Adivra- we plan to rent out the main floor. But who knows, we might end up living here for awhile. The reason we are getting it appraised is to hopefully qualify for a home equity line of credit. So if we do any work we want it to count in the appraisal..

No it won't add to the appraisal. Even a bad appraiser will see that the cabs are old and the counter a cosmetic hype. Why are you wanting a line of credit? Shouldn't that be for updating the property? Then do the necessary work to actually increase the value of the home.

Hi Lindsey, I love your cabinets too. Have you considered soapstone? I think a dark(er) color, matte countertop will go really well with them.

Adivra-The line of credit would help go towards renovating a different home. Which is part of the reason why this place will be rented out...
Perhaps we should do new cabinets here. But on the chance that we do stay I would probably be most happy with just the new countertops. Sigh...I guess I know a full new kitchen is the best way to add value/increase value. Yet I really just want to believe going my route(original cabs with new counters) is not a bad choice! Ha!

Original cabinets with new natural material countertops that flatter your original cabinets! I think that's the way to go:)
Maybe spend a little making the cabinets work smoother? Would that work?

Bumblebee-I like that idea. And I do love the look of soapstone, bug think it may be a bit out of our budget...I can get the granite I've sourced, cashmir white, for just $40/square foot

Bumble-did you have any other suggestions? I have also considered concrete in dark grey. Or something warmer like butcher block...

I like the soapstone suggestion however the granite that you've found is also very striking. If you go with the granite (above), you could easily keep the cabinets and just repaint them, pulling the grey from the granite.

I like the concrete in a darker gray and butcher block too. Then there is slate, and manmade soapstone which is less expensive.
I just found some ideabooks about countertops on Houzz by searching Soapstone Countertops. There are a few that give a lot of info about many different materials. I think it'll help, take a look and see what you think.

Lindsey, I think the granite is pretty, just don't see the polished, shiny look with your cabinets. Would you be able to get a honed, matte finish on a piece of granite for a good price too?

Quick foot- I thought of repairing just the lowers a darker color that works with the cashmir granite. Something like this idea:
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/8230585@N06/3351831464/

bumblebee i'm going to look into honed, matte granite. I've never thought of it before-is it usually available but just a higher price...?

Those are 70's era, not 50's era. Not worth putting stone on them at all. Foolish to do so in fact. It's lipstick on a pig. Put on laminate, or leave it all alone until you do a gut remodel. Locking in those cabinets with expensive stone is the absolute worst thing you could do.

I have a home from the 1950s and just remodeled the entire house to flip it. I bought ikea white cabinets, which are surprisingly well made and easy to assemble and install. The cabinets are of a shaker design and they look a lot like your cabinets. I found a huge absolute black honed granite remnant slab at a stoneyard. So look at the stoneyard a in your area and ask to see their remnants it's amazing what you will find. Good luck!

Sophie-thanks for the advice :)

Apple pie-yes the drawers are pretty close to the countertops. Actually it's been a real bad knuckle Trap, ouch.
I would lean towards what my personal preference is. But if we do anything it needs to add value...otherwise we just can't spend the funds. Hmmm. Lots to think about

Lucky lady-thanks for the tip. I've worked with ikea cabinets in the past. And the Adel is what I have shown in the second option in the poll. Is that what you used? If we do replace we will use ikea. But although I prefer the shaker style the Adel might have a bit too much yellow in it compared to the very cool white trim I have throughout the house. I might go with the flat white slab fronts instead only because they are less creamy...decisions decisions!

HI -- I love the charm of the original cabinets . You should enjoy your home now and not do things for resale value only . If you checked some of the counter suppliers for miss -orders for a cheaper price . I think you could do the granite that you want but keep it simple , no busy texture . I could see marble with these cabinets or quartz that looks like marble . Even wood counters would work . If the cabinets are in good condition and you love them , then you can have any counter top material you want .

I see nothing wrong with your cabinets, so what if they are old, if they are still in good shape and serve you well, why ditch them? Are the boxes of the cabinets plywood? if so, they should last for a good time.
Is the island portable? meaning on wheels? Looks like you could always paint the island a contrasting color but obviously keep the wood counter as it goes well with your style decor. I'm replacing my laminate counter on my island with black walnut, but going with Quartz around the parameter. Just because cabinets are old, does not mean you would wast your money on new countertops. Just assess how the cabinets are made, the strength etc and go from there. I would be sure to check Quartz and not leave that out of the mix. For my counters, I'm most likely going with a Quartz that doesn't have a real busy pattern and resembles marble but with a soft white rather than a bright white

I would add a creamy colored granite. There is not that much of it, so you should be able to do it relatively inexpensively. It might not add actual value, but it will add appeal.

I wouldn't spend money on new cabinets when the ones you have are fine- use it on the other home, if needed. The granite you've chosen is a perfect transitional style.

lindseyray, I sense some confusion over the perceived added value of granite - intrinsically, it has little, so don't let that be a deciding factor. A well functioning and aesthetically pleasing kitchen will have perceived value at appraisal time. Repairing what doesn't work well, and replacing worn tops for butcherblock or formica, and keeping the look cohesive will add some value; a complete update will add more. The flat panel is a great idea for your era house, should you gut. Look at updating your lighting at the same time, if you go that route.

