I think that this revamping will be more of a way of getting the kitchen comfortable until we can afford to do a serious overhaul, years from now. That basically means new paint, doing something with the face of the cabinets, and MAYBE something with the backsplash. And making it all coordinate beautifully. The backsplash is exactly the same thing as the countertop, and is glued to the wall (laminate, I guess?).

What is beadboard?

I love the hardware idea and am definitely planning on that. I just need some sort of color/decor scheme before I get any. The cabinets are particle board. While fixing a couple of shelves and such when we moved in, dh has put a few dents/holes in a couple. I guess the finish is deceptively nice--it could be way worse--and they clean up okay (everything was covered in baby food splatters from the prev. owners). But they're nothing to write home about! I've thought a lot about painting them, but I can't come up with a color that would go with the countertops. I'd like to use an off white or something, but I don't think that would look good with the blonde wood finish, and that goes for every color I've thought of. I'm stumped! And I don't want a completely brown kitchen...

I can do nothing with the floor. The floor is strikingly similar to the countertops. In a way, I'm happy they made it all look the same, but in another way, it's very, VERY boring! Also, the floor around the table has to be easy to wipe down b/c dd is 14 mos and throws everything over the edge.

The fridge... No appliances came with the house and we did not own a large refridgerator. But we did own a dorm fridge. We haven't gotten a big one yet b/c we've been very busy, and we're in the middle of being away a LOT for holidays, weddings, etc, so we're holding off for EVEN LONGER on getting the fridge so that we have the extra cash for traveling and whatever else may come up. We actually had very little problem downsizing our fridge habits into this one, which is surprising b/c we both go thru a gallon of milk by ourselves in a week. And dd now has a 1/2 gal of whole. I've switched from skim to 1% (what dh drinks) for the time being, and we're closer to the store now so I go more often, mainly for milk. It's just buying less, more often. The fridge will not be here long enough to worry about doing anything to improve upon it. We should have a real one at the end of the month, after we get back. Fun fact: when I was in Scotland and England, all of the homes I was in had these sized fridges. I never saw a big one, in fact, and this was the size of the one on my flat, too, which accommodated 6 ppl! So, we get by.

Def. want a rug or mat in front of the sink but again, I need a color scheme or theme!

How expensive is tiling? Could I do that over the laminate, or would it have to come off? Unless we cut it off at the cabinet line, we'd have to take all the cabinets and countertops off to remove it, and that's a lot more work that it's worth!

On top of the cabinets, there is some space over the really tall cabinet, but it's too tall for me to sensibly utilize, esp. now. I don't want to be 9 mos preggers crawling up on a step ladder to retrieve a recipe or something!

Thanks for all your ideas! It's really helping! Keep 'em coming, if you wouldn't mind!

If you are planning to gut & redo later, I would not tile, as it can be pricey, and you'll probably ruin it if you replace the counters & cabinets later. Here's what I'd do if it were my kitchen. I'd probably paint the walls and laminate backsplash a warm yellow, not too bright. Add a nice bamboo roman shade to the window, and some nice cabinetry hardware, and you'd have a completely different look on a budget.

Pic #1

Pic #2

Pic #3

I'm with you in that I have a hard time with color schemes/themes. I have discovered a neat trick though. The next time you're in a paint department, go over to where the display for the more expensive paints are and look at the color swatch cards. They do this neat thing where they put three or four colors on the same card, one main color with the rest as accents. Pick the main color for the walls, a secondary color for the cabinet doors and drawer fronts and a tertiary color for the bits between the doors and drawers and your window frame. Take your color swatches to the paint mixer guy and have him mix the color you want in the cheaper brand of paint. Since you're going to be totally remodeling the kitchen in a few years, using the higher-end paint isn't necessary. Also, make sure to get the accent colors in quart cans, not the full gallon cans. I love the paint swatch cards. I use them for room design, scrapbooking, anything.

I would Also Get a nice chandilier type light that can Hang over your Table.

Another thing that really spruces up a kitchen and makes a great focal point for the room.

I have to say that I'm jelous of all your cabinets!

This is my kitchen after painting... (Sorry the pics are huge!) We did a pale yellow with a sage green for the ajoining dining area. I still have to do the trim though (one step at a time!)

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Boy I wouldn't want you to see my kitchen if you think that is aweful.

Speaking from experience I would not paint your cabinets. I agree that painting cabinets gives it a whole new look and can be very pretty, but the downfall about painting cabinets are the dings. Painted cabinets are not very forgiving and with little ones they will definetly get dinged up.

I would definetly add hardware and do something about your backsplash. I think that is to much "wood". Depending on how much you have to spend there are several options: wallpapering over the backsplash, painting it or putting up something entirely different. Of course of money was no object I would put something up different like tile, but if that isn't an option you may try wallpaper. But I would make sure I got a really good wallpaper because it will need to be washed and probably get some water splashed on it from the sink.

I think I would go with a lighter color because your cabinets are darker so it would keep the kitchen light and airy.

Good luck and be sure to let us see the after photos when you get it done.

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My gourds made the front page of the paper!!

LOL I would tell DH forget any meals from scratch if he wouldn't let me pick out my theme for my kitchen!! LOL

I think your kitchen is cute- it isn't too small and it certianly isn't dirty

what about a 1950's theme?
that is cheap and easy going to thrift stores, yardsales ect. I had that theme once....

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[quote=MelodyRose;754595]

What is beadboard?
QUOTE]

This is kinda what beadboard looks like PGM Products L.L.C. 4 In. Bead Cape Cod Planking - 617137 at The Home Depot . It is sometimes called wainscotting. It basically looks like white paneling. I can buy it at Lowes for around $8.00 for a 4ft by 8ft piece. You could nail it over your current backsplash. You could also put it on your walls on the bottom half with a chair rail. I plan on using it in my kitchen and bathroom both.

Oh! I see! That's really nice looking! I never really considered doing anything with the wall (there's really only one to do anything with--the rest have cabinets and doors on them) b/c the table takes up most of it. But now I'm thinking about it...

I love the color swatches! The sad thing is, I've poured over them a couple of times already, and still can't find anything I like!

Hey, PianoLady, thanks so much for the yellow walls! That helps a LOT to picture another color on it. Did you just use MS Paint to do that? Altho, I think I'd go a much lighter shade.

Oh, and yellow... Dh hates yellow kitchens. And with all the wood in there, I think I'm going to try to stay away from yellows. Maybe something very, very light that is brown based, MAYBE. I don't know...

Oh, but Riley's Mom, I really like yours! Great job on that! It looks great!

This is helping so much!

the thing with your color swatces is .... tape them to the wall say above the table... and look at them morning noon and night time and see what you like best. Write it down beause it will change.. Also then move them to say right up next to the window and do it again. That is how I pick all the colors for my house in every room. They are suck on the wal sometimes for at least a month.

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