Is the question, why don't you like your kitchen? Do you want ideas?

Remove the border , change your lights. Is that a popcorn ceiling ? It should be smoothed over. Paint the cabinets. Change your hardware. Those should have a big impact.

If budget (and mess) allows, remove the furr-down/soffit above the cabinets. Allows for other changes such as crown molding, taller cabinets, bumping up the venthood/microwave cabinet to allow for more room for taller pots. Before pic shows lowered ceiling - same 12" as your furr-down. After shows what we did with some of that space - but we left the majority of the cabinets where they were. Bumped a couple up for interest.

It looks functional, clean and neutral. Are you looking to remodel? If so what is your budget? What specifically bugs you about the space? Here is a similarly neutral kitchen with white knobs and no wallpaper with fresh paint and outlet covers that match the paint. It is cozy and the paint is unifying the space.

Maybe you need a specific color accent. Everything is kind of neutral. Curtain, rug, canisters, border or paint could be in the accent color or colors.

How much work can you or do you want to put in to this? Budget?
Here are some initial thoughts:
Remove wall paper & curtains
Are the cabinets good quality? If so, think about painting them...white is an obvious choice, but a light gray might look great too.
What kind of looks do you like? Can you post a few sample pics?

I think some paint on walls an cabinets (or stain on cabinets)
New hardware and a new counter top could completely transform this to a modern/traditional kitchen!

Hello, you can remove the popcorn in the ceiling,upgrade the lighting .I will change the countertop, add a backsplash.Maybe you can put under cabinets lights. Remove the top wall, to give more space. Change the molding around window. You can reface the cabinets.

It just needs some updating I think. Loose the curtains and wall paper. Paint the walls to add some color and update the lighting fixtures. You could also look into updating the cabinets; Maybe consider painting or staining them a different color and replacing the hardware.

And remove the wooden window valance in addition to what others have said for easy fixes, paint will work wonders. When budget allows, update appliances too. After 30 years, go for it.

I spy a couple of cues....there's a bright green bowl, salt and pepper shakers and a highly colored canister over there by the TV. You're a colorful person trapped in a neutral kitchen! For lower budget fixes, I would do these smallish things: 1) Replace the hanging light fixture with a more modern version. You can do colored shades on a new chandelier style (orange! or yellow! or green!) 2) Replace the other fixture with a simple white rimmed dome one that fits snug to the ceiling 3) Take down the wallpaper and leave the area the same color as the walls (paint again if you can) 4) Find a happy colored/patterned valance to go over the sink 5) Change your switch and outlet plates to a newer, cleaner style. Even simple ivory ones would look neater. 6) Try taking the door off the corner cabinet above the TV...and since the hinges are exterior, you may need to do a little wood putty/touch up on the four holes...use that as a little display area for colorful kitchen pieces and 7) Find new canisters that go with your now happy place. :)

lookingood101, glad to see you posted a new dilemma! You received a lot of advice on old post and are getting good advice on new, as well. Remember to comment once in awhile so we know you are "hearing" us! :))

Thank you. I just couldn't seem to get the pics all together, like I can't pull a room together.......

I think removing the wallpaper boarders, re-painting the walls, and re-finishing the cabinets, would look great! Happy home designing!

I like the posters and the canvas that has been suggested. They still would be small alone.

what I want to know is WHY does everyone say to take off curtains. Absolutely nothing wrong with curtains on kitchen windows. I have them, they still sell them and many people I know still have them. To me unless you have extra fancy woodwork that you are trying to highlight, adding even just a valance to a window adds a touch of color. I spent good money on my 2 sets of windows in my kitchen the past year and don't intend to take them down.

I do agree with getting rid of the popcorn ceiling, I'm sure it collects a lot of dirt, especially in a kitchen.

I would also replace the light what looks like above your table. It also is too high up. We recently replaced our 20yo kitchen light and lowered it a bit from the previous light and now the kitchen table has more focused light where it needs it.

Diyher- I agree that there is nothing wrong with kitchen curtains- but not those. They are oddly formal for a kitchen and that mousy color adds nothing to this very bland space.

I hear you diyher. My gripe about curtains/window coverings in a kitchen is they usually look a bit fussy/cluttery. Done right, kitchen curtains can be awesome. My theory about curtains/window coverings in general is not to have them unless you have to have them for privacy/light blocking/insulating purposes and then let them be something you love and think is beautiful.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/curtains-in-your-kitchen-stsetivw-vs~21473

I agree the light fixtures need to go. It will be amazing what that one small change can do to inspire you. I personally don't care for the window valance. On my computer it looks shiny like gold lame or something similar. I think you could do something more fun after you address the wall paper border which also needs to go and I would personally not want a valance to hang that low since it looks like you already have a window shade. If you can not afford to replace cabinets and get rid of the soffits and want more than just paint, how about wall papering the entire height of the soffit rather than a border? I think a fun stripe of browns, chartruse (your green shakers), cream or what your wall paint color is and etc. I think it would give your cabinets the elusion of being taller and give you some color at the same time. But any wallpaper the full height of the soffit would look better than a border which only covers half of it. Look for fabric for a new valance and lighting fixtures after you choose the wall paper if you go that route.

