If you prefer the cost of builder grade homes, it is no surprise that they come with builder grade kitchens. If you are going to preach the choice of buying less than, maybe you need to look in the mirror again before you next look at that kitchen .

You know Verbo just loves to make three or four different accounts to post on the same thread…

Besides the backsplash and cabinet hardware, the only other thing I would do to the kitchen at this point is ask the builder to add a simple crown molding to the upper cabinets. Whenever I see no crown on the uppers, it looks unfinished to me.

Then move in and live with a while. It won’t look blah once you add your stuff and decorate with some color. Enjoy your new home!

I would get an electrician to add pendant lights over the island get some show stopper pendants lots of affordable options online might take a while to come in

Add a soffit and crown molding to the ceiling to make the cabinets look more lux

Id remove the microwave and cabinets and get a nice hood

Good morning! Any updates?

We move in 4/5 then I will share progress :)

Just a comment about budget, specially when getting ideas from Houzz photos ... here are the pendants suggested by someone several posts up, who posted 3 kitchen photos and this was the bottom one.

I've seen these pendants in person, they are really nice and you'll need $3,238 for a pair, before tax!

Let us know when you’re all moved in and how that kitchen feels. Being in the space with your stuff will definitely make it less “boring white”. (I like white kitchens.)

Thanks RedRyder! I like white as well. First order of buusness will be to find cabinet pulls!

Our ”stuff” gets delivered on Monday…. that will be a fun process lol! I will keep this thread updated :) So happy that ppl are still interested!

As everyone suggests, move in first so you get a feeling for the space. You can warm up the kitchen by adding well chosen, functional hand crafted, antique, or wood elements-- trays, baskets, a colorful kitchen rug, and maybe a bright Le Creuset pot on the gas stove, or a beautiful fruit bowl on the island. Add a small antique counter table lamp in one of the corners along with undercabinet lighting.

Later on, you could front a couple of the cabinets in glass or remove the ones by the window and put an art work there or open shelves with beautiful dishes or pottery you already own.

I like these gold and wood elementsm (a couple open shelve,s wicker stools) great pendants. . It's a shame your builder picked that gray-type trendy flooring which is on the cool side.

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Contemporary Country - Kitchen and breakfast nook · More Info

Kitchen rug, wood cutting board, great pottery on open shelves that open up the kitchen window since you already have a lot of cabinets.

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Painted island with wonderful pendants:

Contemporary Kitchen · More Info

Beautiful wood bowls and vase of flowers, nice wood stools.

We have moved in! Bitter sweet as my father in law just passed away recently. I will be adding more photos once we get unpacked and settled.

Ill share this room to but its still work in progress

congratulations on your new home! When I look at your inspiration picture, I immediately see pendant lights and cool bar stools. The bar stools would be my first update. Then, shop for pendant lights to upscale the bar.

Small projects that you could do yourself to add colour and texture to the room would where I would start.

I'd add some inexpensive trim/molding to the island to give it some character and paint the island. Add trim to kitchen island

Then I'd paint that same colour on the pantry doors. Leave the trim around the doors white, just colour on the doors. Here is an example with a gorgeous bright colour.

Painted closet doors

Some nice hardware for the cabinets. That doesn't have to be expensive. You can buy bulk packages of handles and knobs either online or from Lowe's or Home Depot etc.

A colourful rug would be nice - maybe a matching pair - one for the long wall where the stove is and another in front of the patio door.

As you have more ideas and time/money in your budget - I'd absolutely switch out the microwave range hood for a chimney style hood. You seem to have lots of counter space and even maybe space in your pantry for a counter style microwave - a much cheaper option than the drawer style (although I think the drawer style is really genius design I've also read some complaints about some models - you'd need to do your homework on that choice).

Maybe change the paint colour on the walls as well when you've settled on your colour scheme.

But adding some nice stools (you mentioned you have some), some wooden cutting boards and colourful bowls on the counters. Maybe get some small appliances in colours - Kitchenaid, Delonghi, Smeg - all of those brands and others have some nice coloured kettles and toasters, blenders etc. The type of thing you wouldn't mind having on your counters all the time.

If you decide to put some glass in some of the upper doors, you can paint the interiors a contrasting colour or you can use wallpaper, or grasscloth, put it on panels and a spot of hot glue would hold that against the back of the cupboard. This could also add some colour/texture and would make the inside of the cupboards a pretty backdrop for your favourite items to display.

Paint inside of cabinets in contrasting colour

If there is a good budget, I'd choose a different counter TBH - that busy counter with dark colours is going to limit some of the other choices for backsplash and paint colours etc. You may have to go with it for now but maybe down the road the counters could be swapped out. And if the current counters can be removed without too much damage, you might be able to salvage them for resale. A less busy counter could then allow for a statement backsplash tile.

