apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This kitchen would be stunning with marble countertops. But then again so would mine if I could afford them :-).

For a low cost reno--yes, paint the cabinetry (white or black would look great). Pull up the flooring and possibly pain the wood underneath black or white (unless you've got it stained throughout the rest of the house.).

Do you have room for a small bistro set or even a love seat and table where the chair is to the right?

Graphic print Roman shades would look great. There was a post recently on how to make them from mini-blinds.

Very cute place!

(Hide the trash.)

The linoleum is early 70s, I had the same pattern in this house when we moved in. We've replaced it with a white brick looking linoleum that really opened up the space. As for the wood floors below, be careful. That might only be subflooring, no suitable for regular use. That's what ours is.

My advice is to do nothing until you have lived in the house for a while, in order to get a feel for things like light, air flow, and to determine if there are major changes you need to make.

Then, I would begin compiling a list of how efficient you find your kitchen. Do you wish you had a gas oven? A wall oven? Do you find that you wish a counter by the microwave? Trivets by the sink? Is it easy to put away groceries or reach the cabinets?

Second, I would compile a file of kitchens that appeal to you. They could be referencing floors, hardware, counters, tile, etc.

Then visit a kitchen design place and have them explain to you the differences in all the different countertop materials. There are a myriad of them, and their looks are only one component.

I would begin making small decisions, like pulling up the floor. Hardwood is lovely and would likely complement the tile; however, it is also quite possible that it is in dire need of refinishing.

I would also replace the faucet. I like faucets that have a very high spout with one handle (but that's just me) and moreover, faucets are one thing that you can take from kitchen to kitchen.

Your question is really open ended. Will you be replacing appliances? Is budget a concern?

Hope some of this helps.

Do you cook often? If so, I would highly recommend moving the refrigerator to another spot & installing some cabinets (or open shelves) with counters on both sides of the stove. You'll have a much safer work area & you'll appreciate a better work flow. Can the fridge move to the wall where the chair is? It's hard for me to tell how much space you have there between the doorways. Do you have a separate pantry for food storage?

If you know someone that's really good at space planning a kitchen, I think it would be good to get their help. A tight budget is still very workable.

If you can live in the kitchen for a little while, then you'll know what you need for cooking. Perhaps you prefer an island, or would like a peninsula. There are so many options so if you can work with what you have for a few months, then you'll figure out how you cook in that space & what you really want to do!

I also like your tiles- you might be lucky to find them behind the linoleum backsplash, too! Never know what you'll find when you rip stuff out... And if you find scary looking tiles under the linoleum floor (ie. asbestos tiles) that are covering wood flooring, then do not attempt to remove yourself. That is some scary stuff that could be covered over with another flooring.

Good luck! Looks like a great place already. and post after photos!

Nice tiles.

i think yr cabinets are gorgeous as is, though i would probably change the hardware.

definitely paint the walls - maybe navy or grey.

remove the mini blinds from the windows, and keep the frames white.

new appliances, stainless. i personally hate visible microwaves, but if you must keep it out, but a stainless one. do think of ways to cover it though.

i don't really understand what is going on with the black zig-zag trim. i would definitely paint over that. also, hide your trash.

since the kitchen is so large, consider placing a small table and chairs to make it more cozy and inviting.

And another thing you might consider...1200 square feet is a great space, but that kitchen looks disproportionately large, and the way it's arranged it doesn't look like there's room for a breakfast table. Do you want a table for 6 in your kitchen? Or will a cafe table for 2 suffice, since when you have guests you use the dining room. Perhaps you could, in the long term, make the kitchen smaller and use the added space for more room elsewhere. Square footage in a kitchen isn't nearly as important as one that is perfectly designed.

If it were me, I would invest in an architect/kitchen designer, and have them draw up plans for the dream kitchen in there, even if it is 10 years down the road. In the intermittent years, I would take small steps--replace the appliances, maybe work on one wall with the new backsplash, etc.

Wow, your kitchen reminds me of ours when we first bought our house- except we had really gross brown appliances and simpler cabinets.

While we added tile work to ours, I found that what we removed had as big of an impact as what we added. We also sourced our supplies on clearance, used or free whenever possible. And, we took on one project at a time. Not always in the right order but the best we could.


I want to echo what dkzody said. It was the case in our kitchen so instead we tiled right over the linoleum.

