I agree it’s the moldings in the kitchen and on the interior door that are less modern than you like. You have great style though.

I’m not a pro, but certainly an idea person. Can you remove the cross moldings on that interior door and paint it? Do you have a lot of oak throughout the house? You might be starting a project you don’t want by changing it in one place.

The fussy busy floor tile and lights, and other visually complex details are what is detracting from the modern simplicity of the great natural wood and calm white Modern Zen rest of the house. Add some solid colored rugs to obscure the tile until you can afford to change it. You need simpler shapes for the lighting and other accessories. The wood is the very essence of the house. It’s what sets off the white calm of the rest. If it weren’t wood, the house would be cold and sterile.

Live oak, The OP just added that “fussy busy floor tile”. That kind of killed the zen of your post. I would not try to alter the crown molding or cabinet doors, it could end up being a nightmare. Everything looks great the way it is, to me. Enjoy the river.....

I like your cabinets.

It's the floor that doesn't fit in. While I'd like it in a different house, it doesn't seem to fit in with everything else.

I like it all....very nicely done, even the tile floor (which I think you picked as replacement?). Maybe paint that oak door white so it doesn’t stand out so much.

In the kitchen, the crown molding doesn’t say modern.....maybe change that to a less traditional look.

What about painting the crown molding black?

Black molding- traditional style but the black modernizes it

try brushed chrome or brushed nickel hardware[not sure what was there] . the nice birch grain will pop a bit. Some lustre of metal will take a little play back from the floor and play off the floor........the floor is a little bossy right now. I think hardware and some green floor mats might do it. Lots easier than most other things. Its small-ish ...just keep it tidy ..it is what it is. Stiff is unclear description....small kitchens just can't be everything. Stiff is better than chaotic. You have some nice elements.

Paint the cabinets black, at least the lower ones. Beautiful home!

Thx for the comments! The floor looks busier in the pictures but I really like it. I agree about the crown molding. It doesn’t fit with the flat cabinet doors. The cabinets are red birch. The are about 20 years old but in great condition. The house has so many elements that are different styles that I have struggled on a direction.

I think it looks good. You could define things in the living room with more pattern and/or color but that's up to you. There's a lot of potential but how much are changes in the kitchen going to yield ?? when the living space of the whole area is large and has many ways to up the style quotient.

Your cabinets, crown, and doors are all beautiful. Please do not paint them. If you think more black is needed do it with accessories.

Great house. Don’t think I’d change anything.

Agree with Katie B; just paint the crown molding black. You could do a mockup pretty easily and give you an idea beforehand of what it would look like. I think it would be just what you need to pull it all together! Very cool house :)

Your kitchen is beautiful as is the structure of your house. I happen to love 70s clean lines like that, so I’d be embracing those features a bit more heavily throughout your home - but without going over the top. Since it sounds like you have a bit of cash to do this (judging by the fact you replaced the floor), I would:

1. Tear out the crown molding in the kitchen and replace with a simple run of wood matched as close as you can to the cabinets. I think a close enough match to the cabs is way better than painting black, which I think will look jarring in your house.

2. Get rid of the hanging lights throughout. These may be new purchases (sorry if they are!) but they scream to me “middle of the road 2020 design”. I’d replace with much, much cleaner lines.

3. I’d try and remove the molding from the oak doors and paint to match the trim, or I’d replace with paintable slab doors. That’s not an expensive job. I don’t mind the stain there, but I do mind the shaker - and I’m assuming new slab stained doors are more than you want to spend.

4. Any way you can remove all the moldings on the front door window area? Not sure if they’re in the glass or just sitting on top that a good carpenter could remove them. Those are really distracting for me, and very In conflict with the rest of the house. Essentially the last pic looks like it’s a totally different house than the first ones. The first ones all have super interesting style, while the last pic looks like it could be in a parade of homes in a new subdivision.

5. And finally, again hope this doesn’t sting, but the decor around the fireplace also feels firmly “2020 generic staged house”. Just the candlesticks and art above the fireplace. They’re perfectly nice, but really in stark contrast with the amazing cool style your house otherwise has.

In short, as you decorate the house, I’d be looking at places like room and board, cb2, Mitchell gold and vintage for inspiration, and not home goods, pottery barn and Arhaus.

BTW, love to see pics of the exterior.

Here is original kitchen and the kitchen when we bought it. And the last owners used clapboard in the exterior so it is less modern looking.

Cool house! You could spend a ton of money going modern with this house. In the meantime, can you remove the window muntins? Consider a new front door package, maybe.

oh, and paint.it.black.

Beautiful example! If only I had unlimited resources.

I like the cabinets and the crown molding, but I liked the old hardware a little bit better. The black is jarring to me. I love your new counters and backsplash. I am not a huge fan of the traditional floor tile, but I could live with it. Overall, I think it is a fabulous kitchen and I would stop worrying about it.

That was my cost-conscious example - paint, new door, remove muntins. 😬 I’m sure an architect could spend a lot more money. No rush on any of it. It’s a fab house.

I love the kitchen and the new hardware did a lot to give it a more modern appearance. The cabinets are beautiful and look to be in great shape. Before I saw anyone’s comments, I also thought that the crown molding was too loud. It would look great painted black and/or smaller, thinner molding; the black would go with the iron railings. Countertops are awesome and really give it airy feel. Floor fits, but sorry, would not have been my first choice for replacement😢. Have fun! Enjoy what you have done so far!😁

Just want to say Wow! You have done a fabulous job updating that kitchen, looking at what you started with. I do agree with the other comments that the crown molding is throwing things off, though. I'd try painting it black first and then, if you're still not thrilled, try removing it.
And while you're removing things, I agree that the mullions really do have to go.
You have a beautiful home! Enjoy!

The floor and cabinets do not work together. I would paint the cabinets black or white.

Nice house. I would stain the cabinets to a dark gray. It’s more work than painting but it Will bring out the beauty of the wood. Chrome or antique brass handles will go well with gray cabinet. I’ve seen this done on a TV show and the outcome is fabulou.