apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

That kitchen doesn't look too challenging to me. The stone walls can be worked in to either mod, contemporarty or traditional design. They can easily be worked into modern.
Hang some new cabinets and install new counters and appliances and bam! You've got a new space. You could also do cabinet refacing. Or alter the cabinets to fit your taste.

I would say that the countertops are th least of your worries compared to that floor.

I wouldn't get rid of the stone walls though, at least not all of it.

i heart ikea---can you take the upper cabs down and just replace them? ikea is WELL priced and then you could have storage with doors--get white and then paint the base to match
i think a warm counter (butcher block) would be pretty with the stone-marble (way more expensive) would look great too
good luck

of course I cant really tell the layout from these photos but it looks like there is a ton of built in charm here. I cant tell what is behind the open shelves over the sink area, but its great that that "hutch" structure is there. I'd make that stand out as a focal point on that wall by painting/staining that out in a different color than the rest of the open shelving and stacking contrasting plates, glasses and objects on it so they pop. Personally, id like the counters to all go out to stained wood (in a cherry/mahogany), the walls out in pearlgray to integrate the stone, and the "hutch" in a charcoal with white accessories inside. I think it's gonna turn out great!

oh, im so glad you're doing cork floors!!

First off, the space isn't that bad. I think the stone is difference and gives character.

Here are some ideas:
Look into getting an under the counter refrigerators (like drawers). In the space where the refrigerator used to be, add either wire or wood shelving (make it like a pantry or extra storage area)--you can pick up wire shelving at home depot and wood shelving at ikea, both easy to install using a stud finder :)

Paint your cabinets and shelving--pick a corresponding color from your new cork floor or your stone walls. You don't have alot of counterspace but if you don't already have some sort of rolling island, you could get one that stows in the 'pantry' space I mentioned earlier...

Good luck!

The stone walls are adorable.

I agree with the Ikea suggestion- I would do a dark wood cabinet on the cheap, and possibly a dark wood butcher type of counter top, hopefully matching the cork floors. That kitchen is super-charming and very national park lodge. I'm so jealous!

you call that kitchen small?

Replacing those those cabinets and shelves would be like burning money. They're fine and look to be in good shape, too. Sand them and paint them -- but stay away from dark colors or you'll turn a light and bright space into a cave. The walls behind the shelves above the sink and the stove should be painted the same color as the shelves. Inside the lower cabinets install those heavyweight stainless pull out drawers/baskets they sell at places like The Container store to maximize space. The floor also looks to be in good shape. As for the refrigerator, I also would consider one of those under counter refrigerators. I don't understand why everyone in Europe has small refrigerators and our refrigerators seem to get bigger and more wasteful by the decade. Once you get a smaller refrigerator you can install shelves for a pantry above it. Congratulations on your new home.

Was your house built by a bricklayer?

It would not be a great ordeal to redo that kitchen.

Tear everything out, replace the floor, put some radiant heat under the new floor and go for a nice clean look.

Perhaps the fact that the kitchen hasn't been updated in at least 10 years was reflected in your purchase price? That would be a bonus because your renovation will make the place worth more than what you paid for it overnight.

You can keep the budget as high or low as you want but I would advocate splurging on a built-in refrigerator (sub-zero) for the stone nook, would look perfect. One question, is there water behind the fridge for an ice-maker? If not, and you have a basement, you could run a line for it. Or perhaps there is water easily accessible from the area to the right of the fridge.

Of course any kind of stone countertop would be great with your stone walls.

Start fresh! You won't regret it!

agreed, paint the cabinets for now until you can afford to replace/reface them. save your budget for new appliances (kitchen and stove) and replace the countertop. Painting the cabinets and replacing the coutertops will give your kitchen quite a facelift. The rest you can do as you save.

not sure how big that fridge space is--but if it is 30" or more consider a smaller/taller fridge--we got an LG 24" wide with freezer on the bottom and love it
it may leave room for a pantry cabinet next to the fridge--with pull out storage

Those stone walls rock!

very inexpensive makeover to make your kitchen look like a million bucks:
- paint the walls a mid-dark shade of warm gray so the stone parts feel more incorporated. can be as dark or light as you're comfortable with. but should be dark enough to feel connected to the stones.
- paint all wood cabinets clean, crisp white in matte. the back of the shelf (between stove and sink) should be the same gray as the wall-- or go darker like a nice chocolate brown would look nice with the new cork flooring.
- buy new hinges and pulls. milk glass pulls in a simple modern shape would work nice in that room.
- buy new faucet finishings.
- buy a grassy organic roman shade over the window. hanging from all the way up to ceiling to make the window look larger than it is.

