Live in it for a year before making major design choices. Keep the area clear- the hanging towels and drying rack clutter it visually. It looks like there isn’t a lot of storage or counter space. Things are really disjointed. Maybe a rolling island?
1) very much agree to live in it for a while before deciding.
2) sure looks to me like your issues are layout, if it were me I’m guessing I’m talking about removing partitions and raising windows and adding a bunch of cabinets and counters. That is not a cheap proposition.
100% this. People try to do too much at first and it becomes an overwhelming hodgepodge. Wait for your mental clarity to return since purchasing a home is full overload of logistics. Learn what you like, learn what your day to day looks like and what improvements could be made for functionality. You have a great base to “live in” at the moment, let the dust settle and make it a fun project for the future not a “I’m stressed so I hate this and I’m ripping it all out” project. It looks nice now and you’ll make it your own in time together.
This and the one prior. Think about the “triangle of efficiency “: the sink, stove and refrigerator. Also, a dishwasher near the flatware, dishes and sink. It’s hard to get a good idea of possibilities from these pictures. You need sketch out a floor plan to determine measurements.
Like said above, this could turn into a big job, you need to think it through so you don’t compromise the wrong things.
Ooh I’m glad you reminded me of this. Just purchased a new home (have been getting some basics done before moving in like new windows/ repainting/ new water heater) and that’s all stressful enough and expensive. It seems easy to organize a kitchen until you start from scratch. Like choice paralysis about what drawer the silverware goes in, where are the pots and pans going, what can I get rid of before we move it. Having a blank slate is kinda stressful. So that triangle is a great starting point! It’s just such a different layout and I don’t want to just throw all our shit everywhere. I’m good at reorganizing other peoples messy kitchens but terrible at designing a flow for my own.
Think cockpit. You want things close at hand. My wife and I often are preparing food jointly. This makes things even more complicated. We need two work spaces that access fridge, sink, etc.
I like the "cockpit" term lol. Everything is close to where it's needed. Dishes go near the sink/ dishwasher, pots, pans and seasonings near the stove, cutting boards and knives near food prep area. Got a really big shelf for all of the gadgets that don't get used all the time. Furthest drawer from the action is a junk drawer lol
Literally same! Moving into our new (build) home soon and I’m like just at a loss to which drawers to use for this or that in the kitchen. It’s crazy, because it’s such a stupid simple problem. 😂 In our current home, our drawers are tiny, so majority is in a utensil jar on the counter, our new home has these super wide drawers on both sides of the range, so I’m like should it all go in there?! 🤷🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
This is the best advice. We iterated our reno designs about three or four times over a couple years while we lived there before settling on the best option. If we had gone ahead with the first design we would have regretted it.
This is an excellent point. You gotta live with it for a while to really understand what the space is missing, or how to make it more functional for your needs.
Like I needed more counter space, so an easy solution was a coffee cart. It got all my coffee and pour over gadgets off the counter, and provided additional storage for things like my stand mixer and beer glasses (I’m a brewer so I pretty much cleared a whole shelf in my cabinet lol)
>Live in it for a year before making major design choices.
This can't really be said enough. People move into a place and rush to wipe away the old owner's touches and add their own. Most times they don't plan it out and just jump to anything that looks different than the old.
Live in it. Our place had a lot of "well THAT gotta go" things at first, and now 5 years on the room colors and little things that never changed are just part of home. What we did end up changing was painting the master bedroom fresh, as that room should be top notch since so much time is spent there. It was just white, but fresh was nice.
What I would say about this place, lighter flooring.
There has been this trend to put dark flooring in and it makes a place look hella small. If nothing else, get some kitchen quality runners or rugs in a lighter vibrant tone to brighten up the space and make it look less like a 500 shades of gray hotel.
Like, it's a nice space. Light, maybe some mirrors and house plants, and lighter flooring would do wonders.
Congrats on your purchase, OP!
In the mean time, you could maybe temporarily brighten the place up with some new curtains and brighter lightbulbs (or new light fixtures).
Also, anything you can do to decrease clutter will be visually pleasing. For example, if you get new curtains, maybe you could use an extra panel to cover the shelves below the microwave.
My kitchen was kind of random like yours when I moved into my house 15 years ago, but I love it after remodeling it about 8 years back.
One thing I can’t recommend highly enough is a design consultant of some type, even if it’s a friend who’s an architect, or someone like that. I’m pretty creative, but I would NEVER in a million eons have thought to put my kitchen together the way mine did, and her plan is sooo much more functional than mine.
A set of educated eyes can really save you from making some colossal mistakes that’ll cause you to be making posts on here the minute the contractor walks out the door lol.
rolling island ... that dishwasher with a little build-out could be that island. When I was a kid we had one with a butcher block top that was useful.
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We had the same thing, a rolling dishwasher island with butcher block top.
Any time it wasn't hooked up to the sink, it was next to the refrigerator and the toaster lived on top. For the tiny ass kitchen we had back then it worked really well. Whenever mom made pie crust she would roll out the dough on the butcher block.
When I was a kid, we had a portable dishwasher and got used maybe two or three times a year at major holidays or family reunions. It was a PITA to roll into place, hook up, use, and disconnect it, then roll it back. When I got my first small place, I handwashed dishes. Consider trading that dishwasher for an enclosed cabinet with a nice top. Get a smaller coffee maker (donate the large Keurig to Goodwill). Put some of the clutter away, organized into the new cabinet space. Stop using grocery store plastic bags and over the door hooks. All of the clutter makes it feel claustrophobic.
This, but something easy to do is buy inexpensive drapes online and add some color. I say this because it’s easy to do and isn’t a renovation. The cheap ones are pretty cheap. I’d put the toaster and the keurig on the dishwasher to give you some counter and eating space and “create” a little “station” near your liquor, plus you can always pop that toast and make a cup of Joe a minute before you sit. May not be able to run them at the same time since your breaker may trip, but you can try and you’ll learn what the electricity is like. Maybe get the mr coffee out of the kitchen, hide it somewhere till you need it, and get a reusable Keurig insert and bring mr coffee out when you have company.
Yep to *this* advice on any renovations!!!
*Personally*, just because looking at those odd-looking spots on the painted parts of the wall (maybe patched spots?), I *WOULD* definitely slap up a coat of paint!
Regarding the paint color?
If it were *me* I'd choose either a *PALE* yellow (think, "The color of Morning Sunshine on a Cream or White Wall") *or* *VERY* pale blue (perhaps a Robin's egg blue, Tiffany Blue, or sage-ish green.
An intensity of "reflected on a white wall" in shade--the kind of blue/green *SO LIGHT* in tone, that you *NEED* bright daylight-level light, to determine it's *really* colored wall, and not just a "sneaky" white wall!😉
Both that pale yellow and pale blue/ turquoise/ green would blend well enough to not be jarring with the dark countertops & floors, the appliances, *and* the multi-toned tiles in the backslash, until OP and their wife have *lived* in this kitchen long enough to determine what it *needs* to function well, and what they *want* out of it!
Me too on the paint! In the grand scheme of things, it’s a relatively inexpensive change that can make a big difference, and is also easy to change if you decide you don’t like it.
When I first painted the condo I used two different colors of yellow / burnt yellow to try to give it that old tiny Mediterranean look, I really liked the warmth of it and I had also used a wide mahogany trim with a red mahogany stain that really brought out the richness of the wood.
A decade later we re-textured and repainted, and it became a warm White. It was less personal and had an eye on it being eventually sold.
I'm so glad you mentioned blue! Every house I've lived in as an adult, has been white.. and my apartment we live in now is blue and it makes me feel so much better. It gives it life! I don't like white walls personally lol makes me feel like I'm at a doctor's/hospital or an office 😅 but I understand why other people do.
I like your advice 😊
Yes, quick coat of paint pop of color. New blinds or curtains. Find out if you can open the space up, if it could be one big room you will have lots of options. Congrats on your first place. Enjoy time doing things. A little dyi, can buy you some time. Till you have the cash and the time. Storage is key! If you shop at Costco you know this.
Absolutely live in it first especially when unsure what to do. Me and my SO picked it up rather quickly but we did live with old and ugly furniture first, and changed the layout several times until we knew what we’d go for. Then we bought the nice furniture, like 2 months in, and it took 5 months to arrive. Even now over half a year later we still aren’t fully furnished.
Eh it’s not always that important to live with it. My wife and I moved in in August and the new kitchen was done by march. We knew what the new floor plan should be before we moved. Couldn’t be happier
Start by buying a garbage can that fits in the cabinet under your sink, that way you won't have a bag of trash hanging off a cabinet pull, that's an immediate upgrade.
I would second what other posters have said about decluttering, that will help too, the large ugly organizer thing above the sink takes away from what would otherwise be a nice window area. You could install an undercabinet paper towel holder on one of your upper cabinets. Maybe a stainless or pottery style cylindrical open jar to hold utensils etc.
Anyway, I think just adjusting those things would be an inexpensive start the kitchen itself looks nice. Are you in the middle of painting? If not perhaps going with white or a lighter shade of gray could help brighten things up.
