SFGate

hparks74 What is the color scheme you have going in rooms that you like or adjoining this area?

mdamron61 Black appliances. New door hardware. Gold paint. Medium colored granite countertop.light oak flooring. Plantation window blind. Bronze chandelier.

Julie Dvorak Not sure what we are doing in adjoining areas--definately updating completely. Adjoining rooms have brass light fixtures and thick teal carpet with wood paneling.

hparks74


I love this look especially with the wall paint.

Darzy I think a charcoal gray paint on the cabinets would give them an updated look and contrast with the counters you must keep. (remove the scroll wood piece above the sink). The island counter's shape is making it look dated. How about a cost effect butcher block wood there in a rectangle shape instead? New hardware, and recessed canned lights for the ceiling lighting. A ceramic tile floor, brought into the family room space as well would pretty, and not too expensive.

Julie Dvorak I appreciate the ideas and if I were in complete control would do something more major, but stuck with color of cabinets and countertop. Could get new hardware for cabinets. I wonder what color appliances would look best with these white countertops and the dark cabinets. Wall color and flooring and lighting will be changed so any suggestions on that would be appreciated too. Thanks in advance for your ideas.

Jonathan Hress Design I would suggest using brighter colors. Greens or blues.No grey or beige. Maybe white tile floor. Large 18" squares. Everyone is doing stainless appliances these days. If you do, Change the cabibet hardware to stainless. Maybe glass tile backsplash in pretty colors.

libradesigneye Stainless appliances, new sink faucet in industrial sprayer fashion. Take carved valance board out over sink. Use magic eraser / vinegar to clean wood cabinets and then work them over with old english scratch cover for dark woods - You will like them a lot better than now - they are not bad. Pull out little white backsplash and tile backsplash with pale aqua blue / spa blue tile and grout. Pull old blinds/cafe curtains.

Add back print valance in a spa and white fabric - or a lined roman shade if you like privacy at night. Something like
http://www.calicocorners.com/product/designer+fabrics+for+the+home/shop+fabrics+by+color/aqua+and+teal+fabric/sommers+surf.do
If the wall across is the bank of windows seen through the living room entry, add the same romans here hung at the ceiling too. Paint the walls paler muted aqua and all the trim around the windows a soft warm creamy white.

New hardware - add hardware in chrome or stainless steel in a classic simple pull on the dark cabinets, put oil rubbed bronze on the new island. On the counters, stainless spoon holders, accessories.

Before you do the floor, pull the existing island and put it in the sunroom for crafts and school projects. Find a traditional cabinet, paint it a soft muted turquoise with chalk paint, distress and use dark wax to bring out details then add legs under a larger scale butcher block (ikea sells these inexpensively). Rub the block with vegetable based edible walnut stain to echo the cabinets tone. If you've room, a white painted wood counterstool for the cook / hall side of island. Tie on a spa blue seat cushion.

The room will look modern with the spa, white and dark wood color combo. Someday you can go for white quartz tops.

In this room, the same vinyl plank floor in gray weathered plank look suggested for lower levels elsewhere. Vinyl plank is very hard to tell it isn't wood - if you can take it through the living room and dining room next door, some soapstone gray tile at the entry hall.

Julie Dvorak Thank you!