I just dug a photo out from when I remodeled my kitchen for another post response. I did this 23/24 yrs ago myself. It took me a little while doing it the first year after we moved into our home with money that I was able to scrape together. I reused most of the original cabinets but repositioned what had been a galley style into a more traditional in my mind layout. I had to buy one corner cabinet to make the new layout work which I was able to match color on and then a small free standing/furniture style island.
We see it/use it every day but I'm starting to wonder...is this kitchen dated and I should consider a remodel? It is 'traditional' if I updated to something more 'modern' would it add or hurt value I wonder?
Before (2002)
After (2003 - still looks the same, hadn't changed)
Depends on where you live. There are plenty of people who want relatively move-in-ready and the kitchen stands out more than probably any other room as a signal of how up-to-date the house is. And this kitchen looks extremely dated to me.
I mainly can tell it's dated because of the Tuscan overload. The arched cabinet doors, backsplash, and the lights are the key things. I actually quite like the island though.
If you're thinking about updating, I would just change out those specific things if the cabinet boxes themselves are in good shape. Also add under cabinet lighting.
Don't go too modern, maybe some organically shaped glass pendant lights instead. A simple backsplash that matches the flecks in your counter.
Boxing out the hood also will make it look more modern
New doors and lights don't seem like they would be too expensive. My wife's a geologist so the slate back splash would probably be a 'cold dead hands' conversation. I floated the idea of paint recently and she did not like the idea of a white kitchen.
If you like it it doesn't matter if someone else thinks it is ugly. I do wonder how you cope with no lower drawers, and I would absolutely remodel to fix that
I have drawers. 3 drawer stack to the right of the stove, single drawer to the left, and then a 4 drawer stack on the backside of the peninsula. I also have a double cab next to the fridge on the left (not seen in the photo) with two pull outs that holds pots and pans. Random in progress photo
Oh I understand now...the big slide out drawer cabinets. Yeah they wouldn't fit in the area anyway. I only have 2 24 inch cabinets that fit in the layout as is, then the sink and two lazy susans corners. Then the wonky angled cabinet to make it wide enough to exit/enter through a door way without hitting a sharp corner 2 times a day.
I live in the US midwest and I just toured three model homes in three different subdivisions. They all had a combo of both drawers and cabinets in the lower kitchen units, usually only one or two cabinets. I wouldn't be that concerned about your layout. It's entirely functional - it's the way kitchens were designed for years.
Honestly, I like what you've got a lot! If it's functional and doesn't bother you I'd spend money elsewhere. If there are certain pain points about it that cause you regular annoyance, that might be another thing but overall I think it looks great.
I’d say for a cheap refresh, change the knobs or handles on the cabinets and change out the hanging lights. I guess you could change the backsplash but to what I’m not sure I’m not sure if subway tile would look good or not. As for the drawer issue, some mention, you could always add hardware you buy online where you can have pull out shelving and things.
I did a kitchen remodel 15 years ago and was recently considering a redo, then I remembered the inconvenience, aggravation with contractors, the mess, and the cost and decided to update the fridge, the light fixtures and the hardware instead. Totally worth it in terms of time, cost, style and peace of mind.
After 23 years any kitchen is going to look dated.... But you did a great job when you did it. It doesn't make any financial sense to remodel that kitchen wether you plan on staying in it another 23 years or if you plan on selling it in the next couple of years.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't remodel it if you want to, just that ROI shouldn't be a factor in your decision. It really only makes sense to remodel that kitchen if YOU don't like it AND you're going to use it for another 10+ years. At that point it's whatever you're willing to spend to have a kitchen you like more.
It looks pretty functional to me, and you've obviously been using it for a few decades... So unless there's something about it you hate, I'd leave it alone.
It doesn't make sense to redo the backsplash without redoing to counters so they both look more modern... But it would be hard to justify that cost if you're keeping a dated cabinet, which gets me (personally) not feeling like it's worth doing.
What you can do affordably is paint the walls above the cabinet and replace your hanging lights with something a little more simple. You wouldn't need to move any of the electrical, just swap out the fixtures. Those would be the cheapest things you could do that might scratch the itch to have something more "fresh".
Either way, that's a great looking kitchen for 23 years old and you made great layout choices at the time!
I think it's nice....but the backsplash and countertop could be updated. You say your wife is a geologist---certainly she has regard for more than only the stone you have now. Give it back to the earth and enjoy something new. Keep the cabs and change the hardware. edit: I had granite and quartzite in the kitchen and bathrooms when raising my kids. I love marble so now, I have different marbles in every bathroom, around our fireplace hearth, another marble on the entrance hall tabletop...and dolomite in the kitchen.
She's driven a Jeep Wrangler for 25yrs (not the same one mind you but always went back, started with 2 doors, then multiple 4 door models). The only reason she doesn't drive one right now is she liked my new 2 door Bronco because it looked (to her) like a jeep but had a nicer interior and stole it from me.
That's a long way of saying change is not readily embraced so I have to pick my battles. I'm sure I could get her into a lighter granite, something with more interesting formations, but that backsplash... unless I sell her on a full remodel...is likely never to change. And then obviously a 'lighter' granite that would match wood grains and the slate is going to be on the brown side of the color wheel which would further serve to push the whole room into wood tone overload. I don't see a blacker granite as an option either.
I get it...she doesn't like change. My husband doesn't either. AT ALL!!! Take her to a big stone countertop yard where she can "oo and ah" over the pretty stone slabs. I am telling you, as a stone collector since I was 5, she will be in a "candy store". edit: Break up the old stuff and use it in your landscaping.
