How to brighten up this kitchen

[Lady D]

Wondering what you would do with this kitchen? These are 50's era countertops as this is a built in the 50's house. We cannot afford true granite countertops but definitely would want to replace them and the sink. The counter tops have a pink marble look to them. I would want to keep them if there were not two places damaged on them. They cannot be seen that well but if you look at the back splash behind our stove that is what it looks like.

We would like to lay ceramic tile over this flooring. Our side yard and walk to the door stays muddy due to so much rain. This linoleum flooring stays dirty and grimy due to heavy traffic and is a lost cause as to keeping it clean. I've since noticed a large scratch across this linoleum that was not there before, but since we are going to lay tile over it, it won't matter. We want a tile that won't take a lot of elbow grease.

We also want to paint the cabinets and would walls a brighter color to lighten up the room more. The lighting throughout the house is not the best. These are medium pine cabinets. There are many colors of stains that are light but they would darken these cabinets instead of lighting them up. And the walls with the light wallpaper we want to paint over also, it as the small turquoise and brown print on it.

Wondering what people on here that do this type of work themselves would do with a room like this? We are going to start here. And we have done so much looking at tile, we are tired of looking at it. Here are pictures of the kitchen. And I've uploaded tile colors we are considering and like. I know one tile color is white but it is a smooth tile and easier to clean than linoleum flooring. The floor is not yellow, it is the fluorescent lighting making it look that way.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Oooh, one of my favorite topics!

This reminds me of a kitchen in a 1940s Cape Cod we owned for a year in Boston. We remodeled everything except the kitchen (we got transferred back home before we could do it). Anyway, before we moved in somebody had lightened the kitchen considerably by painting the cabinets a creamy white. So I think this is a great project, but time consuming if you do it right!

I'm going to blurt out all sorts of thoughts, so take them as you will.

I think you can have a great, fun, charming kitchen, but it will take a lot of elbow grease!

1) Cabinet color. I think a creamy white or white color is a great idea. (My personal favorite for cabs is Benjamin Moore's White Dove -- it is a nice soft white. ) You can also go with a greyed down pastel if you are feeling frisky (I love sages, soft blue greys, even yellows, but the color must be chosen carefully). The lines on the cabinets are interesting and could be quite attractive with just a simple white. I like the crown molding also.

2) Cabinet prepwork. You MUST MUST MUST use a knot sealing primer like BIN or you will be sorry. Two or three coats, minimum, with all that pine. Use diluted ammonia to clean your brushes when using BIN. I love BIN, but it is a smelly job, so be sure to take the doors off, take them outside, sand down the surface (medium grit first, then fine grit -- just enough to give the paint something to stick to). Clean well, ideally with microfiber cloths from Solutions, then use a nice self-leveling paint. Two coats. Lots of work!

3) Hinges. Those are old timey hinges and dated. The challenge will be to find something new. Do yourself a favor and test this out before you take off the cabinet doors to paint them. If you can't find an alternate hinge style(s), then just paint the ones you have the same color as your cabinets.

OK more in a little bit ... gotta run & clean MY kitchen. :leaving:

 

[scooterbug44]

I don't really know enough about your "handy" level to say what you can and cannot do (what I think I can do and what I can actually do vary a bit ), but here are my suggestions:

1) Keep the cabinets, but sand/strip them and replace the stain w/ a light paint wash - less 70s wood more whitewashed farm kitchen look. New handles/knobs can also really update them.

2) Replace the counters w/ a synthetic stone or laminate. Silestone and Dupont make a bunch of different combos and colors that can take a beating. I'm SO over granite.

3) If you replace the floor w/ ceramic tile, make sure it has a solid base so it doesn't crack, plan the tile pattern before laying, and use a darker (non-white) grout to show less dirt.

4) Make sure that your doors/appliances/thresholds between rooms will still work with the new floor surface. You may need to rip out the linoleum and put in a base (durrock) for the tile and that could cause changes in heights and cause issues/trip hazards.

5) Remove the wallpaper before painting. With light colored cabinets, counter and floor you can add some color to the walls and still have the room look light and pretty - pale green or blue are my faves lately.

 

[Lady D]

Oooh, one of my favorite topics!

This reminds me of a kitchen in a 1940s Cape Cod we owned for a year in Boston. We remodeled everything except the kitchen (we got transferred back home before we could do it). Anyway, before we moved in somebody had lightened the kitchen considerably by painting the cabinets a creamy white. So I think this is a great project, but time consuming if you do it right!

I'm going to blurt out all sorts of thoughts, so take them as you will.

I think you can have a great, fun, charming kitchen, but it will take a lot of elbow grease!

1) Cabinet color. I think a creamy white or white color is a great idea. (My personal favorite for cabs is Benjamin Moore's White Dove -- it is a nice soft white. ) You can also go with a greyed down pastel if you are feeling frisky (I love sages, soft blue greys, even yellows, but the color must be chosen carefully). The lines on the cabinets are interesting and could be quite attractive with just a simple white. I like the crown molding also.