We installed durock and laid the tile over it ourselves for around $500 for the whole kitchen. We spent a good amount of time planning out the tile pattern to minimize complicated cutting. You can see the process here:

http://sherbrook.blogspot.com/2008/08/tiling-gnome.html

For some "before" pictures: http://sherbrook.blogspot.com/2008/05/way-it-was-before-pictures.html

We also wound up moving some cabinets around, replacing the countertop with some that we found in the ikea as-is section for about $25. Then got a great deal on the tile we used for the new backsplash.

All our new appliances were found on craigslist or freecycle (except the Fridge).

All told we reno'd the entire kitchen, including replacing all appliances for about $3000, we did all the work ourselves over the course of 6 months.

Good luck to you on your new adventure & please post after pics!

am i the only person that likes the cabinets unpainted?
just change the hardware..
maybe you could whitewash them or sand them down a bit to lighten up the color of the wood.

Hi! I had a similar kitchen situation when I moved into my house 6 years ago. My cabinets looked a lot like yours, and my vinyl was only slightly less offensive. :)

I had bigger fish to fry for a while - the living areas were hideous, too, and as I fixed them I could survive because I couldn't actually see the kitchen from them. I suggest hanging curtains in doorways to block the ugly view while you figure things out. :)

When I finally got around to having the grotesque bathroom redone, I inquired about the cost of having new vinyl and beadboard added to the kitchen at the same time. It only added a couple thousand to the bathroom job, so I went ahead and did it. I just painted the cabinets white and added new hardward, and I must say, they are so much better it's hard to describe. Before I painted, I read a lot and many people tried to scare readers away from painting the cabinets, but I just took my time and did it slowly, and they've held up very well for a few years now. (Careful washing with TSP and scratchy pads... then careful, light sanding of all surfaces, then a GOOD primer and a couple coats of gloss paint from Home Depot. )

Before:

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb99/mbc1963/House%20Pictures/Kitchencabinetsbefore.jpg

After:

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb99/mbc1963/House%20Pictures/KitchenCabinetsAfter.jpg

Good luck! You can do it!

Mary

Wow. Mary's photos look like a totally different kitchen! Good job!

I think painting the cabinets white and the hardwood floors black and saving up for granite countertops would make the place look great. I love the idea of a bistro set or little couch where the boxes and chair are now!

The first thing to think about is how you and your family will use the space. This is a big room, and since your house is 1,200 square feet I'm guessing it is one of the larger rooms in the house. Make that space work for you.

Some things to consider are:

Do you imagine that the family will eat in the kitchen, as well as cook?

Is this likely to be a one cook kitchen, or will two or three people be using it at once?

Do you have any kitchen ware that you would like to display in this space?

Is there enough storage for the things that you want to store?

If it were my kitchen I would remove the linoleum and check out the condition of the wood floor. Finishing it like the floors in the rest of the house would improve the flow, but a little something to set it apart and make it feel kitcheny would be good too. Maybe stencil a bold black checkerboard on top of the wood in the center of the room.

You definitely need a table or island in the middle of the kitchen. I would go for a counter height farm table, with drop leaves and stools that can push in almost all the way under. That way you would have a dining area and increased counter space (which you especially need near the stove). With the table in the middle of the room you could replace the ceiling fixture with a pendant or grouping of pendants...something with a vintage vibe to go with the tile.

As far as the cabinets go I think painting them is a good idea, but I would stay away from black for the upper ones. It would also be nice to put glass doors with panes on the upper cabinets above the dishwasher, since that is the logical place for dishes. The panes would tie the cabinets into the style of your windows and doors, and keep the cabinets from looking too blocky. If you have a lot of dishes to display I would put glass doors on the cabinets on the other side of the sink too...with that much glass you could paint them black on the outside and a lighter color on the inside without it looking too heavy.

I would also cut the microwave cabinet down to counter height if you can do without that upper storage. The upper cabinets there are boxing in your window and making it look awkward.

Adding a crown molding around the top of the walls (one that matches what is on the cabinets) would also be nice.

Then just repaint the wall and the ceiling. I would save that step until the end because the linoleum and all of the exposed pine wood are really messing with the color balance in the room right now...once you have the floor changed and the cabinets painted you will have a better idea of what you want for the walls and the ceiling.

Good Luck!

Can you afford to switch out the cabinetry? I am not sure how good those cabinets wood look painted.

I can't believe i am saying this, but the cabinets would be lovely in black. ( I usually hate dark cabinets.) I would go with a shabby chic look creamy distressed wood floor, make sure it coordinates with the tile on the wall or a little lighter. A roman shade possibly linen or cotton in a solid color for your window,and modernize your pulls.

Paint your wall a lighter shade of white or cream that coordinates with the tile and do marble countertops in Carrera.