Thumb's up on the cork - that will be beautiful!

Live with it a little while before you redo the counters...it's not that disruptive to add them later, and there are more impactful things to do beforehand...the appliances, for example. Capture that space over the fridge for storage if you can...closed if possible.

I have open shelves in my kitchen and love them, but it can be difficult for some. You might just try them to see whether you like them first. Now's a good time to edit your kitchen stuff and get rid of all the junky mess and get matchy stuff...it's good discipline!

I love the rock...it's Fred Flinstone Fab.

the stone is great. i'm trying to put ledger stone or a good look alike on teh wall between my kitchen and living room, so i love that you have it already. the cork floor will be great. don't ask me about cabinets. i had to replace mine and i used ikea and they look fine, but i didn't have anything really to start with.

I would paint the cabinets gray as well. Also, getting a shallow, very tall fridge that better fits the space will really make a difference.

I love the stone. This is a small thing, but..I see that underneath the counter you've got a row of bricks. I would paint only the bricks a matte white to match the counters assuming you keep the white kitchen counters (this will make the brick less pronounced a provide a modern look) or I would cover that area with a strip of wood if you change your counters to wood. I think the red brick competes with the stone and complicates things visually - looks like a hodge-podge.

I would paint the cabinets a semi-gloss white. The cork floors are a great idea! If you decide to replace the fridge and stove, go for stainless steel. Throw in a few plants and some simple cotton or grass blinds, or cotton curtains and you're golden!

You're home is already beautiful and has so much potential. Congratulations!

Let's go folks...give some applause to anyone buying a home. Congratulations! I agree with frontiersperson. You call that small? When it involves steps you're doing well my friend. Cork flooring will radiate a natural reflection that will generate a warm red/brown tone on the wall, so you're headed in a great direction.

Congrats on your gorgeous kitchen space!

I think that you should wait a while before doing something grand. And you will have to do something grand so that it can be really functional. This kitchen is screaming for big change!!! First, I love the stones. It seems like the one wall kitchen is not long enough. The refrigerator is being stored in a very strange place. In order to have a one wall kitchen you will need to have the smallest oven, the smallest dishwasher, and you still wont have enough counter space. Maybe an L shape kichen would work better. You may have to enlarge the window for more light. put the sink under the window.
For a quick fixconsider this: rip out all of the shelves above the back wall replace them with 2 or three long planks of light natural wood that go the entire length of the wall. Use matching wood for the countertops. Paint the brick a shade of darker grey blue to let it blend. Paint that heater a darker blue grey to blend in with the stones.

Personally, I would rebuild stones next to the heater. It seems to take up a lot of space. It could have been built with more care.

congrats on the new house.

I forgot to say, paint the cabinets white. Get some new handles.

Are we seeing all of your kitchen cabinets? If so -- get some estimates on replacing them before you reject the idea, as it may not run as much as you expect, especially with the IKEA approach.

The footprint of your cabinets affect both your counters and the way your flooring is laid, so it's much easier to do it all at once, before you've unpacked and started cooking.

The brick/stone is texturally intersting but not aesthetically pleasing to the eye...one idea would be to spray the stone with a color in stark contrast with the rest of your kitchen. For example paint the brick black (chocolate, offoff white, yellow), while painting refacing cabinets in clean white, replacing countertops with butcherblock, finishing with bamboo flooring. Replace/move fridge get some nice lighting and walla! Aside from the hole in your pocket.

Great suggestions so far. I love the idea of painting the cabinetry white, with gray walls and stainless appliances. inthehouseshow's idea of long plank shelves on the upper half is brilliant. I think this would open this kitchen up.

