I love the layout and the tiles in your kitchen. Tons of possiblities. What about painting the top cabinets and ceiling a lighter color and the bottom cabinets a different color? Are you going to keep the counter tops? I just repainted my cabinets and it is a messy and back breaking process, but very satisfying and a bunch cheaper than new cabinets. Also, I like the personal look. Spray painting the cabinet hardware is another cheap quick fix (like the hinges, etc.) What type of look do you like? What do the connecting rooms look like - or what do you want them to look like? The kitchen should flow with the decor of the rest of the house. I chose an art print that i really liked that went with my saltillo tile and then used the colors that i found in the print. It was a huge help because i could take it the print with me to match colors / find inspiration. Good luck!

This has great possibilities. If it was my kitchen, I would hire an electrician to put in recessed lighting and under cabinet lighting. I would also replace the counters (with stone or solid surface...or maybe Ikea butcher block if I was on a strict budget). I would keep the cabinets white and replace the hardware with (stainless or chrome). Not sure about what other color to paint the cabinets because of the color of the floor tile. Good luck!

Hi,
Check out this link:
http://www.younghouselove.com/our-portfolio/
there is a kitchen with similar floor tile to yours where they painted the upper cabinets a white and the bottom cabinets a taupe color (like you were talking about), and it looks great.
Good Luck, LCDailey

great bones to work with - not too much expensive stuff needed, you're lucky! my ideas would be to keep cabinets the color they are, change out light fixture (your ceilings look high, so maybe you could do an oversized pendant lamp with a fun shade), tile the backsplash to add some color, new brushed nickel hardware to go with the appliances, new countertops if its in the budget and then i'd also swap out the microwave for a stainless one ;)

have fun!

We have similar cabinets. Have you considered removing some of the doors? Here's one example of cabinets painted on the inside http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/home-tour-manhattan-apartment#slide_8
Of course it depends what your dishes look like. We did this in our house and really like the results. It adds some visual interest and color.
I also like the image the person sent of the cabinets on the bottom being a darker color than the ones on top. I like the idea of tying in the hardware with the appliances.
-Erica

Yes, paint the uppers and lowers a different color. There are SO MANY cabinets in there (which is awesome for storage) - you need to break the monotony. Also pull some of the doors off the uppers (maybe on the two sets of cabinets that flank the stove) for more relief. I think you'll still have plenty of space to stash stuff you don't want to look at.

Are you planning on keeping these cabinets long term? If so go ahead and change out the countertops now if you want. But if you think you might do a major kitchen remodel in a couple of years then don't change the countertops. Since you just bought the house and haven't lived in it long enough to know if there is something that really bothers you (or that you would never give up) about the function of your kitchen, I wouldn't make the decision about a long-term remodel right away. Unless your laminate counters are warped or peeling or missing big chunks they'll be fine for a couple of years.

Oh - how could I forget to mention the light fixture?!? Get rid of that thing stat!

I would also find another place (hidden) for the trash can and remove the peninsula, if you can match the floor tile. I hate the feeling of being trapped in the kitchen!

I agree with zoee...hardware and an interesting backsplash will make a huge difference in this kitchen. I honestly like it being all white. An Ikea butcher block counter would look fantastic with it. I agree that the light fixture should be exchanged. Recessed lighting is ideal, but in a pinch track lighting can get a really good look as well. (It's not the huge 1970's cans anymore!) I think those changes will make more of a difference than painting the cabinets alone.

Hi,
lovely kitchen and beatiful tiles there !!!

How about to get some narrow profiles (used for moulding or picture frames - about 1 1/2" wide) and FRAME the edges of doors of cabinets with them.

Use some thin material under it - and Velcro this NEW SURFACE to the face of cabinets - orange color of your tiles will make lovely compliment.

OR - you could even make this "New Surface" removable under the Frames and have a NEW theme every 6 months.

What do you think ??

Xandra

What an attractive kitchen! I kind of love it just the way it is, myself.

I'd put up a new light fixture, add a couple of wrought iron and wicker barstools, plunk a big white bowl of oranges down on the peninsula, then make a big mess preparing a nice meal.

I'm for leaving the cabinets the light color they are (hard to tell exactly what it is), and paint the walls instead. With that many white cabinets, you can go for a bold wall color. New pulls, a new light fixture, and maybe springing for a big piece of butcher block to replace that one big expanse of counter in the foreground and i think you have it. Oh, and some cool stools!

I think that younghouselove link above shows a great version of what your kitchen can be with just some paint and hardware. In addition, I would consider putting a butcher block countertop on the return - since there is no sink or appliance, it would be quite easy to replace. Also, before painting the cabinets, I would cut out the cabinets above the window (it makes the window feel cramped) and the super narrow ones to the right of it too (also innately cramped looking.) Cover up the edges with new plywood or board, and when you paint it will look seamless. You could put in a couple small pendant lights above the sink to fill the space instead. A new overhead light (we really like how our $30 calypso from ikea looks) will also make a big impact.

I say definitely go with 2 tone cabinets. Get some color on your walls though-maybe light aqua. If you can afford them Rejuvenation has some cool knobs and pulls that are very 50s-

http://www.rejuvenation.com/fixshow100210/templates/selection.phtml
http://www.rejuvenation.com/fixshow100211/templates/selection.phtml

I'd leave the cabinets alone and introduce some warmth by swaping out the countertop closest to us for wood. Ikea has some dirt cheap countertops (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00086414). I agree with the suggestions to switch out the hardware (I really like http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40138760). And definitely switch out the light for a pendant lamp. I like a bit of whimsy in my kitchen, which you could inject by buying an old ugly brass chandelier for not too much (regardless of where you live, craigslist will have one for $20 if you're patient enough), and painting it white (or perhaps something bold...charcoal grey?) it'd look awesome and not dated. Not that big a fan of the floor, but cork is pretty cheap to buy and pretty easy to install yourself (and so warm underfoot!).