I like the old yellow and black tiles, too, and I'm glad you want to keep them! I think they'll look a lot nicer once you are able to deal with the floor.

Three things you could do now, and fairly cheaply:

1)Find an inexpensive (and therefore okay if it's temporary) curtain for the window. Get something cheerful and loud, but not in yellow or green. Maybe red. If you like the retro tiles and want to go in that direction, check out '50s textiles at a flea market or antique store. A bright pop of color at the top of that window will help to draw the eye up and away from the floor.

2) Paint the upper walls white. That yellowish shade is competing with the tiles. Not only that, it looks a little stained and "old" in the pictures despite the nice, white ceiling. Painting the walls white will make the space seem a little fresher.

3) You have a lot of floor space and not a lot of counter space. I would be thinking about an island. If you've got room and aren't in need of more cabinet storage, what about a farmhouse table? You could use it for some food prep and also have a place for people to gather. Plus it will cover some of your floor!

I think black cabinets would look good with the tile. What about an ebony stain? Also, I would go full-on retro with the cabinet pulls. The ones you have now look like '80s victoriana. You could begin changing those out, or at least looking for some you like.

One thing to consider with black cabinets is that your white appliances will really stick out. Another option would be to paint the cabinets white. Then any color, such as your tile, would really stand out.

I agree the tiles are great and I would make all design decisions with an eye toward what would look best with them. I also agree that you should live with the space and take note of things that annoy you or that you like.

I would start with the floor since it is going to have an enormous impact on the whole room. You might find at that point the cabinets are fine un-painted and that just some upgraded pulls are all you need. I found Home Depot has some decent looking ones in 10-packs that are very affordable.

I'm also a firm believer in trying free things first - so personally I would try moving the fridge to the wall where the chair is for easier access. Perhaps replace the space it leaves behind with some open shelves in matching wood color or white. I would also chop the top off of the cabinetry where the microwave is - the design of the top portion of that is feeling as dated as the floor, and not very useful either. Basically just make it countertop height.

Next stage would be to get some new countertops - you can actually get some decent looking ones for fairly cheap if you can avoid being seduced by the high-end marble etc. camp. It would be nice to have the counters extend to the side of the stove so cooking is easier - a place to put ingredients.

Final stage (still trying to keep things cheap) is to get a new hood for the stove. I'm eyeing a decent looking one at ikea for $500. I don't know why the vent hoods are as expensive as the appliances, but again yours also has that dated vibe you're trying to fix.

I think if you decide whether the floorplan works, helps too. If it does you should just paint the cabinets white and put on either a stainless steel modern handle/pull or a throwback to the original kitchen to match the tile work. This also saves the cabinets from a landfill which is good.

If you need to replace them, try Ikea. Their cabinets are a good value and look great. You can use their software to design your layout.

For the flooring; I had the same flooring in my kitchen when we moved in. We covered it with other vinyl flooring just to update (and it was filthly). I think easiest and cost effective for your flooring would be to use marmoleum right over the existing if you can. They have options that would look great for your era. I've seen a light colored checkerboard pattern on the diagonal used and it would work great in your kitchen.


I think replacing the the appliances would be a good idea and add value to your home. Actually, any updating to the kitchen will add value.

For the countertops there are alot of choices. I would look into using a new laminate. I've seen some laminate that looks great, like the material used in a biology class which is showing up more kitchens these days. Quartz is also a good choice. Marmoleum can also be used as a countertop, these two choices are "green".

Well have fun with it and enjoy your kitchen.

So, is that backsplash just a piece of linoleum covering the black and yellow tiles? If so, just rip it out. Those tiles have a nice art deco design, and if you paint the walls above them an even whiter white (is that possible?), it would pop really nice. Think about taking the cabinet doors off on top to open the room more. And roman shades are super cheap at target. That fridge is massive. Maybe try to find a smaller one you can trade for on craigslist?

Personally, I really like the pine cabinets. Don't paint them unless you have to...

The floors... finding cheap flooring options is hard. I would say rip out the linoleum and go with the cement/wood base.

How FUN! sigh. I love the yellow and black tile. So glad you're keeping it.

Changing the flooring will make such a difference. I like the suggestion of white laminate - it would make everything so much brighter. And I would like the pine cabinets in another context, but I don't love how their color fights with the yellow and black tile.

I think enmnm has really good suggestions.

Definitely live with it a while, getting your routines down -- you'll very quickly find what works and what doesn't. Also when you're in your first house, you don't know what might break or need to be updated immediately so use your money to take care of those things first and worry about the kitchen a little later.

