Do you like retro? This room reminds me of it, with the floor and the table and chairs and the cabinets/wood. Not sure what the rest of the room and/or your home looks like, but right now, the retro look works here. My only suggestion would be to change the window....I would rather see blinds or curtains on it instead.

Yes I don't like those white vertical blinds either. Thanks. I would like to update the floor though at least...

Is it in good condition? It just seems to work with your table and chairs!!!

What about starting with new curtains and then seeing how it all feels/looks?

OK I'll try that. I am not a fan of the brown/yellow of the floor. But what kind of curtains do you suggest? The windows are newer.

Do you need privacy and/or light control?

If we are going with retro/vintage, I can see a cafe curtain working?????

not really it's a quiet neighborhood and the neighbors in front are rarely in town. light control doesn't seem to be much of an issue either. i like having my views as the house is small but has great windows.

there are also white vertical blinds on the sliding glass door to the left where you see the sun shining in...

Do you have curtains over in the prep area by the sink at all? Or a certain color there?

I think the floors work with the table and chairs but the knotty pine does not. It makes it too busy so either the floors or the knotty pine go. I would paint the knotty pine and keep the retro look with the floors and dinette set and definitely replace the vertical blinds with horizontal blinds or some art deco windo covering design ideas...could be really art deco type flair gong on :)

What would the art deco window coverings look like? I am having a tough time finding anything????

i just have white blinds over the prep area too... so needing more personality than these white blinds! thanks for comments. i'm inclned to get rid of the flooring and keep the knotty pine. i like it and the house has a lot of cabin charm. i'm actually thinking of modernizing with decor and making it a more sophisticated look. only thing i have done so far is found antique bronze cabinet knobs that look 100% better than the white ceramic knobs currently there....

Personally I like the wood paneling. Depending on how much you want to spend, you should be able to find a nice travertine or porcelain tile that mimics travertine to compliment the area.

I'll look around thank you. If you have particular floors in mind let me know. After reading your suggestion I searched online and saw a light gray travertine that might work. I will check on prices but I am willing to pay enough to get somethign I like. I was looking into slate too but it might be a bit heavy for the room?

Any curtain/blinds ideas? The windows have such nice views. And the white blinds are so awful!

Yes, slate has too much movement and color. Too busy. Not sure what is in your area but travertine #(color) crema imperial would look very nice. Interceramic is a company I deal with in my area. Good pricing. Also, Stone Solutions has a product tile named Saturnia #Beige. There is movement in this tile but the color tones would look nice.

Before you do anything, check out RetroRenovation.com! There are lots of out here who would LOVE to have your kitchen, just as it is - especially that floor! Pam, the blogger, just had an entire post about that exact pattern of Armstrong flooring, and in the comments you can see how many people love it. She also has lots of posts about knotty pine kitchens. You'll find suggestions for colors, wallpaper, window treatments, appliances, furniture, everything! I personally hate stone/tile floors - they are so cold and uncomfortable. If your vinyl is in good condition, and you can find a way to work with it that pleases you, you'd also save a ton of money and not add to the landfill :)

The house is in Lake Tahoe...

To keep pricing down you could go with a 2" Faux window treatment. Faux mimics the wood look and they are available in smooth, wood grain and sandblasted finishes, depending on the manufacture.

My issue with the floor is the color and I don't like vinyl. Although the house is full of yellow/browns I prefer cooler colors and want to incorporate as much color that I like as i can. But I hear you about saving money. I'll check out the site. I still like the idea of gray travertine possibly...

There! A site to visit for ideas and to make you feel good about what you have right now!!!!

Try taking a look at these links to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. You just may be inspired to embrace what you've got and have fun with it! Plus, lots of the craftsmanship and quality of materials was a lot better back then than what you'll get today, especially on a budget. Have fun!

http://retrorenovation.com/2013/08/22/armstrong-5352/

http://retrorenovation.com/2013/03/05/101-design-ideas-to-decorate-knotty-pine-24-page-catalog-from-1960/

http://retrorenovation.com/2011/06/17/betty-crafter-says-yes-to-the-knotty-pine/

http://retrorenovation.com/2009/04/05/knotty-pine-kitchens-a-look-that-is-due-for-a-comeback/

http://retrorenovation.com/2010/02/23/a-1956-knotty-pine-kitchen-respectfully-retained-and-revived/

and yes I like the faux wood blinds a lot. they are in the upstairs bedroom already and look great. the house came furnished so i'm throwing stuff out but those i kept. but blinds on a large window are tough, arent' they? also what do i do with the sliding glass door.

Geez, I'd just about kill for your kitchen table and chairs! I'd probably love the stuff you're throwing out, lol!

So funny because i can't wait to get rid of the table and chairs hah!

The window in the picture is a good size but as long as you aren't raising and lowering them daily you shouldn't have any problems. Opening and closing the slats won't be any harm.
I'm leaning towards a roller shade or a woven wood for the sliding door.

i will say i DO LIKE 60s VINTAGE much more than 50s... so modern type 60s furniture in the livingroom would appeal to me if it doesn't clash with the knotty pine...

There ya go.....now we're talking!

Not sure if you have any dealers in your area but Skandia window treatments are a very good price. They have the same look as Hunter Douglas but half the cost.

I like the lamps . Pretty new chairs would spice it up that match lamps

yes i agree new chairs...they are too bulky and ugly tan color that i don't care for. but the table is more streamlined...
and the lamps are growing on me.

yes these blinds are upstairs and it has a cozy look to it even though i haven't decorated in there much yet...

First of all you can get Gauged Slate and it is not busy. If you can't find a gauged slate then I would recommend a Porcelian tilefor the floor. Too much wood already in the kitchen, I would not recommend a wood floor. I would also change blinds and then either paint the cabinets or the wood siding White.

Turkish Travertine Classic is a travertine I would recommend due to the color tones and pricing.
I live in Texas and pricing on this product is much better than the Mexican Travertine.

Or the Turkish Travertine Noce could give a little contrast while still picking up the colors of the pine paneling.

about the curtains- retrorenovations.com has ideas. you could do double painted wood shutters or an art deco flower print curtain as well .. lot's of options

Check out these curtains. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ltlblonde/7553703436/

Please keep photo ideas coming! They help me a lot! Thanks!

Another travertine that may work is Walnut Onyx Travertine. I don't have any good photos of this product installed so I googled it and it's an excellet photo that shows the variation. This product, that I know of, is only available in the versailles patter. (Pattern shown in picture)