Tell us more. Why rushing because too fast can mean mistakes. Budget? Goal? Selling? What style do you hope to portray? Keeping the furniture?

To me it seems like there is a variety of styles, quality and decades going on here. Looking at your ideabook, I see a lot of white cabinetry there.

Your ceilings are beautiful! Dont change them. Other than that I need to know more of want you are trying to accomplish

We closed on the house about 5 weeks ago. We are anxious to move in and get started here. We are keeping the ceilings the way they are and are trying to update kitchens and baths with a coastal feel. We are tanking of painting the trim/ woodwork white. The house is greats and feels like a cabin. We would really like to brighten it up.

It was built in 1987. Currently , it is unfurnished these are just the photos I had.

Replacing the cabinets can be a very expensive move. At least some of the cabinetry can be saved by refacing them and replacing the hardware. From the photos it looks like some of the cabinets are not very functional for the room design so you may want to remove some of the cabinets especially the ones in the wash room. The bathrooms can be updated cost effectively by removing the wallpaper, replacing the light fixtures, refacing the cabinets and replacing the countertops. Those changes will make a very big difference in the look of your room without having a big impact on your wallet.

My first suggestion is to allow living in the space to direct your decisions; ASAP can waste time and money. Choose your furnishings. Use your decor itch to settle out the bedroom, then baths first, and keep 'druther lists' for the remaining spaces. These lists will change the longer you are in the house, and will help you get focused.
Your choice of furnishings will help steer you toward a particular style and palette, things you haven't mentioned, but which will determine what finishes will work best for you ( not the numerous opinions of what others would enjoy that you have just opened yourself up to with such an open ended request).
The more specifics you can articulate, the better the advice becomes.

Tons of potential. First picture. Remove all fake greenery. Change the funky glass on your ceiling fan. Are your kitchen cabinets made of the same wood as the walls? What are your counters like? I would also like to see the kitchen backsplash as I think all those dark grout lines are doing you no favors with all the lines going on. You have too much wood going on. I would not get wood toned furniture for this room. I would consider painting the ceiling and leave the beams natural. Lighter bath. Get rid of wooden toilet seat. Change the light fixtures. Get rid of the wallpaper. Please give a close up of the tile. Is is pinky? I would paint the vanity, change the hardware, get a new countertop. I love the ceiling. Other bath, take down the wallpaper, change window treatment, what is the counter made of in here. Is it wood tone Formica? Strip wallpaper in laundry room and paint.

Honestly though don't rush and buy stuff. I would start with projects like stripping the wallpaper. Once it is down reassess. If you rush you will make expensive mistakes.

The old fashioned bath with wall mounted toilet tank is fun and a conversation starter if it is for guests. I'd leave it for last. The other one could really use some help, so tackle it first - especially if it is the master. Then work your way to the bedrooms and by that time you'll know what the public rooms need and how the kitchen is working/or not for you.

From what I can see, particularly the bathrooms, you could get a big improvement on all of your cabinetry with paint alone. Use the Rustoleum product for a good result.

Agree about the toilet tank. I was suggesting removing wooden toilet seat in the other bathroom.

In the lighter colored bathroom... paint, new countertop, and new hardware on cabinets for now. Inexpensive and a quick fix for now till you know more what you want, especially since you want to do something in several rooms. Oh yeah, ang the wood seat!

Always paint first.. cheapest way to go! You can replace if that doesn't work

We were originally thinking painting , adding countertops, backslash in kitchen ... Maybe that's still the best way to go

Another idea I had that may make the room look good would be to paint the wood between the dark beams on the ceiling the same color as the cabinets and it would really brighten up the room and tie it together! Please post a picture when you are done!

Are you sure you will get development approval? It may be blocked by the Swiss Family Robinson Heritage Trust

Thanks for not helping chookchook2 it's nice though that you have some sense of humor. Thanks everyone for the helpful comments

Congratulations on your new house. Have you settled on a budget? When is your move-in date?

If you have children who will be living with you, it will be much easier to paint before you move. If the wood floors need refinishing, definitely do that before moving.

Professional tile cleaners are worth the money if the tile floors and showers are in need of attention.

The pendant support over the breakfast bar seating was custom fitted to the beams. If you want to change the pendants themselves, that'd be easy.

If the ceiling fans are real Casablanca fans, you may be able to order new light fittings for them. Take a look at and a photo of the label stuck on the fan body, then get in touch with their customer service department to identify models.

I love the wood but too much of one color does not sit well with me. IMO I would stain the island an espresso color. Use fun colors on the furniture or white linen colors. Get rid of the plants. Looks like a great project with a ton of potential.

Have looked at your profile ideas. Go to Pantone 2014 colour family. It will give you the blue and sand colours that you need . Their international colour of the year for 2014 is a mid blue.

Would love to see after photos!

