring, at some point. Happens very often.

ETA: yes..I'm also thinking maybe best to leave the backsplash white..greens and blues are very tempting of course.

I think you have time to figure it out. When you start changing other elements, it'll come to you more clearly. Nothing will happen if you don't install backsplash immediately

(said april who picked her backsplash first lol. )

I love your cabinets, paint wall a white warm tone.

If you want to do a backsplash in the kitchen, I would do something a little more interesting than subway. You can stick with white but I think an elongated hexagon would add a lot more interest. You could go either vertical or horizontal.

Are there any other shapes in your house like an octagonal window or something that can guide you to a shape of white backsplash tile like kat suggested?

Here's a fun triangle backsplash

I like the elongated hexagon. There are no shapes in the house:) I like the triangle as well - wondering how it stays clean with such a deep indent. I can see the direction. There isn't much space for the backsplash - it would be great to make it stand out a bit without being overbearing

Her's another wood kitchen with a backsplash that might inspire. Seems stylistically appropriate for a 60s split. https://anttile.com/alexander-home-kitchen-a-classic-white-triangle-tile-backsplash/

Using a colored grout would help it stand out. Here are some options. https://tilegrout.com.au/mapei-grout-colour-chart/

I would keep them.

They appear to be good quality and good quality cabinets are expensive.

I also would not try to make them something that they are not.

Simple modern style cabinets do not need molding or pulls or anything actually.

Painting would be okay, but it will make them a bit more work to maintain.

And painting must be done right.

You can do it yourself, but it will take time and work as well as research and practice.

Also keep in mind that not everything needs to be matchy matchy. It just has to look right.

marina - are you interested in talking through the options to increase your counterspace and seating? If you don't want to post a sketch of your kitchen/dining that's cool, I just wanted to mention I'm still interested in helping with that as Im sure others are as well.

You could start a new "opening up kitchen/dining wall" type of thread if you don't want more keep/replace opinions :-)

You mention that you like dark wall colors, but the kitchen does seem a bit dark. Would you consider leaving the cabinets as they are, painting the kitchen walls white to match the back splash, and painting the kitchen ceiling a light blue-grey to match the sofa in the next room? This change in color scheme could help the décor of your house flow better from room to room.