I would like to add a bit of a change to my kitchen

If you can I would consider staining the wood a different color or on the cabinets adding beautiful designs. You might consider also having counter tops black instead of white to match your fridge and stove. Good luck!

I would paint the bottom of the island and the chairs ( maybe black). Also the small lower cabinet next to the fridge. Also take off a few cabinet doors to make some open shelving displays.

The color of the cabinets are fine.You can change the look by simply adding some color to the walls instead and then add color in accessories(towels and throw rugs)

I like Janet idea and maybe a area rug in the dining room to bring some color in there also, two small bar stools a nice colorful dish nothing to large or to small and one on the dining table, maybe a few plant's will look nice on top of cabinets, good luck with whatever you decide.

That was a great idea with the towels and I see what you mean! Did you consider white drapes for the window?

That sounds great! Good luck!

Add a white subway tile back splash, paint the walls, buy new knobs and pulls, new countertops - all of this will make a huge difference for not a lot of work or money!

Another photo to give you an idea

And I have a white floor and have painted woodwork white so that helps thanks

Hi Larry, I'm happy to know that I'm not the only one that has a hubbie like that lol, so I'm taken that you like blue I'll love to see blue crystals hanging from the chandelier with the blue table runner maybe a larger pot to set plant in nothing to big maybe a medium size should work or a large candle in a glass vase with blue or white pebbles oh you can also change the chandelier shades also to bring color in anda set of blue glass canisters last but not least a medium sized glass bowl to set on allen I thinking cobalt blue not sure of paint color just make sure it's a natural color that can go with any color item you put in there if you like me I love to change as the seasons changes good luck and always do whatever makes both of you happy.

There are some fabulous ideas here: http://www.hometalk.com/categories/makeovers/kitchen

A colorful backsplash would make a world of difference! I love plants, but having to water one up there would be a pain in the neck. Maybe a pretty pot?

You have lovely cabinets and so much can be done with color as you can see from other posts. That is my suggesstion. Take you time with your choice and maybe try with different towels to give you and idea to get you started. If you are brave ( which I am not) I know there are counter top paints but when I redid my kitchen I went with all new and what a change it made and was not terribly expensive. I also changed my backsplash with the metal look vinyl patterned sheets to give it a bit of texure also not to exhorbitant and and no grout to keep clean. Just a quick swipe of a soapy cloth! I have worked with the same color walls for quite some time which I love so just a refresh of paint every few years. Good luck and take some pics of your finished project. Like I said patience pays off with your choices

Lucky you to have so many cupboards! Excited to see the "after!"

Would you consider painting the table and chairs black to balance that side of the room and your black appliances? Counter could have blacks in it and darker hardware on doors. Then colour on walls and accessories!

I was thinking the island in a different color might break it up but them wondered if i should just do island and then leave table chairs as is.

Do you believe with all those cupboards which are white inside, I have filled them? I did take doors off of hutch in dr and love that look.

No pics Larry my phone is not smart enuf (or maybe the operator isn't) Needless to say I looked around a long time before settling on the final project.

started looking last spring then summer got in the way as well as sons wedding and a knee replacement. Really want to get back at this. Back to square one

So happy that you love my idea you just made my day, yes the window covering will be fine and believe me when I say I have to do the same thing clear the table happy that I have a family to share it with, yes you're so right the things that we do to make us happy, live love and laugh and always enjoy each others company and always have a little bit of each others taste in each room, enjoy

When I bought this house I kept saying the oak cupboards were stained waaay too orange. I finally brought orange paint chips home & put them on the cupboards to prove my point. In order to neutralize the cupboards I'm painting the walls turquoise (180 degrees from orange on a color wheel). I can't believe the difference a $42.00 gallon of paint is making.

I agree with all the other comments about backsplas, island, countertops. How about adding a colorful area rug under dining set?

You're starting with a really nice kitchen but a little pizzazz would go a long way. Definitely backsplash to start with, the sage green in the other room is really pretty, maybe tie in to that. Then I'd beef up the island a little, paint it a color to coordinate with the backsplash after adding some verticial 1x3's at corners and the middle of the back. The top molding could also be more substantial, hard to see how much room there is from pictures, but maybe keep the top molding and add a molding piece between that and the cabinets, something like baseboard molding. So the molding on the stove wall would be up against the ceiling. Switching out the hardware to something a little more decorative would really help too.

