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alexaptea

HELP me elevate/modernize my kitchen!

6 years ago

My husband and I bought our first condo less than a year ago after getting married and nothing screams 'look at me, i'm dated!' quite like the honey/butterscotch colored wood floor throughout our (nearly) entire 2 bedroom, 2 ba condo.


While this isn't our forever home, we do plan on calling it home for the next 5 or so years. I need advice on how to elevate our kitchen space without having to spend a fortune ripping up and re-doing the floors at this point in time. Any suggestions for DIY projects, ways to enhance the space (adding, omitting, elevating current furniture, painting accent wall, best color schemes to incorporate, etc.) to increase the overall aesthetic and modernize the space??


Would LOVE to keep full project spend under $1K if possible.


Any and all help/suggestions are greatly appreciated (and brutally honest suggestions/thoughts/comments are encouraged!!) Thanks! -Alexa





Comments (12)

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Your floors are not the issue. Your counter top is too dark and little glass tiles on the back splash(if that is what I see, tough to tell in tiny picture) are what screams DATED and DARK HOLE. The rest is on spec for today's living. BUT not sure it is worth any work or investment for five years...let the next owners who intend to stay awhile choose. Chances are fair they won't appreciate your choices any more than you are loving the previous owners.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I think if you are looking for a quick fix, that if at all feasible, adding decorative lighting over your peninsula would really help. Adding pulls or knobs on the cabinets would be good as well. ( if they are there, I don't see them)

    Also while the components of your kitchen are all nice, it could use some splash. Whether the new lights will do that and or adding a bit of colorful accents ( a bowl of fruit, a plant, a decorative plate...) in my eyes will go a long way.

  • 6 years ago

    It’s not bad. I’d change the backsplash. Either remove and just paint or take it off and the 4” black piece also and larger tile. And get some rugs.


    counter is fine imo.

  • 6 years ago

    Thank you all for the great advice! The backsplash is like a brushed stainless steel/brushed nickel subway tile pattern. Is this still pretty dated? And would you recommend killing it and then just painting over it? Any and all advice/suggestions are welcomed and greatly appreciated ! :-)


  • 6 years ago

    Also, we're looking to get a new bar cart for our living room/dining room space which is open concept to the kitchen. Suggestions on bar carts that would look best???

  • 6 years ago

    I like the metallic backsplash...but maybe *I'm* dated. I would leave it. Definitely don't paint over it. The paint will peel and quickly look bad. You can cheaply add some "wow" factor with some large cabinet pulls. Since you currently have knobs, you could easily upgrade to pulls by drilling a second hole. (I'd leave knobs on the drawers so you don't have to figure out how to fill the center hole.)

    https://www.lowes.com/pd/Brainerd-Subtle-Arch-5-1-16-in-Center-to-Center-Satin-Nickel-Arch-Handle-Cabinet-Door-Pull/3470373


    Some really nice pendant lights over the peninsula like others suggested would also help a lot. If you have can lights right above the peninsula you could retrofit those with pendants. If not, than a corded unit with cord running down the wall will do in a pinch.

  • 6 years ago

    Herbflavor, salonva, and margaret17 -- all advice that I would second. With your budget, a new refrigerator might be the best first step, but the lighting would be the most fun. I'd leave the backsplash (both black and stainless parts) alone, as it allows the range to blend in. It's a very nice condo kitchen as it is.


  • 6 years ago

    You call this dated??? I was expecting to see something from the 50s, lol. Your kitchen is a bit bland but doesn't look dated to me. I just think it needs some color. I like the idea of pendant lights as a start.

  • 6 years ago

    @thrifyboho My thoughts exactly, and it makes me feel O-L-D!

  • 6 years ago

    I happen to like the backsplash but I think it was a funny pick with this kitchen. I would love new hardware and maybe a new backsplash?!? Not sure...
    Counters are dark also... definitely pendants!!
    not at all a bad kitchen tho. Very buildergrade ok style.

  • 6 years ago

    LOL, @mjlb !!!