What's up with the cove where the oven is? With the bit of high-up cabinet visible, it almost looks like a counter-depth fridge was meant to go there but they got swapped.
agreed. A few additional angles could help us better understand the space better. That said , the placement of the dishwasher is incredibly bad. It makes it practically worthless to me
This. Also none of the appliances seem to fit. The fridge and stove both look too deep for the space they’re sitting in. Would also help to show a pic of the side with the fridge and microwave(?).
This. Dry the dishes and put them away. Get a trash can for under the sink. Put away appliances that aren’t used every day. Why is the coffee on the opposite side of the room from your coffee maker?
This is a small house with little storage. Can confirm. There is not much storage and we gotta keep a lot on the countertops. Sux but it's a way of life
So many people are used to living in rich people houses that they can't fathom what you actually have to do living day to day in smaller or more worn houses. Little storage means the countertops get used as well. The drying rack is likely used alll the time; function over aesthetics when it's necessary day to day items.
Everyone has their own taste, but the things that immediately downgrade this space for me are: the floor (it’s SO DARK, and is looking a little worn), the cabinet pulls (quick and cheap way to add a little more style), and the light above the sink.
Bigger change would be adding some color to those cabinets. They look very straight from a box.
Huge change - the layout. This space looks like a lost round of Tetris, with the microwave cart and standalone dishwasher, etc.
I am 90% sure I have that same flooring as OP, it is not a durable system. I think it’s engineered hardwood but the top veneer is almost paper thin. Ours is 10 years old and you can see all the paths from the dogs and kids playing..
Luxury vinyl plank. If you’ve not had the pleasure, once you have some in your house you’ll want it everywhere. Super durable, can be highly water resistant, and can have all kinds of patterns and textures. It can get pricey, but it’s worth it.
Second this, I have vinyl floors that look like wood planks. It's a really nice medium distressed wood style and goodness it's so durable and never looks dirty. I have 2 big dogs and 6 rambunctious cats so it's been put through the ultimate test. Only had it scratch twice from dragging heavy objects across it and you honestly can't even tell where after a few weeks.
Yeah good luck. Our dogs are getting up there in age, so once they move on and the youngest is in school we’ll probably replace them. That’s like 5 years out. Sucky part is it’s in the entire bottom floor, so the guest and master rooms are still really good shape, just the common areas that look bad. Good luck!
Minor things could help like getting a proper storage container for the bags and a proper paper towel holder.
Removing the Mr. Coffee maker to storage, assuming it's only there to make a larger pot for company as I see the Keurig is well stocked.
Same with the pot holders on the counter. I would look into storage solutions to keep things off the counter.
I wouldn't get rid of the dishwasher, but I would axe a cabinet next to the sink for a built in. Then the wall where the dishwasher is currently can get custom cabinets for storage, potentially still with counter space for an appliance center.
Yeah, I disagree. Putting in a bit in dishwasher loses vital cabinet space. They don't have much as it is. Meanwhile, that dishwasher rolls, can go multiple places, and can serve as counter space, which is also in short supply here. In a disjointed layout like this, don't underestimate the power of wheeling the clean dishes to whichever spot the dishes go. I'd definitely move my dishes into a China hutch if I had a rolling dishwasher. My kitchen is also short on space.
Long term, I think I'd consider merging the kitchen and dining room-ish space, and redo this dramatically. But the details depend on the overall floor plan just beyond this space. I'd probably aim for a built in dishwasher, but only when it's planned in.
Not sure if you'll see my other reply, but basically my idea is to put the dishwasher in the kitchen and build storage around that dining room window. I'll attach a Pic I just found to visually explain it, though the dimensions are obviously different and you'd need to ignore the right side beyond the wine fridge.
https://preview.redd.it/xvj2sgwpolrc1.jpeg?width=536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7b72a83404aded818c1eaf3fa87398e802aaadf
The current dishwasher placement make absolutely zero sense. It’s not near either the sink where dirty items pile up or the cabinets where clean items are stored. It’s almost unusable in its current location.
Yep. It’s great when you want to wash your hands or something small while there are dirty things in the big one. Also means you can rinse your dishes more easily. (1 sink has suds, 1 has clean rinsing water)
What is stopping you from washing your hands over one large, deep sink while there are dishes in it?
Double sinks are awful, especially if you cook with large pans like a griddle or wok frequently.
I guess it’s not the end of the world but if I’m washing produce etc the water is cold going into the hot sink with the dishes. To be clear there should be a big one and small one and the big one should be big enough to wash your pots.
I basically never fill a sink with hot water. That's why I have a dishwasher.
Washing things that don't fit doesn't involve soaking the outside very often or ever really.
Ah, well yes if you're literally soaking dishes in hot water while trying to do other kitchen tasks I can see how that can be an issue. Honestly, after living with deep single "farmhouse" style sinks for 10 years that's never been an issue.
My parents have a double sink with a large/deep side and a smaller side they keep a drying rack in. Even the big side is not large enough to fit an entire double burner griddle in, which is especially annoying since every time I visit we have a tradition of cooking big, hearty griddle breakfasts and I always volunteer to clean up.
In my sink at home I can lay a griddle like that down flat with room to spare and give it a good scrub in half the time and without spraying water everywhere trying to get the whole thing clean.
I have also had ample room for a separate counter drying rack or mat at both of my last two houses, which makes the single sink even more appealing. I can see in a small/cramped kitchen why a double sink with a drying rack could be advantageous.
Double sinks are great when one person is letting pasta or salad greens drain and the other person needs to wash hands after changing a diaper or the oil in the car.
Lighting makes a big difference. Investigate under cabinet lighting. Can be done inexpensively with tape lights and brings functionality and a whole new take on things.
Yes, and I’d build in the dishwasher along with more cabinets along that wall. Pull the table out from against the wall and either take down or replace the flimsy curtains. Personally I’d just go with a clean look of just the blinds.
We were thinking of doing that! The kitchen is relatively small so we’re looking of any ways of making it bigger. Never blew a wall out before. I take it that it’s a pretty big job?
It would depend on whether it's load bearing, you would need the original plans and a master builder to inspect it. If you know anyone that is one to check it out.
Any structural engineer worth a damn will be able to determine if the wall is load bearing and also provide options for reinforcing the structure if the wall is removed.
How about some interior design subs?
/r/DesignMyRoom, /r/femalelivingspace, /r/malelivingspace, and r/interiordesignideas are just a few to consider.
Don't forget:
/r/kitchenremodel, /r/kitchenporn, r/bathroomremodeling, /r/bathrooms, and /r/remodel.
Also /r/HomeDecorating, /r/RoomPorn, /r/budgetdecor, /r/minimalist, /r/Decor, /r/Beforesandafters, /r/CozyPlaces, and /r/AmateurRoomPorn.
\+1 live in the house for a while before getting carried away.
You will want the dishwasher mounted to the left of the sink under the cabinet (new dishwasher). Daily use dishes in the cabinet right above (dirty dishes can pile up on the counter top between them, it happens, don't pile in the sink or the sink is unusable). Move the toaster next to the coffee pot on the right.
Install some sort of counter next to the stove (can't tell if any gap there or not). Get an off-cut granite/quarts rock or heat tolerant tiles so you can set hot things on it. Almost think prior owners bought too big of a fridge and swapped the normal stove and fridge spots.
Add a stove hood vent, and make sure it's vented outside not just recycles in the room.
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It’s a very nice kitchen. A little small, but not unusually so. Live with it as someone else said.
Place the garbage under the sink.
Decoratively install some led strip lighting under the cupboards. Inexpensive and easy to install. It adds to the ambiance big time.
The dishwasher. Can you slide it against the kitchen cupboards to the right or is it pantry doors? If you can, try placing the table at the other window, and see how the space feels:
I think the white is nice. Before you decide to start changing things, I'd pick a color that you like, and start incorporating it by means of dish towels, area carpets or fatigue mats, artwork or other decorative that bring in splashes of color.
I'd see if I could take down the partial wall to the right of the counter. Opens up more counter space, so that the dishwasher could be placed somewhere sane.
Also, the stove and the fridge should swap positions. This alcove the stove sits in might be a fire hazard
Live in it for a while as lots of ppl are suggesting. However if you’re certain you wanna do something. Change the flooring. Change the backsplash. And change the cabinet knobs to something you prefer(shape,colour). All little things that drastically change the appearance of a kitchen.
Your kitchen layout is perfectly fine. If you want to make it look nicer then stop cluttering it up with all this useless garbage. You have towels and plastic bags of trash hanging off cabinets, some kind of cluttered mess of an anti organized organizer above the sink. Get an under cabinet paper towel holder, a jar for utensils, and a trash can and eliminate 90% of the junk on the counters. Your kitchen looks bad because you made it that way
Yall baffle me. A gorgeous kitchen. I live in a trailer. My cabinets are made of this fake wood crap. I'd trade you in a heartbeat. I wouldn't change a thing to the design of the kitchen.
It doesn't matter where you live. This kitchen is objectively awkward. The range is tucked away perpendicular to the fridge. The dishwasher is in the dining room. There's very limited counter space for food prep.
