How to brighten up this kitchen

[NoHall]

Yes, Lady, I feel your pain. I've got the same dark wood. Well, not pine, but still dark. I've begged to paint it for years, but Mr. DD likes it.

My folks finally painted the dark, stained cabinets and they both love how they turned out.

DD, it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission. Send him on a fishing trip.

 

[DD]

My folks finally painted the dark, stained cabinets and they both love how they turned out.

DD, it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission. Send him on a fishing trip.

I likey!!

 

[DD]

LadyD, I'm sorry I hijacked your thread...I'll shut up and start my own when I'm ready.

 

[Mermaid]

We have renovated four kitchens, three of which looked a lot more dated than what you have so this too is my bread and butter. My two cents:

Tile: Lay the tile on a diagonal. The cabinets have strong vertical lines and it might drive you crazy if grout lines on the floor and the cabinet lines don't line up. Or do line up. Skip the dilemma by laying on the diagonal. It's a little more difficult to install (but still a diy job) and there's a little more waste in the cutting but it's very much worth it.

Also, consider a colored grout which will tie in with one of the other colors you're using in the kitchen. We once did a room with limestone sandy colored tiles and a dusty teal grout and it was very understated but somehow added a certain panache that white or off-white grout never could have. There are some beautiful grouts out there. Don't forget to seal afterward!

Backsplash: Tear off the wood. You have enough wood in that kitchen. Either tile your backsplash or leave it plain (drywall).

Cabinets: Wash with Soilex or TSP first; seal with Kilz or BIN. Whatever you do, don't skip these steps. Next, go to the library and check out a pile of books on decorative painting. Debbie Travis http://www.debbietravis.com/ has a few that are really good. Check out www.hgtv.com as well for ideas. If you're going through the trouble of painting, it's not that much more effort to apply a glaze or do some distressing or faux painting. It's not hard at all and no particular artistic talent is required, especially if you follow step-to-step directions from a book or website.

- update hardware, as everyone else has mentioned. It makes an enormous difference. And don't faint when the bill is tallied up. Sure the pulls and knobs are only a couple of dollars a piece, but you need so many of them! More than you might think. (But it's so worth it.)

Lighting: the flourescent is dated. There are better options out there that don't cost as much as you might think. Check Lowe's and Home Depot.

Sink: lots of options out there, and treat yourself to a new faucet while you're at it. Lots of bang for the buck. Take a look at the pullouts.

Walls: strip the wallpaper first!!! It's a nasty job, stripping wallpaper but you'll never be happy with the way it turns out if you don't do this before you paint.

 

[Lady D]

We have renovated four kitchens, three of which looked a lot more dated than what you have so this too is my bread and butter. My two cents:

Tile: Lay the tile on a diagonal. The cabinets have strong vertical lines and it might drive you crazy if grout lines on the floor and the cabinet lines don't line up. Or do line up. Skip the dilemma by laying on the diagonal. It's a little more difficult to install (but still a diy job) and there's a little more waste in the cutting but it's very much worth it.

Also, consider a colored grout which will tie in with one of the other colors you're using in the kitchen. We once did a room with limestone sandy colored tiles and a dusty teal grout and it was very understated but somehow added a certain panache that white or off-white grout never could have. There are some beautiful grouts out there. Don't forget to seal afterward!

Backsplash: Tear off the wood. You have enough wood in that kitchen. Either tile your backsplash or leave it plain (drywall).

Cabinets: Wash with Soilex or TSP first; seal with Kilz or BIN. Whatever you do, don't skip these steps. Next, go to the library and check out a pile of books on decorative painting. Debbie Travis http://www.debbietravis.com/ has a few that are really good. Check out www.hgtv.com as well for ideas. If you're going through the trouble of painting, it's not that much more effort to apply a glaze or do some distressing or faux painting. It's not hard at all and no particular artistic talent is required, especially if you follow step-to-step directions from a book or website.

- update hardware, as everyone else has mentioned. It makes an enormous difference. And don't faint when the bill is tallied up. Sure the pulls and knobs are only a couple of dollars a piece, but you need so many of them! More than you might think. (But it's so worth it.)

Lighting: the flourescent is dated. There are better options out there that don't cost as much as you might think. Check Lowe's and Home Depot.

Sink: lots of options out there, and treat yourself to a new faucet while you're at it. Lots of bang for the buck. Take a look at the pullouts.

Walls: strip the wallpaper first!!! It's a nasty job, stripping wallpaper but you'll never be happy with the way it turns out if you don't do this before you paint.

Mermaid, I like the sound of laying the tile on a diagonal. And yes, we do have a lot of wood in the kitchen. As for the back splash, it is the same as the countertops, the pink and white marble look. Will have to keep the ideas about that in mind also. Thanks.

 

[Ocean Lover]

I think you all could have your own show! All grayt ideas. Take your time Lady D and don't let the task overwhelm you. One thing at a time.

 

[Rudyjohn]

Lady D, you've received lots of awesome ideas here tonight! I'm so happy that you've asked your Sowal friends and everyone has been so helpful and knowledgeable.

I agree with the floor tile being laid on the diagonal. We did it and it looks great. Like Mermaid said, it does cost slightly more because of additional waste & add'l time, and the installers usually roll their eyes because they'd rather just lay it out straight but it's worth it.

Definitely strip the wall paper. You'll be happy you did.

And once you refinish or repaint your cabinets, I would bet they're better quality than most new cabinets you could buy today!

You're going to have a beeyoutiful kitchen!
.

 

[beachmouse]

When we moved in, our kitchen was, let's call it 'vintage' 1982 original to the house. Not horrible, just dated, complete with original appliances and that weird textured wallpaper stuff.

We ended up going dark green for the cabinets, and chartreuse for some of the walls. The blue by the window is used in other rooms next to the kitchen. Swapped out appliances as they broke, and replaced the cabinet hardware with something more modern.

Something of after pictures (new dining table since then, but we've still got to swap out the vent hood)

 

[Lady D]

Lady D, you've received lots of awesome ideas here tonight! I'm so happy that you've asked your Sowal friends and everyone has been so helpful and knowledgeable.

I agree with the floor tile being laid on the diagonal. We did it and it looks great. Like Mermaid said, it does cost slightly more because of additional waste & add'l time, and the installers usually roll their eyes because they'd rather just lay it out straight but it's worth it.

Definitely strip the wall paper. You'll be happy you did.

And once you refinish or repaint your cabinets, I would bet they're better quality than most new cabinets you could buy today!

You're going to have a beeyoutiful kitchen!
.

I hope so johnrudy. There are a lot of things about this house that I dislike that need to be changed, fixed, etc.

 

[Lady D]

When we moved in, our kitchen was, let's call it 'vintage' 1982 original to the house. Not horrible, just dated, complete with original appliances and that weird textured wallpaper stuff.

We ended up going dark green for the cabinets, and chartreuse for some of the walls. The blue by the window is used in other rooms next to the kitchen. Swapped out appliances as they broke, and replaced the cabinet hardware with something more modern.

Something of after pictures (new dining table since then, but we've still got to swap out the vent hood)

beachmouse, I love those colors. Thanks for posting the pictures.