The kitchen has way too much wood for my taste. I might keep the ceiling as it is ( or paint it white and leave the beams as is) and the floor, however, I think gallons of white pain could go on the walls, bench and kitchen cupboards. Ibelieve the bathroom had a duck frieze :( and other wallpaper so strip that off and paint the walls a light color. I agree with other posters get rid of the plants, I have a passionate hatred of ceiling fans and think that leadlight light fitting severely dates your room, so I would pull that down if it were my house. I also would take down those leadlight light shades in the bathroom as they too severely date your room.

ps as someone who is renovating on a budget, I would suggest your prioritise spending your time and money in the area you spend most time in which I assume will be your kitchen/eating area. generally we are in and out of bathrooms fairly quickly so an eyesore in the bathroom is more easily tolerated.

I agree with saratogaswizzelstick - don't rush. If on a budget, prioritize first. Kitchen is liveable, but if you need to do something inexpensively to downplay the wood, then either paint the wood under the breakfast bar, or cover with metal roofing (aluminum) - that will give it a contemporary look, taking away from the cabin fever. And then paintout the kitchen cupboard doors with a neutral colour. Replacing the counter and backsplash lateron when you can afford it. I would leave the ceiling and beams, they are a great feature. Bathroom1: is also liveable, is that wallpaper ? Not good for bathrooms - remove and paint walls in a light colour. I would paint-out the wood ceiling. Bathroom2: definitely remove the wallpaper, paintout the wainscoating in soft white and then contrasting colour above that. Replace wooden toilet seat and paint the cistern white. I would NOT paint the bathroom cupboards or mirror frame. And later on you can re-tile floors & counters once you have time to browse. Good luck ..

The ceiling fans are Hunter Originals, built like tanks and as a results are very heavy. These fans are made to last, don't throw them away. Just be sure to oil them one a year with Hunter oil, which can be purchased from Hunter directly.

I was in an open house the other day and they had painted the oak cabinets a dark charcoal colour and it looked amazing! It looked like they had it professionally done because the job was awesome. It was a log home and most of the walls were log so the contrast looked great. I'm thinking of doing that to my oak cupboards too and I have a lot of them but want to have an updated look without having to spend huge bucks on a brand new kitchen.
Anyway, I think I'd paint your cabinets also so that they stand out from the rest of the wood walls. There's a lot of wood in the house so it would be a great contrast. You could do with the darker charcoal or gray or an espresso colour (brownish grey)..that I see in all the kitchen stores these days. Add some tile back splash and it would look awesome!
You could paint the island a different fun colour or just leave it too. Good luck and have fun.

Do the messy removal/painting stuff first. That includes the flooring. Are you acting as the contractor or will you be hiring one?

2dogssashatess, I hope you don't have a lisp while introducing yourself

Congratulations! Your home has so much potential and some great features. To me it seems like there is a variety of styles, quality and decades going on here. Looking at your ideabook I see a lot of white cabinetry. Bathrooms are easy to tackle, but need to function- so I would tackle those first. In the duck bathroom- those cabinets look like wood. What about whitewashing the bead board on the walls, remove the little feathered friends, paint the walls a sand color, new counter top and a white mirror. I think the toilet could work if it weren't for all the wood on it- wonder if you could paint it and just get a new seat?

For the green bath- this is the master? This needs to be your sanctuary. New cabinets are a must. From what I can see those are not real wood boxes so painting them is not the best answer. The whole room is very dated- from the tile to the lights. This is going to b a budget eater if you are not handy. Not sure why there is just one sink, but a new counter and two sinks would be on a must list. Even if you do not do a complete remodel choose something you like and it can be used when you do the whole room. So, if not in a hurry- change out the lights, paint (I hope that isn't wallpaper) new cabinet hardware and a rug to make the space yours.

Your kitchen has so much potential, but without a budget idea it is hard to advise. Hope these inspire you!

A Crew, your beachy ideas are great! They fit her wants, and are casual and classy all at the same time!

Thank you for all the input. I have had a few GCs come out and quote, a painter, a tile/stone guy, cabinet co. and a designer take a look at the place. We have small children and planned on getting the work done prior to move in. We wanted to get in as soon as possible but also wanted it done right ...I was considering painting the kitchen cabinets white/ or a beachy driftwood white. With the island painted a different color. OR I priced refacing where they're face and replace the drawers tooOR considered replacing all cabinetry. The wood is solid wood cabinetry although it's from 1987. Replacing counter tops with granite and tiling entire kitchen and bath. For the laundry, removing wall paper and making a combo mud room. I was going to remove the wallpaper and paint the walls along wit he wood in the powder room

I appreciate all the input A crew of two... Looking for a gig in Florida?

Nice if designers get work from Houzz, they are so generous with their time here

Maggie - looking forward to seeing updates & photos after the painting ....