Does the layout of the kitchen work for you? Are the interiors of the cabinets in good shape? Do you have a lot of drawers? Do you want to change your flooring? I understand where you're coming from as I also have dated wood kitchen cabinets, but there are a lot of benefits to a complete remodel if it's in the budget. How old are these cabinets? If they're 30-40 years old I think you can consider them to have given their all. IMO they are sufficiently dated that I wouldn't spend money having them painted.

replacing tile countertop for sure.

I personally would DIY the cabinets, if nothing else, but just for the fun of it.

It will give you a chance to see what a difference you are thinking of.

When we remodeled our kitchen in 2013, we reused all of the cabinets except the sink cab and two lower lazy susans. We put cabinets in our laundry room (uppers and lowers) and in our garage. I put a wood top on a 12" drawer stack to use next to my son's desk. Two neighbors took the remainder, to use in their garage and storeroom.

Please post photos and dimensions of your current kitchen. If you are considering an overhaul, make sure that you gain not just a better look, but better function.

Cabinets are 24 years old but solid construction throughout, cabinet boxes are in great condition. Redoing layout would be between 50-70K as we’d have to redo the floors for the entire first floor as well, installing a vent hood/ductwork and cost of cabinets/new appliances.

Current kitchen layout is awkward, I detest it but I’m also very frugal and I don’t like wasting well constructed cabinetry.

Additional plans to update kitchen including replacing dated ceiling light with some recessed lights. Lowering bar height on peninsula to be flat countertop and installing a farmhouse sink. Thinking of filling that space above the cabinets and having the results hopefully be something like this:

I havent done this, so I don’t know if it is a dyi, but but, I wonder if you can remove the inner decorative molding on the cabinet doors, then paint them that very pretty forst green you show in your inspiration picture. You get a flatter panel door, the color you want, and a couple years to plan the kitchen of your dreams.

The cabinets look like they are still in good shape. Perhaps either save and repurpose the cabinets into built-ins in other rooms of your home or consider waiting until you can do a full gut and replace everything. If you only want to replace the countertops though, that might be all that is currently needed along with under cabinet lighting.

Mt. Washington Ski House · More Info

Mt. Washington Ski House · More Info

donate the cabs. 24 yrs is long enough. unless you can remove some of that trim molding, they won't look all that great painted either. And you've got exposed hinges.

put them in the garage or laundry room, but replace them if you want quartz countertops and new backsplash

I hope you're removing the huge florescent light and putting in recessed.

One last thing. since you're getting new, move the stove to the fridge spot and get a nice vent hood. That layout should be tweaked.

Beautiful results!!!!!!!

Another question would a high end white fridge work in this space? Was thinking of getting a Samsung bespoke white glass paneled refrigerator. I’m over keeping up with cleaning stainless. Thoughts?

I would only do the white fridge if you changed your microwave and over to white to coordinate. I think just having the fridge white would stick out like a sore thumb.

I would look at reviews and the get the best stainless steel model you can -

PS your cabs look fabulous!!

Avoid Samsung. It is in no way high end. You want a high end where you can panel it, look at Thermador, SZ, or Bosch.

you better look up reviews for samsung and LG fridges. they are the absolute worst. no way.

this came out nice. (I'd paint the doors the same as the walls, or a slightly lighter shade than the cabs.

or, better, replace them w/a wood

vintage door

Wonderful color on the cabinets! Is it SW Pewter? I’d be careful about white fridge. If you really hate stainless, consider a black finish, with the caveat that it might look like a black hole. I’m happy with our 2-year-old KitchenAid stainless appliances. Far fewer smudges than previous KA, circa 2013.

I like this white GE cafe....there's a black model too....I think the white w the green cabs would be my pick. then go fetch some coordinating hardware.

South Beaverton Kitchen Remodel · More Info

GE Cafe · More Info

GE Cafe - Matte Black Collection · More Info

@Caroline O its SW Rosemary.

@val, cabinets look beautiful!

Well done on your project! A great case study for trying to work with what you have as opposed to throwing it all out and spending tens of thousands of dollars. Thank you for sharing this. On your fridge, I am partial to stainless steel. It's classic and it goes with what you have. I also would not consider the Samsung bespoke fridge high-end. I've seen it in the store and in a couple of people's homes and it just looks kind of cheap and plasticky. But you will find pluses and minuses with any fridge even the high-end ones. I have a Bosch and can share the good, bad and the ugly with you on that one.

Great job on the cabs! Not sure I’d do a white fridge….whatever you do, be sure to get counter-depth!

Looks like a white fridge would fit into you kitchen perfectly…it will flow with backsplash and countertops and paint color perfectly …no need to introduce a new finish with your beautiful choices so far…more colorful contrasts can be added with accessories and countertop decor…

Painting was a definite improvement! But did I miss a posted comment about just replacing door and drawer fronts? If the cabinets are good and the layout works, that could have been an option…

Is Bosch fridge worth the money @Iluvdark kychns? TIA

Have you measured your fridge opening? How old is your current refrigerator? Definitely do counter width, but it could be a problem finding the right height. Refrigerators are taller than they were 40 years ago…. Although looking again at your current refrigerator, it looks lower than your opening. We had that problem when we had to replace ours the first time. We actually removed the top cabinets and rebuilt the casing to fit a bigger fridge, and cut into the wall behind the fridge to recess more. I don’t see how a paneled refrigerator can work - you won’t be able to match your current cabinet doors, and paneled refrigerators are usually much more expensive. Also, if you go with “white” (I’d prefer a dark gray stainless look), make sure it is the right white/off-white tone to compliment your countertops. What you’ve done with the new countertops and paint has already made a major transformation! I think the main eyesore was the orangey color and graininess of the original wood cabinets. With that great paint color choice, the old panel design on the door fronts kind of disappears. This is a great before-and-after post for those with similar old wood cabinets who are considering painting!

P.S. to my previous post - We just put a shelf above the fridge, when we took out the top cabinet to put in a taller refrigerator.

Have you looked at the Cafe fridge? someone mentioned their white one above, I have the satin black w/the bronze handles. I love it. it is counter depth (I had a samsung prior to it and that one was a PIA. the cafe keeps fruits and veggies so much fresher. has to do w/the air flow) The downside is the storage capacity is smaller.

view from the side so you can see that it's almost flush. my other one stuck out about 7inches more than this.

*disclaimer* the doors on the cafe need more room on the sides to open. we had to cut that wall back a few inches to accomodate it. weird since the prior one was so much larger. Just keep this in mind when looking for a new fridge

Where exactly is your fridge? I don't see a pic w/it

The refrigerator is in Val’s first picture set and the empty tall space in the after picture