It looks like your kitchen would be the perfect candidate for refacing. Here are some pictures of a before and a couple of afters of a kitchen we did. We ordered new door and drawer fronts and new drawer boxes already painted, and then just painted the cabinet boxes to match. I'm a sucker for white subway back splashes, but a glass subway with one of the lighter colors in your granite would also be very pretty. I would just stay simple.

Thank you. I'm in the process of repainting the cabinets myself, to save on budget. Thinking about white appliances instead if stainless steel. Thoughts?

I would suggest stainless appliances rather than white, and lighter backsplash tile. Glass tiles would be nice if in your budget.

Also, I knew someone who had cabinets with a groove in them like yours, and they filled it in with wood filler (I think thats what they used), then primed and painted them. They look more updated.

White appliances are fine. In fact, I read a while back that they're coming back in style. The nice thing about them is that they don't make the room darker.

What does the rest of your hose look like. The examples from other contributors are gorgeous but fairly traditional (not knocking this - just look at my portfolio on Houzz). A decidedly more contemporary approach looks something like this:




Sometimes less is more.

Change paint couler

An interior design friend told me that white, black and stainless appliances will always be around, it's the odd colors that come and go. Stainless is a bit more work to keep clean, but I love the shine and the bit of industrialism it gives my kitchen.
The one caveat to white appliances is that they do have a tendency to make off-white cabinets and walls look dingy.

Terri, your new kitchen is beautiful! I am getting ready to do mine with the Rustoleum product. I am a little apprehensive on using the glaze though. I don't want streaks and like the very subtle antique look. Any words of wisdom for me before I start this project? Thanks!!

This is for Terri- was the name of your online cabinet company RTA? I am getting ready for a Kitchen redo and love the look go yours. Also I painted my kitchen cabinets in a previous house some years ago with Old Village paints and with lots of teenage kids and activity they held up beautifully. Good luck Atapp.

I'm not a fan of white appliances. I'm not a fan of bright white paint either. Since tract home builders have used white trim for many years I believe white tends to cheapen most spaces unless they are very large and detailed.

Thanks for compliments on our kitchen! It was a lot of work, mostly tedious, but we are really happy with the way it turned out. (If you can DIY a kitchen together the relationship can withstand anything).

@kimkk0415 - Though I've never used the Rustoleum product, I agree with you about the glaze. From the examples I've seen on their website it looks as though if you don't do each cabinet exactly the same and with a light hand, they can look streaky. I would try a sample board first on some scrap wood. Also, I might apply the glaze very thinly with a small brush just in the recesses of the cabinet and I'd have a dry brush in the same size to wipe off the excess.

@stevi - Long msg, but want to cover as much as I can for you.
The company we used was called, "The RTA Store." The cabinets we chose were called Painted Linen. They are 1/2" birch, have a soft maple glaze, which is subtle but beautiful. We did our own design, but they will do a design plan for you if you give them the measurements. We chose roll out drawers for the pots and pans, soft close drawers, and two lazy Susan base cabinets.
There are several ready to assemble cabinet companies and a number of them sell the same cabinets, but call them by different names. We had a good experience with them - a couple of cabinets had dings (nothing is ever perfect) and they handled the exchanges very professionally and until we were satisfied. There is a procedure for returns: follow it and you should have no problems.
***** I highly recommend paying the extra money for samples. I cannot stress this enough. We had a different cabinet style picked out, but when our samples arrived we didn't care for it and went with the Painted Linen instead. And measure, measure, measure. We were able to handle the installation and cutting when needed even with our basic, non-professional tools.
**Tip, when cutting any cabinets for outlets, etc., protect the surface of the cabinet with wide blue tape that is double the width of the guide blades of your jig saw (if using).

I'd love to see" before and afters" from you guys! Good luck!

Taking out the door (to pantry? ) and making it a cabinet door may help maybe some glass front cabinets

How big of a space do you have for the fridge? For my kitchen I got a counter depth fisher and paykel fridge that was less than 23" wide.

Thanks, Terri, I appreciate all the input.

Don't like stainless steel at all. I think the refriges are glaringly obvious, especially in small kitchens like yours, and really especially if you don't get a counter depth size. JennAir makes a nice double-door floating glass one in white. see this link http://insideadvantage.com/assets/pdfs/cms/JA_FloatingGlass_FF.pdf
Would like to see your granite color. Backsplash should compliment granite and cabinet color. Get some simple door and drawer pulls, again, in colors to match granite.. A new, paneled closet door with a nice handle would also add some style. Add under-counter lights, and better, (pretty) ceiling light. Colorful art work at end of kitchen wall. Have fun, show us pics of the end product!



Microsoft Word - JA_FloatingGlass_FF.doc

If you keep the kitchen moden and white and the counter top light wood, you will need a great ceiling fixture above to upgrade your space to a more stylish design
http://www.irisdesignstudio.com/#!product/prd12/1505009325/quito-ceiling-lamp-white

@Iris Design Studio- selling something here? :) Put a bird on it!

a bird?

Iris doesn't watch Portlandia.

poor Iris! Her designs are perfect for Portland People!

I agree with the first comment.. A reface is a great way to get that new kitchen feel on a limited budget with minimal work.