Here goes....remove clutter. Especially all magets on fridge. Remove all items from top of cabinets.

Paint walls a pretty shade of rose.

Remove all clutter from counter tops.

Especially light house and duck.

Add foliage and pottery atop cupboards. Make sure rose is a color in the pottery.

Get the cannisters off the top of the fridge.

Purchase new placemats.

Put a bowl of fruit on the island.

Put fresh flowers on the table.

Get rid of the salt and napkins...

Purchase new hand towels.

Pot holders...

Tea Kettle...

ReDesign Expert - Mary Abrams

I, too, was wondering why you want new cabinets. With new appliances, countertops, and backsplash as well as the banquette, the whole space will be transformed. I don't know if you would need to paint/have painted the cabinets.

I agree with the above. Except for the rose paint. One would, in my humble, get tired of it.

As an interim measure, you could paint the cabinets white with an appropriate type of paint for laminate, and wipe it to give a pickled paintwork effect. You could replace the benchtops, but it's not worth it as a redesign would have to incorporate the fridge to get rid off the two 'orhpaned' cabinets marching up the wall. Cabinet to the ceiling are best for lots of reasons, including dusting and extra storage. When you do get a new kitchen, deep plate and pot drawers are absolutely fab! Ikea makes a wonderful kitchen - flat-pack - I couldn't believe the groovy kitchen (lacquer red!) in my new home was Ikea. Even self-closing drawers!

You could build a banquette under that gorgeous window and have a table as long in front of it for eating, reading, and just hanging with a cup of tea by the window. A couple of nice dining chairs on the other side of it, no big wooden clunkies, please. Something like a couple of Thonets would not clutter up the space. It would make a lovely cosy seating-area in summer or winter.

Thanks everyone. Yes, the pictures are from when the previous owner (an older couple) lived there. We don't have any of the magnets/decorations/clutter. The house had minor water damage so the floor and bottom cabinets have to be replaced, which has kicked off this redesign/overhaul. I like the idea of glass cabinets at the top, but how much of a pain are they in terms of cleaning? Also my husband would really like to get rid of the two cabinets on the opposite wall so we're hoping to make up the lost storage space with cabinets to the ceiling.

Ah, you'll get there in the end. After all, it's about you and your husband loving your own home - it's where you spend most of your together time. In just a little while you'll learn to trust your own taste and personality, what draws you to what makes you feel like its 'home' for you. And that's all about you.

The water damage? Is it just a stain or is the floor/cabinets damaged beyond repair. If is just a stain, I would paint the cabinets white, (if that is what you want), and you could distress them, change out the hardware. Pick out the counter top that you like. Paint the walls a warm color. You will be amazed.

Now, if it is in the budget for a whole new kitchen, I would have someone come in and design you one. My mom just had her whole kitchen gutted and whole new kitchen installed. Of course it looks fabulous.

We have a second home and can't afford a gut job at this time, so we painted and changed hardware.
Check it out on my blog http://simplebutfabulous.blogspot.com

Hi mmat702!
Since your kitchen has so much natural light, a glass tile backsplash would do a wonderful job of taking full advantage of that! The image below features a kitchen with stainless appliances, white cabinets, light granite counters, and a curved milk glass tile backsplash. Just an idea! The room is a good size, and what a view!! No matter what you choose to do, your kitchen will be stunning!

Is this the same tile as the Houzz pics of "Deluxe in Alexandria"? The pic you posted looks like maybe the tile is angled. I am considering the Susan Jablon curved milk glass for my kitchen but from the picture it looks like I might have one more option???

If you have 'minor' water damage on the floor, you really need to pull everything up to make sure you don't have mold. We bought a new washer a few years ago, and for whatever reason, it was defective and leaked, but we didn't know it until we moved in when pulling out the old floor to put down tile. We had a ton of mold that we have clue was there as we never saw a drop of water.

Get the sink out of the corner!
Removing the pantry cabinets along wall should allow sink in island. Bar at 42" high will keep water & mess from guests.
Or maybe go with old fashion U shape, just hate to see the important sink in the corner.
Banquette/ window seat will add tons of storage and nice spot to watch boat traffic!
Beautiful home!