WWYD to this kitchen (PIP)?

[panicked]

I don't think it's that bad! I'd probably replace the floors and do a nice tile backsplash.

[munkii]

The colors aren't great, but it's not terrible. It's definitely not Tuscan style; here are some examples www.houzz.com/tuscan-style-kitchen. Painting those cabinets, regardless of how orange they are, would be a shame. At most, I would strip and restain them. IMO, the most offensive thing in that kitchen is the floor, but you can cover that up with a rug or two.

Honestly, since you plan on ripping it all out, I would not touch it. I am not the one who will be living with it though. Do whatever makes you happy.

[TBM]

I would put money toward the future remodel, rather than making temporary changes. The kitchen is nms, and I agree with you about the dishwasher panel, but it isn't a truly hideous space (you should see some of the listings I have come across recently-lol), and it seems functional.

Appliances have shorter life spans than they used to, so I would use the current ones and get new when I remodeled or when these died, whichever came first. Especially because replacing them now means that you would be limited to the current size spaces and might not be able to get what you really want.

[Deleted]

I was expecting something way worse than that. Where I come from that's a pretty decent kitchen actually. Those cabinets also seem nice and the woodtone isn't bad, so I wouldn't bother with paint.

If you're going to do an awesome remodel..five years isn't that horribly long. I'd maybe consider a cheaper flooring option, buy some cool throw rugs and blinds and leave it at that.
New cabinet hardware would also help a lot. Something more silver toned and sleek.
It's a bit dated maybe but it's decent. I'd have a different opinion if it was all old, chipped, stained etc.

[Deleted]

I'm also with you on the diswasher. I'd take that panel off in a heartbeat. It'd probably add a lot more to your kitchen actually.

[TBM]

Five years is a long time. I have been living with a kitchen that I hate for longer than that, but I love my stove, microwave and dishwasher, (and all of my stuff), so it is bearable.

Someone on here painted their backsplash tiles so that they didn't have to look at the floral/fruit/whatever tiles and didn't have to replace the entire backsplash right away either. I think if I found tile cheap enough, I would replace the backsplash to modernize it a bit, but it can be expensive and I would probably be motivated to save the money for a future dream kitchen unless if was a real bargain.

[TBM]

Jan 20, 2013 12:29:27 GMT -5 littlespitfire said:

Do you guys think that a blue/green glass tile mosaic would go with the green granite? And maybe take the edge off it?

That's a tough one.  The right color with could take the edge off and make it seem pretty neutral,  but the wrong combo will make it stand out more.  I think you are going to have to bring home a lot of samples to see what will work in that space.

Do you have accessories that you can get some color inspiration from?

[heliocentric]

That really isn't that bad at all. If you said it was an "after" photo I'd have believed you. It's NMS, either, but it's far from terrible and appears to be in great shape. I'd do nothing and wait for the major reno in 5 years. (But, I've been waiting 10 years to rehab our kitchen which is a million times worse than yours, so I am skewed.)

[niknik]

If it were me, I'd put in a more modern tile for the floor and replace the backsplash with a stone and glass tile mosaic. You have a lot of warmth in the cabinets and you don't really want to alienate that by going too cool in the backsplash. I think with minimal updating, you can make it a nice space until you are ready for your big renovation.

My kitchen (that is demolished right now) was much worse than this

[monicad]

I don't think it's that bad. Since it's updated I'd probably live with it for a little while, because there might be things you think you want to do now, but that often changes after we live in the house for a while. Our kitchen was updated about 5-6 years ago, and while I would do things much differently, I'd rather put money elsewhere right now.

I feel for you on leaving the updated kitchen, though...we put in two gorgeous bathrooms in our old house, then moved here where almost nothing had been done. 

[tarheels]

Jan 20, 2013 12:29:27 GMT -5 littlespitfire said:

Do you guys think that a blue/green glass tile mosaic would go with the green granite? And maybe take the edge off it?

Mosaic tiles are pretty out of style.  They were a flash-in-the-pan thing that are as tied to 2009 as vessel sinks are.  (When's the last time you saw them in a high end shelter magazine?)