Think about getting a farm table or some other style that you like -- since the room is so big, it's weird that it's not already an eat-in kitchen. The table can double as work space and guests will likely hang out in there anyway.

I'd remove the microwave cabinet thing from its current spot. Cut off the top and save the bottom with the drawers and cabinet and reuse it if you decide to rearrange things and need something to fill the gaps or use as the base of an island. One less thing to buy and/or make. Get an over-the-range microwave to replace what looks like the house's original hood.

If you're going to rearrange appliances -- some people suggested moving the fridge to another wall -- don't forget to factor in the cost of upgrading outlets and moving things like gas connections, things that will have to be done by professionals.

If you decide to paint the cabinets, there are plenty of tutorials online -- I used one on the This Old House website, but you can find them on AT and HGTV, too. The easiest thing is to get new hardware.

Beyond that, I agree with a lot that previous commenters have said -- it's a lot of advice to throw at you all at once, but there's a lot to think about when taking on a kitchen renovation, especially one on a budget. Good luck with everything!

Can I just say that I LOVE the floor tiles. I would put those in my kitchen in a hear beat!

I would think of it in two stages....what you can easily do now...and what you want to save for later.

For now to do a cheap remodel, I would paint the cabinets (inside and out) a glossy white to match the trim on the doors. Sorry to disagree with all the posters who said they like it....I think it makes the room look heavy and unfinished and has no connection with the tile. Switch the nobs to a nickel finish or even ceramic or glass to stay with the time period.

If your wood floor underneath the linoleum is good, you can expose that. Second option would be if it's not looking great but is solid, you can paint the wood floor-- color choice can go more neutral or a bright like the orange/red in the current linoleum. Third option would just be to paint over the linoluem itself. I had a friend who did this and it turned out great. The texture still shows through -- he painted his floors a dark blue. It took about 3 days to dry but it don't be impatient. It's worth it. Or one more idea...inexpensive self adhesive tiles in black and white checker board.

I would also remove the hutch with the microwave. The placement of this is not great for the room flow. The room seems to be large enough that you could have an island or cafe table -- for example a butcher block top with some storage underneath. It would add some counter space for cooking.

I'd also try to get as many of the small items put away and remove the pieces that aren't kitchen-y like the library chair. Add some roman shades on the window and that should get you through the immediate future!

If you decide to invest in a larger remodel, I think you'll want to reconfigure the space and think about what time period you want the kitchen to read. Without seeing the rest of your house, it could easily be made to look more 50/60s...which could mean a great authentic stove....black and white tiles on the floor painted cabinets, etc. Or you could change the style and update everything....but the layout will be an important place to start and you will probably want to make the counter wrap at least one of the corners so you don't end up with the dead space in the corners, like where the refridgerator is now.

Best of luck! Looks like fun!

The reason I recommend calling in a professional is that unless you have experience in planning renovations, you may make expensive mistakes, which a professional will save you from. For example, you don't want to rip up the floor, discover the hardwood isn't salvageable and has water damage of all things, so you replace the entire floor with concrete, only to have to tear it up next year when you alter the cabinet placement and floorplan of the kitchen.

Joanna, listen to enmnm (particularly the 1st comment). I can't emphasize enough how beneficial it is to live in the space "as is" for a year or so. You will learn so much about the space, and how it works (or doesn't work) for you. During that time, collect ideas and do your research; organize and annotate your tear sheets.

As far as the next step... it really depends on what you want to do long term. If you plan to do a full renovation (altering the layout), then just wait and save. Don't waste time and money on things that will just get torn out later. And do hire a professional for help, if you can. You will get so much more for your money. Keep in mind that there are lots of different ways a pro can help, including simple consultations. You don't have to hire Candace Olson, disappear for 6 months, and come back to the Dream Kitchen.

If you are thinking more along the lines of a mini-reno or facelift, then live with it for a year or so, and dig in when you've really figured out what you want to do. It might still be worthwhile to hire a professional--even for a simple consult.

And in terms of specific ideas...

----LOVE the tile. So glad you're keeping it. It is a subtle color, so keep the overall feel neutral.

----Do something that makes sense with the rest of your house. It makes no sense to do an MCM kitchen in a Victorian. That will look just as dated as your 50s kitchen does now. On the other hand, if your house was built in the 50s, a kitchen with a 50s feel might be great! It sounds silly, but listen to the house. It will tell you what to do! (I really think that tile is telling you what to do...)

Oh, one more thing... Try to use the existing wood floor, if possible. Even if you have to refinish it, it will still be less expensive than a new floor. And better looking, in my opinion.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36529290@N05/3401990364/in/set-72157616555382436/


Just wanted to post a nice photo of a two-tone painted look. It might be a good way to add some visual interest since your cabinet doors are pretty flat.