I wish you had been more specific. You can change knobs to update. And add something such as an herb garden to bring greenery into kitchen. I love how empty and clean everything is,is it like this at all times? Mine just becomes the place to put pots and pans when they come out or have to go into DW. At least my men try to help but they make more of a mess. I had envisioned a kitchen like yours just update knobs and handles. That's what I would do.

Maybe put some colorful baskets on top of your cupboards. I took two cupboard doors into a glass business. They cut out the wood, leaving the frame. Inside the frame they put glass. Absolutely wonderful. I put my dishes in there and colorful big bowls on the top shelf.

May I ask you the width of your kitchen. The set up is very similar to mine and I need more storage an island would be great.

I know you probably won't go black, but worth looking at anyway. Personally I would go a dark grey with the cupboards and resurface the counter tops, changing the paint to a Greene color to go with the cupboards and floor. You could then do the island in flatter black, and it would be awesome. Here is the link.

http://www.athomewiththeellingtons.com/resources/

That would be dramatic. we have an open concept and tend to lean towards the browns/taupes . The black appliances just seemd ok with the cupboards. i really want a light airy look

Here is a pic of the color scheme I am talking about for the walls and ceiling , and cupboards. If you did he walls the taupe color, you could do the antique creamy white on the cupboards and it would brighten the kitchen a lot. then do the island cupboards in espresso and it will really look high end and still be very light and airy. Then for the backsplash you could do any of the beautiful tile combinations they have out. That is where I would spend the money, backsplash and counters , if you don't like the Rustoleum product.

Here is the pic from above, didn't come out for some reason .

Am I correct that color scheme you are trying to show me is seen in the chair colors?

What I love is you have enough of a drop from the ceiling to the cabinets. Get some greenery or baskets with greenery, like ivy, not the real stuff. Or whatever plant flowers you like. Put them on top of your cabinets, then get either rope lights, if not that then some low voltage lights, like the Christmas lights, the mini lights. I like the rope lighting better, you don't have to worry about them getting to hot on your cabinets. I have an orange set on my bathroom cabinets. It gives you a sunset kind of glow. Really beautiful at night!

Cannot vouch for this but this woman says it was easy and not too epipe sick and it does look great. I think the reason it works for a peel and stick tile is the special adhesive mat she used? Anyway, may be a way to add something as a backsplash that is not overly costly.

http://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/backsplashes/easy-stick-n-peel-tile-23787004?se=fol_new-20170129-1&date=20170129&slg=daa6b33ff0d84137b13651dddd2d49b7-12461417

i love them! 👍

I would add artwork over cabinets. It's so clean so don't touch it up with clutter. When I first saw it I thought I get what Larry means I was so jealous of you not cluttering it up I wouldn't touch it, it's great. Maybe paint walls to add color but that's it. Don't pick a too dark color because it will look smaller. I would stick with something in the middle of strip you like and if you love it go with it, I saw that it appears to have sage green leading into room so it needs a color that won't shock you go with rest of home if you're one of those people that sticks to rules. I don't believe in rules for my home that I pay the mortgage on, I believe that you should express yourself in your home. As long as I am happy and smile when in that space that's what matters. So first advise is if you adhere to rules. I like my second advice and that's how I live life is way to short. I use to be one of those people and I didn't feel at home for 21 years, we moved and I'm free and it feels great. I'm done with first floor in 11 months including a new kitchen and flooring and walls. I had them painted organic green from Sherwin Williams. That's in LR/DR since L shape plan on having tangerine in kitchen because my walls have layers of protruding walls aND those will be painted not the entire area. May seem weird to some but who cares. I'm free to live I've broken from what society says and am doing my own thing. I have a traditional home on the outside that does not reflect the inside, that's a shock. I used to ask my sister for advice on everything from clothing to home. She is very conservative, I'm so glad with this site so many beautiful people helping you reach your goals.

Larry I noticed that I have a question about size of a kitchen not meant for you.i

so what are your thoughts now about your kitchen? Any ideas you are going to try??