Enjoy your new home and take your time figuring out what needs to be a priority and what is a down the road project. Build ideas from Houzz or Pinterest for inspiration. Then when you're ready to tackle projects you'll have good ideas for how to proceed.

Sorry to hear about your father in law....

Glad you got into your home and can start creating your beautiful space. Enjoy the process despite the mourning. Hoping you can find a beautiful family photo with your FIL in it to have some place special in your new place.

Congratulations on your new home!

Thank you for the kind thoughts boxerpal!

After re-reading the comments....

I just wanted to add that in our last kitchen reno. We had a carpenter come in years later and put in new crown molding. We didn't like what came with the original "builder" house and so decided to update and change it over time. It was a minor cost in the big picture of things and thankful we did it. We also did some electrical and even changed our MW and put in a hood with a wonderful gas range. Things can change over time. After you use the space you might discover you want this or that or remove this or that... Focus on the good!

Enjoy your new home and make some fabulous memories with the people you love.

Thanks Boxerpal! i do plan to make some of those exact changes in due time:) one day at a time! I will post more pics as I make changes.

I appreciate all the comments and ideas!!

Also very sorry for your family's loss.

Thank you drblount10!

I have accomplished a few items on my list (hired a painter and tile install). Blinds are up as well.

Also had someone put on cabinet pulls yesterday. Still debating if I put pulls or knobs on the bottom corner lazy suzan cabinets.

Yes, there is one pull missing from the cabinet to the right of the stove. The door opens the wrong way, that is getting fixed today.

Nice................Please add some color: ) Along with a lighter, and more open cocktail table. Take pictures from another angle as well, it appears folks on the couch might be bit lonely if not for tv. Needs chairs: )

Thanks Jan. I agree on your suggestions. I’m trying to find some table lamps as well as a modern ceiling light. ive got one pottrty barn frog end table, but need something for other side of couch.

Great start with adding some hardware to the cabinets. You could probably find pendant lights --gasp! -- at the big box home improvement stores. You just have to be diligent in being informed at what you are buying - like plastic versus metal or glass globes. Lowes or Home Depot DO have some better items. Add a couple of stools at the island that are similar to your inspiration. You can also find those at --oh no! -- World Market, or even online at Wayfair. You could even paint the island base a steely blue like your inspiration. Then add in soft accessories, like kitchen towels, that reflect your personality. You definitely don't have to spend 10k on finishing. It's a great room to start with.

So sorry for your loss.

So far things are already looking better. You need color - think artwork, photos, pillows, vases/bowls. The other thing that really helps are plants. Find some greenery that you love and know you can maintain. You have a nice island - some beautiful flowers or greens in a colorful vase would be great.

Take your time - don't try to do it all at once. Let it unfold with each piece.

Good luck!

Love the cabinet pulls and white subway tile! The gray makes it cozy. You are off to a great start!  

Thank you for the replies! I greatly appreciate your thoughts

I’m wondering if i should buy another round drum table for other side of couch or

get 2different side tables?

Any ideas for a new coffee table?

The rug does actually have some deep blue in it.

The wall color is a light cool gray that has a slight blue undertone as well

WOW you have been busy and it looks wonderful. The tile looks lovely. I bet it feels great to be in the space. You have some fabulous suggestions.

Just want to add don't be afraid of layering lighting with different lamps. I tend to like matching end tables but if you find something you love I am sure you could make it work.

I see what I think are two horses inside the table on the shelf... Maybe you would like this

"Great White Horse" Painting Print on Wrapped Canvas, 40"x60" · More Info

Thanks Boxerpal, I appreciate it. I love horses, yes thats what is on my bottom of coffee

table. I love that picture!!

Adding some greenery to your kitchen will really make it more ”homey” - and it‘s easy to make things yourself.

I LOVE fresh flowers. I have only recently become a plant mom (I made my own containers/pots/hanging baskets for my patio/yard last summer for the first time - wasn’t very difficult at all).

Last summer, I started using cuttings from my garden + a couple inexpensive fresh flowers/greenery to make my own floral arrangements that I use in kitchen + other areas of my home.

During the summer - I made quite a few arrangements with zinnias and with peonies out of my backyard - but you make ones with faux flowers also :

I also started an orchid collection about three years ago. So, I’ve started using them in some centerpieces (trick is to keep the orchids in their own plastic orchid containers - so, you can water them by soaking every couple weeks and then just place items around them to hide the pots):

Using preserved moss + moss balls make it super easy to hide pots!

I rotate the flowering ones into arrangement and place the ones with bare spike(s) in other places to hide out:

Orchid on the left is recovering and hiding with another orchid + some of my succulents in my study.

I’ve made pressrved moss bowls/trays for my sisters + a couple friends - these are really easy. You can use only moss - or you can add some faux items to them:

Here is a moss tray on the table + orchid and moss arrangement on the island:

Just some ideas to add to your kitchen!