Paint the cabinets white, get marble counter, stainlees frig, stove and dishwasher. Paint the wall above the tile black. Wood floors refinished. Stainless island and some stools. Granite is sooooooooo overated.

Joanna- I reccomend that you go see layla's kitchen at the lettered cottage.com. she has before and after photos and she did her re do on a budget. her work is amazing!!!!!! good luck!

So many good suggestions! You could also rework that microwave hutch cupboard and move it to the wall where the chair is.

That kitchen seems to be crying out (can't you hear it??) for a black and white checkerboard floor. If you remove the vinyl and the wood underneath isn't worth salvaging, I'd suggest a vintage-looking tile checkerboard, that would complement the wall tile. (You might have a stripe of yellow tile inserted about a tile-width (one foot) inside the perimeter of the room for an accent, if you want more flair. (Could be ceramic, could be vinyl, could be authentic linoleum...)

You could add a small kitchen island, maybe one on wheels that can move to the center when cooking and to the spot between the doors when not in use. Might even double as a breakfast table.

New hardware would make a huge difference in the cabinets. (If you want to update your cabinets, most places that sell them offer free design help -- and you don't have to actually buy the cabinets. When we remodeled our old kitchen, we first tried Home Depot, and their designers gave us a plan. Later we went elsewhere for the actual remodel for better quality stuff, but at least we were on the way to the final floorplan, and had a better idea of what we needed to buy.)

Do things that cost money in a sensible order. If you get new flooring but later plan to change the floor plan, maybe you will have to rip up the floor because you moved something. So it would have been better to change the floor plan, first.

I really like the way enmnm thinks. Her suggestions are spot on.

And had the same reaction as above: a black-and-white checked floor would look terrific!

I like the cabinets unpainted! In fact, I would love to have them. Maybe we can trade?!
They're sort of like the reverse of this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36529290@N05/3371225956/in/set-72157616555382436/
I think with modern flooring and new hardware the cabinets will look really classic. A painted white table and chairs would balance out the room. I would also add a narrow shelf of some sort to the left of the stove to anchor it. Right now the stove is floating, I think it looks a little strange.

I work as a kitchen designer, and the first thing I would tell you is that if you want to keep your tile, you are limited in what you will be able to do. Basically, any change that you make in terms of the layout will effect your wall tiles, which is unfortunate because it seems like you have a ton of space and could really have a great kitchen someday when budget allows. For the time being, I would paint the cabinet doors and change the countertops. That's really the only thing you can do (other than changing hardware and taking off doors for open storage, etc.) if you don't want to get into a whole room renovation. I would be happy to answer questions if you want to send me an e-mail sometime!

I just got through reading thelettercottage.blogspot.com and I think it is a wonderful resource as to what can be done with sweat equity. However, I think it is important to notice that the author:
1. is a design professional
2. is an experienced house renovator
3. has been working on the kitchen for 18 months

So again, I wouldn't rush to do anything, except maybe take down that hutch which is practically blocking that doorway and the light from the window.

The linoleum floor is too distracting and very unflattering for your kitchen. Wooden floors will make a world of difference. May be you can stain it dark and paint the cabinets the same colour as the tile (yellowish beige) with black door knobs that will make an impact. Another option is to paint the doors black and the farme of the cabinet beige. That way the white appliances will not look odd with the tiles on the wall. yet another option is to paint the cabinets the same hue as the wooden floor but a few shades darker. please post after pictures and all the best with the make over.

The Kitchen should become an extension of you.
How do you like to cook, how often do you cook, how many cooking accessories will you need to store, what's your favorite memory of being in a kitchen, the answers to these questions, plus about 20 more will help you design and work in a kitchen that is YOURS.

We're here to help.
Good luck.

I suppose I should stop posting, but...

The footprint of your kitchen will require major alteration. Your cooktop has NO counterspace around it. A stove should be in the middle of a prep area so that you can slice and dice things and slide them right into the pan. Also, you need a counter by the oven so that you can put things on them when they come out burning hot. And you can't, or shouldn't, transport boiling liquids across the room, which is what you will have to do now because the unit is an outlier.

All of this means that you may not want to replace the countertops until you rework the footprint.

I agree with the poster who said to live using it awhile and then start remodeling by replacing those things that bug you the most. Just changing that flooring may make the whole room look better and brighter.

It's a really big kitchen that I bet you'll love for years as you bring it into representing your personal style.

Congratulations on your new house!!