The Formica or whatever brand veneer is such a great alternative for indoor kitchen renovations, outdoor kitchens I use stone of course. I do not mean alternative as in cheaper or less attractive. When you renovate your indoor kitchen be sure to check what is underneath the kitchen and holding the floors and everything on it up, or in other words the existing structural support that is in your current home and under the kitchen to be renovated. It may not seem like an issue for those looking to dive in head first into a super expensive kitchen, but even if you can handle the structural support of stone, no matter if it is marble, or granite etc. is a huge thing to consider. If you house was not originally designed with stone counter-tops. The bottom line is the building was designed to support and amount of what is refereed to as dead load. Live load is people and furniture etc that is not "in place". So when I renovate for example spomething like a 1960's home with steel beams and poured concrete foundations, I will explain to the homeowner several things about the kitchen especially. The weight you add in permanent appliance etc, is important and so is where they sit on your structure. The reason I truly love veneer counter-tops is there is no load issue at all, it can be changed easily to stone if you like, and getting the layout and ideal kitchen is really the most important part, I would rather spend the money on flooring and appliances for an indoor kitchen. And most importantly it is not a hefty financial and weight commitment ( example, typical granite, 20 pounds per sf. added and about 60 dollars a sf to install) that is a hefty commitment even if you only have near 100 total sf. of counter-tops, my small kitchen is about 20 sf, island, and about 40 sf. other counter-tops. I hope that you will like it for a long time as well. So unlike many will tell you, veneer looks good and can for years, and if you don't like it you can change it at any time. I have a nice veneer that has held up over 15 years and just reworked my kitchen and used the wilsonart calcutta marble, it is gorgeous, and I know if we ever what to change it out we can. But most importantly it did not change the dead loads on that area of my house in any way. Honestly speaking indoors I really like the flexibility to change the counter tops as often as my paint colors. And I love the warmth, and durability of a good veneer.

If you're talking about how you were raised...You'll all love this! My mom used flat sheets, and still does to this day, for BOTH of the sheets on the bed. The woman can use a flat sheet on the bottom, tuck and fold with "hospital corners" and somehow that sheet stays put for the week! She also ironed all the sheets and towels after each weekly wash and before putting them in the linen closet. I use a flat and fitted sheet and always did so on my kids beds. But both my son and daughter never liked the top, flat sheet and I'd find them stripped off each of their beds. So eventually, I just stopped using them for the kids' beds :) Why bother if they don't care for it...and it does make the bed much easier to make, especially when they were younger!

Perhaps refacing the cabinets may be worthwhile in your market. If replacing the sink with stainless consider Italia sinks. I have two of their under mount sinks - a 33 " near zero radius corner and a small island sink. They are much less than Kohler and are nice sinks that come with accessories ( bottom grid, drain and colander and the big sink had a cutting board that fit it). Look nice to a buyer. The near zero radius is a nice feature. There are some professional products that help keep them looking better. They are more work though than the composite. If not replacing the sink then the granite would have to go well with the sink. That may stand out too much in a very light stone. Under mount would be easier to deal with. Then there is the faucet.....I agree having an overall plan for updates for selling with a budget first would be a good idea.

Unlike other commenters, I agree that your kitchen is in need of major help. You can do a LOT to improve it with relatively low cost if you do not change the base cabinets along the wall. This is my specialty- low cost kitchen redesign. Island replacement (especially if you get them built by a carpenter and don't but them from a cabinet company) just means you are replacing the flooring. Even cheaper would be using the cabinet boxes from your current island and peninsula as the base for your new islands. Yes I saind islands plural. Search "double islands" here on Houzz and notice your options. You can do a side by side with walk through space in between and you won't be pinned in. The bonus is you can get new island countertops so you won't have this ridiculous matchy matchy thing going on. Next, I would ditch that ugly tall cabinet scenario and put your oven with hood there instead. The wall with your oven on it should come out to open up the passage into the dining- that is just a header and some drywall. Then the sky is the limit with how you use that space. Some other thoughts- you definitely need more windows along that back wall- trust me you will love the look. That terrible octogonal bay window thing that every builder did EVERYWHERE is a whole other matter. If you don't want to deal with it right now, I would do something that keeps the light but virtually camouflages the space- like a tall baker's rack type thing (which you would see in a French kitchen bakery) If that is your thing, trays for chocolates, why not make what you love something you see when you walk in? Get a really pretty free standing TALL rack. Then pull of some type of sheers or screen (again. TALL) behind it in that bump out to hide the thing. One last thing- cabinets that don't reach the ceiling look bad. Whatever wall cabinets you keep (and I would suggest at least two open shelves for everyday dishes, I would have rehung all the way at the top- then you can run an awesome shelf under them to sit pretty things- which will be more at usability height. I know this sounds like the cabinets would be too tall- but if they are a simple step ladder (or even better, a sliding ladder if you can budget it) and you have a GREAT kitchen makeover while sparing the biggest expense: new cabinets. Would love to know whatcha think! I hope it turns out beautifully! Jackie