How fun to get to redo your kitchen. Replace the desk section with something you find useful (full wall pantry cabs, broom/cleaning supplies closet, coffee station, etc). Remove the soffits if possible and tuck whatever is in them up in the ceiling, and remove the short upper cabs over the peninsula. Add pendant lights over the peninsula and complementary mini pendant over the sink. Consider extending the countertop and adding counter stools and painting the lower portion dark blue or soft green. If the cabinets are in great shape, replace all the cab doors with frame style door (please don’t do shaker style unless you have them elsewhere in the house) and full overlay. Replace at least 1 (or more) lower cabinet flanking the cooktop with a bank of drawers for pots and pans and small appliances not used daily. Near the sink add a roll out drawer for the trash and recycle bins. Replace the hardware and sink faucet. If you don’t have undercabinet LED light in the corner, add one. People seem to prefer quartzite countertops with “movement” these days.

If that is a popcorn ceiling, it MUST go. If the trays in the ceiling are fluorescent lights, they MUST go, too.

I would find a local designer and pay him/her for a few hours to help you narrow down the choices. With your floor you don't want "every house gray/white" scheme.

What type of budget are you looking at for the project?

You could do some free updating by removing the dated decor items like the thing above the stove and whatever is on the wall on the very left of the picture.

yes I agree hire a KD and see what they come up with

I would definitely get rid of the overhang above pennisula and you could extend uppers on that wall to get rid of office space. That wall could also have continuous counter. also if you can remove soffits (there could be venting etc in there) take cabinets to ceiling

"There are so many choices that I am totally confused that I don't know what I want. Please give suggestions as to what you would do."

What's working for you in this kitchen and what's not? In terms of function. Why do you feel the need to update it? That's your starting point. Then your budget determines your project scope. Kitchens can be expensive to "update", especially in open layouts because finishes need to be harmonious throughout the space. In all the choices you've seen, have you been drawn to anything more than another? Why? Describing the kitchens you like best will help you develop your vision for your update.

It would be helpful to you (and us) if you posted inspiration pics of kitchens you like -and why - in your ideabook so we get an idea of your style. That will aid in choosing cab door style, hardware, and lighting. Not sure you need a certified kitchen designer since you are not changing the floor layout and appliance locations. Although, the KD can tell you about new products (such as LED alighting, microwave drawers, roll out shelving, spice pullout lower cab, etc) and features (such as fridge/freezer compartment configuration) and popular trends (work zones instead of work triangle, kitchen islands instead of peninsulas, drawer banks instead of cab doors).

If the floor is staying does it go under the cabinets in the desk are or will you need to replace cabinets with cabinets there to hide the gap in the floor?

I’ve been going through my idea book on Houzz. Most of the kitchens I like have white cabinets. I don’t want a gray and white kitchen. I’d like to keep it traditional looking to go with the rest of the house. I have mostly jewel tones and cherry wood furniture. I don’t want shaker cabinets but would like a recessed panel door with some design on it to look traditional. I’m getting new cabinets because I am changing the desk area to have cabinets above and drawers below with a regular height countertop. I don’t need the desk anymore. I’m not sure I would be able to find cabinets to match my existing cabinets so that’s why I’m doing a remodel. I have a large pantry where the white double doors are. The soffits will be going, the popcorn will be going, the lights will be going. Good ideas Marylut. Here is a picture of some cabinets I saw at a model home. I like the beaded edges but not the blue color for my house.

I like this style but not sure if a warm white painted cabinet or stain cabinets would go with the floor. Then the counter tops I’m not sure of. I have off white laminate now with stained honey oak cabinets.

Your idea to extend the cabinets and countertop all the way past the refrigerator, eliminating the desk is a good one. While you're getting all new cabinets, I would really consider removing the peninsula. Or at least shorten the peninsula. The space would be so much more usable and open that way. Do you have any extra floor tiles? Or maybe they already run under the peninsula? Don't forget to include things like a pull out trash bin. I would choose a medium stained cabinet with white quartz countertops or white cabinets with white or taupe countertops. Either would work with the travertine floors.

French Splendor · More Info

Madrona · More Info

Trash Pull-Out in Kitchen Peninsula · More Info

Calidesign, what shade of white could you recommend? I thought about removing or making the peninsula short but I would lose so much needed cabinet space. There is 45" from the fridge to the peninsula so it is not in the way. Tile is under the peninsula.

I had similar upper cabinets and peninsula situation. You can barely see in first pic. I pulled them out and then was able to get a bigger island. We went darker wood but the layout is so much better.

It really opens up room.

Icdsmith, your kitchen does look so much better and open. If I add an island, I will not have enough room to walk around it. It would be too close to the fridge and the sink (less than 36"). So the peninsula works better for my size kitchen.

I think the cab style you saw in the model home is very appropriate for your house. But start with the counter selection first. If you have a leftover floor tile, take it with you to select the countertop. If budget allows, upgrade to granite or quartzite.

Your current kitchen has too much brown. Once you select the counter, you will have a better feel for whether to go with warm white cabs or a light wood.

If you’re set on painting, you could look into replacing just the doors. It would save you a ton of time on prep

https://www.barkerdoor.com

Thanks sashadog but I am getting new cabinets. I have 30” now and plan to get new cabinets that are 37” plus a 5” crown so it goes to my 8’ ceiling.

If I do stained cabinets, this is the color I was thinking of. It is maple wood with a pecan stain. Wondering if TajMahal quartzite or River white granite would compliment the floor?

Light pecan stain on maple cabinets.

I decided to go with painted cabinets in SW Alabaster since I want a warm white color. I read so many negative experiences that people had with their quartz counter tops that I think I'm going with granite. Now wondering what granite goes with my travertine floor. I don't want an all white kitchen either. So counters can have some color. Please any suggestions would be appreciated.

Vis, I know you decided to go with painted white but would you please share the cabinet manufacturer of the beautiful maple abs with pecan stain. They are stunning!

Matching a granite to the floor is going to be tricky. I would concentrate in that first.

holly-Kay, that is a picture of my friends kitchen cabinet drawer. She built a custom home. She said they were made from a furniture grade maple with a pecan stain.

I think Siena would look great with natural maple cabs with or without stain. Here is info on several beige granites
https://marble.com/granite-countertops/beige

I agree that the peninsula is too long, it funnels all the traffic between the kitchen area and the dining area into a small aisle that visually chops the room in half. Removing a portion would give you a more open feel and not trap people into each half of your kitchen. A few granite ideas, the first one is Beige Spring granite and the second is Aspen white. You could check out Cambria countertops which are a quartz composite, sold thru places like Home Depot or Costco. If you have a spare tile bring it with you to look at countertop options.

Kitchen was remodeled in 2023. I never posted pictures so here they
are. My interior designer liked my neutral floor and found colors to work with it. Counters are Viscostone quartz, Madreporala. Backspace is marble in herringbone, custom cabinets painted SW Marshmallow cabinet paint. It’s been 2 years now and it has held up well except for a few chips in the quartz. Quartz does chip so be extra careful not to hit a pan on the edge. Also, hot pads are a must for quartz.