Modernizing a Kitchen

last year

We have a dated kitchen with stained wood cabinets. We want to modernize this existing kitchen without spending too much.

(1) How would you modernize this kitchen? (2) Should we change the color/paint over the existing cabinet doors?

Please advise.

Featured Answer

darbuka

last year

Painting the cabinets is not going to change the staggered heights of the cabs…which is the most dated part of your kitchen. That, and all that empty space between the ornate crown molding, and the ceiling.

Many people have stained, or natural wood cabinets. However, their cabs go to the ceiling. And, the style is a simpler, Shaker style.

Though the floors, granite variety, and backsplash are all not what you’d find in a ”current” ”modern” kitchen, they coordinate well.

I’d leave the kitchen alone, unless you’re finding the kitchen unbearable. If that’s the case, it’s best to wait until you can do a total reno. Doing piecemeal updates, is never a good idea. Whatever you do update, always makes that which you didn’t, stand out like a sore thumb.

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Comments (11)

eld6161
last year
Maybe using the word modernize is the wrong to go about this. As darbuka mentions above, there are many elements that date your kitchen.

My thoughts would be to paint it a soft white. I would change the bs to a ceramic tile.

What is the granite?

Can we see a close up?

I agree that it does coordinate with the floor.

Even what I mention will be costly. But certainly not what total gut job would be for size kitchen.
WalkintheWoods thanked eld6161
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WalkintheWoods
Original Author
last year
We will change the worktop and backsplash to quatz. I am not sure how would the repaint of cabinet look like in our case. We like white. Do you have an examples of how something like ours when painted white would look like?
John Liu
last year
Repaint won’t change the profile of the cabinet doors and faces. I would ask a couple cabinet shops for quotes to replace the doors and drawer faces. Compare to a quality repaint by a cabinet refinisher who will remove the doors and faces anyway. If desired, get white ones and paint just the carcasses. You could replace the trim at the top of the upper cabinets with a simpler trim, add a filler to eliminate the staggered level, add uplighting above the upper cabinets to make the gap a feature.
Kendrah
last year
A thoughtful piecemeal job can really look great, function well, and get 5-10 years out of your kitchen if the cabinets are quality.

A good quality cabinet paint job costs almost as much as new cabinets. You'll also be surprised at how much new doors and drawer fronts cost too. And, with both, you'll still be left with the staggered height, which is what dates your kitchen the most.

In this case, I think a thoughtful new backsplash, countertop, and hardware can really change the look of your kitchen and refresh it. It is true that the floor and undertone of your cabinets will be the guiding force in your new counters and splash.
darbuka
last year
Painting the cabs will do nothing to change the very outdated staggered design.

Also, installing quartz counters with matching backsplash, is only going to emphasize how out of date the cabinets and floor are. As I said in my previous post, updating piecemeal is not a good idea.
eld6161
last year
last modified: last year
This a fairly large kitchen. I know how much my two small kitchens cost! Having staggered cabinets is the least of it.

Darbuka, how much do you think a total gut job reno would cost for this kitchen?

Would the answer now be to do nothing ever?

There are quite a view people who have done refreshed and they are happy with the result.
eld6161
last year
last modified: last year
Here is a favorite refresh of mine. I’ve shared it before so I know Clt won’t mind.
millworkman
last year
last modified: last year
Repainting those cabinets will be a lot if work. There is a lot there that needs to be cleaned, sanded, sanded and sanded some more before they can even though of being painted. Only way painting is inexpensive is doing it yourself (and you have a crap ton of available time) and honestly, the best paint job in the world is still only as good as the prep work.
darbuka
last year
@eld6161, the difference being, the cabinet style.: fussy vs Shaker. Staggered vs to the ceiling. The floors: dated, limiting tile vs goes-with-anything real wood.

I could go on about the appliances: induction cooktop over a built-in oven vs an over-the-range microwave over a high back electric range...probably not induction.

There wasn’t as much to update in your example of a modest update. Just paint, a change of backsplash and countertops, and a couple of tweaks, like relocating the in-cabinet TV, made all the difference. That’s not the case with the OP’s kitchen, which needs much more help to make it fit the current style.
rebasheba
last year
I know this is a real estate photo so may be very edited, but it doesn't look like the wall paint is a good fit, it clashes with the golden wood tone

I would change the backsplash - definitely

New cabinet hardware

New countertops - maybe. Unless they are stained or somehow damaged, or you just really hate it, I don't think that quartz would be an upgrade over your current granite

Can you change the floor? Probably runs under the cabinets but you never know. at least put down some rugs and cover some of it