Houzzers- my kitchen needs a little help!
Hi! We recently moved into this house (our first home!) and estimate we'll be here for 5 years. We live in Wyoming. The previous owners did a bit of updating, but for resale value (and to make this home more "us"), we'd like to give this kitchen a facelift. The stools and window treatments were here when we moved in. Our style is contemporary.
Cabinets...we love white cabinets with clean, simple lines, but the current Birch cabinets are pretty new, and brown cabinets are not necessarily falling out favor in this area. It'll save us money to more or less keep the cabinets as they are.
What we want to change and where we need your help:
1.) Changing white appliances to stainless steel.
2.) Would white cabinets make the kitchen look much more spacious or can the brown work well here? Luckily, we have plenty of natural light, recessed lighting and some fluorescent lights under the cabinets.
3.) The laminate countertop has to go...but what direction should we go? Dark or light? Do you recommend quartz, granite...? We like the speckled look (like Eco by Consentino, Riverbed or Luna).
4.) The backsplash- we're not fans. Perhaps subway tiles would work? We like the look of glass.
5.) We're thinking of putting some brushed nickel modern hardware on the cabinets. Would that work with this "style" of cabinet?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and advice. :)
Cabinets...we love white cabinets with clean, simple lines, but the current Birch cabinets are pretty new, and brown cabinets are not necessarily falling out favor in this area. It'll save us money to more or less keep the cabinets as they are.
What we want to change and where we need your help:
1.) Changing white appliances to stainless steel.
2.) Would white cabinets make the kitchen look much more spacious or can the brown work well here? Luckily, we have plenty of natural light, recessed lighting and some fluorescent lights under the cabinets.
3.) The laminate countertop has to go...but what direction should we go? Dark or light? Do you recommend quartz, granite...? We like the speckled look (like Eco by Consentino, Riverbed or Luna).
4.) The backsplash- we're not fans. Perhaps subway tiles would work? We like the look of glass.
5.) We're thinking of putting some brushed nickel modern hardware on the cabinets. Would that work with this "style" of cabinet?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and advice. :)
| Share: |
|
More Discussions
It has interchangeable LED light bars and LED puck lights that you can choose from, in two colors of white (soft or neutral). Soft white is definitely preferred in kitchen lighting - and since they're dimmable too you can create a any atmosphere you want.
Complimentary design advice from our lighting specialists at (888) 880-1880 if you need any help!
http://www.environmentallights.com/led-under-cabinet-lighting/environmentallights-premium-modular-led-under-cabinet-lighting/led-under-cabinet-lights.html
We went to Lowe's recently and saw our exact cabinets in huge boxes, ready for some DIY action. When I asked the Lowe's cabinet specialist about the cabinets he referred to them as their 5 year cabinets and then showed us what he calls their 15 and 20 year cabinets. I have to admit, my heart sank a little.
Does this mean my cabinets will look like complete junk in 5 years- right when we will be looking to sell our home?
Another option we have found is a "renewal" of our cabinets (Home Depot provides this service). We would have the option to change our cabinet color for roughly $2,600. Any input on this?
@mckstacy, Kraftmaid cabinets have many great doorstyle options, storage features and long lasting finishes, and usually come with a limited lifetime warranty on the finishes of some doorstyles. You might want to check into your warranty before painting them. Kraftmaid finishes have a special catalytic varnish that don't bubble and peel, which you'll never usually get from locally painted cabinets.
We'll check into door replacement - it's also something we considered. I guess the only challenge there would be finding a color to match the existing in the style we like? It's certainly worth looking into.
@mckstacy- Lowe's sells Diamond, Shenandoah and Kraftmaid cabinets. We were told Kraftmaid cabs are on the "higher end" and were recommended to look at Diamond and Shenandoah mid-range cabs. There's nothing really wrong with the cabinets- they function and seem fairly new (slight chipping in some areas). The issue we have is probably purely aesthetic (we prefer more modern and in a white/ivory color) and our realtor recommended 42 inch cabinets for resale value. We know we won't be here forever and are hoping to increase the value of the home. We want something that will still look great after 5 years. It's funny you mentioned Kraftmaid, since that's the brand my husband gravitated to.
We're weary of painting the cabinets, since it can be tricky and pricy. Then there's the issue of eventual bubbling or peeling....?
With regard to door refacing, there are many doorstyles and colors to choose from. And the exposed framing is also resurfaced in a material to match the color of your new doors. For example, if you go with a white laminate or white thermofoil door, they will resurface any exposed frames with matching white laminate. And matching a stained wood doorstyle would work the same.
Read more: Cost of Granite Countertops Vs. Laminate | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6298722_cost-granite-countertops-vs_-laminate.html#ixzz2MntuQ4mm
Granite is nice, but I don't know that you would get the money back on it in 5 years. A future homeowner is going to look at quality of the cabinets more than the counter tops. Make a list of wants and needs and then decide. New appliances vs keeping what you have etc. Are you handy at all? Demo yourself, save money etc. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
If your house was updated by flippers, you'll probably be discovering things that need to be fixed soon enough (especially if it's an older home) and your money may be going to those things first. Then you can go back to this project bit by bit, and change out the things you really hate as you can. The good news is that you have a really cute kitchen and nothing is super dire! You can take your time.