I'd love to do the top ones cream yjr botoms expresso but not sure what to do on refrigerator side

I would say just do the antique cream/ white on all the caninets, do the taupe on the walls and do the island cabinets espresso. This way the fridge side will be fine. Just be sure to do the antiquing on the cream color, it gives it so much more depth and style. You should try the antique cream on the fridge side first, then paint the is,and the espresso and see how you feel about it. Great thing about paint, you can always change it! Get samples to just try the basic colors out first to see how you feel about them. I would,just get flat paint, then whatever you put over it will stick, it will be like a primer for you.

I will need to be careful with the color so the cabinets don't look dirty in proximity to the floor.

I would prefer a straight color rather than the oak showing through the cream if I antiqued

Love your very large kitchen and all those cabinets. Just make sure you sand down all the cabinets first, if you decide to paint them. Decide on your theme, then go from there. Be sure you go with a color you can live with. Maybe change out all the cabinet knobs. Paint the walls a real nice dark bright color. This will really look nice with your white floors & counter tops. Add decor to your counters, above the cabinets & your kitchen Island. Go to Lowe's in their wooded decor section. There you will find some beautiful pieces that you can use on the outter side of your kitchen Island. And continue into the dining room with your decor so you can tie it all together. Add a pretty valance over your sink window. Good luck.

Here are some of the greige colors to get an idea . Will go well with black and with your floor. Sorry to give you more ideas . .

I like this pallete because there is a dark color you could use where you would use espresso. Just more thoughts. Still think you will have to start with some samples to see how they work in your space and with your light.

Thank you. This kitchen was an addition(from a galley kitchen at the front door). These cupboards are gong to be a really big job. I sanded and primed all window and patio door woodwork before painting and they still chipped so I need to do research on the proper way to paint. All the work is in the plan.

I will also have to decide on what to do with desk area and railings-I am expecting to be done by next Christmas

Good idea - a cream side with black fridge -I'll take a picture and color it in to get a visual. The taupe should work. We have open concept and I have a darker taupe around the fireplace in the fr which can be seen from front hall as well. Taupe front door too. I think I'll do cabinets first, then counter backsplash and then walls (a hired painter for those high ceilings)I could try the taupe ablove the railings first though. Even though grey is the rage I prefer the taupe tones so will lean toward that Thanks for your advice/opinion

Looks like taupe is your color then! Regarding the paint chipping, which paint did you use? I have used Behr latex and it just peels off like,well a rubber glove. Try an enamel and be sure to prime even if you if you sand. Better safe than sorry for that big job! Try a cabinet next to the fridge first as your sample/trial and send a pick so we can all dissect it :))))) sorry, that is how it seems sometimes on these posts :). But then that is the point anyway.

I would say to the same with the desk area, just include it as part of the kitchen, doing cream above and espresso below. Try one cabinet above and one below and live with them for a couple days. I would however leave both the desk area and the railing to the end, since you have so much else to do. Do you have any lights in those glass faced cabinets? Doing something with either wallpaper or fabric or a stencil on the back wall of those glass cabinets would be great and fun! If you don't have any lights in there , there are a lot of options such a single battery operated lights that stick under counters, strip lighting, so many things. In fact, you may end up liking a strip lighting option under your lower kitchen cabinets, gives such a special touch and warms things up. I think it shows a lot of attention to detail, too. But that is all later. Just something to think about.

I would do your cupboards first, then your counter and backsplash since those are the harder to change out, then paint the walls as you suggested. A lot of work, but I am excited to see your process!!!! You go girl!!!!

Did I ever mention any window treatments? Either a Roman shade or a matchstick shade is what I would start with there. You can make Roman shades, but I bet you won't want to after all this kitchen work! And they are expensive to have done. I say if you can make one it is worth it as you can still spend up to $30 a yard and probably only use one yard and you can have gorgeous gorgeous fabric there! Just a thought. And if you ever feel the need to put something on the tops of the cabinets, I think some nice solo pieces of art or beautiful glass plates or bowls up there would be stunning. Not too many, and a rich color so it looks elegant and classy.

Put a vibrant colour like turquoise so to cover the wood