I would take that little shelf /minature hutch thing off the wall by the window/above the sink if it's not needed. It might be nice for storage, and maybe it should stay if it is quality wood, but it's distracting and appears as if it doesn't belong.

I totally agree with rOcky about the warm gray color for the walls, to tie in the coloring of the stone. Gorgeous.

When was this carriage house built? I can't quite figure out the stone work--is it very old? (Something about it looks rather newish).

The cork floor will rock.

Good comments so far... I like the idea of painting the cabinets semi gloss white. If you feel like the open cabinetry is to much for you, you might be able to find custom cabinet doors here:
http://www.cabinetmart.com/cat-doors.html
maybe something with frosted glass insets?

we almost used this company for our house reno but ran out of money before we got to doing the kitchen. :)

i absolutely love how positive everyone have been so far. yay!

i agree with white cabinetry, and darker counters. gorgeous house, congratulations!

I agree that the cork flooring will look great, and I like the butchblock counter top suggestion.
I misread your question at first, and thought you ad lots of pots and pans to store, and that made me think that a nice hagining pot rack above that island area would look good...maybe someday when you want to invest in some copper pots and pans - that would be beautiful there.

I like the stone. I would take out the top row of cabinets and do 2 long floating shelves (like another poster said) in a dark stained rought hewn wood. (White dishes would look quite nice and graphic against the stone) I would remove the fridge and put it undercounter (assuming you dont want to put in a dishwasher). Where the fridge was, I would put built-in shelving w doors. Would be nice to stain the bottom cabinets a pale grey. If possible I would do stainless countertops/backsplash--would be a nice contrast against the stone.

That is a beautiful kitchen. It has some disjointed elements but all superficial with the possible exception of the floor. Cork would be nice as the texture competition with the wall would be very positive.

Thank you all for such kind words. The cork is in and looks and feels wonderful. I have started painting the baseboard heating units a medium gray and have chosen a light pearly gray for the small bit of wall on the first floor (the upstairs is almost all exposed brick). Moving day is Monday!

For those who asked about the house, it is an authentic mid-19th century carriange house that was most recently renovated in the mid eighties (which accounts for most of the "off" elements). At 800 square feet it is small by suburban standards. It is also a "bank-style" buliding so you exit the second floor to get to garden at the rear. And it's in charming Lambertville, NJ!

Karen

Which cork flooring product did you go with?

I really like your kitchen :-)

Think "river" ....stones, woods, reflective surfaces and glass (like water), blue, gray, sea-glass green and opaque.

I like the idea of having long open metal shelves instead of the ones you have now. Or glass-front cabinet doors would look good....the kind with the bottle-green slightly transparent glass, i think Ikea has those. Please do not paint any brick or stone. The pale gray walls would look great, I'd go for a cool blue-ish gray.I'd leave the base cabinets...they help add warmth and will complement your cork floors. Maybe add metal knobs. Stainless for the appliances, a smaller fridge, a butcher block counter top at the breakfast bar, but a stone top at the sink/stove. For the floor I think brick colored tile would look good.

OH! Those gorgeous glass tiles in blue and/or green would look GREAT along the backsplash under open metal shelving.

If you have the will and cash for a little remodeling, The first thing I would do is relocate the sink to under the window and carry the counter across so you're working in a U shape rather than the galley style. That will free up the area where the sink is and provide more counter space. I like the white counters with the stone. You could paint the lower cabinets a warm gray to have a little visual continuity with the stone.

For the refrigerator, I'd look for an under counter model that can be relocated to the area between the new sink and stove, then I would install slide out pantry cabinets in that area to allow for more storage.

My other inclination would be to remove the upper cabinets and replace them with more streamlined open shelving.

I would encase the brick under the counter in board painted white. The stone and the brick make for an unfinished disjointed look.

I would wait on the counter until I could afford slate.

Everyone says white for the cupboards and that seems great.

The hutch that you can showcase dishes on - leave with out doors. You can see them displayed from the next room.

Can't wait to see what you do - you'll send in pix right?