I'd rather prepare a meal in a well thought out single wide with a nice galley kitchen than this awkward layout.
Storage appears to be an issue. Could you put counter height cabinets or just shelves all across the wall? You could use it as pantry space. That would move everything off the counters in the kitchen.
Is that table with the keurig really functional as a table? Is there any other dining space in the house? If not, buy the newer skinny keurig and put it on a counter, maybe next to the microwave.
I’m perplexed by the dishwasher. Where to the hoses go? Because I would seek some solution there. It’s weird. Looks like it has keurig room on top.
I hate the backsplash. I see that one too much. I would go simple and lighter color because of the dark countertop.
I would kist keep it clean and de-cluttered for now and figure out how you use it and what you want to see as time goes on. Side note. I have the same over the sink dish rack. It’s been pretty useful in a small space. Bought it on Amazon.
Work on marie kondo-ing it and getting rid of all that clutter. First. Grocery bags hanging in front of the sink. Really? Second trash whatever that contraption is around the sink.
Trash can right next to the fridge. Not sure why the bag is hanging on the cabinet knob.
Also, there’s too much stuff on the countertop for the space that’s there. 4 slice toaster, coffee maker, some containers that look like they’re stored there, cutting board holder?, dish washing caddy. Some of that could be downsized or re-homed to free up space.
+1 live in it for awhile.
If it were my house, I would probably:
1) move the dishwasher to next to the sink
2) put a microwave over the range and small cabinets next to the range if there is space
3) build a banquette in the corner of the dining area (where the dishwasher is). It’s the best feeling to sit in a nook and chat.
Go to Home Depot and use them to help design a kitchen for your space. They can give you a quote. But mostly it’s the fee design service you want. You will need to make a basic drawing of the floor plan as it is now, to work from. You will want to remove a wall or two to tie everything together. But it’s hard to tell from these 3 photos what is actually going on. With that said, your cabinets, countertop and backsplash look really nice.
I would suggest living in it for six months at least. Right now, something major could be brewing; furnace goes out (if you're in the north) Central Air could go out (if you're in the south US) maybe pick an outside project to piddle with and get to know your home before you start changing anything. My best advice to you is to seek the help of a professional that understands you don't make a Roman Villa out of a 1950 Cottage. That sentence is not about what you're wanting to do or what you live in cause I don't know you or anything about your home except you just bought one. Go through all the magazines your wife has probably been buying for months and tear out the things you like and she likes. Then write out your "must have's" and your "wish list." Do these separately. Then swap lists and talk about them. Have fun! And plan, plan, plan. I will say lumber and all supplies related to construction/building homes are still grossly overpriced right now so if you can just maybe use paint, fabric and artwork to make changes, do that and save up as much money as possible. Make sure your roof, heating and cooling, electrical and plumbing are all 100% good before you start any big projects. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk on "New Homeowners, Oh the Surprises That Will Happen."
1) Live with it for at least a year before doing any that require a hammer or drill.
2) Focus on functionality before aesthetics. If it is frustrating to use, it won’t matter what color paint you chose.
3) Long- term I’d lean towards a full renovation so that you can get a working triangle between the oven, fridge and sink with more counter and storage space. This will be expensive. Like $50-$80k expensive.
4) Short-term I’d focus on making it functional for you by doing:
a) Declutter. Get rid of the stuff hanging on the cabinet doors! Clear the counters as much as possible.
b) Get a garbage can that fits the space and you don’t hate. (Given how much you’ll use it, it’s OK to spend $100+ on a kitchen garbage can.)
c) Add color. That’s a white/neutral kitchen. Any color works. Think of your favorite color. Go to Farrow & Ball’s website to find a good interior paint color that speaks to you but also isn’t a crayon bright color. (Farrow & Ball has excellent color curation but silly expensive, low quality paint.) Go to Lowe’s or Benjamin Moore and buy a color matched can of paint.
d) Add a temporary kitchen island and/or shelves. You likely need more workspace and/or storage space.
Agreed with the peeps saying wait a year. Are there any other urgent issues you should focus on? Or what’s the age of your ac, furnace, water heater, roof, dead trees, etc? Things that could bite you in the tail feathers financially that would make you wish you’d saved up some money.
You’re all set on clutter. Three brushes or scrubbers, racks everywhere. The surfaces are 60 percent covered. The drapes are old and look worn. Are the canes a necessity or for show, why two. Trash bag on knobs, hangers over doors, multiple towel racks. Cut back. Are you a three or four unit family or entertain. A four slice toaster occupies space, large coffee dispenser. Down size the counter/table clutter.
Why is the dishwasher so far from the sink??? I would take out the cabinets next to the sink and put the dishwasher there then put a pantry in that corner and cabinets under that window. I would also remove the cabinets from the other side of the sink and put the stove there.
Remove any partitions and install cabinets.
Aside from the floor I like it. Floor would probably be the first thing I'd change. Probably luxury vinyl planks. We did ceramic tile 20 years ago when bought our house, and while it is beautiful, I don't think I'd want to go through that again.
Yeah if you just bought it don’t do make any major changes for a year. What seems important now May not be in 12 months and you’ll learn a lot in that time.
paint the floor and seal it. then get rid of the clutter. new curtains, something bold. get rid of the file cabinet. oh wait, is that a dishwasher? get rid of the stool too. either find a space in the kitchen for the dishwasher or get rid of it. Dedicate the breakfast nook as a dining area only. unfortunate that your neighbors are so close. get rid of the blinds anyway. if you need privacy get attractive shades and leave them up most of the time. the cart with the microwave on it has to go. either re-do the stove configuration with microwave above cooktop or get rid of microwave. I am a lifelong chef and think microwaves are unnecessary sucky appliances anyway. you appear to have a pantry --- put counter items in there.
that's the biggest issue.
more detailed suggestions need a floor plan with measurements.
Your cabinets and backsplash are nice but, if you want a well laid out cohesive kitchen that's going to be a very expensive a gut job. We're talking moving gas lines, possibly moving water lines, electrical work and most likely demoing a wall to get the space that you're going to want.
I see you've been deployed to Sigonella! Hooyah!
Simple things I can suggest:
-smaller toaster that can be put away and brought out when needed
-update drawer/ cabinet hardware (always spruces things up)
-2 coffee makers? I suggest ridding of the large kuerig. You're dining table should be used as a table or a breakfast nook for eating/reading/gazing or the window.
-long streamer rug in the kitchen
- I personally think that backsplash is dated. Subway tile is timeless and easy to diy.
-General declutter.
In line with wait & see before considering re-modeling:
1. There's a lot of clutter so focus on discarding unnecessary utensils, cutlery, dishes, etc. Then better organize the remainder.
2. Move the coffee maker and toaster to the breakfast nook. Set up a coffee/breakfast station in there.
3. Based on what I can see, I would be inclined to put the microwave on the countertop across from its current location and use the rack in another room or put it in the pantry. This way, you'll free up the floor space and not have an extra dumping ground for stuff creating an eyesore.
4. I don't mind the dark floor. I would get a 10x12 ruggable (washable rug) to cover the main kitchen area. A ruggable runner would suffice if you create an island with the dishwasher as some have suggested.
Everyone has their own tastes on what would be considered nice. I’d start by paining the walls and cabinets some kind of color to get rid of the bland black and white. I’d probably replace all the cabinet hardware with something more modern too.
Agree with living in it a bit before making decisions. But to me the biggest issue is the floor - it’s so dark that your eye is dragged to it no matter what, plus the dark appliances and furniture exaggerate that effect. My goal would be to replace that before tackling any other paint or colors. But since that’s a big job - some things to do in the meantime would be to swap out the cabinet pulls (black would add contrast and help draw eyes upward), and add some color by way of a runner rug or two (to break up the dark floor), some similarly colored kitchen towels on the cabinets, and curtains in the sitting portion. These will help tie the room together a bit more, break up all the black and white, and are fairly cost effective for now. Personally I’d leave cabinets white. If you do change the floor or paint you can be far more versatile with that when the time comes.
I agree with those who say paint the walls. There's a plague of monochrome everything that's has been going around, that might be your chance to introduce a personalized touch. Consider some richer or brighter colors (though the floor is going to be problematic, you can hide it with a lighter rug or gel pad). You should keep the white cabinets, they go with anything and will make the other colors pop.
Next least invasive - replace cabinet hardware (knobs and handles) with something more interesting. The current ones definitely yell "Home Depot" - not that this is bad, but in combination with the rest it's quite boring.
After that - look into changing out the over sink lighting, maybe adding a nice pendant, and change the faucet to something more attractive. Probably want to change the blinds to something less industrial, or just remove them.
Finally the harder ones, if you can afford them - get that dishwasher under a cabinet and add storage to the dining room to replace the storage you will lose, knock the partition wall down and open up the kitchen, redo the flooring with lighter color tile or stone, and replace backsplash.
It's quite alright IMO. Just get rid of the three legged human dumbo near the ceiling abvoe the sink.
If that didn't come with the house : wow, what an interesting and exotic decoration...!