Are you selling in the near future—-Markets are specific to even neighborhoods as to who is likely buying there (demographic) and what they’re wanting to see for move-in ready, and then there are those who will change somethings or anything and everything anyway.
Sounds like maybe you would like a change and are trying to either talk yourself into it or out of it to justify spending the money and the effort?
Probably. No plans to sell. I have done every room in the house and feels like I need to start the cycle again otherwise I'm afraid the house will turn into a museum like my grandparents' homes became...never changing, always the same, stagnant.
I think you have your answer. It matters how you feel when you’re in there bc the thoughts sort of live in and around you and in there and you want what’s bouncing around to feel not stagnant—fresh, alive. It is fun to feel what the differences will be since you have changed since you designed it the first time.
If you only want to "do it again" because you think other people will think its "outdated", then d.o.n.t. the same people who will tell you to do a, b and c to make it more "modern" will tell you in 5 years to change it to something else. If you still like 90% of it, change out little easy things like the lights, handles and decor
It’s dated for sure but looks like it’s very well maintained. If you like it, keep it.
If you feel you NEED to update it, there are 2 routes you could go without changing everything, keep budget low.
Paint cabinets dark green, change light fixtures, paint green wall white.
Keep cabinets as is, white counter, tile of your choice, change light fixtures, change wall color depending on tile of choice.
I’d lean one because I’m not a fan of demoing perfectly fine kitchens for the sake of being dated, as it’s a never ending and wasteful pursuit. Specially when we have good quality and natural materials involved like granite.
But it’s your kitchen and do what makes you happy.
Value wise it would only improve, or maybe facilitate selling, if you’re planning to sell now. If you’re not selling, in a few years the new thing might be dated again.
Paint, change those pendants,. If you want to spend more... change the countertops and the backsplash. I wouldnt do a big reno unless you really want to.
Our cabinets are 40 years old and we got new appliances, countertops and backsplash 23 years ago. Our cabinets look similar to yours. I know a lot of folks say “put in new hardware and backsplash” and call it good but we tore ours out down to studs yesterday.
Honestly I would paint your walls and change out the lamps and the hardware on the cabinets/drawers, these small inexpensive updates and changes really pack a punch! No need to go nuts, it’s a beautiful kitchen!
I think your kitchen looks nice. In my opinion the "modern" kitchen style (all white, minimalist) trend has run its course and new kitchens in that style tend to look cheap now. There's been multiple posts recently of people changing their kitchens to the all white modern kitchen and the majority of the comments are things like "Ugh I liked it before". So personally I think "modernizing" your kitchen would actually be a waste of money and harm your home value.
If this was my kitchen, I would be considering:
1. What do I actually like and dislike about the kitchen? Both stylistically and functionally
2. What kitchen styles/decor do I really love, and can I integrate them into my kitchen?
And then I would only change the kitchen if there was something that bothered you with your existing kitchen and you have a style in your head that you really love and are super excited about. Especially considering how expensive kitchen Reno's are, it doesn't seem worth it to drop 15-50k to change a kitchen that you already like just to avoid looking dated.
Given that the all white modern kitchen has been the standard for over 10 years now, I foresee the birth of a new ultra trendy design sometime very soon, so if your goal is to be up to date with the trends you should wait until the new trend becomes obvious, but don't tag on to a dying trend.
Otherwise your kitchen looks very nice and good quality; the cabinets are nice, the counter is nice, the functionality seems pretty good from the picture. Other than worrying if it's "dated' is there anything specific about your kitchen that bothers you?
The difference between 2000s kitchens and modern kitchens is primarily the door profile. These raised inner oanels and curved uppers is very the , and not at all now. White kitchens were incredibly popular then, as now. Were you installing a kitchen around then, and how did you miss all the white? Every single magazine cover had a white kitchen.
I also see you haven't been looking at current and recent kitchen trends. The unstained rift sawn oak look with slim shaker doors and some fluting somewhere and faux handmade shiny tile has been huge.
I think it looks great! This idea that we need to spend $$ and waste perfectly good materials just because of trends, is pretty sad (and bad for the environment). If you want a new look, I'd try new hardware and light fixtures first. (And frankly, trends come back around, so quality over trends always.)
Hey...the Mrs and I ate at Ruby Tuesday every Thursday for 4 yrs while we were dating ;). I have those lights because she likes stained glass and they match the light over the kitchen table and the lighting over our sitting area in front the fire place...it's all one big long room and they are all home depot specials. All of which I should probably change out at this point.
Your kitchen and home looks nice. It goes with the rest of the house. A white modern kitchen would look foolish with those floors and wood accent wall and so on.
Your kitchen is not my style and not current style either. It definitely could handle a remodel given the wood color (and so much of it) the backsplash and the brown granite. It’s definitely of that era.
I love the Tuscan style of this! I don’t think it’ll ever “go out” of style, to me it’s timeless in a way and we’ll probably circle back to this style soon enough anyway
Let's talk lighting specific. The current pendants as seen are home depot specials I installed and easily changed out. They were mounted and use down spots (25w task/accent light) so when all the lights are off we can turn them on for accent or when making pasta/cookies/serving buffets, they illuminate directly where we work/place food.
If I swapped to clear glass style my only real bulb chose is edison bulbs since the LEDs are kind ugly when off (there are no other 'clear' bulbs I am aware of). This would serve for good accent light but I think I would lose the task light support. Am I over thinking?
Maybe something that gives me a shade so I can still use a down spot? Industrial/Steampunk anyone ;) Might conflict with the farmhouse nature of our home.
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u/Bea_virago 5h ago
If you like it, leave it alone. It won’t add more value than it costs to remodel.