2) Cabinet prepwork. You MUST MUST MUST use a knot sealing primer like BIN or you will be sorry. Two or three coats, minimum, with all that pine. Use diluted ammonia to clean your brushes when using BIN. I love BIN, but it is a smelly job, so be sure to take the doors off, take them outside, sand down the surface (medium grit first, then fine grit -- just enough to give the paint something to stick to). Clean well, ideally with microfiber cloths from Solutions, then use a nice self-leveling paint. Two coats. Lots of work!

3) Hinges. Those are old timey hinges and dated. The challenge will be to find something new. Do yourself a favor and test this out before you take off the cabinet doors to paint them. If you can't find an alternate hinge style(s), then just paint the ones you have the same color as your cabinets.

OK more in a little bit ... gotta run & clean MY kitchen. :leaving:

Thanks Too Far Tampa. It will be a time consuming job. But I'm tired of a dull house. Every room has off white on the walls except the dining room which we painted a few years back, did a rag on with a gold type yellow. Looks really good, except for the clutter. And we have painted the walls in one bathroom white to go with the blue wall tile and the blue cabinets.

 

[scooterbug44]

Sorry, I tried to add some photos, but it isn't working.

 

[pgurney]

One of my kitchens in Atl was very similar. I had the cabinet door and drawer fronts replaced with new (including hinges) and the base cabinets painted inside and out. They ended up looking like brand new cabinets.

Tile flooring: if you have a floor that is level enough, have your tile layed without (or with minimal) grout lines. The grout is the maintenance, so minimize it. Like scooterbug said, make sure your tile is solid and cracks/chips won't show a different color.

An aside: It looks like you have an undermount ceramic sink. These are heavy. If one of your household members is a do-it-yourselfer....and I know this from experience...you have to get beneath the sink to dismount it. But when you do, the sink can and will fall if not properly supported. Whatever the next tallest thing is beneath your sink will stop it's fall. In my case it was my head which is much flatter these days. So be careful.

 

[TooFarTampa]

I don't really know enough about your "handy" level to say what you can and cannot do (what I think I can do and what I can actually do vary a bit ), but here are my suggestions:

1) Keep the cabinets, but sand/strip them and replace the stain w/ a light paint wash - less 70s wood more whitewashed farm kitchen look. New handles/knobs can also really update them.

I like this idea too but I don't have a lot of experience with sanding and stripping old finishes ... might end up being more work, so test and see!

2) Replace the counters w/ a synthetic stone or laminate. Silestone and Dupont make a bunch of different combos and colors that can take a beating. I'm SO over granite.

Me too! I would never put granite on those cabs. Some of the newer laminates are really cool. You could even do a fun one that is sort of retro looking, if you could find the right one.

3) If you replace the floor w/ ceramic tile, make sure it has a solid base so it doesn't crack, plan the tile pattern before laying, and use a darker (non-white) grout to show less dirt.

Yes, and I would also use the most neutral tile I could find. Pick a cabinet stain or paint color first, and then figure out which tile looks nicest next to it. A sandy beige would be great next to white.

4) Make sure that your doors/appliances/thresholds between rooms will still work with the new floor surface. You may need to rip out the linoleum and put in a base (durrock) for the tile and that could cause changes in heights and cause issues/trip hazards.

I would go a step further and say that you absolutely should not lay the tile directly onto the laminate. At the very minimum, use 1/4 inch Hardibacker, but Durock is a more solid foundation. Definitely the thresholds, the appliances, and the resulting countertop height can give you trouble if you don't take out the laminate first. Measure carefully!

You have the makings of a cute kitchen Lady D! It will take work and even more planning but it could be just adorable.

P.S. consider changing out that overhead fixture, and make sure you have grounded outlets (GFCIs are code) in the room.

 

[Lady D]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. You have all provided some very good tips. We laid the linoleum in the one bathroom off of our den, so I feel we can do the floor tile. We plan on using 12x12 pieces, that will make it a little easier. The linoleum in the one bathroom is almost like the kitchen linoleum and will have to go. I had to use a scrub brush with Soft Scrub with bleach to get it white. That took some real elbow grease. A mop with Mop N Glo doesn't do it, nor does Pine Sol.

 

[DD]

TFT and Scooterbug, I'm booking you girls a flight to Grapevine. I need your help too!

 

[Lady D]

I like this idea too but I don't have a lot of experience with sanding and stripping old finishes ... might end up being more work, so test and see!



Me too! I would never put granite on those cabs. Some of the newer laminates are really cool. You could even do a fun one that is sort of retro looking, if you could find the right one.



Yes, and I would also use the most neutral tile I could find. Pick a cabinet stain or paint color first, and then figure out which tile looks nicest next to it. A sandy beige would be great next to white.



I would go a step further and say that you absolutely should not lay the tile directly onto the laminate. At the very minimum, use 1/4 inch Hardibacker, but Durock is a more solid foundation. Definitely the thresholds, the appliances, and the resulting countertop height can give you trouble if you don't take out the laminate first. Measure carefully!

You have the makings of a cute kitchen Lady D! It will take work and even more planning but it could be just adorable.

P.S. consider changing out that overhead fixture, and make sure you have grounded outlets (GFCIs are code) in the room.

We have looked at both the Hardibacker and Durock both. We definitely know we have to have that. We have been to so many Home Depots and Lowes looking at tile. We have thought the neutral would be best.