WDYT of this kitchen?

[saraspot]

Not sure if I'm going to hate it, it looks a little dated but this place is new construction.  Will the oak grow on me?  There isn't much else in this area in my price range. 

[Deleted]

I think its perfectly fine. Once decorated it'll be perfectly fine. I have seen much uglier and dated kitchens than that. Wood does not equal automatic dated IMO. I don't love the countertops color but that's a personal preference thing. If anything that huge light by the sink dates the room as does the paint but those are easy changes.

[sailorgray]

It doesn't look dated to me. The cabinets are just wood and not the whites,grays, etc. that we see everywhere now. I actually really like it! It's a GREAT kitchen!

ETA: I think changing the light fixtures and adding some hardware on the cabinets and drawers will give it some personality, too.

[auntie]

It looks like it was designed by a committee of older men who heard something about ss being instyle by missed the memo on golden oak. LOL, I am still living a rich and full life with such a kitchen.

My concern is that those particular cabinets look like the Home Depot stock items which aren't the greatest in terms of quality. I would confirm the manufacturer. If they are stock rather than a better brand, I'd be looking to see what other cost saving measures they took around builder grade fixtures in bathrooms, HVAC, roofing, windows, etc.

My cabinets are a entry level grade of a decent line and somewhat better than those. But the drawer boxes are stapled rather than dovetailed- they're not very well made. The drawer base that held my cutlery failed after a few years- first drawer fronts pulled off the boxes and then they collapsed onto one another. I had to replace the entire unit. One nice thing about the oak- it was really easy to match.

[thewop]

Feb 12, 2013 6:20:58 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

I think its perfectly fine. Once decorated it'll be perfectly fine. I have seen much uglier and dated kitchens than that. Wood does not equal automatic dated IMO. I don't love the countertops color but that's a personal preference thing. If anything that huge light by the sink dates the room as does the paint but those are easy changes.

 Yep.  All of this. 

[TBM]

Maybe it's just me, but from my experience, if you aren't crazy about the oak, it won't grow on you. It is a large expanse of the color that will always be there. It's not like it's a big neon green wall that you can just paint out...it will always be a color that is visible and will be a part of your decor.

[kaylie]

Feb 12, 2013 8:01:34 GMT -5 auntie said:

My concern is that those particular cabinets look like the Home Depot stock items which aren't the greatest in terms of quality. I would confirm the manufacturer. If they are stock rather than a better brand, I'd be looking to see what other cost saving measures they took around builder grade fixtures in bathrooms, HVAC, roofing, windows, etc.

This. Those cabinets are a very strange choice for new construction.

Only you can decide if they'll grow on you. We have mid-range maple cabinets that I didn't like when we moved in and still haven't grown on me after a year. I'm planning to paint them soon.

If it's a builder selling it, you might be able to negotiate them painting the cabinets before you move in.

[pitterwoo]

It's a totally decent kitchen. I agree with changing the lights, adding hardware and if you have time/money you could always paint or stain the cabs at some point.

[ssmjlm]

It's not terrible. I think hardware and a true backsplash could go a long way. And new lighting.

Oh and if you do a backsplash please take off that piddly thing that matches the countertops first and do a full counter to cabinet backsplash.

[simpsongal]

I think it would beenfit from a larger island facing the other direction - w/overhang for seating. Lots of potential though in a great open space!

[SusanBAnthony]

It looks nearly identical to the kitchen in our new house. Our house was built 11 years ago. The builder offers low end oak cabinets as the base price, so my guess is that people who don't are much about cooking and kitchens just don't bother to change that.

We plan to paint the walls (no idea what color, suggestions welcome) and put hardware on the cabinets ASAP. Other than that, the cabinets don't bother me at all, the countertops are not my favorite color but oh well, and we can redo it in 15 years if we still live in the house at that point. And in the mean time it is fully functional, and not offensive. Not gourmet, but not horrible by any means.

[auntie]

Feb 12, 2013 11:19:36 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Feb 12, 2013 10:53:51 GMT -5 @charky said:

I'm most shocked that this is new construction. Ditto others that the low quality makes me wonder about the quality of the rest of the house.