I agree that the kitchen doesn't strike me as Tuscan.  Once you get rid of the owners' clutter, I think you'll see the really clean lines of the cabinets.  You should be able to pop off the dishwasher cabinet cover and put the manufacturer's plastic back on.  You can order them from an appliance parts place and they're pretty inexpensive.

Those cabinets are beautiful.  You know I have no problem painting wood (see siggy), but I'd really want to see those restained dark.  With new floors and new counters (marble?), it'd be a really glamorous kitchen.

[lys]

Honey, I do not think you know what a truely ugly kitchen looks like.
Listen to TarHeels -

[TBM]

I still keep seeing mosaic backsplashes when I look for new ideas in new magazines. I still see stone and subway tiles too, even though I keep 'hearing' that they are on their way out.

I am seeing back painted glass (sheets, not tiles), which I am feeling mixed about. I love it, and it was my hope to use it in the future, but if it is becoming a trend now, it may be passe when I finally get to use it. ;p I have also seen other solid surfaces used.

[SusanBAnthony]

Man, I wouldn't do anything. Those cabinets are nice! Yes the floor and backsplash are a little strange, but not strange enough to spend money changing if you are going to rip it out in five years. If anything, I would change the backsplash, but maybe not even do tile, just plain painted drywall.

[pitterwoo]

I'm always suggesting this, so here goes again...Minwax Polyshades can go to a darker color without completely stripping and refinishing.  link

[hausfrau]

I also vote for just staining the cabinets darker and trying out a different tile on the floor. I don't like the panel on the dishwasher too. Since you can still see the controls it seems to defeat the purpose of putting a panel on it in the first place.

[315]

I wouldn't do anything. That looks like a million bucks compared to what we lived with for a few years. It's NMS but everything seems to be in good condition. The cabinets are pretty nice and there seems to be a decent amount of space.

[tarheels]

What I didn't clearly express earlier is that I think if you stained the cabinets darker (pitterwoo's product looks cool), then you wouldn't necessarily be in such a hurry to demo the thing. It's a nice kitchen.

As for backsplashes, I flipped through Veranda and Elle Decor tonight at the grocery store just for you Definitely no mosaics anywhere. One kitchen had white subway tile, one had aged mirror tiles (kinda like mercury glass - a cool look for a magazine, not for real life), and one had large pieces of a gray-black product I couldn't begin to identify - almost looked like sheets of soapstone or matte SS countertop. Like someone else said, I think mosaic's so out bc of how busy it looks. There's a lot going on in a kitchen to begin with, one doesn't need to add visual clutter. In fashion and decor, we're really in a time of "whatever goes" - I think people are doing larger tile (to minimize grout lines) and no glaring color.

[315]

Mosaic tile is not in? What to do? I just decided to do some in my kitchen reno. ::sigh:: I'm never going to be fashionable.

[thatgirl2478]

Looks fine to me honestly. I'd save my money until you have enough to do what you REALLY want to do with it.

I don't know how well stripping & restaining the cabinets would work .. .sounds like a lot of effort for an unknown pay off.

[emoflamingo]

That's not an awful kitchen at all. Where are 315's before pictures??

[315]

Jan 21, 2013 16:28:37 GMT -5 emoflamingo said:

LOL, right. Most don't feel their kitchens are so bad after seeing mine.

[Susie]

Hmm, I don't see much that looks Tuscan to me; those cabinets are shaker style.  I like them!  I'd replace the hardware on them and otherwise leave them be.

I can't see the backsplash very well, are there plain tiles and accent tiles?  If it's just accent tiles, you can chip them out, replace only the offensive stuff, and save more $ toward the new kitchen.  We did that with the backsplash in our kitchen because I couldn't deal with this:

long term, but I didn't want to shell out for a whole new backsplash in a kitchen that I fully intend to completely gut someday.

It looks like this now:

The gut job is still out there in the future, but I haven't spent so much on the meantime changes (painted cabinets, new hardward, backsplash accent tiles) that I'll mind ripping them out.

As for your floor, well, don't love it, but it'll be really cost ineffective to try to do anything about it in the short term.  So I'd just suck it up, maybe try an area rug, and put the money toward a future kickass kitchen.  The appliances I'd hang onto until they croack.  That strategy currently has me at 3 stainless steel appliances and one almond one (the range) which I hate, but as long as they work, I'm ok with a little patience.