I agree, the valance looks shiny on my screen too and it is a bit formal for the type of cabinetry. rawketgrl, I like the curtains you posted

I saw his the other day and I think it has some great ideas that you might like too.

Do you cook a lot? What is working for you, and not working for you, functionally speaking? I notice your kitchen is not at all cluttered...good start!

You've received many good suggestions. I will further suggest that you think about what you want to spend on this project and look for some inspiration photos. The suggestions from other users will get very specific then. 8 D

Good luck!

jradnell - Great idea! Really like the blue bottom cabs and white uppers. You could add accessories in pops of color or leave it neutral.

Light fixtures-replace both of them, nothing frilly
Wallpaper border-remove
Popcorn ceiling-scrape & paint
Counter tops-replace-it's time
Cabinets-paint all white, add hidden hinges, paint trim white, too
Pulls-remove putty holes and redrill for knobs
Walls-paint sage green
Wow, what a difference!

Save money by not doing a backsplash-just use enamel paint-wipes clean with no problems.

Lookingood101: what do you see in your dream kitchen? What do you mean that your kitchen isn't "done"? Your ideabook is a good place to put photos.

Bump.

That border is no longer borderline, it's right out. Put light fixture in a game room somewhere. Change curtain to plain white or cream sheer if privacy is an issue. Put pinky canisters away in cupboard, continue with green theme in small pops of colour. None of that will break the bank, while you consider the bigger suggestions here. Go out soon and get a green hand towel and oven mitt, it'll make you feel good!

lookingood: I found your other pictures, and would suggest you look for a console table to go under your mirror opposite the kitchen area that has an open black iron base (as your dining set) with a wood top in tones that go with the kitchen cabinetry. That would tie elements you now have together.

nope, don't hardly cook

Hi lookingood101,
A quick note about our experience: Brigitte and I consistently design between 70-90 kitchens/year (for over 34 years) and have designed thousands of kitchens.....We also design full structural including below-grade foundation plans.....We have 2 Chicagoland locations and a Michigan location which cover the Wisconsin to Indiana borders, N.W. Indiana and S.W. Michigan.....

Anyway, not demeaning your kitchen, but there's nothing here that we haven't seen (and completely remodeled) hundreds of times before.....This is the most basic of basic designs from the "old days".....Take a peek at our Houzz page.....We have just under 90 b4/after kitchens and so many started like yours, as you'll see.....Hope they give you some ideas!.....John & Brigitte

Hi lookingood101,

Had the same problem except it was plaster, which is worse to remove. I removed a nasty, large, rectangular, fluorescent fixture and replaced it with canned lights (LED, 2700K warm lights) and now I can barely tell all that bumpiness is still there.

The cabinet wall needs some punch. I agree with the others- out with the border. Then I would pick a warm color that appeals to you such as a dark clay color or mustardly yellow and paint the upper area and maybe other walls in the room. If a tiled backsplash is in your budget, I would do that with some tiles that have a light glossy finish with some centers of interest tile groupings spaced out along the backsplash. I would love to see you remove the cabinet wood cornice over the window, add café shutters and let the light in above the shutters. Faux wood shutters can take the moisture of the sink area. Best wishes.

First chose your favorite color(s). I prefer light and soft colors, others like rich and warm colors. Select at least two, better for three. I just redid our kitchen with soft blue walls, pure white cottage cabinetry and vintage style hardware, we already had wood floors. Added a black wrought iron sink light that reflects our black onyx counter and changed the ceiling light to match. A new cottage picket fence wallpaper border that adds a touch of soft pink with a small black and white checked border.
Check idea pages online - or purchase a few 'makeover' magazines and find a style that suits you - add your favorite colors and you are on your way. If the bones of your cabinets are solid, you can change up the look by painting the doors or purchasing new doors/drawers that suit the style you've chosen. I'm into subway tile for backsplash, but I love the black/white with accent colors to warm it up. First find out if your style is southwest, country, contemporary, or like mine, farmhouse cottage. I'm not 'into' the Tuscany colors that others seem to favor, preferring light and airy with warm rosetones, pale pinks and soft blues. It's all a matter of personal preferance.