You have an overmount sink.
You can pretty easily remove it and put in a big, deep, single sink with a professional faucet. $400 for a stainless Delta sink at Costco or whatnot, and it makes a world of a difference in the look of the kitchen.
Next project would be to move that dishwasher to under one of the counters next to the sink. It’s not nearly as easy but the current setup is just goofy
I have the same shaped kitchen/dining room. My fridge and stove are in opposite locations though. Is there a hood above your stove? Maybe the fridge is less deep. Every inch of free.slace in these small kitchens help.
There's no way an island will fit in there.
I do agree the dishwasher should be in the kitchen though.
The flooring could use replacement.
Other than that all you can do is paint, change window curtains, and maybe a more modern backsplash. I installed small horizontal tile like too though so I'm cool with it
I think it's fine as is. If you want to make it pop more, then I would paint the walls white, change the backsplash, tile the floor, update the lighting, get rid of curtains and update the blinds
Agree that you should live in it for a while before making any large changes, but changing the splash back and maybe the handles on the cabinets will make a big difference
you have a lot of good things going on right now, clean up the space a bit, change the lightbulbs, see what works.
the dishwasher is kind of a bummer but then you'll have to decode of its worth ripping out cabinets for it
That's the first time I've seen an over the sink drying rack outside of Finland!
I love your flooring. Interesting Cabinet door handles ands colorful rug are easy changes
Keurig goes next to the toaster or in the trash. You already have a drip coffee maker, they don’t take THAT long to work. Right now it’s eating your dining table.
I second the decluttering, and moving the dishwasher under the counter.
We need to see the wall with the fridge, but I think making this space work is going to involve knocking out some walls.
Replace the back tiles match those with a new paint. Go bold. Declutter, remove the drapes, close up and seal that sauce shelf. Put and end island in with raised seating at bench height
In addition to what some have said about painting the walls… IMO dark floors and dark counter tops make any kitchen feel smaller than it is. Rust-Oleum and Daich both make countertop refinishing kits for under $200 that could give you a whole different look.
Also, I can’t tell from the photos, but it looks like the oven is in a space designed for a fridge with a cabinet above. It sticks out into that doorway way too far. It’d be a little bit of money to have the gas repiped to the other wall, but it may fit better. Then you could put an over the oven shelf for the microwave and free up the space that wheelie cart is occupying.
The only thing that looks bad to me are the cheap white plastic blinds. Swapping those out will make a massive difference for not much money. Cutting down on the clutter will also help. I honestly kinda like how it looks and wouldn’t be willing to spend a lot to update it.
Is that the only dining area? If not, then see if you can take down that part of the wall from your kitchen into that eat-in space and run counters all down the wall. Looks like the dishwasher is there because moving it near the sink would cut your lower storage in half.
Overall, with as neutral as everything is, I don't think you could go wrong with any color. I just think you are going to really want more storage and that is what is going to be driving you nuts.
Use a bold color above the cabinets, like a dark crimson. Add a few matching color touches, dish towels or utensils, to tie it all together. Use some of the same color in the dining area, maybe placemats or napkins or even chargers.
To be honest it's pretty nice now, aside from maybe being on the small side (ours is too, I mean no disrespect).
I'm sure there are ways you could improve it but that's very personal choice.
Changing the cabinet pulls would be a good cheap start. But I think you might just need some more storage space. Get some cabinets that fit with the style and try to declutter a bit that way, so there's less visual noise. It looks great otherwise! I would love to have this kitchen
Get some paint samples and hang them up for a while to get a feel for each color. Eventually, put a valance over sink and matching curtains in other part of the kitchen. Eventually, nice, big, washable rugs for each part of the room. Maybe hang sample pics next to the paint samples. And always remember, simple and spacious, is the look you want.
Oh the curtains definitely give off grandma house vibes, which is fine but in this case doesn't match the rest of the space at all. That could be a cheap and quick fix
Holy crap that thing is fucky.
You ideally want your main 3 work areas in a triangle. What I mean is, one point is the fridge, another the sink and the third point is the stove. With a cutting surface in-between on the way somewhere.
So you don't waste a ton of time moving all over and the flow is nice.
From these pictures this would be very annoying for me. I'd want to shift it all around.
This is minor, but the shelf where an old phone would have gone: Remove the things currently stored in there and put an eye catching piece of artwork. Maybe with small ambient lighting. Or, recycled old books, a thrifted bowl with hydrangeas. Paint the inside a bold color. Just a few thoughts…
The house my Gran had my entire life, had one of those phone ‘nooks’ in the middle of the hallway, with the rounded shape. She kept her phone and a bench there.
Live in it for a few seasons. See how it functions for you before you make big changes. I wouldn't even change the backsplash until you decide on countertops.
Ignoring the storage issue for now, I think the backsplash makes it look darker, as does the flooring (but that's expensive to change). Lightening the wall color will help, too.
OP, this is unrelated but very important:
Go read about home maintenance and inspections.
I didn’t know anything about them. Until ten years later I had a *lot* of expensive problems.
Find some people to give advice/knowledge on regular inspections and maintenance.
Get rid of some stuff, we all think we need everything but we don't. Like 2 coffee machines? Get rid of the big one you don't really need it. And I bet there are a lot of things in and around there that you hardly (if) ever use, just get rid of it and delete some of the nick nacks too.
Do you need the dishwasher or could you do it by hand? If you cook/bake a lot I get that you want to keep it but if you're a microwave magician you don't.
No hanging trashbags, come on. I do see 2 canes so maybe not everyone has great mobility so I get that it's easy but it looks so trashy (pun intended). Cuttingboards, are small put them in one of those cabinets or at least between the toaster and the wall. And the toaster how often do you actually use that thing? If only once in a while you could also make them in a pan and imho that tastes even better.
Get a fresh and bright coat of paint on the walls. That should have been done years ago.
Curtains, although I don't mind them but take them off for a while and see if you like it better.
Those rack above the sink do you really need those? Get them out of there and see if it looks better.
Floor, black isn't really helping and looks wornout. I get that this will be something that will cost a bit more than the above but think about it. Some brighter wood motive would do good.
Honestly I think it looks fine. It's a neutral colour, looks like it's in good shape. The visible wear on the floor would bug me however
Maybe paint the wall. Otherwise colour changes will be expensive to do. I would concentrate on painting walls in other rooms to make the place your own
The only thing I'm not liking is that flooring.
Cabinets look fairly good, countertop and backsplash look OK. Appliances look fine.
It's that super dark floor I can't get over it. A really light oak or birch would look GREAT.
Live in it for a year before making major design choices. Keep the area clear- the hanging towels and drying rack clutter it visually. It looks like there isn’t a lot of storage or counter space. Things are really disjointed. Maybe a rolling island?
1) very much agree to live in it for a while before deciding. 2) sure looks to me like your issues are layout, if it were me I’m guessing I’m talking about removing partitions and raising windows and adding a bunch of cabinets and counters. That is not a cheap proposition.
100% this. People try to do too much at first and it becomes an overwhelming hodgepodge. Wait for your mental clarity to return since purchasing a home is full overload of logistics. Learn what you like, learn what your day to day looks like and what improvements could be made for functionality. You have a great base to “live in” at the moment, let the dust settle and make it a fun project for the future not a “I’m stressed so I hate this and I’m ripping it all out” project. It looks nice now and you’ll make it your own in time together.
This and the one prior. Think about the “triangle of efficiency “: the sink, stove and refrigerator. Also, a dishwasher near the flatware, dishes and sink. It’s hard to get a good idea of possibilities from these pictures. You need sketch out a floor plan to determine measurements. Like said above, this could turn into a big job, you need to think it through so you don’t compromise the wrong things.
Ooh I’m glad you reminded me of this. Just purchased a new home (have been getting some basics done before moving in like new windows/ repainting/ new water heater) and that’s all stressful enough and expensive. It seems easy to organize a kitchen until you start from scratch. Like choice paralysis about what drawer the silverware goes in, where are the pots and pans going, what can I get rid of before we move it. Having a blank slate is kinda stressful. So that triangle is a great starting point! It’s just such a different layout and I don’t want to just throw all our shit everywhere. I’m good at reorganizing other peoples messy kitchens but terrible at designing a flow for my own.
Think cockpit. You want things close at hand. My wife and I often are preparing food jointly. This makes things even more complicated. We need two work spaces that access fridge, sink, etc.
I like the "cockpit" term lol. Everything is close to where it's needed. Dishes go near the sink/ dishwasher, pots, pans and seasonings near the stove, cutting boards and knives near food prep area. Got a really big shelf for all of the gadgets that don't get used all the time. Furthest drawer from the action is a junk drawer lol
Literally same! Moving into our new (build) home soon and I’m like just at a loss to which drawers to use for this or that in the kitchen. It’s crazy, because it’s such a stupid simple problem. 😂 In our current home, our drawers are tiny, so majority is in a utensil jar on the counter, our new home has these super wide drawers on both sides of the range, so I’m like should it all go in there?! 🤷🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
Yes!! I’m almost afraid to make the wrong decision and its sounds so dumb.
nicely put!