@ hazeldazel - Thank you. You're right...this is our first home and we're excited to make it our own- maybe we're a bit worked up! I think we may go with something like a Corian countertop. From what I have seen, it's priced reasonably. To be honest, we've lived with so many laminate countertops, I think we just dismiss them without even looking. Funny you mention flippers...there are other projects...
We appreciate all your tips! I think tonight there will be a good, long talk on what we feel must change and what we can work with. :)
I don't think you need to replace the backsplash - but, if your replacing the countertop - make the backsplash compliment both countertop and cabinetry colours.
I'd also add some moulding around that bulkhead - it's really ugly - if you don't want to add trim work to the bulkhead - then paint it out the wall colour behind it so it disappears and isn't highllghted the way it is now with that dark green.
What will be the secret to your success, is going with a simpler countertop and staying away from the traditional creamy buttery tones of granite - push it towards warm grays/darker browns, always nodding to your cabinetry and flooring colours especially in mosaic tiles and countertop choices. Your paint colours - push it towards warm grays - pick a granite or quartz that has some depth to it, maybe look at crema marfil mosaics for your backsplash (because I think it would go with your floors) - but - before we go too crazy here, I'd want you to find your countertop - post photos of that countertop so we can help you wish backsplash.
similar to the inspiration photos I found online - stick with linear lines - cleaner, simpler mosaic tile patterns, it'll push it more modern for you, but not too far that it feels weird with the more traditional colour of the cabinetry.
Don't forget the countertop will need to compliment your tile floor colour - keep us posted, and good luck with your project.
http://www.domesticimperfection.com/2013/02/decked-out-kitchen-reveal/
The existing backsplash will look fantastic with a contrasting cabinet color, so leave it. Get your bling instead from granite or quartz countertops and shiny stainless appliances. Put your money in a big deep double stainless undermount sink and the best stainless faucet you can afford. Finish off with stainless outlet plates, stainless door pulls, or polished bronze could work with a dark cabinet finish.
Pick up the red from those curtains with red accessories in the kitchen. Cuisinart has a fire engine red toaster. Pick up red accents in trendy hanging porcelain trivets hanging on the furr-down space above the cabinets.
Bottom line would be to pay attention to your bottom line. Don't over-improve your kitchen for your neighborhood. Recycle or re-use what you have, and enjoy the money you saved by not buying new cabinets, along with the money you save from your new Energy Star appliances, and think about how your kitchen will look to prospective buyers in five years.
When I moved into my house 5 years ago (!), I hated almost everything about the kitchen...the cabinets (always preferred white), the black appliances and especially the black/mottled formica countertops. The space above the cabinets is open (no soffett) so I had a finish carpenter add crown moulding to the top of the cabinets and drilled holes for some simple black knobs for the drawers and doors. I got an estimate for granite for this small area and that shocked me back to reality as I had a limited budget and could put that money to better use in the other projects I wanted to do in the house. A new light fixture, a new faucet, paint colors that I like, sewed some valances and I was done. It has been totally ok with me after spending only about $250. Plus a little elbow grease and another $250. for a Crate and Barrel rolling island I scored on clearance.
The point is... 5 years goes by in a flash, and if you are only going to be there for that short time, IMHO... new cabinets and granite are a lot of $$ to spend for a house you already know is temporary. You could make a few moderate changes that make you happy and reassess whether you need to do something major like new cabinets once you assess the market and the comparable listings in your neighborhood at the time you are getting ready to relocate.
That said...I would definitely lose that back splash. I think they didn't make sure the pattern ran the same way when they installed it as it makes me dizzy to look at the pictures. Perhaps it doesn't do the same in person tho...
My kitchen is a bit of a mess today, but I snapped these pictures to show you what just a little bit of effort did to change my mind.
@Rhonda Chen- That is a lovely kitchen...so light and airy. Love the stainless steel shelving, too. I called our realtor as she sells many homes in this area and she said some homes have white cabinets, but that if we did go that route, we should get stainless steel appliances and make sure that the kitchen flows with any other changes we make to the home...in other words, stick with the same style. We've been told there are now more and more "Ikea type" kitchens in this area.
Are there good quality cabinets (that will easily last 5 years) for under $6k? The more I research and read reviews, the more I'm thinking I should just tough it out with the current cabinets. :( This is starting to get a little stressful.
@pinksis - I would have probably stuck with the cabinets you have as well. :) Are they wood? At least the door style is simple and won't clash with most decor. Our furniture is (mostly) mid century modern and it looks a little strange with these cabinets (which scream "country" to me). Our home is a bi-level (open floor plan) so when you see it all together it's a bit strange!
As you can see, there's a copper vent pipe sticking out of the top of the wall, but we're thinking cabinets will cover that. We'll also be getting some quotes for refacing the cabinets and custom cabinets to get a good idea of what will be the best choice.
Worst case scenario, we stick with the current cabs and make it work one way or another.
Today we ventured out to Sutherland's and got a quote for maple wood cabinets, all wood and plywood construction. That would run us a bit over $5k for the cabinets..not including countertop, installation, tear out, etc. . . .
We still need to get some quotes for cabinet refacing, although what we have now is just a laminate sheet over some particle board. The doors and drawer fronts are wood, though.
We'll get some numbers, take our time and really think things through.