I love your kitchen - it has a great 50's layout and if the cabinets are solid, there's no reason to replace.

But the lighting - Oh, yeah - that needs to go...
...just don't succumb to the temptation to go to IKEA - You need something more vintage. There are some great period-appropriate choices Rejuvenation Hardware:

http://www.rejuvenation.com/inspiration/ingenious.html?page=shape

As far as painting the cabinets, why not consider a nice soft teal like San Clemente Teal by Benjamin Moore? You could go a shade darker or a contrasting color for the interiors and drawer boxes: It's definitely a chore (I'm going through it right now) but it's well worth it.

Be sure to choose your handles and hardware and their placement before painting as you may need to redo holes. I'd avoid the temptation to go with modern bar handles and choose something more quirky/period-appropriate such as these Whale Tail pulls:
http://www.rejuvenation.com/fixshow100206/templates/selection.phtml

...or these simple pulls:
http://www.rejuvenation.com/fixshow100215/templates/selection.phtml
(Make sure your exposed hinges match the finish of your handles - but I wouldn't worry that they don't match the stainless appliances)

After reading the comments and looking at the photograph again, here are my suggestions.

First off, I was going to suggest you paint the cabinets (if you do, I'd darken them somewhat with a warm medium brown say) but in stead, leave then as is, change out the hardware for something that mimics the 50's stylistically but in something other than white or stainless, that'd be too matchy, matchy but something that stands out better with the white cabinets, paint the wall a nice bold color to bring color in that way and if you can't replace all of your counter top, do the peninsula instead as it's easy enough to do for little money.

One thing to be aware of is your flooring is fine and can go with almost any color you choose for the walls, but please stay away from the brown/taupe colors, red, yellow, anything other than the beige/taupe/tan but do consider how the colors will look with food, for instance, blue or green may make what you cook appear ghastly but a nice warm color won't.

I agree, switch out the fluorescent fixture but if you want bright lighting in the kitchen, get one that's retro in style (and they are out there, such as some of the models sold at Home Depot), like a 2 or 4 tube 4 footer with a half round design comes to mind, fit them with warm white tubes and it'll fit right in, add under cabinet lighting in the form of inexpensive fluorescent under cabinet fixtures or the classic halogen pucks to bring the light to the counter top, I wonder if just a single pendant will be enough general lighting as it will be largely behind wherever you stand, thus the shadow effect right where you are working, with what appears to be high ceilings, let a good retro fluorescent fixture spread the general lighting around, over the top of you, less chance of shadows.

I think the garbage can is fine where it is as you may not have the right sized cabinets nearby to hide it and as long as the can is attractive, it'll do just fine.

Oh, and put a couple of stools on the back side of the peninsula so guests can sit and kabitz while you cook.

Kibitz

i think the perfect light fixture would be this discontinued (i know, so sad!) pendant light from ikea. we have it in our bathroom, and it looks so so so class and 1950's soda-shoppy!

http://www.marieclairemaison.com/data/images/photos/F0/Suspension-SODAK.jpg

i think three of these in line would look awesome!

i also agree with the previous comments to paint the walls. i think a really nice grey-blue would look awesome!

I agree with the start small concept... one thing at a time. Here's where I'd start:

new cabinet hardware
add a pendant light (and in-ceiling spots if you can)
remove the cabinet above the sink and add a more interesting curtain

Then, depending on your storage situation, I'd consider removing the doors of the very highest cabinets and either putting in glass doors or painting the interior as recommended already.

The tiles have to go. They do not belong in the house. Make your sandwiches from home until you save enough to get rid of them. Eat peanut butter for dinner. Get rid of those tiles. AND sell the refrigerator and replace it with under counter fridge/freezer. No matter what you do, you will regret it until those tiles are gone and that big fridge right along with them. BE BOLD!

That is a large kitchen. Replacing a full-size refrigerator with an under-counter model is INSANE. I think the photo is distorting the actual dimensions of the refrigerator that is there, but even if it isn't, omg don't go the under-counter route. That's for people whose entire apartments are the size of your kitchen.

Xandra here again
- (continue on the theme of "FRAMES" from May-11)

How about "silver" frames to match that perfect sized refrigerator ... (I wish to have something so marvelous in MY kitchen ...) - !!! do not even think to replace it !!!!

... and INSTANTLY you will have very sleek, modern, space-age ultra cool look - put pictures or photos inside your "frames" ... some red-orange color of kitchen tiles will "bind" it opticaly together with the floor.

Xandra

Actually, babyfishmouth, undercounter refrigerators work well in large kitchens, including my own. :) Most especially for folks who prefer a more open kitchen or just don't want to see them. Aside from being pretty ugly the only other way to disguise a fridge is by cladding it in the same material as the cabinetry where they get buried in a wall. This particular refrigerator takes up valuable counter area which is in short supply to the right of the sink. If this homeowner likes to cook having more counterspace to the right of a sink with running water for veg prep is pretty nifty. Sure beats traipsing back and forth to the island leaving debris along the way.

Personally think leave the cabinets alone, change hardware, paint walls a great color, nice gray blues out there or something in taupe family... new light fixture and you are good to go