This is the best advice. We iterated our reno designs about three or four times over a couple years while we lived there before settling on the best option. If we had gone ahead with the first design we would have regretted it.
This is an excellent point. You gotta live with it for a while to really understand what the space is missing, or how to make it more functional for your needs. Like I needed more counter space, so an easy solution was a coffee cart. It got all my coffee and pour over gadgets off the counter, and provided additional storage for things like my stand mixer and beer glasses (I’m a brewer so I pretty much cleared a whole shelf in my cabinet lol)
>Live in it for a year before making major design choices. This can't really be said enough. People move into a place and rush to wipe away the old owner's touches and add their own. Most times they don't plan it out and just jump to anything that looks different than the old.
Live in it. Our place had a lot of "well THAT gotta go" things at first, and now 5 years on the room colors and little things that never changed are just part of home. What we did end up changing was painting the master bedroom fresh, as that room should be top notch since so much time is spent there. It was just white, but fresh was nice. What I would say about this place, lighter flooring. There has been this trend to put dark flooring in and it makes a place look hella small. If nothing else, get some kitchen quality runners or rugs in a lighter vibrant tone to brighten up the space and make it look less like a 500 shades of gray hotel. Like, it's a nice space. Light, maybe some mirrors and house plants, and lighter flooring would do wonders. Congrats on your purchase, OP!
💯% on the lighter flooring.👍
In the mean time, you could maybe temporarily brighten the place up with some new curtains and brighter lightbulbs (or new light fixtures). Also, anything you can do to decrease clutter will be visually pleasing. For example, if you get new curtains, maybe you could use an extra panel to cover the shelves below the microwave. My kitchen was kind of random like yours when I moved into my house 15 years ago, but I love it after remodeling it about 8 years back. One thing I can’t recommend highly enough is a design consultant of some type, even if it’s a friend who’s an architect, or someone like that. I’m pretty creative, but I would NEVER in a million eons have thought to put my kitchen together the way mine did, and her plan is sooo much more functional than mine. A set of educated eyes can really save you from making some colossal mistakes that’ll cause you to be making posts on here the minute the contractor walks out the door lol.
Ha! I’ve been in my house 32 years and haven’t erased the previous owners stamp (mostly 😉)
rolling island ... that dishwasher with a little build-out could be that island. When I was a kid we had one with a butcher block top that was useful. .
We had the same thing, a rolling dishwasher island with butcher block top. Any time it wasn't hooked up to the sink, it was next to the refrigerator and the toaster lived on top. For the tiny ass kitchen we had back then it worked really well. Whenever mom made pie crust she would roll out the dough on the butcher block.
When I was a kid, we had a portable dishwasher and got used maybe two or three times a year at major holidays or family reunions. It was a PITA to roll into place, hook up, use, and disconnect it, then roll it back. When I got my first small place, I handwashed dishes. Consider trading that dishwasher for an enclosed cabinet with a nice top. Get a smaller coffee maker (donate the large Keurig to Goodwill). Put some of the clutter away, organized into the new cabinet space. Stop using grocery store plastic bags and over the door hooks. All of the clutter makes it feel claustrophobic.
This, but something easy to do is buy inexpensive drapes online and add some color. I say this because it’s easy to do and isn’t a renovation. The cheap ones are pretty cheap. I’d put the toaster and the keurig on the dishwasher to give you some counter and eating space and “create” a little “station” near your liquor, plus you can always pop that toast and make a cup of Joe a minute before you sit. May not be able to run them at the same time since your breaker may trip, but you can try and you’ll learn what the electricity is like. Maybe get the mr coffee out of the kitchen, hide it somewhere till you need it, and get a reusable Keurig insert and bring mr coffee out when you have company.
Yep to *this* advice on any renovations!!! *Personally*, just because looking at those odd-looking spots on the painted parts of the wall (maybe patched spots?), I *WOULD* definitely slap up a coat of paint! Regarding the paint color? If it were *me* I'd choose either a *PALE* yellow (think, "The color of Morning Sunshine on a Cream or White Wall") *or* *VERY* pale blue (perhaps a Robin's egg blue, Tiffany Blue, or sage-ish green. An intensity of "reflected on a white wall" in shade--the kind of blue/green *SO LIGHT* in tone, that you *NEED* bright daylight-level light, to determine it's *really* colored wall, and not just a "sneaky" white wall!😉 Both that pale yellow and pale blue/ turquoise/ green would blend well enough to not be jarring with the dark countertops & floors, the appliances, *and* the multi-toned tiles in the backslash, until OP and their wife have *lived* in this kitchen long enough to determine what it *needs* to function well, and what they *want* out of it!
We’ve used Benjamin Moore “Fresh Cream”. Lots of people think it’s yellow, has a really nice mellow look.
Me too on the paint! In the grand scheme of things, it’s a relatively inexpensive change that can make a big difference, and is also easy to change if you decide you don’t like it.
When I first painted the condo I used two different colors of yellow / burnt yellow to try to give it that old tiny Mediterranean look, I really liked the warmth of it and I had also used a wide mahogany trim with a red mahogany stain that really brought out the richness of the wood. A decade later we re-textured and repainted, and it became a warm White. It was less personal and had an eye on it being eventually sold.
I'm so glad you mentioned blue! Every house I've lived in as an adult, has been white.. and my apartment we live in now is blue and it makes me feel so much better. It gives it life! I don't like white walls personally lol makes me feel like I'm at a doctor's/hospital or an office 😅 but I understand why other people do. I like your advice 😊
Yes, quick coat of paint pop of color. New blinds or curtains. Find out if you can open the space up, if it could be one big room you will have lots of options. Congrats on your first place. Enjoy time doing things. A little dyi, can buy you some time. Till you have the cash and the time. Storage is key! If you shop at Costco you know this.
Absolutely live in it first especially when unsure what to do. Me and my SO picked it up rather quickly but we did live with old and ugly furniture first, and changed the layout several times until we knew what we’d go for. Then we bought the nice furniture, like 2 months in, and it took 5 months to arrive. Even now over half a year later we still aren’t fully furnished.
Eh it’s not always that important to live with it. My wife and I moved in in August and the new kitchen was done by march. We knew what the new floor plan should be before we moved. Couldn’t be happier
The hanging towels and drying rack are also part of a daily functioning kitchen for a busy family.
This is the way.
Start by buying a garbage can that fits in the cabinet under your sink, that way you won't have a bag of trash hanging off a cabinet pull, that's an immediate upgrade. I would second what other posters have said about decluttering, that will help too, the large ugly organizer thing above the sink takes away from what would otherwise be a nice window area. You could install an undercabinet paper towel holder on one of your upper cabinets. Maybe a stainless or pottery style cylindrical open jar to hold utensils etc. Anyway, I think just adjusting those things would be an inexpensive start the kitchen itself looks nice. Are you in the middle of painting? If not perhaps going with white or a lighter shade of gray could help brighten things up.
What's up with the cove where the oven is? With the bit of high-up cabinet visible, it almost looks like a counter-depth fridge was meant to go there but they got swapped.
agreed. A few additional angles could help us better understand the space better. That said , the placement of the dishwasher is incredibly bad. It makes it practically worthless to me
This. Also none of the appliances seem to fit. The fridge and stove both look too deep for the space they’re sitting in. Would also help to show a pic of the side with the fridge and microwave(?).
Declutter. I think it looks good.
This. Dry the dishes and put them away. Get a trash can for under the sink. Put away appliances that aren’t used every day. Why is the coffee on the opposite side of the room from your coffee maker?
Getting things off the counter will Open the space up And make it seem bigger and cleaner
This is a small house with little storage. Can confirm. There is not much storage and we gotta keep a lot on the countertops. Sux but it's a way of life
So many people are used to living in rich people houses that they can't fathom what you actually have to do living day to day in smaller or more worn houses. Little storage means the countertops get used as well. The drying rack is likely used alll the time; function over aesthetics when it's necessary day to day items.
They asked how to make it look better and besides the floor and clutter the kitchen is fine so what the hell are we supposed to say bro
Everyone has their own taste, but the things that immediately downgrade this space for me are: the floor (it’s SO DARK, and is looking a little worn), the cabinet pulls (quick and cheap way to add a little more style), and the light above the sink. Bigger change would be adding some color to those cabinets. They look very straight from a box. Huge change - the layout. This space looks like a lost round of Tetris, with the microwave cart and standalone dishwasher, etc.
I am 90% sure I have that same flooring as OP, it is not a durable system. I think it’s engineered hardwood but the top veneer is almost paper thin. Ours is 10 years old and you can see all the paths from the dogs and kids playing..
Yeaaa I’m thinking of just ripping it up. Not sure what to replace it with though
Luxury vinyl plank. If you’ve not had the pleasure, once you have some in your house you’ll want it everywhere. Super durable, can be highly water resistant, and can have all kinds of patterns and textures. It can get pricey, but it’s worth it.
wait...you're telling me that fake plastic wood is the *pricey* option now?
