I agree with painting the cabinets -- not the floor. Do you have any other colors in your kitchen besides black and white? Any other photos to add? What do you like, modern, traditional, farmhouse?

I think your cabinets are nice and complement the vintage vibe of the kitchen. To me the floor doesn't complement anything else so I would vote for painting that assuming there is a way to make it durable. I did a quick google and looks like it is done.

First recommendation is just installing a vinyl or wood plank floor in the kitchen. A dark java old world plank would look great. That could be installed in a few hours during the day.

If that's not an option, I'd say paint the cabinetry, not the flooring. I'd say a dark gray or pewter.

Good luck!

the pics posted by Preservation & Renovation demonstrate beautifully how your eye can forgive the floor when offered something else beautiful to look at...and painting a high traffic floor is a slippery slope of maintenance-

Thanks, kge728. I'm not sold on the painting a ceramic floor either. Sounds like trouble.

It's vinyl flooring.

I say paint the cupboards,leave the floor if possible if you don't have the expense to change.Paint is cheap and you can make it fun.Change handles can make a change as well.I changed my cabinet doors was very inexpensive,but i guess i invested so much in Mexican Santa Fe style,plus its cozy.

The finish on those cabinets looks in excellent condition and perfectly matches the vintage feel of the room. It's the floor that's off. Painting it will give you a couple of years. I'd go with red, blue or gray with a 2" border stripe of black.

With older flat panel cabinets like yours, where a lot of the cabinet frame shows around the doors, it can be really fun to paint the frame one color and the doors another. I've seen some really charming kitchens result from this. Gray and white; yellow and white, apple green and white, or apple green and yellow and white are all particularly cheerful combinations for this effect, though there are many other options too:

Paint the cabinets, leave the great vintage tile alone! Like the hardware.

I think the kitchen would look great with checker board vinyl/lino tile "If" you can embrace the retro look. Your kitchen/cabinets/tile have a lot of "style" (maybe, not one you want? But, it would be highly desired by some. Just the original in the wall faucet piece and recessed window is so nice to me).
I can't tell if your vinyl is one piece or individual tiles, either way it shouldn't be the worst to remove and replace (assuming you have some power tools available, like a sander - doing something similar, I found the glue under to be the toughest part to remove!) Ideally though, if you have a toddler, it would be better to have it done by a handy guy rather than DIY.
https://www.houzz.com/photos/checkered-floor-phbr0lbl-bl~l_8224

I agree with Lessismoore.... There are vinyl tiles that would be an easy update, they match the current style , inexpensive and quick simple to install yourself. Also if the current flooring is still attached well you can go right on top of it... it is a common practice for flooring installers " over existing" is the term. There is no need for a sander etc.... if you need advice on how to do this I'd be happy to help.
Also The big box home stores have some great special order flooring that is peel and stick but looks like tile or wood, they cost a bit more but the out come is great and very durable, looks fantastic , easy, and you don't need much more than a utility knife , tape measure and straight edge to install it.

Here is a photo... hope it attaches. This is peel and stick , they have a slightly beveled edge... I installed with grout but can be butt joint.

Now that I see your floors are vinyl I am sticking to my original comment to paint. Another quick google search has revealed that this has been done successfully. (Unless you have a budget to replace).
http://beautifulnest.blogspot.com/2010/07/painted-vinyl-floor_23.html?m=1

Paint the cabinets and leave the floor as is! The grey and beige suggestion would be a good idea.

That is lovely but , in the long run.... it's much easier, less time consuming, less mess and surprise ! probably costs less to put down a real vinyl floor, painting like that is costly for all those supplies or tools she will need.. And it will stand the test of time unlike paint. Added bonus- Her toddler could safely walk through the room even during the install.... babysitters are costly too lol.

@sam0705: wow - what a great link, that looks exactly like what i had in mind!
@byegeorgi: I never thought you could grout the vinyl squares! Looks great. My biggest problem with the place and press tiles has been the inevitable crevices that will crop up even with the most careful placement. With grout, it would be seamless. Tres cool! I thought about suggesting the whole float over method on the existing floor to eliminate the work of sanding it level. When I had my kitchen floor done in laminate, they just cut away the coved edges and poured a leveler over the surface and installed the laminate over. It is a tad bit higher than the adjoining room, but it worked out fine for our particular layout.