If everything else checks out and you love the house, I'd probably paint those cabinets and install some hardware for a low-cost fix.

I'm guessing from her comment about this being the only house in this area in her budget, that it's an inexpensive (relatively speaking) new construction.  I don't mean that in any kind of judgy way.  Just recognizing people have different budgets and you don't get a $60,000 kitchen in a $185,000 house.  

Exactly.

It could be that the builder chose the oak because it was the go-to choice 20 years ago- or it could be it was a cost effective way to buy a lot of cabinets to fill a large kitchen. It could be the supplier was able to offer him a great deal. When I switched out my base cabinet, I bought a Kraftmaid base cabinet from Home depot for about $400. On the exterior it looks like my old Merillats but it's much better quality. A close look will determine whether they are cheaply made cabinets or just not the current style.

My parents built the house I live in. It's 1986 vintage built by a local builder with a good reputation. It was available in two different subdivisions when they built- the house was more money in one development (where they built) in part because of the school district and area comps. The finishes in the sample (located in the other development) were not as nice as those in my house. The other house had vinyl siding in place of my brick, less expensive kitchen cabinets, vinyl flooring where I have wood, and the heating system and insulation didn't meet current specs.

My house is the only one in my neighborhood built by this builder; most of the others were built by Orleans. Most of my neighbors had to replace their roof, HVAC and windows before I did. I was the last to have to switch out my hot water heater and toilets as well. This is the sort of stuff that can start to nickle and dime you 5 years in...

[Deleted]

I don't see anything wrong with that kitchen. It looks fine to me.

[sailorgray]

Feb 12, 2013 11:19:36 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Feb 12, 2013 10:53:51 GMT -5 @charky said:

I'm most shocked that this is new construction. Ditto others that the low quality makes me wonder about the quality of the rest of the house.

If everything else checks out and you love the house, I'd probably paint those cabinets and install some hardware for a low-cost fix.

I'm guessing from her comment about this being the only house in this area in her budget, that it's an inexpensive (relatively speaking) new construction.  I don't mean that in any kind of judgy way.  Just recognizing people have different budgets and you don't get a $60,000 kitchen in a $185,000 house.  

This is what I was thinking, too. If I walked in and saw that kitchen in a house in our budget, I would be super-stoked.

[treedimensional]

I hate it. Cabinets, counters, and layout. I'd have to change everything.

[kristilynnmy]

That looks like my kitchen cabs and the oak hasn't grown on us. It's been a year. I really tried to accept them but...We're getting them stained.

[stephm0188]

It's okay. We had cabinets like that in our old house. I hated the color, but the cabinets themselves were really great quality. They even had pullouts, which is a feature I really miss. If the layput and the rest of the house appeals to you, I'd consider it.

[bunch]

A little (ok, a whole lot) of paint will go a long way . I hate oak with the fire of 1000 suns.

[sailorgray]

Wow, some people are really passionate about oak... OP, I found this while looking to see why people disliked oak so much. I think it's pretty nice!

www.remodelaholic.com/2013/01/ideas-to-update-oak-kitchen-cabinets/

[sierramist03]

I like it and don't see anything wrong with it

[pitterwoo]

Feb 12, 2013 20:51:12 GMT -5 sailorgray said:

Wow, some people are really passionate about oak... OP, I found this while looking to see why people disliked oak so much. I think it's pretty nice!

www.remodelaholic.com/2013/01/ideas-to-update-oak-kitchen-cabinets/

this is a refreshing post and I think her updates really went a long way.  I think a lot of the golden oak hate is just that they're often surrounded by so much blah.  Her kitchen looks nice.  Also, bonus points because I have the same rug in my living room.

[pitterwoo]

Feb 12, 2013 21:34:55 GMT -5 @crackhabit said:

It's an average kitchen. Functional. Nothing special about it, no wow factor, builder grade. But it's fine and remember, many Internet decor people are snobs and dislike things most people find acceptable. So don't fall into that trap.

That's not to say you can't make it work. However, I don't think you'll come to like the oak over time. Is the builder the seller? How badly do they want a sale? How much can you go up in price? I ask because if I loved everything else about the house I would ask the builder if they can replace the cabinets.

