Forgot to mention that before the process started I read about kitchen design guidelines.

Kitchens, as with other rooms of the house in general are getting more spacious and there are more definition between the adjacent rooms while being opened at the sametime.

I started out with off-white cabinets and stark white appliances, not a pretty pair. Oh! And chicken fat yellow walls, blech. It's taken me 2 1/2 years because I've done most of the work myself, but I painted all the cabinets pure white, removed a few cabinet doors and painted the cabinet insides blue, added ceramic tile countertops and changed the drawer pulls. This is the final product. I love it, I'm proud of it and I wouldn't have it any other way!

We have recently renewed our outdated and worn out kitchen. After three sons and numerous animals we decided to treat ourselves. While we liked our basic lay out even small upgrades seemed costly. However we used a company called Nhance that used our existing honey oak cabinets and changed the to a beautiful cream stain and factory finish. We then purchased a beautiful new laminate ( it's come along way) countertop. The money we saved on these two changes allowed us the budget to buy stainless steel appliances and upgrade to a gas stove.

Finally a pic without the ubiquitous pendant lights!

Currently in the planning stages of the kitchen remodel. Just finished a bathroom reno and now it's time for the kitchen. We live in a 100 year old farmhouse and the kitchen is only 9'x13'. However, the dining room is 15'6"x13' and it shares a wall with the kitchen, so yep, the wall is coming down to make space for a new peninsula and even a dishwasher (my hands will be thrilled)! Since it is a farmhouse with most of its original charm we'll try and do our best to keep it that way. A large apron sink and butcherblock countertops (I love my boos block I currently have) will accomplish that I think. I even ordered one of those retro refrigerators in a custom color. I contemplated an island opposed to the peninsula but I need the extra counter space. The bathroom reno went pretty smooth, but it helps when you have more than one place to bathe in your home. Having the only kitchen in the house under construction could pose some stress factors I can't yet foresee. Since we're not into construction yet I only have before shots.

The outcome of the questionnaire was interesting. We have an old Federation home which we bought 31 years ago. The kitchen was remodelled 26 years ago and featured the old Early Kooka stove which we had converted to take the modern gas pressure. Now that the stove (some 80 years old) sits on a permanent 200C degrees, I cannot bake cakes and often burn the dinner. We also built the galley style solid Jarrah bench-top and pine cupboards around the stove to suit. The dining area is too small for entertaining and there is not enough light on the east side of the kitchen. So we are going to gut the galley kitchen, opting for a country kitchen with all cupboards, appliances on two walls, put four colonial windows in to match the French doors to the patio, paint everything white - because we agree that when you have white you notice any marks and keep it nice and clean. I have in mind a large stainless steel Miele stove but general opinion is that a wall over or two are the way to go. Also like the suggestions of having drawers instead of cupboards. That makes sense and as I am in my early 60's, bending down to fossick into the back of cupboards is not what I am after from here on! We prefer our terracotta floor tiles with white colonial chips, white fridge and tile splash-back. No stainless steel or glass for us with the need to clean finger prints off all the time. I am looking forward to more light, bright and airy. Still not sure what to do the bench tops in but maybe we can resurrect the jarrah benchtop which is timeless and in perfect condition. Justabout all of my ideas have come from Houzz and I have a notebook full of ideas. Thanks to all of you for your comments and ideas. It has helped tremendously. Chris

Chris- I am also a fan of the drawers opposed to cupboards. We'll be doing that as well for the same concerns you have. I grew up across the street from my grandparents and countless times I ran over to dig things out from the back of my grandmother's bottom cabinets as her hips and knees did not allow her to do it herself. I plan on growing old here and may not be so lucky to have someone do the same for me. I also agree with the wall color choice. We're doing "steamed milk" by, I think, Benjamin Moore. Because I do like lots of color I opted for a colored fridge with matching hardware on the drawers.

Kari, Thanks for the name of the wall colour. I forgot to mention that I have sourced some lovely ceramic tiles from Italy which will add colour to the kitchen on the splash back as well as a couple of ceramic pieces (face with fruit and vines on her head and ceramic apple with leaves) which will add a nice Italian feel. Also forgot to mention the extractor fan above the stove will be boxed in a Federation style canopy which will look like part of the wall, with bevelled architrave around the edges. I got that idea from Houzz. So excited!!

I loved the countertop!