I did use adel. However my cabinets seem to throw off a grey tint. So we chose to paint the kitchen white, installed a white basketweave backsplash from overstock, bought stainless steel appliances and vent, an apron faced farmhouse sink and blue/grey ceramic tiles for the tile that looks like slate. The kitchen is about 15 by 15 after gutting and installing everything new we spent around $7k, that's including the black granite. If my renter didnt destroy my old wood cabinets I would've kept them. If your old cabinets are solid wood I would not replace them.

If you love the cabinets, keep them but, do not waste your money on granite. Check out my blog post http://www.addisoninteriordesigndenver.com/exciting-new-and-affordable-countertop-options/ for countertop options that would be a good cost match for your cabinets.

Oh please...no more granite! Granite is so over used and over pushed. It is more common than laminate at this point. Do something fun and fresh, not heavy and cumbersome. I like the soapstone idea, but you could add IKEA butcher block for an inexpensive fix. Yoir room has a vintage cottage-y look. What about marmoleum in a fun fresh color?

It all looks fine to me. Perhaps lighting. What's on your floor? I would not change wood cabinets and boxes. The original is the original and that makes it special and different. If changing countertops, I think butcher block would be very nice with your white and stainless and cost effective. Granite would not look right. I think it would look worse than you have. It just doesn't "go" in there. Butcher block, soapstone or laminate. The new laminates are very nice. I would make sure they are installed on solid plywood, not particle board. For period lighting check out schoolhouseelectric.com.

Seriously, please...no granite here.

If you must replace the countertops, what about a nice dark teak countertop?

Upgraded appliances would add great value and perceived value as well.

Ill jean-could you post a pic if 'marmoleum' in afresh color?
Thanks!

I've looked into ikea butcher block. I would need two slabs. It would be affordable but-it would need TWO SEAMS :(
The ikea butcher block is 8' and that stretch of cabinet below the window is 11'.
Hmm...? Actually I might have figured out how I would make that work best!

lindsey, I have to agree with IIIjean. Marmoleum is the new name for linoleum. Here are marmoleum countertop color samples.

Don't change anything! leave an allowance $$ for the new owners to work with. You could lose a potential sale by spending money on something that would not appreciate the value to many people.... focus on the overall house.... stage carefully. Take down the doillie curtains in the kitchen.

I think you need to figure out what your next steps are. If you plan to rent leave as is, as a landlord myself its not worth upgrading. If you plan on living there even for a year make the changes you will be comfortable with, if you are looking to sell and say the countertops are looking worn than find an option that would look great for resale and won't break the bank. My husband and I made concrete countertops ourselves for one of our properties and it was easy to make and we spent under $500. Also how functional is the space? Is it an open layout? Closed off? Money may be better spent for an open layout which seems to be extremely popular. One last thing, I wasn't a fan of grab it either but you would be amazed at the color options. The black we chose was granite, no seams, 3 countertops for $2k with installation from stone yard. Quartz was twice the amount! So although granite is overdone its cheaper because it flooded the market and people still like to see granite on a listing.

I think appraiser will add value if you add granite. (I used to be bank appraiser) Esp with new appliances. Get bright colored valance. Add some colorful things on counter (bowl of fruit??) the day the appraiser is due. Main thing for appraiser is what are other houses like yours selling for? Have they been updated? Get a free market analysis from a RE agent. Look at pics online.

Charming vintage cabinets, but they will not look right with glitzy new granite. I recommend a laminate or ceramic tile with epoxy grout instead.

There are a lot of very pretty laminates these days. We used a very credible version of Calcatta Marble here, but I'm thinking something more fun and retro for that space.



https://www.houzz.com/photos/6610-endlessgreytone-hpl-6616-mintdotscreen-2jpg-phvw-vp~2549737
https://www.houzz.com/photos/1913-redellipse-hpl-2jpg-phvw-vp~2549674
[houzz=

Check costs of alternatives. I doubt if appraiser will give any credit for a laminate no matter how it looks. It will make kitchen read as "old". Look at similar houses on the market that are like yours. See what they have. Keep the old countertops if other houses have laminate. Appraiser will think - has it been updated or not? Do new houses in your area have laminate or granite? That will be the updated look. Think in generalities for appraisal. If you update kitchen but not bath, the house will still read as old. They look at wiring, plumbing, size of closets, roof, foundation - all that stuff too. If that is old and worn, granite alone won't help that much.

Keep the cabinets. Change the counter tops, appliances (ge has a nice new slate colour), new window covering and back splash. Your husband did a great job!

Butcher block

Can you add moulding to the top of your cabinets?

If you do end up changing the cabinets, I would rip out the soffit above them and take the new cabinets to the ceiling to add a feeling of height along with extra storage space.

UPDATE: I know this is long over due. But I thought I’d finally give a follow up.

We decided to KEEP original cabinets AND took advice not to put brand new granite on the old cabinets. Instead I did a quick fix:

Painted! Then put it on the market the next week. It sold the first day on the market.

Hey! Way to go!!! Congratulations!!!!

Congratulations! It was always worth a try, right? And it turned out great, smart lady.

How did you paint the countertop?

Is that a laminate? It looks wonderful!

I would keep the cabinets, & get rid of the shiny paint on the soffit and ceiling. If you paint the walls the same color as the cabinets, but in more of a washable matt finish it will give the illusion that cabinets go higher and will make the soffit blend in more. Why granite? have you considered quartz? Someone probably asked you already on this thread, sorry I didn't have time to read all of the answers before posting my comment. --oops! Just noticed you painted the countertops & sold it! Congrats!!

Here are old cabinets from the 70s I painted and added quartz counters.