Opinions Please!!! I want to remodel my kitchen area

I'm thinking of using the picture below as my basic model. My kitchen cabinets are currently terribly outdated. Think yucky dark brown 80's wood, so I am thinking of adding some hardware, maybe some trim around the edges, and painting them a shade of white. This is much more in line with my budget than spending many many thousands on brand new cabinets and will give me a new look. Right now I have carpet in the living room and tile in the kitchen that I hate. I want to replace it all with hardwood. Probably will go with a Pergo laminate again for cost reasons.

I would use a counter top that wasn't white

And replace the table with a smaller table and built-in seating with gorgeous fabric. Add interesting lighting.

Initially, freaked out. I like a white kitchen, that's what I previously had but not real wood. I saw an ad in the paper after after getting several refacing estimates, and this company could give me real wood (natural maple) cabinets and black galaxy granite countertops for almost $1000.00 less.

I have cherry laminate floors and white appliances so when they put the cabs in I thought it was so wrong. Friends came over (and then husband got home from a business trip) and reassured me it looks great.

Yes, I need stainless steel appliances to make it look great to me. We are painting the kitchen a Cabernet color; it was previously a blue-green water garden color.

Wish I had pics---need my husband, I know that is so lame. Best of luck!

to protect it against water damage. the laminates really aren't suggested for kitchens without some special installment steps

I'd choose a warm wall color to offset all that white I think too.

you'll get lots of opinions and good advice in the DIY forum too, we even have a commercial kitchen designer who hangs over there :hi:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=287

Can it be done in an 8x20 kitchen for about 15K?

Are you looking at reflooring? New cabinetry? New appliances? Adding extra storage and/or rearranging current storage?

15K could go a long way depending upon what areas you choose to address to get the most bang for your update buck. :hi:

We do want to bust out a wall and create an island open to the living room. We also need to rearrange how our pantry is structured. Then some other superficial updates... we shall see. But first we need to save the money. :)

Before you do remodel, take the time to purchase some kitchen design magazines, and tear out any and all photos that appeal to you. After you collect a bunch, sort them out in terms of colors, surfaces, cabinets, fixtures, flooring...some photos may cover more than one of those categories.

Then, take the time to price, and look into local people re: cabinetry, flooring...you may be able to get a really good deal.

Also, if your cabinets, even though out dated, are in good shape, a redesign updating may be worth looking into.

I do Interior Design. PM me if you want. :hi:

Just wondering: In the photo you posted, what are the things you like about it? What in the photo appeals to you most? least? is it a close floorplan match to your existing space?

Let me describe my thoughts with the photo.

I live in a condo and my kitchen is very small and not representative of the picture in the kitchen. What I liked about the picture was the design of the cabinets and the color of the cabinets and how it looked with the hardwood floors. My cabinets are currently plain darkish wood with no hardware or designs or anything.

I want to keep things light and bright to make my condo bigger and also in neutral tones for resale purposes one day. The things I am doing are partly for me to enjoy but I also want to make sure I am doing things benefical to my investment.

I really hate my current kitchen. It's a typical condo galley kitchen that is U shaped and has cabinets on all sides. It is open on one side and faces the dining room which is combined with the living room. The dining/living room currently has all carpet and then a divider for tile for the front entrance and the bathroom hallway/kitchen area. The carpet is 20 years old and needs replacing and I hate vacuuming and all the dust, so I figured since I have to replace the carpet anyway might as well go with wood laminate. I really liked the golden oak color in the pergo website. I don't want too dark a wood as again I want to make the place look bigger as it's a smaller space.

The cabinets are dreadful. I really hate them. I don't have a picture of them but here is a close representation of what the kitchen looks like except there isn't any hardware on them or design. They are just plain. I will be replacing the countertops and painting as well but haven't really thought that out other than I want light and bright to make the space look bigger.

I have to go do some things at my son's place. Will be back later and will PM you :)

Just three questions:
Are you current cabints knotty pine as in the photo representation you shared?

What is the lighting situation in you kitchen right now? Do you want undercabinet lighting as well?

Right now, there is one overhead flourescent light. I would like to update the lighting as well. Undercabinet lighting would be nice to brighten things up and definitely some new light fixture in the kitchen.

The cabinets are the same color and texture as these. They don't have a border design though. So think of these cabinets with the U pattern kitchen layout in the other photo. I am turning in for the night but please shoot me a PM and I will respond tomorrow! Thanks again for your help!

3" recess light that is great for kitchen remodals.Easy to install and with a swivel head can be aimed at work areas.They are also pretty cheap.Less than ten bucks,including trim,which makes it a better deal then most traditional recess lights.If your old flourescent fixture is recessed there is probably access to the rest of th ceiling space in the kitchen.This will make it easier to install wiring for new lights.
They also have a some cool little 'puck' style undercounter lights that are easy to install.

One more thing.Stay away from track lighting in kitchens.They turn into grease and dust magnets.

It's the new fifties retro trend in home decor.
We're getting a couch in aspic!

I sub electrical work from a couple of contractors who specialize in kitchen remodals.

I live in Florida.

pick a color to match or complement the new counters. I updated '70s walnut grain cabinets by painting them inside and out to match the counter top. It was a lot of work but the kitchen is so much brighter and fresher and the whole job was less than $300, a considerable savings over hanging new cabinets.

Couple of things to also consider.

Think about cork or bamboo for the flooring.

If you're replacing appliances, do not buy Dacor. I've had a 36 dual fuel range and the oven SUCKS.