Add to your list thicker base molding around the bottom. I really like the bar. I can imagine it with three fun chairs. What a great place for kids to do homework, color/draw, and have snacks. If you don't have kids....then take it out. :) Also change the hardware on your cabinets. And I might paint that bulkhead above the cabinets white too to draw the eye up since you are going to use a very dark brown on the walls. It's trimmed out, I think it would look like part of the cabinets.

thanks - like the bulkhead idea. - need to add molding at celing too. No kids yet, but not buying a 4 bedroom home for nothin'!!

Dark Colors Would Be A Mistake In This Kitchen. Once granite is cut and placed on an island or cabinets it usually can not be moved and reused on new ones. Think about where you want standard size appliances. I think investing in appliances would be wise. Stainless can scratch and requires polishing in addition to cleaning. Keep us posted on the progress.

Are you commenting about the granite, because we should gut the kitchen??cant afford that. But countertops are the least of my worries- plus brother in law owns granite company. Still leaning toward chocolate brown walls since all woodwork will be white. Not really a lot of wall space to paint- but will def. look at samples before I start. Thanks

Btw, wall color suggestions??

Well, I kinda like this idea too - red stools. Note the blue-grey cupboard on the left - this could be your wall color. And I'd still do those geraniums!
http://houzz.com/photos/807517

I think the only thing really needed here is new countertops.
I'd be hesitant to paint the cabinets white due to the floor color.
You could place rolling wire carts under the counter, with or without the skirting. I wouldn't remove it- it's always nice to have a work area you can sit at, and it will make a great buffet table when you entertain family.
I really like the retro vibe of this room. Are the changes you're interested in making for the long term, or just to get you through until you can do a major remodel? If it's the latter, I wouldn't go all out on new appliances yet.
If you're going to have to live with this kitchen for awhile, I'd take the cabinet doors to a body shop and have them filled, smoothed and painted old Caddy red. White granite counters and chocolate walls. I'd paint the trim chocolate, too, but if you go white, get rid of the clam molding and get something more substantial.

Are you looking for something similar to this? [houzz=]

Nice kitchen ... beware of white for the cabinets - it will make the cream tile floor look dirty tan. Look for a color for cabinets and walls that makes the floor look good. Have you considered a soft green, teal, yellow, or blue? Those go well with chocolate browns and can use vivid accent colors easily.

Remove the valance over the window. As recommended, beefing up the moldings is fashionable now.

Definitely paint the soffit (bulkhead, whatever you call it) above the cabinets to match the cabinets.

I like that furniture piece under the window. I would put it on casters or slides so it can be moved out and used as a work table or for serving large dinners. As it is, it's a good spot for a snack and when work spills over.

Hold off on the appliances and put that money in a savings account. Use the ones you have until they die while you save money for a larger scale renovation. There is appliance paint or adhesive film that will give you the look of stainless ... not perfect, but a good fake until your budget recovers from the house purchase.

I would paint the walls first. Put up your crown molding and baseboard and paint it then go from there. Just wall color will make huge difference. I worry about chocolate color for walls. I have a seventies home also just purchased with a galley kitchen a lot like this. I've painted my walls a taupe color and it changed the color of my cabinets. Sometimes it's hard to visualize everything at one time.

These are couple of my favorite galley pics on house and my paint color is very similar to the first pic. Mine is just a little darker. Dont forget to change your hardware! I left my cabinets after I painted. I'm debating on staining them darker instead of painting.

If you are painting cabinets white, change your flooring--vinyl plank wood look. White cabinets with a glaze would be nice & instead of chocolate brown paint do a cinnamon. There are many very nice granite counters that would blend well with that. I like the thought of a table & tear out the bar, it would be more useful. You could do a bench on the window side that would sit under when extra seating isn't needed,

I could def. check on flooring prices. Area not very large. Hubby will not take to color on cabinets. I'll need to find some sample photos. Thanks for all the ideas.

I had same problem with hubby but was not opposed to staining a little darker lol

I'd consider waiting to paint the cabinets until I choose granite and new flooring.

In the meantime, cleaning and touching up the cabinets, painting the walls a lighter cream than the flooring, getting the tile floor professionally cleaned and improving the lighting will go a long way. You might want to replace the drawers and door fronts when you paint the cabinets. If the appliances are unbearable, replace them now. Otherwise, wait for granite to get the look you really want.

Staining the cabinets an espresso color might be doable and get you that chocolate look with white walls and red accents.

It's easy to change the legs on the small table bar, by the way.

Not my original plans. Any thoughts on this??

I don't mind the turquoise walls. Definitely different for a kitchen, though. You will want to bring in an accessory that has the same blue in it. Maybe buy bar stools and put chair lads in a pattern that has a hit of the turquoise.

have you considered taking out the bulkhead and leaving it open for storage or depending on the height of it adding horizontal open cabinets in its place? Ikea has some. Or even leaving it open to the next room might add some light after looking at your updated not original plan pictures with the wall out. Also if you are for sure on granite you'll have to leave room in the budget otherwise I'd consider a softer counter top and maybe one less busy since it doesn't look like a large room ... at least in the picture

Like it- I'd go with a greener shade, though, and I wouldn't go with a wood floor with those cabinets. Is hubby against any paint or just color? The cabinets would look great in a neutral shade with some brown to it. Or off white like ahelton's second photo; still would look good with turquoise. If you paint the cabinets, a wood floor would look great.

Send as little as you can for now. Don't put granite on those cabinets, throwing good money after bad. Ultimately, re-design the kitchen, new appliances. GET RID OF THE BAR TOP. lol

Skipping granite and cabinets, back to wall color, don't go dark in a galley kitchen.
Isn't the bar area where the fridge goes?
I thought you mentioned appliances, if so make sure you measure how far the counter, sink, and cabinets come out so you don't get appliances that go beyond.
Sorry, if my previous post offended you. I hope this one helped!

I think most of the ideas here are sound. The only thing I would consider changing is the idea of just painting the cabinets. Consider using the rustoleum cabinet renovation kit instead. It would be a more complete change over.

If you like the new kitchen idea you showed u a little higher up. I think it is lovely and makes great use of your current footprint.

Looks good

You can buy kits at homes depot to refinish the kitchen cupboard doors it's a rust oleum kit here is a before and after of a friends kitchen

Not offended by any comments :) the fridge goes by bulletin board on far wall near door to laundry room. Gonna check out rustoleum kit just mentioned. Thanks