Kitchen help..

[sweetoj]

Here is my itty bitty dark kitchen (hopefully the pic uploaded). I have got to do something to make it brighter! The cabinets are fairly new and I am not sure that I could bring myself to paint them, even though I LOVE white cabinets. There's really not much missing out of the picture other than the other side of the cabinets with the stove and fridge. I guess I can do a second post with that pic.

Any suggestions on how I can brighten up the space?

[sweetoj]

Here is the rest of the worlds smallest kitchen! hahaha I kid, I kid.....

[sweetoj]

Let's try this again...

[penguin23]

Recessed lighting. Painting the cabinets white would really brighten up the place as well.

[thewop]

It's not dark necessarily, just a little dated. Modernizing the kitchen a bit with paint, and removing the moulding (I can't think of a better name for it right now) above the kitchen window would help. An extra light in the middle of the kitchen would help a lot too.

[thewop]

And I know what you mean about not wanting to paint cabinets. The cabinets in my kitchen are oak, but in really good shape, so I can't bring myself to paint them.

Andplusalso....my kitchen is smaller than yours :-p

[ssmjlm]

Definitely take that piece over the window out. Is there a light there? Maybe add a drop down pendant for more lighting there.

[sweetoj]

Jun 6, 2012 8:27:34 GMT -5 thewop said:

It's not dark necessarily, just a little dated. Modernizing the kitchen a bit with paint, and removing the moulding (I can't think of a better name for it right now) above the kitchen window would help. An extra light in the middle of the kitchen would help a lot too.

It actually looks brighter in this photo than it actually is. The kitchen overlooks a covered screen porch, so not much sunlight comes in. And yes, I agree I need to get rid of the scalloped "molding". Also, what kind of light in the middle of the room would you see looking right?

[sweetoj]

Jun 6, 2012 8:30:48 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Definitely take that piece over the window out. Is there a light there? Maybe add a drop down pendant for more lighting there.

Right now it is just a flourescent light. I want to add a pendant light, but my issue is that the sink is not centered with the window. So, the light would not be even with the sink and I feel like that would look funny. What do you think about a multi light pendant (like 3 of them) or the "track lighting" (I can't think of a better name)?

[steamboat185]

Yes take that window wood piece out and add some recessed or under cabinet lighting. Could you add a backsplash? Something that would reflect some light. A rug might help too, but painting the cabinets would really help.

[sweetoj]

Jun 6, 2012 8:38:34 GMT -5 steamboat185 said:

Yes take that window wood piece out and add some recessed or under cabinet lighting. Could you add a backsplash? Something that would reflect some light. A rug might help too, but painting the cabinets would really help.

YES! I definetely want to do a backsplash. Do you think that something glossy like glass tiles or ceramic tiles would be better than stone tiles?

[ssmjlm]

Jun 6, 2012 8:36:14 GMT -5 sweetoj said:

Jun 6, 2012 8:30:48 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Definitely take that piece over the window out. Is there a light there? Maybe add a drop down pendant for more lighting there.

Right now it is just a flourescent light. I want to add a pendant light, but my issue is that the sink is not centered with the window. So, the light would not be even with the sink and I feel like that would look funny. What do you think about a multi light pendant (like 3 of them) or the "track lighting" (I can't think of a better name)?

Three may look too cluttered in the space, unless you did one of the small track style lights. I'm not that familiar with what's out there in that style.

[sweetoj]

Jun 6, 2012 8:50:32 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Jun 6, 2012 8:36:14 GMT -5 sweetoj said:

Right now it is just a flourescent light. I want to add a pendant light, but my issue is that the sink is not centered with the window. So, the light would not be even with the sink and I feel like that would look funny. What do you think about a multi light pendant (like 3 of them) or the "track lighting" (I can't think of a better name)?

I agree that the 3 may look too cluttered. The small track light (maybe 3-4 bulbs) may be a bit more streamlined.

Three may look too cluttered in the space, unless you did one of the small track style lights. I'm not that familiar with what's out there in that style.

[steamboat185]

Jun 6, 2012 8:45:18 GMT -5 sweetoj said:

Jun 6, 2012 8:38:34 GMT -5 steamboat185 said:

Yes take that window wood piece out and add some recessed or under cabinet lighting. Could you add a backsplash? Something that would reflect some light. A rug might help too, but painting the cabinets would really help.

YES! I definetely want to do a backsplash. Do you think that something glossy like glass tiles or ceramic tiles would be better than stone tiles?

I wouldn't use stone. Ceramic or glass tiles would reflect a lot more light. We are installing 3x6 glass tiles and the change is huge.

[emoflamingo]

Jun 6, 2012 8:27:34 GMT -5 thewop said:

It's not dark necessarily, just a little dated. Modernizing the kitchen a bit with paint, and removing the moulding (I can't think of a better name for it right now) above the kitchen window would help. An extra light in the middle of the kitchen would help a lot too.

This.

I would add in some recessed lighting (via electrician) and maybe paint the walls, but the cabinets look (in the picture) to be nice looking and the lighting is just not good enough. If the hardware is dated, you can replace hardware and change the look of the cabinets a lot.