Also - these are some super easy ideas for an island - buying some preserved eucalyptus (different types) + dried flowers is an inexpensive way to make floral arrangements OR to add to floral arrangements (real or faux) + you can use things that you already have to change the look on your island:

All of the above are the same island - with different centerpiece ideas (single or a grouping of items).

Thank you dani_m08, you have some beautiful ideas!

Jenifer - I just wanted to provide some ideas that I’ve used to add color - I have zero experience/expertise re: arranging flowers - so, they aren’t super complex 😂

I really do like using the orchids though because they last a very long time (as long as you don’t follow the typical instructions provided when you buy the plant - many tell you to place two ice cubes in the pot each week - I think they tell people that so that the orchid will die - so, they can sell more orchids LOL).

Rotating the orchids w/ preserved moss (or other items) = don’t have to spend a bunch of money to always have fresh flowers.

I love zinnias + peonies - so, that’s a bonus to be able to bring some inside every week (plus, I also make an arrangement for my sister who lives close to me every week).

Re: your living room - I tend to be more like you re: purchasing neutral furniture pieces for my living room - I need to push myself to add color. So, I’ve added pops of color with throw pillows + area rug + some original art + some greenery.

Although my house isn’t new like yours, I am redoing all the rooms in my house. It can be very overwhelming! I have a difficult time concentrating on one room at a time.

For example, while looking for items for my living room, I’ll see something that would be great for my wine room = conversation area with four leather chairs + a temperature controlled wine storage/display area (I decided to convert my infrequently used formal dining room since I have seating at my island + another dining area in my kitchen - and, most of the time, it’s just the two of us) - and then it’s two hours later, and I haven’t made any progress re: finalizing my living room 😬.

I’m starting to think that I may need to spend some $ on a professional designer to help. While I have many of the aspects for each room decided, I think engaging a professional designer would help me finish my projects much sooner!

Keep updating us as you make changes to your kitchen + work on your other rooms!

piant is your friend.. add color

replace the microqave with a hood will makw a wolrd of difference

Sounds like you (dani_m08) have a lot to do as well😀 Hmmm i have been following directions on my orchid, maybe why it’s not growing. I do have a big peace lily in my other room (which is still in progress).

Life has a way of giving us both good and bad at the same time. I am sorry to hear about the loss of a loved one, just as you purchase a new house.

The easiest way to add more color is to think “accessories”. Before you paint the island (which may turn out to be a great idea) get more colorful pillows for the couch, artwork for the walls, stools for the kitchen and possibly a more colorful rug. Since you just spent a huge amount of money, taking trips to TJMaxx, HomeGoods and local tag sales will keep you busy this summer and probably keep your spending lower.

The new hardware was a good move. The only reason a knob might be easier on the lazy susan door is it might be easier to control if there is a long hinge in that door.

A glass coffee table will “lighten” up the feel of the living room. If there is blue in the current rug, look for brighter blue pillows as a better contrast to all the gray.

Use summer craft fairs to find artwork from local artists. Accessorizing your house takes time but you are starting with a lovely open plan, all new appliances and good basics. Congratulations on your new house! (And don’t rush any of this….)

Here are different ideas for the table

Glass and wood

Thank you RedRyder for the kind words (along with many others). Its appreciated.

The glass table idea is beautiful!

unless you are a gas stove fan for some reason - don't replace electric one. I don't remember how many times i had to say 'NO gas stove' (even though we have a gas tank) when we were designing a house and shopping for GC.. Had gas for half of my life, all it does - makes a ton of work to clean the said stove. While electric surface is so easy to clean. Never again (gas stove).

I would remove that microwave and the cabinets above it as well as one upper cabinet on each side of the microwave. Add simple but good quality backsplash and add a good stainless vent hood (i just like them, so it's a personal preference :) ).

Idk if you can add island lights - if it's a 2story house it might be a big challenge. But if you can - add some.

Add hardware and extend the cabinets all the way up - either as on your first inspirational picture (the look that, i think, you can easily recreate in your kitchen) or by adding a sofit and moldings.

Good luck, if you are brave and can DIY most of the project, including tile, you can only spend on materials and that opens a ton of opportunities with that amount.

These are pretty neat lamps

Making progress. Arhaus Chairs for living room hopefully will be here next week. i changed out the coffee tabke, added curtains.

I would love to see a couple of pillows of the color that is in the artwork. Or maybe add a vase in that color. The eye needs an unexpected place to look.

Oh the artwork is actually a frame tv lol!!

Added Chairs

Added some chairs and lighting.

Those are beautiful chairs!

Thanks So soft and comfy!!! From Arhaus

Happy 4th Houzzers!

Some updates.