If you are looking to update but keep the cost down, we recommend keeping your cabinets and upgrading other parts of your kitchen.

If it is in your budget, new countertops would definitely bring your kitchen to life. Try a new material and a darker color such as Corian Flint or Zodiaq Space Black. The Zodiaq actually has hints of your cabinet color in it.


Move the island so that it is placed on an angle. This will allow you to have more space and will make the room feel bigger. If you do replace the countertops, we recommend clipped corners of the island for a more modern design and you won’t have to worry about sharp corners. A nice pendant light over your island would also give it a more modern feel.

Add a tile backsplash to make your kitchen really pop. Behind your stove you could do a mosaic glass. For the rest, a more neutral ceramic tile would work best.


You have an awkward open space where your cabinets end before the window begins. We have seen this type of space filled with shelves that taper off as they get closer to the window. This design would give you added space for decorative items and give the kitchen a more modern look. Another option would be putting a nice piece of artwork or wall decals.

Last, we think you should definitely replace the floor. The tile color you have is very nice, but cracks in it are never good. We often install Armstrong’s vinyl tile in kitchens like yours. It looks like regular tile but has a little bit more flexibility and won’t crack. Installation of this product is quite easy and usually takes only a few hours. We have also found it is easy to clean.

I hope our suggestions help. Good luck!

Take a look at these photos to give you an idea of what the colors look like together. The countertop photo is an example of what we mean by clipped corners on the island.