Sometimes it just takes some investigation into different products to find out what will suit or situation... or an experienced flooring installer. The less expensive peel and stick tiles do move over time, this is why I suggest the special order ones... they are actually about 1/8 thick with a higher grade adhesive so grout is an option. I would do as your installer did the self leveling compound for your situation... sanding floors is usually only needed for hardwoods. Having a well prepped floor makes all the difference in the install.

http://houzz.com/photos/875468
This color would look great I your kitchen!

The half and half painted cabinets looks pretty as well (and less work) maybe buy some new handles too and a nice throw rug to tie it all together.

http://houzz.com/photos/49715

I think your kitchen cabinets are fine. And you're right about the flooring, that is what's screaming for change.
As for the cabinets, I feel you only need to change the knobs/door handles.. how about something like the door pulls that jacquelinemk6 posted in the picture above 'LeAnn'.. or this: or those are more in and will fit the existing holes made in your cabinet doors. These are the two things that need instant updating before you do anything else. Good Luck!

like feeny & bygeorgi's suggestions. Also like Preservation & Renovation's suggestion IF you want to do so much updating. The grey/biege cabinets are gorgeous..

If you do gray cabinets you still have black and white tile countertops. Painting the floor is asking for trouble. If you do another layer of vinyl over the existing, any recessed areas (grout lines) will show through. Do it right the first time, redos are 2X the cost. Tear up the old vinyl and install new. I think the vintage look you have is great. Unless you want to replace the countertops, I like the idea above to use black and white checkered. I'd do it on the diagonal. Then either leave your cabinets white or paint them a color. Either will look great!
BTW I don't think you have a dishwasher. If you want to add one you could probably have a carpenter remove the base cabinet to the right of the sink, depending on its size. Good luck with your project. Please let us know what you decide and post "after" pictures!

I am dismayed by some of the comments offered here. NO, don't replace the cabinets and don't replace the tile counter tops (with inexpensive laminate...what a terrible idea...you would be replacing a premium counter top (though, premium c.1958) with a low budget solution. Preservation & Renovation's suggestion is to through out everything ...that is not what you were asking for and seems to be about some idea that OLD is BAD and NEW is GOOD. Don't buy into that thinking.

I don't think painting sheet vinyl is a good idea. That material is made to resist the adhesion of dirt in some way which means that it will resist the adhesion of paint. I would think it would be likely to wear off in heavy traffic spots. A marvelous flooring material that would also be period appropriate is real LINOLEUM. Linoleum is not vinyl though sheet vinyl is often casually called "linoleum."

Linoleum is natural product made from linseed oil and it is "naturally anti-bacterial and biodegradable." Here is a link that includes a list of suppliers (pardon the "green" product info if that is not of interest. I'm suggesting it because it looks great.) link: http://www.builditgreen.org/attachments/wysiwyg/22/Natural-Linoleum-Flooring.pdf It is a little more work to research and find an installer etc. but it's a beautiful solution. If the existing vinyl is textured there are ways/products to deal with that so you don't have to take the existing flooringup...installer can help with that.

Yes, paint the cabinets. The paint color ideas suggested by others are wonderful....as is white above/color below idea. Add a dishwasher as suggested by Oak Hill. Consider a vintage gas stove.

FINALLY... to make the room feel warmer and more inviting and a little less retro and a little more 21st century consider adding under-cabinet lighting and a few discreet recessed downlights on a dimmer. Better lighting will make it feel like an all new room.

I painted the floor and it looks great!!

Congrats. Let us know how it wears :-)

Wonderful!

Hi, kimd12, your floor does look great. It do think it could use a touch of color, and I'd suggest a smallish, pretty indoor/outdoor carpet to do the trick. BTW if the floor does not hold up well (I'm keeping fingers crossed for you!) I was going to suggest the retro style of black/white squares in a sheet vinyl. A very easy install and style upgrade! I have done this in the past and the result for a bathroom and hallway was pretty much spectacular. Keep up the good work and with a toddler, too. I'm impressed!

Good for you! the floor is as per what you wanted. But do, do something about painting the cabinets, something black & grey.. like bottom cabinets black and top one's grey etc..

Yeah, let us know how the floor paint wears. I'm wondering.
By the way, I love the wall mounted faucet. I've got one of those, though not as cool as yours. It's great not having water and grim collect around that on the counter top.

Don't worry about the wear. Find a stencil you like and patch as needed. Maybe get a runner for the heavy traffic area near the sink and stove.