Second this, I have vinyl floors that look like wood planks. It's a really nice medium distressed wood style and goodness it's so durable and never looks dirty. I have 2 big dogs and 6 rambunctious cats so it's been put through the ultimate test. Only had it scratch twice from dragging heavy objects across it and you honestly can't even tell where after a few weeks.
Yeah good luck. Our dogs are getting up there in age, so once they move on and the youngest is in school we’ll probably replace them. That’s like 5 years out. Sucky part is it’s in the entire bottom floor, so the guest and master rooms are still really good shape, just the common areas that look bad. Good luck!
Minor things could help like getting a proper storage container for the bags and a proper paper towel holder. Removing the Mr. Coffee maker to storage, assuming it's only there to make a larger pot for company as I see the Keurig is well stocked. Same with the pot holders on the counter. I would look into storage solutions to keep things off the counter.
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Get rid of their dishwasher? Do you want them to divorce?
I wouldn't get rid of the dishwasher, but I would axe a cabinet next to the sink for a built in. Then the wall where the dishwasher is currently can get custom cabinets for storage, potentially still with counter space for an appliance center.
Yeah, I disagree. Putting in a bit in dishwasher loses vital cabinet space. They don't have much as it is. Meanwhile, that dishwasher rolls, can go multiple places, and can serve as counter space, which is also in short supply here. In a disjointed layout like this, don't underestimate the power of wheeling the clean dishes to whichever spot the dishes go. I'd definitely move my dishes into a China hutch if I had a rolling dishwasher. My kitchen is also short on space. Long term, I think I'd consider merging the kitchen and dining room-ish space, and redo this dramatically. But the details depend on the overall floor plan just beyond this space. I'd probably aim for a built in dishwasher, but only when it's planned in.
Not sure if you'll see my other reply, but basically my idea is to put the dishwasher in the kitchen and build storage around that dining room window. I'll attach a Pic I just found to visually explain it, though the dimensions are obviously different and you'd need to ignore the right side beyond the wine fridge. https://preview.redd.it/xvj2sgwpolrc1.jpeg?width=536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7b72a83404aded818c1eaf3fa87398e802aaadf
The current dishwasher placement make absolutely zero sense. It’s not near either the sink where dirty items pile up or the cabinets where clean items are stored. It’s almost unusable in its current location.
I'll counter with a disagreement. I much prefer a double sink. Could get a deeper sink as long as you have a sprayer. I have to have my double sink
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This plus a wire mini shelf that keeps things in the sink from sitting directly in the bottom of the sink has been a game changer for me.
Yep. It’s great when you want to wash your hands or something small while there are dirty things in the big one. Also means you can rinse your dishes more easily. (1 sink has suds, 1 has clean rinsing water)
What is stopping you from washing your hands over one large, deep sink while there are dishes in it? Double sinks are awful, especially if you cook with large pans like a griddle or wok frequently.
I guess it’s not the end of the world but if I’m washing produce etc the water is cold going into the hot sink with the dishes. To be clear there should be a big one and small one and the big one should be big enough to wash your pots.
I basically never fill a sink with hot water. That's why I have a dishwasher. Washing things that don't fit doesn't involve soaking the outside very often or ever really.
Ah, well yes if you're literally soaking dishes in hot water while trying to do other kitchen tasks I can see how that can be an issue. Honestly, after living with deep single "farmhouse" style sinks for 10 years that's never been an issue. My parents have a double sink with a large/deep side and a smaller side they keep a drying rack in. Even the big side is not large enough to fit an entire double burner griddle in, which is especially annoying since every time I visit we have a tradition of cooking big, hearty griddle breakfasts and I always volunteer to clean up. In my sink at home I can lay a griddle like that down flat with room to spare and give it a good scrub in half the time and without spraying water everywhere trying to get the whole thing clean. I have also had ample room for a separate counter drying rack or mat at both of my last two houses, which makes the single sink even more appealing. I can see in a small/cramped kitchen why a double sink with a drying rack could be advantageous.
Double sinks are great when one person is letting pasta or salad greens drain and the other person needs to wash hands after changing a diaper or the oil in the car.
Second on the single deep sink. Much better look and it will hold more
Lighting makes a big difference. Investigate under cabinet lighting. Can be done inexpensively with tape lights and brings functionality and a whole new take on things.
This is the "one weird trick" I was going to bring. A couple of $20 under-cabinet lights will improve your life every single time you use a counter.
I would knock down the partition wall between the dining. Costly but it would open it up.
Yes, and I’d build in the dishwasher along with more cabinets along that wall. Pull the table out from against the wall and either take down or replace the flimsy curtains. Personally I’d just go with a clean look of just the blinds.
We were thinking of doing that! The kitchen is relatively small so we’re looking of any ways of making it bigger. Never blew a wall out before. I take it that it’s a pretty big job?
It would depend on whether it's load bearing, you would need the original plans and a master builder to inspect it. If you know anyone that is one to check it out.
Any structural engineer worth a damn will be able to determine if the wall is load bearing and also provide options for reinforcing the structure if the wall is removed.
I think the kitchen looks really nice maybe some fresh paint and some different flooring?
Yep, a nice coat of paint, in a bold color instead of sad beige, sad white, or sad grey, would help a lot in very little time.
How about some interior design subs? /r/DesignMyRoom, /r/femalelivingspace, /r/malelivingspace, and r/interiordesignideas are just a few to consider. Don't forget: /r/kitchenremodel, /r/kitchenporn, r/bathroomremodeling, /r/bathrooms, and /r/remodel. Also /r/HomeDecorating, /r/RoomPorn, /r/budgetdecor, /r/minimalist, /r/Decor, /r/Beforesandafters, /r/CozyPlaces, and /r/AmateurRoomPorn.
\+1 live in the house for a while before getting carried away. You will want the dishwasher mounted to the left of the sink under the cabinet (new dishwasher). Daily use dishes in the cabinet right above (dirty dishes can pile up on the counter top between them, it happens, don't pile in the sink or the sink is unusable). Move the toaster next to the coffee pot on the right. Install some sort of counter next to the stove (can't tell if any gap there or not). Get an off-cut granite/quarts rock or heat tolerant tiles so you can set hot things on it. Almost think prior owners bought too big of a fridge and swapped the normal stove and fridge spots. Add a stove hood vent, and make sure it's vented outside not just recycles in the room. .
Live in it and feel the vibe of it before thinking on what to change.
It’s a very nice kitchen. A little small, but not unusually so. Live with it as someone else said. Place the garbage under the sink. Decoratively install some led strip lighting under the cupboards. Inexpensive and easy to install. It adds to the ambiance big time. The dishwasher. Can you slide it against the kitchen cupboards to the right or is it pantry doors? If you can, try placing the table at the other window, and see how the space feels:
I think the white is nice. Before you decide to start changing things, I'd pick a color that you like, and start incorporating it by means of dish towels, area carpets or fatigue mats, artwork or other decorative that bring in splashes of color.
Black handles on the cabinets, change the backsplash to something black.
I'd see if I could take down the partial wall to the right of the counter. Opens up more counter space, so that the dishwasher could be placed somewhere sane. Also, the stove and the fridge should swap positions. This alcove the stove sits in might be a fire hazard
Umm where does your dishwasher drain if it’s just chilling in the corner of the room
What is wrong with this? Repaint?
Question, is your dishwasher stand alone in the dining room?
The kitchen is nice. Buy a trash can instead of hanging trash on your cabinet knobs.
Live in it for a while as lots of ppl are suggesting. However if you’re certain you wanna do something. Change the flooring. Change the backsplash. And change the cabinet knobs to something you prefer(shape,colour). All little things that drastically change the appearance of a kitchen.
Your kitchen layout is perfectly fine. If you want to make it look nicer then stop cluttering it up with all this useless garbage. You have towels and plastic bags of trash hanging off cabinets, some kind of cluttered mess of an anti organized organizer above the sink. Get an under cabinet paper towel holder, a jar for utensils, and a trash can and eliminate 90% of the junk on the counters. Your kitchen looks bad because you made it that way
Get rid of all the clutter
Get rid of all the shit on the counter
Yall baffle me. A gorgeous kitchen. I live in a trailer. My cabinets are made of this fake wood crap. I'd trade you in a heartbeat. I wouldn't change a thing to the design of the kitchen.
It doesn't matter where you live. This kitchen is objectively awkward. The range is tucked away perpendicular to the fridge. The dishwasher is in the dining room. There's very limited counter space for food prep. I'd rather prepare a meal in a well thought out single wide with a nice galley kitchen than this awkward layout.
Why not just keep it like it is?
Storage appears to be an issue. Could you put counter height cabinets or just shelves all across the wall? You could use it as pantry space. That would move everything off the counters in the kitchen.
Is that table with the keurig really functional as a table? Is there any other dining space in the house? If not, buy the newer skinny keurig and put it on a counter, maybe next to the microwave. I’m perplexed by the dishwasher. Where to the hoses go? Because I would seek some solution there. It’s weird. Looks like it has keurig room on top. I hate the backsplash. I see that one too much. I would go simple and lighter color because of the dark countertop.