Our new construction came with oak a similar color but decent quality. I ended up painting them and that went a long way. Painted oak will always look like painted oak, though. But replacing wasn't an option and we were watching our upgrade dollars and the cabinets didn't make the cut.

good points CH.  I did just want to mention for the OP that grain filler before painting will hide the oak pattern under the paint if you ended up going that route.

[sillygoosegirl]

That's basically my dream kitchen. The previous owners of this house put in like a $60K+ kitchen, which never would have been in our budget if it hadn't been a short sale, so we're probably never gonna change it... but aesthetically, I like that kitchen better. Though I'd probably turn the island 90 degrees, would choose a different sink, and maybe different lighting, but otherwise I think it is perfect.

It doesn't look dated to me at all; I'd say it looks classic. I think it will still look classic when today's stylish white cabinets look dated.

[TBM]

Feb 12, 2013 21:34:55 GMT -5 @crackhabit said:

 But it's fine and remember, many Internet decor people are snobs and dislike things most people find acceptable. So don't fall into that trap.

It has nothing to do with being a snob....you like what you like, and
and don't like what you don't like.  OP seems to not be a big fan of the
oak, so some of the answers were addressing that.

Not liking the oak is a matter of personal preference, just like some people like white cabinets and others prefer dark wood or even painted a color.  We don't all have to like the same things and we don't all have the same needs.



I don't dislike all oak, but I am not a fan of this oak (same kind we have in our 90s kitchen), and I've lived with it long enough to know that I never will be a fan.  It just isn't my thing. NBD to me if someone else wants it in their house...it just isn't going to be something that I will keep if a house we buy has them. 



Our kitchen has a the same basic layout, just smaller, so no island (unless you count the dresser that I was in the middle of refinishing, that we have been using for additional storage-lol).   If we had the additional cabinets, I wouldn't hate our kitchen so much.   I think the island should be moved.  It looks like it is too close to the stove, and like it blocks the path from the sink to the fridge.  I would move it down and put a bigger top on it so that it could be a counter with seating.

When our house was built, the single story model had an island that people kept paying extra to have it changed so that you could sit at it, so by the time they got to the third phase they made it a standard feature.

[tarheels]

Before you change any of the big stuff, OP, tell me you'll try a new wall color first. On my screen, the walls are a dingy, yellowy off-white that, combined with the oak, make the space look sad and dated. But I bet a fresh modern color, like a great green (check the paint bio) will go a very, very long way to making this space feel more current.

[laurental]

I actually like the kitchen because I think it is kind of a blank slate. Yes the cabinets are a little boring but I think a lot can be done with them. Have you seen the house in person yet?

This picture is to me a very bad representation because of the lens they used. The hanging light that appears to be in front of the sink is actually hanging over the dining area. Similarly the placement of the island is also skewed by the image. It is really impossible to get a clear idea of flow of the space because of the distortion. Look how deep the base cabinets look where the sink is- in reality they are probably the same depth as the island cabinets.

[sratsey]

I also think that oak is classic and depending on the paint in the kitchen plus the hardware in the kitchen, the space will either look totally updated or absolutely dated.
I would go with the easy fixes first.
I wouldn't assume that just because they're oak, they're low quality.

ETA, I LOVE how this kitchen turned out from the link that was posted:

I think building up the crown goes a long way in making something look a little more custom. 

[pickel]

Feb 13, 2013 14:55:46 GMT -5 sratsey said:

I also think that oak is classic and depending on the paint in the kitchen plus the hardware in the kitchen, the space will either look totally updated or absolutely dated.
I would go with the easy fixes first.
I wouldn't assume that just because they're oak, they're low quality.

ETA, I LOVE how this kitchen turned out from the link that was posted:

I think building up the crown goes a long way in making something look a little more custom. 

Oh my gosh, the crown and backsplash makes SUCH a difference. I love this kitchen!

[emjacobs]

It isn't the kitchen that I would design if I had unlimited funds, but it isn't terrible by any means.

Add hardware to the cabinets, remove the counter backsplash, add a simple backsplash, maybe change the lighting but I don't think that is terrible. A coat of paint always helps. And then of course adding your own personal touches will make things better.