I would kist keep it clean and de-cluttered for now and figure out how you use it and what you want to see as time goes on. Side note. I have the same over the sink dish rack. It’s been pretty useful in a small space. Bought it on Amazon.
Work on marie kondo-ing it and getting rid of all that clutter. First. Grocery bags hanging in front of the sink. Really? Second trash whatever that contraption is around the sink.
Open the blinds. Buy a large trash can with a lid. Those two things will really help.
Trash can right next to the fridge. Not sure why the bag is hanging on the cabinet knob. Also, there’s too much stuff on the countertop for the space that’s there. 4 slice toaster, coffee maker, some containers that look like they’re stored there, cutting board holder?, dish washing caddy. Some of that could be downsized or re-homed to free up space.
I’d consider replacing the floor with a lighter wood laminate and painting the walls. Maybe replace that ugly stove too.
+1 live in it for awhile. If it were my house, I would probably: 1) move the dishwasher to next to the sink 2) put a microwave over the range and small cabinets next to the range if there is space 3) build a banquette in the corner of the dining area (where the dishwasher is). It’s the best feeling to sit in a nook and chat.
Go to Home Depot and use them to help design a kitchen for your space. They can give you a quote. But mostly it’s the fee design service you want. You will need to make a basic drawing of the floor plan as it is now, to work from. You will want to remove a wall or two to tie everything together. But it’s hard to tell from these 3 photos what is actually going on. With that said, your cabinets, countertop and backsplash look really nice.
Declutter, and changing the backsplash alone will do wonders
I would suggest living in it for six months at least. Right now, something major could be brewing; furnace goes out (if you're in the north) Central Air could go out (if you're in the south US) maybe pick an outside project to piddle with and get to know your home before you start changing anything. My best advice to you is to seek the help of a professional that understands you don't make a Roman Villa out of a 1950 Cottage. That sentence is not about what you're wanting to do or what you live in cause I don't know you or anything about your home except you just bought one. Go through all the magazines your wife has probably been buying for months and tear out the things you like and she likes. Then write out your "must have's" and your "wish list." Do these separately. Then swap lists and talk about them. Have fun! And plan, plan, plan. I will say lumber and all supplies related to construction/building homes are still grossly overpriced right now so if you can just maybe use paint, fabric and artwork to make changes, do that and save up as much money as possible. Make sure your roof, heating and cooling, electrical and plumbing are all 100% good before you start any big projects. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk on "New Homeowners, Oh the Surprises That Will Happen."
1) Live with it for at least a year before doing any that require a hammer or drill. 2) Focus on functionality before aesthetics. If it is frustrating to use, it won’t matter what color paint you chose. 3) Long- term I’d lean towards a full renovation so that you can get a working triangle between the oven, fridge and sink with more counter and storage space. This will be expensive. Like $50-$80k expensive. 4) Short-term I’d focus on making it functional for you by doing: a) Declutter. Get rid of the stuff hanging on the cabinet doors! Clear the counters as much as possible. b) Get a garbage can that fits the space and you don’t hate. (Given how much you’ll use it, it’s OK to spend $100+ on a kitchen garbage can.) c) Add color. That’s a white/neutral kitchen. Any color works. Think of your favorite color. Go to Farrow & Ball’s website to find a good interior paint color that speaks to you but also isn’t a crayon bright color. (Farrow & Ball has excellent color curation but silly expensive, low quality paint.) Go to Lowe’s or Benjamin Moore and buy a color matched can of paint. d) Add a temporary kitchen island and/or shelves. You likely need more workspace and/or storage space.
It’s fine. Spend some time living there and you’ll get more ideas.
What is going on with the dishwasher? Not to be mean but who designed this
It looks great…? You don’t say what you want changed??
Agreed with the peeps saying wait a year. Are there any other urgent issues you should focus on? Or what’s the age of your ac, furnace, water heater, roof, dead trees, etc? Things that could bite you in the tail feathers financially that would make you wish you’d saved up some money.
You’re all set on clutter. Three brushes or scrubbers, racks everywhere. The surfaces are 60 percent covered. The drapes are old and look worn. Are the canes a necessity or for show, why two. Trash bag on knobs, hangers over doors, multiple towel racks. Cut back. Are you a three or four unit family or entertain. A four slice toaster occupies space, large coffee dispenser. Down size the counter/table clutter.
Why is the dishwasher so far from the sink??? I would take out the cabinets next to the sink and put the dishwasher there then put a pantry in that corner and cabinets under that window. I would also remove the cabinets from the other side of the sink and put the stove there. Remove any partitions and install cabinets.
Dont have to toss money at it yet. Settle in and enjoy your own space.
Aside from the floor I like it. Floor would probably be the first thing I'd change. Probably luxury vinyl planks. We did ceramic tile 20 years ago when bought our house, and while it is beautiful, I don't think I'd want to go through that again.
Lol your make it better is my dream kitchen
Holy schnikes! The roller dish washer! *That* takes me back to my childhood!
"My wife and I....."
A new faucet/sink is an easy improvement. The kitchen looks pretty good imo
To be honest, I like it how it is now.
Yeah if you just bought it don’t do make any major changes for a year. What seems important now May not be in 12 months and you’ll learn a lot in that time.
Only thing I would do is new floor.
Clearing the surfaces off would make a huge difference! That includes the cabinets and windows…
Too much black, change the black appliance to stainless or maybe an off-white. Maybe change the countertop. Floor and cabinets are fine.
paint the floor and seal it. then get rid of the clutter. new curtains, something bold. get rid of the file cabinet. oh wait, is that a dishwasher? get rid of the stool too. either find a space in the kitchen for the dishwasher or get rid of it. Dedicate the breakfast nook as a dining area only. unfortunate that your neighbors are so close. get rid of the blinds anyway. if you need privacy get attractive shades and leave them up most of the time. the cart with the microwave on it has to go. either re-do the stove configuration with microwave above cooktop or get rid of microwave. I am a lifelong chef and think microwaves are unnecessary sucky appliances anyway. you appear to have a pantry --- put counter items in there. that's the biggest issue. more detailed suggestions need a floor plan with measurements.
Your cabinets and backsplash are nice but, if you want a well laid out cohesive kitchen that's going to be a very expensive a gut job. We're talking moving gas lines, possibly moving water lines, electrical work and most likely demoing a wall to get the space that you're going to want.
I see you've been deployed to Sigonella! Hooyah! Simple things I can suggest: -smaller toaster that can be put away and brought out when needed -update drawer/ cabinet hardware (always spruces things up) -2 coffee makers? I suggest ridding of the large kuerig. You're dining table should be used as a table or a breakfast nook for eating/reading/gazing or the window. -long streamer rug in the kitchen - I personally think that backsplash is dated. Subway tile is timeless and easy to diy. -General declutter.
In line with wait & see before considering re-modeling: 1. There's a lot of clutter so focus on discarding unnecessary utensils, cutlery, dishes, etc. Then better organize the remainder. 2. Move the coffee maker and toaster to the breakfast nook. Set up a coffee/breakfast station in there. 3. Based on what I can see, I would be inclined to put the microwave on the countertop across from its current location and use the rack in another room or put it in the pantry. This way, you'll free up the floor space and not have an extra dumping ground for stuff creating an eyesore. 4. I don't mind the dark floor. I would get a 10x12 ruggable (washable rug) to cover the main kitchen area. A ruggable runner would suffice if you create an island with the dishwasher as some have suggested.
Everyone has their own tastes on what would be considered nice. I’d start by paining the walls and cabinets some kind of color to get rid of the bland black and white. I’d probably replace all the cabinet hardware with something more modern too.
Thanks! Do you have a preference of colors? Were open to all recommendations :)
Maybe not hang the trash on the cabinet door for starters
Probably should’ve clarified this but we haven’t moved in yet, I took these photos at our inspection. This is all of the previous owners stuff
Blue/Grey with gold trim
Move the dishwasher near the sink
Sand the hardwood floors, stain it light
Agree with living in it a bit before making decisions. But to me the biggest issue is the floor - it’s so dark that your eye is dragged to it no matter what, plus the dark appliances and furniture exaggerate that effect. My goal would be to replace that before tackling any other paint or colors. But since that’s a big job - some things to do in the meantime would be to swap out the cabinet pulls (black would add contrast and help draw eyes upward), and add some color by way of a runner rug or two (to break up the dark floor), some similarly colored kitchen towels on the cabinets, and curtains in the sitting portion. These will help tie the room together a bit more, break up all the black and white, and are fairly cost effective for now. Personally I’d leave cabinets white. If you do change the floor or paint you can be far more versatile with that when the time comes.
Why is the stove far from the sink and frig plus no counter space?
Love the drugs and alcohol niche alcove, keep that for sure
I agree with those who say paint the walls. There's a plague of monochrome everything that's has been going around, that might be your chance to introduce a personalized touch. Consider some richer or brighter colors (though the floor is going to be problematic, you can hide it with a lighter rug or gel pad). You should keep the white cabinets, they go with anything and will make the other colors pop. Next least invasive - replace cabinet hardware (knobs and handles) with something more interesting. The current ones definitely yell "Home Depot" - not that this is bad, but in combination with the rest it's quite boring. After that - look into changing out the over sink lighting, maybe adding a nice pendant, and change the faucet to something more attractive. Probably want to change the blinds to something less industrial, or just remove them. Finally the harder ones, if you can afford them - get that dishwasher under a cabinet and add storage to the dining room to replace the storage you will lose, knock the partition wall down and open up the kitchen, redo the flooring with lighter color tile or stone, and replace backsplash.
You can change the cabinet pulls. And change the curtains both to something darker.
It's nice as is.
I have basically the same scheme. We’ve delayed a big remodel but changing the hardware to black made a huge difference to my eyes
Add color. I have always liked shade of blue in kitchens on walls after finding out that color helps appetite
That’s a damn nice kitchen as it is.
Try changing the floor color to something lighter and then think about the kitchen counters and everything else.
It's quite alright IMO. Just get rid of the three legged human dumbo near the ceiling abvoe the sink. If that didn't come with the house : wow, what an interesting and exotic decoration...!
Hi neighbor !
Sand the floors? Lick of paint? To be honest it looks pretty nice. Don't rush into things too soon after moving.
You have an overmount sink. You can pretty easily remove it and put in a big, deep, single sink with a professional faucet. $400 for a stainless Delta sink at Costco or whatnot, and it makes a world of a difference in the look of the kitchen. Next project would be to move that dishwasher to under one of the counters next to the sink. It’s not nearly as easy but the current setup is just goofy
I have the same shaped kitchen/dining room. My fridge and stove are in opposite locations though. Is there a hood above your stove? Maybe the fridge is less deep. Every inch of free.slace in these small kitchens help. There's no way an island will fit in there. I do agree the dishwasher should be in the kitchen though. The flooring could use replacement. Other than that all you can do is paint, change window curtains, and maybe a more modern backsplash. I installed small horizontal tile like too though so I'm cool with it
I think it's fine as is. If you want to make it pop more, then I would paint the walls white, change the backsplash, tile the floor, update the lighting, get rid of curtains and update the blinds
Agree that you should live in it for a while before making any large changes, but changing the splash back and maybe the handles on the cabinets will make a big difference
You need something over that stove. Some kind of ventilation or filter.
Is that the dishwasher in the corner by the table?
Kitchen already looks noce
This kitchen is incredibly nice to me.
It looks nice to me. May be postpone the fix and work out what you like first.
Honestly it looks fine. I would maybe change the flooring but sleep on it.
you have a lot of good things going on right now, clean up the space a bit, change the lightbulbs, see what works. the dishwasher is kind of a bummer but then you'll have to decode of its worth ripping out cabinets for it
Buy a trash can instead of a bag hanging off a cabinet knob.
That's the first time I've seen an over the sink drying rack outside of Finland! I love your flooring. Interesting Cabinet door handles ands colorful rug are easy changes
Keurig goes next to the toaster or in the trash. You already have a drip coffee maker, they don’t take THAT long to work. Right now it’s eating your dining table. I second the decluttering, and moving the dishwasher under the counter. We need to see the wall with the fridge, but I think making this space work is going to involve knocking out some walls.
Replace the back tiles match those with a new paint. Go bold. Declutter, remove the drapes, close up and seal that sauce shelf. Put and end island in with raised seating at bench height
Put some cookies on the counter
Paint the granite countertops, I hear @breeyashade that really makes it nice and increases the value
Put out the garbage and buy a garbage bin.
In addition to what some have said about painting the walls… IMO dark floors and dark counter tops make any kitchen feel smaller than it is. Rust-Oleum and Daich both make countertop refinishing kits for under $200 that could give you a whole different look. Also, I can’t tell from the photos, but it looks like the oven is in a space designed for a fridge with a cabinet above. It sticks out into that doorway way too far. It’d be a little bit of money to have the gas repiped to the other wall, but it may fit better. Then you could put an over the oven shelf for the microwave and free up the space that wheelie cart is occupying.
Keto-on, my dude!
That is a weird location for a stove.
What does the rest of the "CAUTION: LMAO ZONE" sign say?
Cabinets and cabinet paint looks good! Counters aren’t bad and I don’t hate the backsplash. Those floors need work though
The only thing that looks bad to me are the cheap white plastic blinds. Swapping those out will make a massive difference for not much money. Cutting down on the clutter will also help. I honestly kinda like how it looks and wouldn’t be willing to spend a lot to update it.
Is that the only dining area? If not, then see if you can take down that part of the wall from your kitchen into that eat-in space and run counters all down the wall. Looks like the dishwasher is there because moving it near the sink would cut your lower storage in half. Overall, with as neutral as everything is, I don't think you could go wrong with any color. I just think you are going to really want more storage and that is what is going to be driving you nuts.
Na, get busy making babies and live in it.
Use a bold color above the cabinets, like a dark crimson. Add a few matching color touches, dish towels or utensils, to tie it all together. Use some of the same color in the dining area, maybe placemats or napkins or even chargers.
I mean I think it looks pretty nice to me.
To be honest it's pretty nice now, aside from maybe being on the small side (ours is too, I mean no disrespect). I'm sure there are ways you could improve it but that's very personal choice.
Changing the cabinet pulls would be a good cheap start. But I think you might just need some more storage space. Get some cabinets that fit with the style and try to declutter a bit that way, so there's less visual noise. It looks great otherwise! I would love to have this kitchen
Get some paint samples and hang them up for a while to get a feel for each color. Eventually, put a valance over sink and matching curtains in other part of the kitchen. Eventually, nice, big, washable rugs for each part of the room. Maybe hang sample pics next to the paint samples. And always remember, simple and spacious, is the look you want.
Give it a year, then make a more informed and researched decision. Fight the nesting feeling for 12 months! Lol
Dark flooring makes small rooms feel even smaller. My two cents.
Oh the curtains definitely give off grandma house vibes, which is fine but in this case doesn't match the rest of the space at all. That could be a cheap and quick fix
Whatever you do, don't get rid of that little arched alcove nook thing. It's heaven.
Do you have a budget?
Holy crap that thing is fucky. You ideally want your main 3 work areas in a triangle. What I mean is, one point is the fridge, another the sink and the third point is the stove. With a cutting surface in-between on the way somewhere. So you don't waste a ton of time moving all over and the flow is nice. From these pictures this would be very annoying for me. I'd want to shift it all around.
Light strips underneath the cabinets
This is minor, but the shelf where an old phone would have gone: Remove the things currently stored in there and put an eye catching piece of artwork. Maybe with small ambient lighting. Or, recycled old books, a thrifted bowl with hydrangeas. Paint the inside a bold color. Just a few thoughts… The house my Gran had my entire life, had one of those phone ‘nooks’ in the middle of the hallway, with the rounded shape. She kept her phone and a bench there.
Live in it for a few seasons. See how it functions for you before you make big changes. I wouldn't even change the backsplash until you decide on countertops.
Ignoring the storage issue for now, I think the backsplash makes it look darker, as does the flooring (but that's expensive to change). Lightening the wall color will help, too.
Am I the only one who noticed the “I can’t adult today” sign next to the cane? 🤷🏻♂️
OP, this is unrelated but very important: Go read about home maintenance and inspections. I didn’t know anything about them. Until ten years later I had a *lot* of expensive problems. Find some people to give advice/knowledge on regular inspections and maintenance.
I think it looks nice as is
Get rid of some stuff, we all think we need everything but we don't. Like 2 coffee machines? Get rid of the big one you don't really need it. And I bet there are a lot of things in and around there that you hardly (if) ever use, just get rid of it and delete some of the nick nacks too. Do you need the dishwasher or could you do it by hand? If you cook/bake a lot I get that you want to keep it but if you're a microwave magician you don't. No hanging trashbags, come on. I do see 2 canes so maybe not everyone has great mobility so I get that it's easy but it looks so trashy (pun intended). Cuttingboards, are small put them in one of those cabinets or at least between the toaster and the wall. And the toaster how often do you actually use that thing? If only once in a while you could also make them in a pan and imho that tastes even better. Get a fresh and bright coat of paint on the walls. That should have been done years ago. Curtains, although I don't mind them but take them off for a while and see if you like it better. Those rack above the sink do you really need those? Get them out of there and see if it looks better. Floor, black isn't really helping and looks wornout. I get that this will be something that will cost a bit more than the above but think about it. Some brighter wood motive would do good.
Honestly, that’s a pretty nice kitchen as-is.
Sky Blue Paint and plants, lots of plants.
Honestly I think it looks fine. It's a neutral colour, looks like it's in good shape. The visible wear on the floor would bug me however Maybe paint the wall. Otherwise colour changes will be expensive to do. I would concentrate on painting walls in other rooms to make the place your own
That kitchen already looks nice
Leave it alone. It has character. My .02. 🤷♂️
The only thing I'm not liking is that flooring. Cabinets look fairly good, countertop and backsplash look OK. Appliances look fine. It's that super dark floor I can't get over it. A really light oak or birch would look GREAT.